Every Body a Ventriloquist. A History of Ventriloquism, with Instructions and Anecdotes Combined, Being a Highly Diverting Combination of Eccentric and Amusing Anecdotes, Illustrating the Astonishing Effects Produced by the Remarkable Faculty of Ventriloquism, as Practised by Signor Blitz.

“We modestly recommend our little Book—we think it a Bijou in the world of fun”

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Rare, one copy in OCLC (Brown University) only, this pamphlet offers instructions to the beginning ventriloquist or imitator of voices and sounds. Included here are two monosyllabic practice “dialogues” and a series of 21 anecdotes involving Signor Blitz, the popular magician, ventriloquist and entertainer.

These often humorous stories are reprinted from newspapers all around the United States. They both emphasize Blitz’ popularity and his skills as a stage and street performer; his street acts likely perpetrated in order to garner publicity and draw patrons to his stage shows. (This asks the question: was this pamphlet intended as a “pitch book”?

Signor Blitz (1810–1877), born in England Antonio van Zandt, perfected his craft in Europe and emigrated from England to New York in 1834. Settling in Philadelphia, he traveled and performed throughout the United States as a magician, ventriloquist, and bird handler. Blitz was on the circuit for decades, beginning in the 1830s.

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