I keep on meaning to post some of the radio shows. I got about 200 or so of them, from 1930's to 1950's and I'm such a huge fan. Always loved him with WC Fields
At the time this was filmed, Charlie was basically a "newsboy" character- later, when Edgar was booked to play the Helen Morgan Club in New York, he decided to make Charlie a "man about town" (to match the joint's clientele), and dressed him up in top hat, white tie, tails and monocle...
This was one of the first (if not THE first) of Edgar and Charlie's one-reel Warner Bros./Vitaphone shorts, released in 1931. At the time, Bergen was still on the vaudeville and night club circuit, and really didn't make an impact on radio until his famous appearance on Rudy Vallee's "ROYAL GELATIN HOUR" in December 1936, which led to his weekly "CHASE & SANBORN HOUR" gig in May 1937...
It never mattered that Edgar Bergan's technique wasn't perfect (you could often see his lips move). His characterization of Charlie, so complete that he seemed real, and his comic timing and wit were so brilliant that he was the best!
I love Charlie and Mortimer Snerd. This was funny but I have heard and seen even funnier bits especially with WC Field's who hated Charley. So much, that Edgar Bergen had to hide him when Edgar was not performing. Field's advanced alcoholism caused him to believe Charley was real and he wanted to destroy him.
@@cornfed420 Edgar recounted it himself personally stressing it was in Fields late alcoholic years of hallucinations. Candace, Edgars daughter also made the same statements. She resented Charlie also for all the attention he received missing her father. If you want to call someone names or insult someone, aim it at them. People are just getting absolutely boorish. There are ways to communicate and being a jerk is not one of them.
Even though Edgar Bergen did move his lips a little... that didn't matter because he manipulated his puppets to the point you would think they were alive! If you think he is a bad ventriloquist he brought more life into his puppets than any other ventriloquist! Just a quick story... I saw edgar bergen on the movie fun and fancy free and as a kid I thought the puppets were alive! Yeah its that believable!
Sometimes, Charlie would remind Edgar his lips were moving. He KNEW he was a bit "rusty".....but the way he brought his characters "to life", it didn't matter.
+Brock LaPlume I don't know... Fef-fa-fa Dun-ham is excellent. Can mostly only see his neck move when his dummies "talk". And one did feel sometimes his puppets were "alive". But this guy was awesome and funny. Thanks for sharing!
I knew him from Fun and Fancy Free too. I loved the movie especially with Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. I didn't really care about the Bongo the Circus Bear part though.
i've loved bergen and mcarthy for years, edgar's lips always did move a little. he always however created the illusion that charlie was really talking.
But it was so obvious to all that watched Edgar Bergen that he moved his lips all the time when he did did his act. And that's because he came from radio and he could get away with that without any flak. But today, he would be criticized for that, and not taken seriously. I think that Jeff Dunham is the best guy around, and puts Edgar Bergen away. Frank
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I love this.... its so amazing. Charlie is hilarious.
Even when I shut my eyes it sounds like two people - the voices alternate so quickly and effortlessly
thank you so much for a piece of forgotten history
I keep on meaning to post some of the radio shows. I got about 200 or so of them, from 1930's to 1950's and I'm such a huge fan. Always loved him with WC Fields
Thanks for posting. I remember seeing him when I was little but I could not rememeber their names or anything ! It was great seeing this again !
Wow! I never seen him this young. He was much older when I remember him on TV.
Charlie (and the guy that always sits next to him) rocks!!
84 Years, wow has it been that long ago?
I love this video!
This is Great
'Read the bottom line' (O G U C I)
'Well...Oh gee, you see I...'
'That's correct.'
At the time this was filmed, Charlie was basically a "newsboy" character- later, when Edgar was booked to play the Helen Morgan Club in New York, he decided to make Charlie a "man about town" (to match the joint's clientele), and dressed him up in top hat, white tie, tails and monocle...
Too funny! Now THAT was REAL entertainment!
This was one of the first (if not THE first) of Edgar and Charlie's one-reel Warner Bros./Vitaphone shorts, released in 1931. At the time, Bergen was still on the vaudeville and night club circuit, and really didn't make an impact on radio until his famous appearance on Rudy Vallee's "ROYAL GELATIN HOUR" in December 1936, which led to his weekly "CHASE & SANBORN HOUR" gig in May 1937...
The "Open wide" order got that response has and and will continue to do so. It's a great view of the c. 1931 office and its equipment.
