Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy at the Orson Welles AFI Life Achievement Award

Comedian and radio performer Edgar Bergen performs his classic ventriloquism act with "Charlie McCarthy" at the 1975 AFI Tribute to Orson Welles. In this clip they talk about Welles' infamous "War of the Worlds" performance on the night of October 30, 1938. "The Charlie McCarthy" show is sometimes humorously credited with "saving the world," because more Americans were tuned in to it than Welles' program.

[@sharonraizor2839]

Charlie's head movement is so fluid. Also, Edgar separated his voice from his partner's so well. Most ventriloquists use the same pitch for both. Charlie's was higher than his and Mortimer's was lower.

[@derekllewellyn6663]

Documentary about biography history channel interview with oasr awesome picture awards TCM hollywood movies on KZbin videos on iphone open on the best way magic of

[@MJFreak1997]

unless your a famous Vent. i dont want to hear complaining about his lips. Im only 16 and I respect Bergen as a Vent. more so than some actors today. He was the man who famed ventriloquism and he will always be a important man in America's entertainment history.

[@tonyhorn5856]

DJ-Insanity Amen well said I totally agree with everything you said and said so well I can't really think of anything I can possibly add

[@sheylapaola9658]

I'm only fckin 18

[@harlowitter3060]

@@sheylapaola9658 OMG me too! This is my fascinated ass looking for more on these guys out of curiosity after seeing them on the Muppets.

[@gildersleevefan67]

The fact that Bergen became a superstar on radio is proof he was a good ventriloquist. As you sit and listen to recordings of his old shows, it takes minimal effort to think of Charlie McCarthy and Mortimer Snerd as being real. He was an excellent ventriloquist for creating such believable characters!

[@tomokokuroki3085]

Nya, I think the same. The same happens to me with Maricarmen and Jose Luis Moreno, equivalent to Edgar Bergen in Spain. I find the comments alluding to that insignificant detail so annoying. The important thing is that the doll looks alive! There is no point in having your lips closed if you can't do that.

[@gravismunchnick1945]

It really was like there were TWO totally different 'people' performing, when Bergen and Charlie were on stage. And THAT'S the art of ventriloquism. Making the audience THINK the 'dummy' is REAL. Bergen created a personality for Charlie that was SO different from his own, that people willingly suspended their disbelief, and accepted Charlie as - real. He also allowed Charlie to 'best' him, in the act, which added to the illusion, of Charlie's reality. A lesson in how it's SUPPOSED to be done, for today's performers.

[@CrazyTechy]

The act is so perfect, you don't even notice Edgar is moving his lips.

[@jillzeig]

Cyber Times LLC no he wasn’t

[@harlowitter3060]

Just barely, though

[@artshifrin3053]

ARE YOU PERHAPS VIEWING THE REAR OF YOUR FUZZY OLD TV ?

[@CrazyTechy]

@@artshifrin3053 Could be!

[@curlytoes79]

Er, yes...if you watch his skits, you'll see that Charlie McCarthy frequently rags him about his lips moving. Bergen wasn't the most technically gifted ventriloquist, but he was hilarious and charming and Charlie McCarthy (his creation) is an American icon.

[@tonyhorn5856]

curlytoes79 I do wonder why is his lips moving while Charlie is talking like how in the world does he even know what Charlie is going to say before he says it that's talent and these two should think about adding a psychic routine in there comedy act boy how much better it would be

[@tomkelly4336]

@@tonyhorn5856 I think what made him great was his ability to ad-lib.

[@Charlton-j8b]

​@@tonyhorn5856I am gonna say something and it's not a joke: I think Charlie took control of his body to talk. You see, when Bergen died, his daughter actually described him as "squizofriniac" and completly different when he was talking trough Charlie. Also Bergen left all his monedas to the dummy, wich makes me think he actually taught Charlie was alive. In my opinion, Bergen had a multiple personality disorder, and Mccarthy was actually the other personality, wich would explain his improvising skills: They would be real conversations with his other personality, who tales through the dummy.

[@PlayIt4MeAgainSam]

Fantastic! Two brilliant radio personalities with Bergen & Welles.

[@davewanamaker3690]

And Charlie, of course!

[@N3RDYG0GGLES]

These two were an absolute gift, and genuinely really funny

[@okamireader5]

We miss you, Edgar Bergen

[@titan-tm7kl]

I hadn't read anything about Bergen but after reading some comments by Candice makes me appreciate the movie Magic even more

[@dannorth9020]

Bergen also admitted that all of the time spent on radio had made him a bit lazy about hiding his lip movements. Anyway, moving lips is only one part of the ventriloquist's act. The main talent lies in creating two distinct voices and constructing a dialogue between them. I've never heard anyone do this more consistently and delightfully than Bergen & McCarthy.

[@windsofmarchjourneyperrytr2823]

Dan North well, not a hell of a lot of them...I means it's Jeff Dunham and....??

