Editorial Review

Edgar Bergen once said, "Ventriloquism is one of the oldestforms of entertainment. It was practiced by the ancient Greeks... why,ventriloquists were even found up among the Eskimos!" To which CharlieMcCarthy responded, "They weren't found up there, they werechased up there!" Charlie McCarthy makes a timely reappearancehere as a 31-inch working Celebrity Ventriloquist Doll. Charlie'simmaculate hair and features are painted on, and his transparentplastic monocle is removable, as is his velvet top hat. Beneath asatin-trimmed, black tuxedo coat, Mr. McCarthy sports a white shirtfront and white satin bow tie. While not the classic tailcoat he worein the 1940s, his jacket has a straight hem that does an admirable jobof disguising the string that controls his jaw. A hidden string pull atthe back of his neck works his jaw; it seemed stiff, but its tendencyto pull his head back was easily worked out with some practice atpositioning the doll. Charlie would make a terrific gift for yourfavorite theater buff or aspiring ventriloquist--and he cuts a dashingfigure sitting on a bookshelf or bedstead. Simple instructions for thebeginning ventriloquist are included. --Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (7)

The Dummy of mc
I have one of my onw and thes is so cool to see one as good is thes my dummy dos not havw the glass eiy or hat!!

Love'm to Death!
He is my new best friend.
He will make children go to bed when you want them to.
May you all that decide to adopt him have long and interesting conversations.

Nice doll
This is a nice doll if you like charlie McCarthy. As a working ventriloquist doll, it doesn't work very well. Good ventriloquist dolls have you stick your hand inside it. This one has a string to pull, and head keeps bobbing.

I liked the doll, but for decoration.

A BIG HIT!
I bought 3 of these for my grandkids for Christmas. They had so much fun talking to each other. The doll comes with a booklet that explains very simply how to throw your voice. My grand daughters wanted a girl doll which are hard to find in a basic beginners doll so I made a wig and glued it on, added some eyeliner with a flair pen and made some new clothes.

I still love Charlie
I've had my C.M doll for well over 12 years..My mother gave it to me as a xmas present when I was "about" 11 years old.. I am now about to turn 25 and and have a 1 year old... Although I have lost several accesories and his jaw no longer works ( it stays open)this is clearly one of the only toys that has lasted me so long.. Even my 1 year old loves Charlie... He is very well made and would make a great gift for someone of any age( over 3).. since I no longer have his small parts (eye lens, hat, shoes) it is safe for my son... I don't plan of ever getting rid of him, as a matter of fact I was consodering getting him fixed. But it would probably be cheaper to just get a new one..Either way this is a great toy w/ years of durability and enjoyment. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Few toys are more majestic than this charcoal-gray plush elephant. Bonus: this gentle giant is also a puppet. He boasts an extendable trunk, protruding horns, wrinkled eyes, and soft, floppy ears. With his velvety body and big belly, he's the perfect pachyderm for puppet shows, naptime, or cozying up with to read a book. This unforgettable elephant stands 17 inches tall from head to hoof. --Melissa Wilson ... Read more

Reviews (2)

super soft, an excellent puppet!
I knew Folkmanis would never disappoint but was still thrilled at the high quality of this puppet. Folkmanis puppets are consistently great quality, of beautiful design, and fun to use. This puppet, however, is exceptionally soft, almost velvety in texture. A great toy for little ones to hug and hold as well as a fun puppet. Using your hand, one can move the mouth and swing the trunk a bit.

My children love this puppet! This large puppet is a must-have for puppet lovers and elephant lovers!

jumbo fun!
I love this elephant! I use it for storytimes and you can not only move it's mouth but also put your hand/arm down the trunk and move that too. It's big and soft and a beautiful grey. ... Read more

Editorial Review

At last, your collection of hand puppets can get the home--or rather the workplace--it deserves. Sturdily constructed from wood, this traditional Punch and Judy puppet theatre requires no tools for assembly. You can write the time, or other relevant information, on the chalkboard panel just below the stage. The facade is held in a vertical position with simple red wooden feet. The theatre measures 58 inches high, 29 inches wide, and 15 inches deep. --Richard Farr ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not as Advertised
I am sort of shocked that this toy is still being described as a theatre with a clock and two puppets. Amazon had assured me that they would change the item's description.

I ordered this item and was surprised that the picture on the box was a different theatre than the one I had ordered, I opened it and found that it is a theatre with no clock and no puppets. I contacted amazon and they said that the description was wrong and that it would be changed immediateley. They sent me a returned merchandise authorization. But it was a day before my Daughter's 5th Birthday and she had been staring at the box for days and decided she wanted it. So we kept it. We found puppets elsewhere.

