This week, Ira spoke with comedian ventriloquist Mark Merchant, headlining in the A Stars Comedy Show at the Ahern Hotel June 27-29. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Mark talks about how he got the moniker of “the comedy of two voices in one”; how he developed an interest in ventriloquism as a kid in Atlanta, Georgia; getting a Danny O’Day dummy and record from his parents; the funny story about meeting his wife in 1986; getting married on stage at a convention where he was performing; memories of the godfather of ventriloquism, Jimmy Nelson; his “characters,” Baby Big Ears and Zelda Rose; his prized Johnny Carson possession; and the fulfilling of one of his two dreams.
David Letterman looked into the NBC television cameras and asked, “Are you like me, do you like ventriloquism?”
The voice wizard Letterman was talking about was Mark Merchant, a man from the South who makes his living by not opening his mouth!
What started out as a boyhood hobby for this Atlanta, Georgia native was destined to become a career after his parents gave him a Danny O’Day dummy and instruction record.
Since then, Mark’s talking partners have taken him around the world, paid his way through college and introduced him to the lady he married in 1988. One of his characters, Sherwood, stood by him as best man at the event.
When not entertaining cruise passengers, Mark works shore side in comedy clubs, casinos, and corporate dates for companies like American Express and Delta Airlines.
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