Bag Reviews

Willie Tyler's rambunctious buddy Lester has become so real to his audiences that when Willie is spotted without him, fans have been known to ask if Lester is ill. With his impish grin and twinkling brown eyes, Goldberger's Lester Ventriloquist Doll looks remarkably well--and perfectly ready to cause some mischief. He's dressed in a white turtleneck with a tan corduroy vest and plaid flannel trousers. With his matching plaid cap, round wire-rimmed glasses, and unruly hair, Lester looks like an icon of the early 1970s. He's a fairly lightweight fellow, with a stuffed body and vinyl hands and head. A hidden string pull at the back of his neck works his jaw; it seemed stiff, but its tendency to pull his head back was easily worked out with some practice at positioning the doll. Lester comes with a set of simple instructions for beginning ventriloquists (you'll quickly gain an appreciation for the work the pros put into making it look so natural). He'd be a great gift for your favorite show biz buff or would-be ventriloquist. --Julie Ubben