Señor Wences
Encyclopedia
Wenceslao Moreno better known as Señor Wences, was a Spanish
ventriloquist
. His popularity grew with his frequent appearances on CBS-TV
's Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s and 1960s.
, Salamanca
, Spain
. His father was Antonio Moreno Ross, artist, and his mother was Josefa Centeno Lavera, both from Salamanca. His name Wenceslao is of Czech origin (Václav) meaning "victorious". As a newborn, his family was so destitute that his birth certificate was three days late being filed. (This has led to some confusion regarding Moreno's age at death.)
and his own voice at amazing speed. Wences would create Johnny's face on stage to open his act, placing his thumb next to, and in front of, his bent first finger; the first finger would be the upper lip, and the thumb the lower lip. He used lipstick to draw the lips onto the respective fingers and then drew eyes onto the upper part of the first finger, finishing the effect with a tiny long-haired wig on top of his hand. Flexing the thumb would move the "lips."
Another popular Wences character was the gruff-voiced Pedro, a disembodied head in a box. Wences was forced to suddenly invent the character when his regular, full-sized dummy was destroyed during a 1936 train accident en route to Chicago. Pedro would either 'speak' from within the closed box, or speak with moving lips — simply growling, "s'awright" ("it's all right") — when Wences opened the box's front panel with his free hand. A large part of Wences' comedy lay in the well-timed, high-speed exchange of words between himself and his creations, and in the difference in their voice pitches.
Part of Wences's act involved the ventriloquist throwing his voice while his mouth was otherwise engaged (smoking or drinking). Another favorite prop was a telephone, with Wences playing both sides of a telephone conversation. For the "caller" he simulated a "filtered" voice as it would sound over a telephone wire. This voice always began a conversation with a shouted "Moreno?" (Wences's true surname), with Wences in person patiently explaining, "No, Moreno is not here."
Wences usually built to a big finish that combined ventriloquism with juggling
and plate-spinning. As Wences performed his routines, Pedro and Johnny mercilessly heckled him with flawless comedic timing.
Although he was an international favorite for decades, his main career was made in the United States, where he arrived in 1934 or 1935. In addition to live performances at nightclubs, he appeared regularly on TV variety show
s, especially his 48 frequent appearances on CBS's Ed Sullivan Show; on Broadway
; in Las Vegas
casino theatres; and in feature films. Much later in his career he was introduced to a new generation of fans on The Muppet Show
. His last TV appearance was on The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show, #2, a retrospective in which nonagenarian Wences talked about "Suliban" and performed a brief spot of ventriloquism.
Wences pronounced his name the traditional Castilian
way, which in English sounds like "WEN-thess". After Sullivan would announce him saying his name as "Señor Wen-sess", the ventriloquist would subtly correct Sullivan's pronunciation by announcing himself to the audience: "Hello, I am Señor Wen-thess".
In the early 1980s, a Tri-State Honda
dealer's commercial featured Señor Wences with Johnny. Pedro's "s'awright" was a voice from the tricked out glovebox
. Señor Wences would point out all of the car's features to which Johnny would reply, "Nice!" This may have been Señor Wences final commercial appearance. It was shot in Puerto Rico
because its star declined to travel to New York.
Another involved explaining to his hand puppet Johnny that something was easy (or difficult) to do, to which the puppet would reply the contrary, such as, "Easy for you, for me ees very deefeecult!" in his Spanish accent.
These catchphrases were incorporated into a record Wences released in 1959 by Joy Records
, featuring the songs "S-All Right? S-All Right" and "Deefeecult For You-Easy For Me."
Despite his retirement by age 100, Wences' famous puppets Johnny and Pedro "continued working". Ventriloquist Michele LaFong
performed at Wences' 100th birthday celebration at New York's Friars Club
(where he was made a lifetime member), and he was so impressed that he befriended LaFong. Not only did he give her his puppets, but also taught her how to perform his classic routines. Las Vegas headliner LaFong is the only ventriloquist authorized by the Wences Estate to perform Johnny and Pedro, plus Wences' routines.
Wences died just after his 103rd birthday. He had been residing in New York City's Upper West Side
on 54th Street, just around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theater
. That section of 54th Street has been named Señor Wences Way. His portrait can be seen at the Players Club in New York.
, and the second was born in Russia
. His nephew José Luis Moreno and brother Felipe Moreno were also ventriloquists. Wences has a a son in Chile
and a granddaughter Marcela Moreno in the US.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
ventriloquist
Ventriloquism
Ventriloquism, or ventriloquy, is an act of stagecraft in which a person manipulates his or her voice so that it appears that the voice is coming from elsewhere, usually a puppeteered "dummy"...
. His popularity grew with his frequent appearances on CBS-TV
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
's Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s and 1960s.
Early life
Wences was born in Peñaranda de BracamontePeñaranda de Bracamonte
Peñaranda de Bracamonte is a village and municipality in the province of Salamanca, western Spain, part of the autonomous community of Castile-Leon...
, Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. His father was Antonio Moreno Ross, artist, and his mother was Josefa Centeno Lavera, both from Salamanca. His name Wenceslao is of Czech origin (Václav) meaning "victorious". As a newborn, his family was so destitute that his birth certificate was three days late being filed. (This has led to some confusion regarding Moreno's age at death.)
Career
Wences was known for his speed, skill, and grace as a ventriloquist. His stable of characters included Johnny, a childlike face drawn on Wences' hand, which he would place atop an otherwise headless doll and with whom Wences conversed while switching his voices between Johnny's falsettoFalsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
and his own voice at amazing speed. Wences would create Johnny's face on stage to open his act, placing his thumb next to, and in front of, his bent first finger; the first finger would be the upper lip, and the thumb the lower lip. He used lipstick to draw the lips onto the respective fingers and then drew eyes onto the upper part of the first finger, finishing the effect with a tiny long-haired wig on top of his hand. Flexing the thumb would move the "lips."
Another popular Wences character was the gruff-voiced Pedro, a disembodied head in a box. Wences was forced to suddenly invent the character when his regular, full-sized dummy was destroyed during a 1936 train accident en route to Chicago. Pedro would either 'speak' from within the closed box, or speak with moving lips — simply growling, "s'awright" ("it's all right") — when Wences opened the box's front panel with his free hand. A large part of Wences' comedy lay in the well-timed, high-speed exchange of words between himself and his creations, and in the difference in their voice pitches.
Part of Wences's act involved the ventriloquist throwing his voice while his mouth was otherwise engaged (smoking or drinking). Another favorite prop was a telephone, with Wences playing both sides of a telephone conversation. For the "caller" he simulated a "filtered" voice as it would sound over a telephone wire. This voice always began a conversation with a shouted "Moreno?" (Wences's true surname), with Wences in person patiently explaining, "No, Moreno is not here."
Wences usually built to a big finish that combined ventriloquism with juggling
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
and plate-spinning. As Wences performed his routines, Pedro and Johnny mercilessly heckled him with flawless comedic timing.
Although he was an international favorite for decades, his main career was made in the United States, where he arrived in 1934 or 1935. In addition to live performances at nightclubs, he appeared regularly on TV variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
s, especially his 48 frequent appearances on CBS's Ed Sullivan Show; on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
; in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
casino theatres; and in feature films. Much later in his career he was introduced to a new generation of fans on The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes...
. His last TV appearance was on The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show, #2, a retrospective in which nonagenarian Wences talked about "Suliban" and performed a brief spot of ventriloquism.
Wences pronounced his name the traditional Castilian
Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish is a term related to the Spanish language, but its exact meaning can vary even in that language. In English Castilian Spanish usually refers to the variety of European Spanish spoken in north and central Spain or as the language standard for radio and TV speakers...
way, which in English sounds like "WEN-thess". After Sullivan would announce him saying his name as "Señor Wen-sess", the ventriloquist would subtly correct Sullivan's pronunciation by announcing himself to the audience: "Hello, I am Señor Wen-thess".
In the early 1980s, a Tri-State Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
dealer's commercial featured Señor Wences with Johnny. Pedro's "s'awright" was a voice from the tricked out glovebox
Glovebox
A glovebox is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects where a separate atmosphere is desired. Built into the sides of the glovebox are gloves arranged in such a way that the user can place their hands into the gloves and perform tasks inside the box without breaking...
. Señor Wences would point out all of the car's features to which Johnny would reply, "Nice!" This may have been Señor Wences final commercial appearance. It was shot in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
because its star declined to travel to New York.
Catchphrases
One of Wences's trademark bits of shtick (referenced several times below) involves his dialogue with a low voice emanating from inside a box. At the opening of the dialogue he would shout, "Hello in the box!" At the conclusion of the dialogue, he would open the lid of the box and ask "S'awright?" ("It's all right?") and the box voice would answer "S'awriiight!"Another involved explaining to his hand puppet Johnny that something was easy (or difficult) to do, to which the puppet would reply the contrary, such as, "Easy for you, for me ees very deefeecult!" in his Spanish accent.
These catchphrases were incorporated into a record Wences released in 1959 by Joy Records
Joy Records
Joy Records was a New York record label and was owned by Hal and Mariam Weiss. It began in 1958 and finished 1965 after releasing 80 or so singles...
, featuring the songs "S-All Right? S-All Right" and "Deefeecult For You-Easy For Me."