As for durabillity and fun, it has stayed together with 2 rough and rowdy kids. They rarely use it for puppets though, it's a fort and a lemonade stand and a store and the DMV (LOL)!

My daughter uses the little chalkboard to practice writing a lot and the tear away curtains delight my son. One word of caution, the little star toggles used to keep the curtains pulled back come off with minimal effort and do pose a choking hazard. My son is 2, so I pulled them off and hid them till he's older.

All in all it's a good theatre, and well made as all the Alex toys are, it gets used every day.

My daughter still says that she wishes it had come with a clock though. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Howdy Doody Show was a phenomenal success. After its1947 crossover from radio to television, lines to see the show weretremendous, as fans were eager to watch the antics of the spunky,freckle-faced marionette and his cohorts. Goldberger's Howdy Doodyventriloquist doll is a playful reminder of those days. He's the mirrorimage of Buffalo Bob's pal, with everything but the strings. He hasfiery hair, great big ears, wide blue eyes, and a liberal peppering offreckles. Howdy sports a dark blue neckerchief, sunny yellow armbandsover a red plaid shirt, and red-and-white plastic cowboy boots. He's a30-inch, lightweight stuffed fellow with a vinyl head and hands. Thestring pull hidden on his back gets his jaw a-flappin'. The doll'saction is a bit stiff--it takes some expert positioning to keep Howdy'shead from following the motion of the string--but after a littlepractice it gets better. Included in the case is a set of simple,encouraging (and quaintly illustrated) black-and-white instructions forthe beginning ventriloquist. You'll want to practice in front of amirror before you lasso your own admiring fans. It's Howdy Doody time!--Julie Ubben ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Cool and fun
I looked all over for my son and daughter for venntriloquist dolls. These provided hours of amusement and play... ... Read more

Editorial Review

Puppets nurture the imagination, inspire creativity, develop interactive play, and expandlanguage. This reviewer has found them to be excellent tools for teaching foreign languages--children willcomfortably experiment when manipulating a puppet, but not when simply talking to a friend. As childrenmature, they are able to use puppets in a more sophisticated manner that will help them last a good longtime.

Snowy Owl is well made and true to form with her white and gray spotted fur. The texture of herleather beak and talons gives her an air of authenticity, and her large glass eyes ringed with thick white furwon't miss a rodent. A plastic stick inside Snowy Owl's body lets you rotate her head 360 degrees. With awingspan of 22 inches, she will play a prominent role on the puppet stage. --Sandy Hirsch ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Fun puppet... actually quite awesome
I bought this one and the Emperor Penguin puppet for my baby... she loves them both.

The owl is awesome, soft... the head rotates all the way around via a stick inside. I can maneuver the wings and head at the same time with one hand, which really entertains my daughter.

Cuddly and interactive
This snowy owl is a part of my plush/puppet collection, and I don't regret the addition. The head can be turned and the wings flapped with your hand, and patches of velcro allow the wings to be folded back realisticly when not spread. The material is very soft, and the beak and talons are leather, not plastic. My only nitpick is that the feet have only three claws, when they should have four. However, this small inaccuracy shouldn't stop anyone from adding it to their collection.

Gorgeous toy
This is one of my favorite owls and favorite puppets. You really need to see it to appreciate just how gorgeous it is. The only drawback that I have found is in trying to fasten the wings back into the "at rest" position. They seem to pull too tightly on the owl. Of course, that could just be on mine.

Great Owl
This is a great toy for children of all ages, I've found it especially useful in Harry Potter plays my children have preformed.

A real hoot!
This owl is ingenious! I'm impressed with most of the Folkmanis puppets, but Snowy's truly incredible. Hands of all sizes can have hours of creative fun with this beautiful bird - whose head actually rotates 360 degrees! An added bonus is the soft, lifelike plush coat. Not for nocturnal use only! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Make a little monkey business with this gorgeous puppet, whosethick, lush coat and tail are made of contrasting browns. The puppet'shands, feet, ears, and face are made of a dark beige fabric, and hisnose is perched atop his oversize mouth, the inside of which is a darkerbrown. Large plastic button eyes finish off his expressive face. Thepuppeteer's hand is inserted through the bottom of the body, and fingersfit in the upper arms and mouth. Wonderfully detailed, this monkeypuppet is 23 inches long and 8 inches wide. Surface washable with coldwater. --Peggy Etra ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Cute monkey
My music teacher Had a puppet (a monkey)and the whole class loved it. The name was EGABDF (notes of the staff). Onen day my friend called me and told me were to find EGABDF (here on computer) so I bought it. We both named them after the real EGABDF (she got it for her birthday before I orded it). Since they have the same name we decided mine would be girl hers would be boy. So for short mine is Ega and hers is Egg. I love this puppet and I am 11 years old.

