Ventriloquist and figuremaker Jerry Layne joins us with stories from his six-decade career in show business. He truly is one of the most fascinating guests we have ever had! You’ll hear how he went from working for Match Game to working full-time as ventriloquist. Plus, Layne responds to a controversial comments made on this show regarding him and the estate of Senor Wences. This interview with a true renaissance man of the industry is not to be missed!
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I was a very fortunate to have an uncle who had accounts with Paul Winchell, Bob Smith and Sheri Lewis, this got a young boy a dream he wanted so dearly and that was to get on to the Paul Winchell show in the mid 50’s. I grew up in an era that still saw the vaudeville world very much alive, a time that brought vaudeville to TV and I never missed any show that had vaudeville style entertainment. I took my acting classes with the Philip Nolan School about 1968/9 which got me a few TV shows and a life long friendship with Joe Franklin-Jerry and Paul are singing the Ice Cream Song, Paul even said he recorded it but the audience ate it up. Major Boes was the Origional Amatuer Hour. Growing up on Long Island we were all new and everyone was your friend and lots and lots of kids. My Dads Garage was a perfect venue for a kids show. What a great time to grow up. Todays kids are missing out on so much. My opportunity to meet Jerry was when I finally found my way to the Vent Haven Convention, that was a great 3 years, in fact that is where I got to meet you as a kid. I am doing now what I loved as a kid, Variety arts, Magic, Puppets, ect. I don’t consider myself a magician, or a balloonist or ventriloquist, yet i do it. What I say I am a world of fun. on 54th Street The section between Eighth and Broadway is signed Señor Wences Way. Cruise ship gigs last no more then a week at a time per ship. Winces, Bergan, Lewis, Winchell and Nelson were part of my life and it has been a great time, one I would never trade with anyone for any money. OK I respect the Terry Fator and Jeff Dunham, but I come from the earlier era of the greats, and this is my opinion not putting the new guys down, but….., guess you know what I mean. I don’t know if Terry is following the Bergen style but the Ronn Lucas style would be more like it as Jeff is doing the Russ Lewis style. Its a shame that he (Henson) didn’t know the likes of Dan Horn or he might have included him as well. About Paul and The hand movements, they were being done by an assistant, he used for many years, I am surprised he didn’t mention that. I kinda figured Jerry and I were about 10 years different in age. I do not sit threw everyone of your talks but I most enjoyed this one. The memories were wonderful thank you. N J ‘JAYBO’ Holtzman