Wenceslao Moreno

Better known as "Senor Wences", the ventriloquist was a well-known fixture on the popular Ed Sullivan Show, speaking with a Spanish accent to his hand puppet, Johnny, and the popular "puppet-in-a-box", Pedro, created when one of his puppets was damaged in transit and only the head survived. Their banter -- with Wences asking "S'OK?" and Pedro answering "S'awright!" -- was a catchphrase with Sullivan audiences during the 1950s and '60s. Johnny really was a hand puppet: he consisted only of Wences' hand with a drawn-on mouth and a tiny wig over the top of his fist. But what a talented hand: Wences would give Johnny a puff from a cigarette and Johnny would blow smoke rings. In addition to his many appearances with Sullivan, Wences toured with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and often played in Las Vegas. Wences, who was born in Penarada, Spain, died April 20 at his home in New York City. He was 103. From This is True for 18 April 1999 Suggestions for further reading: Right Here on Our Stage Tonight!: Ed Sullivan's America (Ahmanson Foundation ... by Gerald Nachman Amazon Price: $19.77 Customer Review: Gerald Nachman, whose previous books, "Raised on Radio" and "Seriously Funny: The Rebel Comedians of the 50's and 60's," were informative and enjoyable reading, lived up to those standards with "Right Here on Our Stage Tonight." With fascinatin...   Impresario: The Life and Times of Ed Sullivan by James Maguire Amazon Price: $24.95 Customer Review: This is a decent bio, and very interesting as a cultural history. However, it's a terrible Kindle adaptation...the font reads poorly (at any size) and the photo captions are microscopic.   Sundays with Sullivan: How the Ed Sullivan Show Brought Elvis, the Beatles, a... by Bernie Ilson Amazon Price: $15.77 Customer Review: Its here. I'm looking forward to reading it. It arrived in excellent condition. Thank you.   A Really Big Show: A Visual History of The Ed Sullivan Show by John Leonard Amazon Price: Customer Review: I had seen this book in a doctor's office and really enjoyed it. I ordered my copy from Amazon and I have been thoroughly satisfied with my purchase. The book was in excellent shape and came in a very timely manner.   Elvis Presley Calls His Mother After The Ed Sulliv by Samuel Charters Amazon Price: $10.95   Newsfeed display by CaRP

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