[@grantkelly8696]

Michelle M Agreed. Sadly Ventriloquism is becoming a dying act. No one appreciates the fact Ventriloquists can produce 2 distinct voices, hide the fact it's the same person, and also be great at comedy.

[@jojoUK120]

Grant Kelly ... Nina Conti is a draw here in the UK- there are a few others, but you’re right not many. They have to be so much better technically with being filmed close up.

[@harlowitter3060]

@@grantkelly8696 luckily there will always be people who still love these guys and Jeff Dunham and Jim Henson. So art like this will hopefully never be forgotten, as people like these guys will always be an inspiration to carry on the tradition.

[@karenrichey9788]

Loved, Edgar, Charlie, and Mortiner. Good clean comedy, not like the trash today.

[@MCO18]

Archie Bunker really enjoyed that!

[@CrazyTechy]

Thanks for the video. Love Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy; and Orson Welles War of the Worlds.

[@guenther1]

Thank you Edgar... we loved Charlie, and Mortimer.

[@sockmonkey22]

Like Welles, I think Bergen had a touch of genius. It came through when Orson was featured on their radio show.

[@abc35200]

como he adorado sienpre al mejor para mi ventriloquista del mundo, un muñeco precioso, y señor con una clase inpecable y siendo padre de una bella actriz CANDICE BERGEN, estupendo y maravilloso charlie mccarthye................ charlie se espone desde que paso por manos de david coperfield en el museo SMITHSONIAN

[@charliemccarthy6408]

A great fellow he was.

[@whitelion44]

OH GOD~ I have forgotton how goothey were and how much i miss them

[@StevenTorrey]

I did not know that Charlie McCarthy & Edgar Bergen outdrew Orson Wells' and THE WARS OF THE WORLDS.

[@christybrown5384]

Zeppo Marx is in the audience. 1:43

[@RaveGamingCommunity]

[@tomwilliams9612]

Pretty derned funny stuff From Edgar & Charlie !!!

[@cobainsprodigy]

Best summary of Begen i've ever read!

[@WillowPhlox]

Is that dali in the audience?

[@bcj842]

"Now where was I?" "U were standing right there"

[@ryanfriedman4329]

Oh yes boo some more!

[@awesomecarnage849]

your awesome bergen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ksteiger]

Lucy is a fool if she doesn't get the value of Bergen.

[@untruelies]

its great!!

[@BooBop1987]

Cool!

[@poolside123canadian7]

1:42 Truman Capote!😯 2:21 Caroll O’ Connor

[@fasbc]

Classic!

[@philipclock]

Take me back..

[@dougl.6461]

Brilliant.

[@lilyanderson252]

I just got a Charlie McCarthy dummy

[@tonyhorn5856]

Lily Anderson it's probably the one with to pull string in the back of the neck I make actual full size professional ventriloquist dummy's and I actually have two Charlie McCarthy replicas in my collection I'm willing to sell one give me a cellphone number I can send you photos if interested and we can talk about price etc

[@gabbygabby9930]

@@tonyhorn5856 Wonder how much it would cost to do a replica Benson though.

[@미니언즈러버]

wow!!

[@heru-deshet359]

He was probaly a great inspiration for Jeff Dunham.

[@walterkonig8792]

"Ich will k...... sein", wenn der auf dem Knie nicht der Franz - Peter Tebartz van Elst ist !!! 👍 W.K.👑

[@jorgeh71]

Very funny moment

[@lydiajane9102]

Ooooh so THIS is what Jess meant🤣

[@Vitoria-cy4ti]

💔

[@maroroarocha]

He got.older but the toy is the same

[@jasobres]

One thing I never understood was that McCarthy was supposed to be school-aged and yet why does he wear a tuxedo, a top hat, and a monocle?

[@connorallen8703]

I think it has to do with 1) the time in which he was created the tux was popular, and 2) since they were performers, Edgar would "dress him up" like himself, which was wearing a tux to look nice. He gave Mortimer a different look to vary it up. But I'm not 100% sure.

[@56ghostwriter]

Bergen wasn't the greatest ventriloquist in the world, but he had such a nack for characterization and voice switching.

[@qrzkicks]

Is

[@theinkmonitor]

You people must be easily pleased or have bad eyesight - his lips move! See how he puts his head down to the dummy to try and cover this up. AGSOLUTE RUGGISH!

[@bradymcatee4785]

Lucy Lastic I hope you've spent the last 4 years contemplating that foolish comment.

[@jenbvb]

Lucy Lastic = idiot

[@astonishingpitts]

I feel like people who think that whether or not a ventriloquist's lips move is the only thing that matters, are very much like people who watch a magician only to try and catch his work so they can shout "I know how you did it, the card is behind your hand!". It entirely misses the point of what the act is about. Ventriloquism is a comedy team, created by one person. Bergen's comic timing is impeccable and the relationship between Edgar and Charlie is very believable. But I think some people just can't get past the lip movement. Lucy, everybody knows how the trick is done, and yes, his lips move, but it's really just not the point of the thing at all.

[@greenranger8884]

Idiot Troll