MORTIMER SNERD Radio Memorabilia figure MOVIE PROP! OWN A RADIO STAR! Start Price USD 2,550.00 Current Price USD 2,550.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 3,500.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, October 04, 2008 End Time Saturday, October 11, 2008 Location Madison, Tennessee See more about 'MORTIMER SNERD Radio Memorabilia figure MOVIE PROP!' Description MORTIMER SNERD REPLICA For 56 years Edgar Bergen brought joy and laughter to a world wide audience.His Beloved Character Mortimer Snerd became one of Ventriloquism's most famous personalities as well as becoming Bergen's favorite. To create this Mortimer Snerd museum replica,Schrum Studios made over 10 molds using hundreds of photographs, motion picture images and 3 dimensional models of Mortimer Snerd and intricate measurements using a special pointing system. Studio artisans dedicated over 800 hours into every detail of this project to insure that the end result would be the finest and most accurate effigy ever made of Bergen's beloved character. Using over a decade of research material, meticulous attention to detail, careful examination and intricate measurements from Bergen's last Snerd figure, the end result of realism and overall artistry has stunned collectors world wide. Edgar Bergen 1903-1978 At the age of 11, Edgar Bergen sent away .25 cents for the "Wizards Manual on the secrets of Mindreading and Ventriloquism. He first used figures that he made by hand and later in his teen years he took some sketches he made in a history class text book, along with $35.00 to a local Chicago cabinet shop and hired Theo Mack to carve Charlie McCarthy. Soon Bergen & McCarthy were appearing a local events and after graduating from High School, Charlie helped pay his way through medical school at Northwestern University. Show Business proved to be too much a lure for the young Bergen and he soon dropped out of school to become a full time Ventriloquist. For the next 10 years he would travel the Vaudeville circuit. Edgar Bergen's first big break came when he and Charlie were playing for a late night gathering at a Chicago night club, the successful performance landed them a booking in New York at an Elsa Maxwell party for Nowell Coward. Coward promptly recommended Bergen & McCarthy for a sell out run at Manhattan's famous hot spot "The Rainbow Room" and from that point on Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy were on the road to success. On December 17, 1936 they made their radio debut on "The Fleishman Hour with Rudy Valee and soon had their own radio show with The National Broadcasting Company (NBC). It wasn't long until Charlie McCarhty was as popular as Santa Claus with Children everywhere. Toy stores featured Charlie McCarthy Dolls, Spoons, Games, Little Big Books, Figurines, Comic books, Wind up toys, and even Bars of McCarhty soap! With their soaring popularity, it was only natural that Bergen & McCarthy non-chalantly eased into the motion picture business as well. The two starred in 11 major motion pictures and even received a special "wooden" Oscar from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. This half human half wooden comedy duo enjoyed a lifetime of great success in show business. Edgar Bergen's Sunset Boulevard office in Hollywood was flooded daily with hundreds of pieces of fan mail all addressed to Charlie! The two had become the hottest stars in Hollywood , receiving countless awards and even leaving their handprints at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. With Charlie's popularity...Bergen soon designed the lovable hayseed character Mortimer Snerd, who appeared along side the famous duo on both stage and screen. On September 29, 1978 after the discovery of a failing heart, Edgar Bergen announced his retirement and was booked for a farewell performance at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. That evening he closed his show by saying "Every Vaudeville act must have an opening and a closing, and so does a career I guess...so I'll pack my jokes..and my little friends and say ....Goodbye..." Edgar Bergen Died peacefully in his sleep that night at the age of 75. We know now that Edgar Bergen used several Charlie McCarthy figures throughout his lifetime and several of these figures are currently on display at both public and private museums across the country. The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. is home to one of Bergen's Charlie McCarthy figures. The Museum of Broadcast Communications in Chicago has Edgar Bergen's favorite Charlie McCarthy made of fiberglass and used for the last 20 years of his life, this figure is beautifully displayed along side the original Mortimer Snerd and the lovable "old maid" Effie Klinker" Recently a Charlie figure that Bergen used throughout his motion picture career was auctioned off in Los Angeles and the high bid went to World famous Illusionist David Copperfield for a "reported $175,000.00", this figure now resides in Copperfield's private Museum and secret warehouse near downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. There is no doubt that Edgar Bergen became the most famous and most respected Ventriloquist entertainer the world has ever known. His cast of characters have become a sort of "royalty" among Ventriloquial personalities. The artists that have made this replica possible dedicated every facet of this project to keeping alive the Memory and Magic of this brilliantly talented man...Edgar Bergen.   For the Ventriloquism Collector who has spent a lifetime acquiring Mortimer Snerd Memorabilia, this fine replica is truly the Piece de resistance for the center of your collection. Polyester resin head, hands,feet, and torso Self balancing body Realistic hair piece Custom cast Derby Hat Highest QualityPlaid Suit custom tailored by a renowned show business costumer (Plaid styles may vary) Realistic skin texture Accurate skin tone achieved with over 58 layers of transparent oil paints (the same brand used on the original) High Gloss eyes (custom made) Special vintage painting process, to give extra added realism Lightweight sturdy construction (weighs 8 pounds) 34 inches tall Permitted by the Bergen Foundation Specially designed for Museum Display with non-working features The Finest Piece of Ventriloquial Memorabilia ever offered!Whether you are a curator for a museum or a serious collector of pieces relating to Ventriloquism or Puppetry, this Mortimer Snerd figure is a once in a lifetime find. This is not a mass produced item, it is a one of a kind work of art. A result of heartfelt dedication by Schrum Studios and it's group of specialty artisans , it's the reality behind over a decade of dreaming, planning, and researching the talents of Edgar Bergen and the figure makers that created his wonderful characters. Here's your chance to obtain "The Magic" that inspired you throughout childhood and continues to inspire you even now.   Authorized by ©2001 Bergen Foundation The Schrum Studios Mortimer Snerd Museum Quality Replica, is the most detailed and accurate effigy of this figure available anywhere in the world today. This Mortimer Snerd replica is authorized by the Bergen Foundation and part of the proceeds of all the comissioned pieces goes directly to the foundation and it's non-profit projects. Charlie McCarthy, Mortimer Snerd, Effie Klinker © 2001 Bergen Foundation. All Rights Reserved. No part of these characters can be duplicated by any means without written permission. Serious Inquiries Only. For prices and availablity information, contact us via E-Mail at The Leader in Ventriloquism Museum Quality Replicas                             Place a Bid!