A popular vaudeville stunt, recent ventriloquist stars have included the be-freckled Howdy-Doody and the occasional children's television puppet act. Ventriloquists are skilled at moving their hands but not their mouth, and for having no compunction about sticking their entire arm up the backside of a figure they have appointed a personality to.

Ventriloquism should not be attempted at funerals. Though not a convictable offence, it is still considered poor taste to project your voice to sound as though it's coming from the coffin, thus causing family members of the deceased to die of shock.