It never mattered that Edgar Bergan's technique wasn't perfect (you could often see his lips move). His characterization of Charlie, so complete that he seemed real, and his comic timing and wit were so brilliant that he was the best!
Great trivia!
Charlie loved the ladies
I saw Charley McCarthy and Howdy Doody at the Smithsonian and cried. When I was young the were alive, Now they're dead in a glass coffin.
I wanna take a trip to DC just to see all the Smithsonian museums if I ever get the money someday.
Awesome
People don't realize Edgar Bergen started out as a radio ventriloquist.
I love Charlie and Mortimer Snerd. This was funny but I have heard and seen even funnier bits especially with WC Field's who hated Charley. So much, that Edgar Bergen had to hide him when Edgar was not performing. Field's advanced alcoholism caused him to believe Charley was real and he wanted to destroy him.
Whoever that told you that was as gullible as your are... well were 10 years ago.
@@cornfed420 Edgar recounted it himself personally stressing it was in Fields late alcoholic years of hallucinations. Candace, Edgars daughter also made the same statements. She resented Charlie also for all the attention he received missing her father. If you want to call someone names or insult someone, aim it at them. People are just getting absolutely boorish. There are ways to communicate and being a jerk is not one of them.
...and once in a long while, 'etraig', Charlie would say to Edgar, "You know, you DO move your lips a little.."
How did this guy get away with this for so long. You can see his lips move.
The date on the bottom of the opening credits is 1931.
Damn that's even before my grandpa was born.
Cool!
These guys are the best (this guy) but they never got enough credit.
Even though Edgar Bergen did move his lips a little... that didn't matter because he manipulated his puppets to the point you would think they were alive! If you think he is a bad ventriloquist he brought more life into his puppets than any other ventriloquist! Just a quick story... I saw edgar bergen on the movie fun and fancy free and as a kid I thought the puppets were alive! Yeah its that believable!
Sometimes, Charlie would remind Edgar his lips were moving. He KNEW he was a bit "rusty".....but the way he brought his characters "to life", it didn't matter.
exactly
He was as great as Señor Wences. RIP both of them.
+Brock LaPlume I don't know... Fef-fa-fa Dun-ham is excellent. Can mostly only see his neck move when his dummies "talk". And one did feel sometimes his puppets were "alive". But this guy was awesome and funny. Thanks for sharing!
I knew him from Fun and Fancy Free too. I loved the movie especially with Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd. I didn't really care about the Bongo the Circus Bear part though.
Genius
W.C. Fields referred to Charlie McCarthy as, "The Whispering Pine"
i've loved bergen and mcarthy for years, edgar's lips always did move a little. he always however created the illusion that charlie was really talking.
Candice Bergen always said that her father Edgar Bergen cared more about his dummies than his children.
Incorrect. Read Candice's memoirs. She always felt she played second fiddle to the doll. Fact.
"Vent figure"...I love it. I will start using that term.
John Casper her father made the dummies for her to have play mates I heard she said back in the 80s
sorry I meant to make that a public reply ..
He's movin his lips.
I am gonna buy a Charlie McCarthy doll......wish me luck ~
Charlie is cute! :3
They are good but I still prefer the oldies like Bergen, Winchell.
But it was so obvious to all that watched Edgar Bergen that he moved his lips all the time when he did did his act. And that's because he came from radio and he could get away with that without any flak. But today, he would be criticized for that, and not taken seriously. I think that Jeff Dunham is the best guy around, and puts Edgar Bergen away. Frank
Jim Henson will always be my all time favorite puppeteer.
It isnt a real kid, Edgar Bergen is in a museum
Edgar is not he is the human
Mr Blaine1 Candice Bergen's dad..
Carlos Fernandez Marin Good one..classic LA gaff...
eric the midget brought me here
my dad has one and he have it 2 me and i am only 12..... i use him 2 scare m friends
It's a real kid
Does anybody have the year of this?
aj dz 1931
bergan
better than jeff dunham, but you do see a lot of edgar bergan in jeff dunham
Luar biasa canggih,saya lagi gak suka sama polisi kunyuk Indonesia
no its not
So much for not moving your mouth....
Edgar Bergen was billed as , "The greatest Ventriloquist in Radio" His daughter, Candice Bergen wrote the great book, Knock Wood!
For his time, I'm sure he was, amazing how much the art form's evolved.....
I think you missed the joke....IN RADIO...... nobody could see his mouth!
HA....I did! Great characters, great voices, mechanics.....not so much
otto and george is better.