Just look at them – with their beady little eyes and flapping heads. And don’t bother going to sleep tonight, that’s just the opportunity these crafty bastards are waiting for. You can thank our friends at Oobject.com for the nightmare fuel.
Buffalo Bob Smith and Howdy Doody
Contestants in the 1948 gameshow program, Who’s That Girl?
This is the only one in the list that isn’t a genuine act, but rather a mashup by Aeron over at Eaten By Ducks. However, it so perfectly captures everything that is malevolent about vintage ventriloquy that I felt impelled to include it.
Extremely upsetting Edwardian ventriloquist
Henry Rox with Matt
Popsy a simply made dummy for the amateur ventriloquist
Publicity stills (unidentified) circa 1945 collection Jim Linderman
The ventriloquist who refused to be a stripper
Thora a Victorian transvestite ventriloquist
Looking for more skin-crawl inducing, people-shaped mechanisations? Take a look at these 12 videos of Creepy Automata or these Medical Manikins, you weirdo.