Best Puppet Maker I've found
We have several Folkmanis puppets including this monkey. My kids (both preschoolers) have been playing with this toy off and on for over a year and a half. It shows very little wear. Their favorite game is "pull the monkey's tail" which should tell you how durable it is. The fur is wonderfully soft, it's easy to make it come off as expressive. It is a little large for small hands to work. ...I have been so pleased with the quality of this company's product that I don't mind spending a little bit more or searching for them.

Micah the Monkey
Micah the Monkey first came to my wife from her cousin. He was bought from a toy store store, but he clames that's only because the FBI caught him sneaking in from Mexico (on his trip from Jamaica).

He has since traveled all over the country and we have the pictures to prove it. He's gotton a bit ratty along the way, but that suits his personality. He says he was only looking cute when so you'd buy him ;).

He likes to get into trouble any time he can. He claims he is an attack monkey but i haven't seem him attack for quite some time.

He's best friends with our Gund Dog "mutsy".

Micah the monkey actually started his own web company, and let me work for him. :)

Over all he's a great monkey and will provide you hours and hours of fun. He'l even crash your computer while you are gone for the weekend :)
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Soooo Cute!
I bought this puppet in a bookstore after I made the mistake of putting it on my hand. It's so expressive, I couldn't put it down -- I felt like I would be making the poor monkey sad.

This is a very well-made puppet. If you think it's cute in the picture, wait until you see it on someone's hand. I rated it only three stars for durability because it's not the kind of toy you want to give to a toddler to abuse. (At least, no toddler's grimy hands are getting on *my* monkey!)

This would be a great toy for an older kid who likes puppets, or for an adult (like me) who loves monkeys.

A Great Friend
I bought this monkey puppet for my wife's birthday more than five years ago. My wife likes stuffed animals, but the real reason I bought it was because this little monkey is so cool looking that I found him irresistible. He has a happy yet mischievous look on his face that is very alluring. I basically enjoyed my wife's present so much that I made the stuffed animal into a kind of family pet; I even gave him a name - Ruffigan. Ruffigan traveled with us on airplanes around the country - the flight attendants thought he was riot.

Over time, the monkey faded in color a little bit, probably because we sometimes left him out in the sun in the car. I actually came to prefer the light brown coloration to his original dark brown; I treated the lightening like my own natural aging! Overall, the puppet held up extremely well. His fur remained completely intact, and his shape became like a glove that fit perfectly on my hand.

When our first child was born, Ruffigan became an instant favorite. The oval shape of his face was perfect for our baby to chew on. She also adored his expression, kicking strongly when she saw little Ruffigan. Our friends commented how much "she loves that monkey." I think she also liked the imaginary personality that I had developed for Ruffigan (a kind of rowdy and slightly "bad" little monkey . . . but that is another story).

I lost Ruffigan at the mall last Christmas (we brought him with us for a photo with our daughter). I really felt like an old and dear friend had died. Since then, we've bought another monkey puppet, which our daughter also loves. I don't think she noticed any change. But I did, and I still miss Ruffigan, even though in quality the new puppet is identical.

Clearly, I very strongly recommend this product. I don't imagine that many others will end up treating the monkey like a pet in the way that I did, but I am sure that this little puppet can brighten the days for a lot of children. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Oh so lifelike in looks, this plump and pillowy plush penguin ismore than a big soft bundle of huggability. Hold him close, put yourhand into the opening in his upper back and make him flap his wings,move his head, and speak (with your best penguin voice). Sure, he standsby himself, a full 13.5 inches tall, balanced on his approximately7-inch-diameter flat bottom, two shiny leatherette flipper-feet, and aplush tail. He's an eye-catching Arctic artifact on shelf or table, buttoo loveable to leave sitting across the room. Pick him up and talk tohim, you can't resist! And though a living, breathing, emperor penguincan stand Fahrenheit temperatures down to minus-100 degrees, this onedoesn't mind cuddling close and cozy under the covers with you. Comeswith interesting facts and a story about the emperor penguin's colors.Surface-washable polyester. --Ava Natov ... Read more