SW
Señor Wences
Actor
Born April 17, 1896Died April 20, 1999 (103 years)
The Spanish born ventriloquist Senor Wences was one of the highest paid vaudeville acts in the world. Hugely popular with American tv audiences Wences was also a top nightclub favourite.
Born Wenceslao Moreno in Peñaranda de Bracamonte, Salamanca (Spain) Wences began performing ventrilquism as a child An early career in bullfighting proved unsuccessful so he took up ventriloquism and juggling professionally. Wences toured Europe in the 1920s before coming to America in 1935 where he made his New York debut at the Club Chico.
He became an overnight sensation on TV's The Milton Berle Show and later made apperances on the Ed Sullivan Show and TV specials with Jack Benny and Perry Como. In 1947 he had stand-out cameo in the film comedy Mother Wore Tights, starring Dan Dailey and Betty Grable.
Among his famous vent characters were 'Johnny', ingeniously formed by one of Wences hands and 'Pedro', a torso-less head in a box. In the middle of a routine Wences would lift the lid of the box and say "Are you alright?" to which Pedro would reply "S'alright". "S'alright" - which became a classic catchphrase.
In 1986 Wences toured America with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller in the musical Sugar Babies. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Comedy Hall of Fame which was inscribed "For his devotion to entertaining generations of audiences and bringing countless hours of joy and happiness to millions throughout the world."
Born Wenceslao Moreno in Peñaranda de Bracamonte, Salamanca (Spain) Wences began performing ventrilquism as a child An early career in bullfighting proved unsuccessful so he took up ventriloquism and juggling professionally. Wences toured Europe in the 1920s before coming to America in 1935 where he made his New York debut at the Club Chico.
He became an overnight sensation on TV's The Milton Berle Show and later made apperances on the Ed Sullivan Show and TV specials with Jack Benny and Perry Como. In 1947 he had stand-out cameo in the film comedy Mother Wore Tights, starring Dan Dailey and Betty Grable.
Among his famous vent characters were 'Johnny', ingeniously formed by one of Wences hands and 'Pedro', a torso-less head in a box. In the middle of a routine Wences would lift the lid of the box and say "Are you alright?" to which Pedro would reply "S'alright". "S'alright" - which became a classic catchphrase.
In 1986 Wences toured America with Mickey Rooney and Ann Miller in the musical Sugar Babies. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Comedy Hall of Fame which was inscribed "For his devotion to entertaining generations of audiences and bringing countless hours of joy and happiness to millions throughout the world."
Filmography
| 2009 | I'm No Dummy · as Self |
| 2005 | |
| 1996 | Classic Stand-Up Comedy of Television · as Self |
| 1992 | Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show' · as Self - Puppeteer |
| 1986 | |
| 1982 | Late Night With David Letterman (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1979 | The Paul Daniels Magic Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1977 | Crazy Horse de Paris · as Self |
| 1976 | The Muppet Show (TV Series) · as Self - Special Guest Star |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Ventriloquist |
| 1958 | Garry Moore Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1957 | The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1956 | The Steve Allen Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1955 | Tonight at the London Palladium (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1950 | The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Perry Como Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Milton Berle Show (TV Series) · as Self - Ventriloquist |
| 1947 | Mother Wore Tights · as Señor Wences |