CONGRATULATIONS to The BLACKPOOL MAGIC CONVENTION Winners!
(Blackpool England, The World's Largest Magic Convention)
Children's Entertainer World Championship Awards go to:
1st Place - JOHN KIMMONS (right) & Winner of the
Ken Dodd Comedy Award (left)! (Probably a first for a Children's entertainer.)
John used "Charlie" the Axtell Willie the Kid & a rope!
2nd - DAVE ALLEN (left) - Used the Axtell Remote Control Magic Drawing Board and a Youcan Toucan puppet 3rd - ANDY CLOCKWISE (right) used the Axtell Neurotic Rat and a Dodo bird
We are so excited that all 3 winners used Axtell Products! Wow!
This message has been edited by axtell on Mar 5, 2008 11:55 AM This message has been edited by axtell on Mar 1, 2008 6:22 AM
I would like to thank Steve and his team for creating what I consider to be the worlds best puppets. Coming third in the world is fantastic AND I did use 2 Axtell puppets in my act. I performed a non vent routine with the bird (just goes to show that you do not need to be a vent to use a puppet) and a quick vent routine with the Rat.
Congrats, Andy.
I remember my first visit to Blackpool in the late seventies where I was persuaded that my pint should be switched from mild to bitter.
Blackpool..the piers..the only surviving music hall acts..(Scottish Week-wow!)like Vegas..original big-time live shows. Impressed on your coup.
Again, this Toronto-area colonial wishes you the best.
Ron
Nice to have you stop by Andy.... please keep coming and share your expertise in many areas. Also let me know when your video of the event are up and we'll post it on the Axtell site.
I've got to echo what Andy said - Axtell's amazing puppets transformed my show into what it is today. Charlie (my Willie the Kid) is far more popular with audiences than I am!
Winning at Blackpool was probably the high point of my performing career and it was a wonderful opportunity to work with some of the 'modern greats' of children's entertainment like Dave and Andy.
These puppets take on a different personality with each hand that goes in them.Willie the Kid is different in everyone's hands. You have created a character out of him that is uniquely "Charlie" for your act. Obviously part of your magic is how upset you get with him...your energetic reactions and tantrums are what sell his impish behavior....or behaviour.
Congratulations again...and for you folks that have not yet seen Kimmo & Charlie in action please check out the video and read "Winning Smiles" The John Kimmons Story here
I was also in the world chamionships at Blackpool, and it looks like I came fourth. John, Dave and Andy were nice blokes, great performers, and deserved to be the top three. Congratulations! However, I realise I might have been up there with them if I used one of my Axtell props. Damn!! JR
This is what happens when you leave Axtell stuff in the closet. Ha! What an honor to have Jolly Rogers with us here at the forum. Not only is he a magical inventor himself, but he uses our products too! Thanks for stopping by...this is starting to be the "whos-who" of entertainment!
I hate to be pedantic, but there is no "s" on the end of Jolly Roger. You are confusing me with the one and only "Mr. Rogers"!!
I will tell you, AX, that I love your products. I have used the Magic drawing Board for about 20 years!!!! I am not a ventriloquist, but that is unimportant. I currently do a routine with Vern(who I call William). It is his first birthday. He comes out of a basket, and I have fun using props like Ridiculous Rose, Kovari's Bunch of wilting Roses, a string of sausages from the birthday hat(which William wears), a green feather duster which becomes flowers(they match William's feathers....and he is very upset that I plucked them off him), a rope trick involving Ridiculous(4 handled) scissors amongst other things. Once again, not vent and non-stop laughter!! I do not want to post the video, as everyone will steal it!!! It runs about 8 minutes. JR
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