[Ads-l] Oscar origin redux (UNCLASSIFIED)

[MULLINS, WILLIAM D (Bill) CIV USARMY FUTURES COMMAND (USA)]

CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

> 
> In 1931 an article mentioned that a ventriloquist dummy was named Oscar.
> 
> Date: October 9, 1931
> Newspaper: Lubbock Morning Avalanche
> Newspaper Location: Lubbock, Texas
> Article: Oscar Talked His Boss Out Of Jail:
> Bright "Cracks" Of Dummy Win Police Chief's Favor; As A Result, Oscar And His Buddies Are Free Once More Quote Page 12, Column 6 and 7
> Database: Newspapers.com
> 
> [Begin excerpt]
> Somewhere — outside of Lubbock—there is a ventriloquist's dummy this morning who believed he talked his boss and his boss' buddy out of
> the city jail. . . .
> Oscar, the dummy, was along but he was left outside. Wednesday afternoon, Oscar entertained visitors to the chief's office by
> impersonating the commander of the local police.
> [End excerpt]

 Both Albert F. Hansen and Betty Hansen (his daughter) of Oakland CA were ventriloquists who performed with "Oscar, the walking-talking dummy" in the early 1930s.

The Londonderry Wizard, R. S. Bailey, moved to San Francisco in 1934.  He performed with "Oscar the talkative dummy".

Grady Nicholson of Stillwater OK performed with "Oscar the Dummy" at a magic show in 1930.

Revello Petee published a vent script in _The Tops_ (conjuring journal) in 1936, in which the script assumes the dummy's name is Oscar.

Ventriloquist George McAthy of Coraopolis PA performed with a dummy named Oscar in 1936.
CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED

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