subject: Charlie McCarthy - The Monocle Boy [print this page] Charlie McCarthy - The Monocle Boy Charlie McCarthy - The Monocle Boy
Charlie McCarthy without a shadow of doubt has to be one of the most famous dummies that have ever graced the world with their quality and quick wittedness. Charlie McCarthy was the best dummy of Edgar Bergen. The story goes that Charlie was actually carved out of wood by a carpenter in Illinois who goes by the name of Theodore Mack who sold McCarthy to the then teenage ventriloquist- Edgar Bergen for a mere $35. Charlie McCarthy went on to make Edgar Bergen a huge number of dollars with his fame and popularity seeing no bounds. You have to remember that Charlie McCarthy was just a creation of the real talent of Edgar Bergen who was such a talented ventriloquist and such an excellent comedian that his quick wittedness got translated into McCarthy who entertained the people by really having a go at each and everyone he did not really like. Charlie was first seen by Edgar as just a dummy but when he started venting out his frustrations through the monocle bearing dummy there were no bounds to the popularity of Charlie McCarthy. Charlie's appearance also had a role to play in gaining the popularity that he got after all and it was due to the brilliant characterization of Edgar Bergen of Charlie McCarthy which made Charlie as popular as his ventriloquist. Charlie from the very beginning started out as a young kid who was completely crazy for girls and could do anything for them. He was seen as an extremely naughty and mischievous kid and took attire which consisted of a top hat, tuxedo and the famous monocle. Edgar used Charlie to flirt shamelessly with girls due to his characterization and was always the star of any appearance as is the case with many ventriloquists who actually try to make their dummies gain the real attention of the crowd. Charlie was always seen by the people as a truly out-spoken dummy as Edgar Bergen used him relentlessly to really vent out his frustrations with ease as Charlie McCarthy was famous for his extremely insulting attitude and remarks which made everyone laugh. The feuds of Edgar Bergen with W.C. Fields always comes to mind when Charlie McCarthy's outrageous comments are discussed with Edgar using Charlie to really disgrace W.C. Fields. The radio series 'The Chase and Sanborn Program' truly put Charlie McCarthy amongst the most famous dummies which then became The Charlie McCarthy show later on. Charlie McCarthy put in dazzling performances along with Edgar Bergen in many movies as well like the Goldwyn Follies, Look Who's Laughing, and Here We Go Again and The Muppet Movie. The height of popularity of Charlie McCarthy can only be realized with the fact that Edgar Bergen was awarded an honorary Oscar (wooden Oscar) for his excellent characterization of McCarthy. Charlie McCarthy may have died along with the death of Edgar Bergen but his legacy yet is remembered with huge laughs by all the people who knew Charlie McCarthy.
