The
first time I saw a ventriloquist was on our Packard Bell Black & White TV. The
guy was Edgar Bergen, and his wisecracking dummy was Charlie McCarthy.
Unbelievably, The Edgar
Bergen/Charlie
McCarthy was a hit RADIO show from 1937 to 1956. Wow, how tough was it to be a
ventriloquist on the radio?
Apparently not very; Edgar
Bergen didn’t have the same success on television, his act was from a by-gone
era. Although he did keep his fame alive making many guest appearances all over
early TV. He died at 75 still working at Caesar’s Palace in 1978. One of his
best performances was to be the father of Candice Bergen.
A
big ventriloquist in the 1950’s & 60’s was Paul Winchell, and his dummy, Jerry
Mahoney. Paul Winchell being 20 years younger than Edgar Bergen, was better
suited for the new age of baby boomers; The Paul Winchell/Jerry Mahoney Show was
very popular on TV in the early 1950’s. Paul Winchell died at 82 he was still
working in 2005, putting his old TV show on the Internet.
Paul Winchell and Edgar Bergen
were talented and successful, but as ventriloquists, they were NO Terry Fator.
I don’t watch much television so I had no idea who Terry Fator was until the
Boss asked me to go see his act at the Mirage. Terry worked the fair and
corporate circuit for years before he won a million bucks in 2007 on America’s
Got Talent TV show. And HE does have TALENT, LOTS OF IT.
Terry Fator owned the stage; he performed with and
without his many, (I hate to call them dummies) sidekicks. Terry is a great
ventriloquist, a great singer, and all around great performer. He had an ease
about him on stage that made the audience feel good. As I looked around the
packed room, people were genuinely smiling all night long. Terry made the
entire audience happy, and if you can do that, you’re a star.
The Terry Fator Show was reminiscent of the old
Las Vegas days, a one-man show (a few dummies) a great band, in a beautiful
room, performing for one hour and 45 minutes. The Boss has asked me to go many
shows around town, and for once, I owe her a solid, thank you for sending me to
The Terry Fator Show. I’m kissing butt here, because I want to see the show
again, and again, and again………………..
AT THE MIRAGE
Show Times:
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Show at 7:30 p.m.
Dark Sunday and Monday
Ticket Prices:
$59, $79, $99, VIP Seating $129
Active Duty Military Personnel receive a 25%
discount
Purchase Tickets:
702-792-7777 or 1-800-963-9634
6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Or Online
