Arthur Prince (ventriloquist)

Arthur Prince (17 November 1881 – 14 July 1946) was an English music hall entertainer and ventriloquist.

Biography

Prince was born 17 November 1881 in London. He made his first appearance in a beach concert in Llandrindod Wells, where he performed for four seasons.

Prince and his ventriloquist doll ‘Jim’ made their London debut in 1902 at the South London Palace. They went on to appear at all the leading music halls in the United Kingdom, including the first Royal Command Performance at the Palace Theatre in 1912. A world tour followed with their comedy act ‘Naval Occasions’.

Prince is remembered for having his dummy, Sailor Jim, sing while Prince drank a glass of water or smoked a cigar.[1] A singer off stage made this trick possible.[2] This was made more believable because Prince developed a very lifelike dummy.[3]

Prince died on 14 July 1946.[1] He was buried at Hampstead Cemetery.[4] His doll 'Jim' was buried with him. The date on his tombstone, 14 April 1948, appears to be incorrect.[4][5]

References
  1. George Schindler and Ed Tricomi (2011). Ventriloquism: Magic with Your Voice. p. 10.
  2. "Ventriloquism". qi.com. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. Prince, Arthur (1921). "Introduction". The Whole Book of Ventriloquism. ISBN 9781447492498. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  4. Arthur Prince at Find a Grave
  5. Vox, Valentine (1993). I Can See Your Lips Moving (Revised and Enlarged ed.). California: Plato Publishing. p. 154. ISBN 0887346227.
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