Paul Winchell Announces Comeback

Paul Winchell Announces Comeback at Rare Appearance at Santa Monica Puppetry Center

SANTA MONICA, CA (PRWEB) March 7, 2004 --Legendary ventriloquist Paul Winchell announces comeback

Dr. Paul Winchell, world-famous ventriloquist and television star, announces a dramatic set of programs designed to bring back some of his work as well as resurrecting his entire set of vintage memorable characters including Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff in a contemporary format. Dr. Winchell is also known as the voice of Tigger in the Winnie The Pooh movies.

In celebration of Dummy Days (Angel City Press), an exciting new book about modern ventriloquists and Winchell's new autobiography, WINCH, Winchell will appear at the Santa Monica Puppetry Center for a rare evening of entertainment and education.

Dr. Winchell will announce a new worldwide streaming children's website currently being constructed, several animation projects, his new autobiography, WINCH, and a major film series based on this book and its sequels. The book, WINCH (1stBooks), will be available soon from all online booksellers and most bookstores.

Winchell, who starred in such 1950s programs as The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy, will announce this broad-based set of projects during a special interview with writer and film director Kelly Asbury - author of Dummy Days. A special event dubbed 'Dummy Days - An Evening With Paul Winchell - will include screenings of some of his vintage shows, along with the special interview segment.

PAUL WINCHELL
Winchell began his career in 1936 as a teenage winner on the "Major Bowes Amateur Hour," and went on to become a star of 1950's television with his "partners," Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff.

Winchell was a "quadruple" threat - he could sing, act and dance, in addition to his flawless ventriloquism. His 1960's series "Winchell-Mahoney Time" continued his pioneering work as a television puppeteer.

He also guest starred on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Lucy Show and The Dick Van Dyke show and was the voice of Tigger in the Winnie The Pooh films.

Winchell is also an author and inventor - most notably of one of the first practical artificial hearts. An overview of his work can be seen at www.paulwinchell.com.

KELLY ASBURY
Kelly Asbury's work for Walt Disney as a storyboard artist included "The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Toy Story." He served as art director for the Roger Rabbit short film, "Roller Coaster Rabbit" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

At DreamWorks/SKG, Kelly worked as a storyboard artist for "The Prince of Egypt," "Chicken Run" and "Shrek," and in 2002 he was one of the directors of "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron."

Asbury is one of the directors of the upcoming animated motion picture "Shrek II."

He has also written and illustrated a number of books for young children and most recently, Dummy Days, focusing on the five stars of the golden age of ventriloquism, Edgar Bergen, Senor Wences, Jimmy Nelson, Shari Lewis and Paul Winchell.

SANTA MONICA PUPPETRY CENTER
The Santa Monica Puppetry Center has seen more than 45,000 visitors participate in its recent Puppetolio! exhibition - Steve Meltzer's show for all ages, featuring marionettes, ventriloquism, music and magic.

The Center, now in its seventh year, houses a collection of more than 400 puppets and a workshop, designed to preserve puppetry's history and promoting its future.

WHAT: Dummy Days - An Evening With Paul Winchell
WHEN: Saturday, March 13, at 8 p.m.
   Book Signing at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Santa Monica Puppetry Center
             1255 2nd Street
                Santa Monica, Calif.
All Seats: $25.00
Advance sale: 310 656-0483
www.PUPPETMAGIC.com

For information about Paul Winchell and his projects including complimentary review copies, contact:

Johnny Blue Star at 760-323-0193
or e-mail: news@paulwinchell.com
For information about the show,
contact Steve Meltzer: 310 656-0483
or e-mail: smpuppets@aol.com