Death and legacy
Wences received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the US National Comedy Hall of Fame in 1996.Despite his retirement by age 100, Wences' famous puppets Johnny and Pedro "continued working". Ventriloquist Michele LaFong
Michele LaFong
Michele LaFong is a comedian, ventriloquist, and official protégé of the late Señor Wences.In 1996, LaFong performed for Wences at his 100th birthday celebration at the New York Friars' Club...
performed at Wences' 100th birthday celebration at New York's Friars Club
Friars Club
Friars Club can refer to:* The New York Friars' Club* The Friars Club of Beverly Hills* The Friar Society, University of Texas at Austin* The Friars , Louisiana State University* "The Friars Club", a Seinfeld episode...
(where he was made a lifetime member), and he was so impressed that he befriended LaFong. Not only did he give her his puppets, but also taught her how to perform his classic routines. Las Vegas headliner LaFong is the only ventriloquist authorized by the Wences Estate to perform Johnny and Pedro, plus Wences' routines.
Wences died just after his 103rd birthday. He had been residing in New York City's Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
on 54th Street, just around the corner from the Ed Sullivan Theater
Ed Sullivan Theater
The Ed Sullivan Theater, located at 1697-1699 Broadway between West 53rd and West 54th, in Manhattan, is a venerable radio and television studio in New York City...
. That section of 54th Street has been named Señor Wences Way. His portrait can be seen at the Players Club in New York.
Personal life
Wences married Esperanza Martin (1902–1983); for her he named Johnny as "Johnny Martin." His second and last wife, Natalie Cover, née Eisler (1917–2005) was also his manager. His first wife was born in North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and the second was born in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. His nephew José Luis Moreno and brother Felipe Moreno were also ventriloquists. Wences has a a son in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and a granddaughter Marcela Moreno in the US.
In popular culture
- At the end of a 1959 episode of the cartoon series Quick Draw McGrawQuick Draw McGrawThe Quick Draw McGraw Show is the third cartoon television production created by Hanna-Barbera starring an anthropomorphic cartoon horse named Quick Draw McGraw following their success with The Ruff & Reddy Show and The Huckleberry Hound Show. The show debuted in syndication in the fall of 1959,...
, Quick Draw McGraw and his sidekick Baba LooeyBaba LooeyBaba Looey is a fictional anthropomorphic Mexican burro that appeared in The Quick Draw McGraw Show. He is deputy and best friend to Quick Draw McGraw. He was voiced by Daws Butler.Character:...
repeat the famous lines of "S'awriiiight". The line is also used in The MunstersThe MunstersThe Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!Scooby-Doo, Where are You!Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! is the first incarnation of the long-running Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo. It premiered on September 13, 1969 at 10:30 a.m. EST and ran for two seasons on CBS as a half-hour long show. Twenty-five episodes were produced...
, CheersCheersCheers is an American situation comedy television series that ran for 11 seasons from 1982 to 1993. It was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television for NBC, and was created by the team of James Burrows, Glen Charles, and Les Charles...
, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Wacky RacesWacky RacesWacky Races is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera. The series features 11 different cars racing against each other in various road rallies throughout North America, with each driver hoping to win the title of the "World's Wackiest Racer." Wacky Races ran on CBS from September...
, Mad MenMad MenMad Men is an American dramatic television series created and produced by Matthew Weiner. The series premiered on Sunday evenings on the American cable network AMC and are produced by Lionsgate Television. It premiered on July 19, 2007, and completed its fourth season on October 17, 2010. Each...
, Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
, and Roger RamjetRoger RamjetRoger Ramjet is an animated American children's television comedy series that first ran in 1965 and has aired in syndication since. Starring Roger Ramjet and the American Eagle Squadron, the show was known for its crude animation, frenetic pace, and frequent references to popular culture, which... - In the 1965 Chilly WillyChilly WillyChilly Willy is a cartoon character, a diminutive anthropomorphic penguin living in Alaska, although the species is native only to the southern hemisphere. He was created by Paul J. Smith for the Walter Lantz studio in 1953...
cartoon "Half-Baked Alaska", Chilly and Smedly did a routine similar to the "Nice? Nice" act. A similar gag happens at the end of "Pesty Guest", produced that same year. - In the 1979 movie The In-Laws, a South American dictator speaks to the protagonists indirectly, via a "Johnny"-like character drawn on his hand named "Señor Pepe." At that point, any doubts they may have had about his sanity are confirmed.
- In "Fat Butt and Pancake HeadFat Butt and Pancake Head"Fat Butt and Pancake Head" is fifth episode of the seventh season of the Comedy Central series South Park. It was originally broadcast on April 16, 2003.- Plot :...
", a 2003 episode of the animated television series South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
, Eric CartmanEric CartmanEric Theodore Cartman is a fictional character in the American animated television series South Park. One of four main characters, along with Stan Marsh, Kyle Broflovski, and Kenny McCormick, he is generally referred to within the series by his last name...
creates a hand puppet in the style of Señor Wences' Johnny. Cartman and the puppet also go through several of Señor Wences's classic routines. - In Disney's Aladdin, there are two references to Señor Wences. The first happens when Aladdin first meets the Genie, (Robin WilliamsRobin WilliamsRobin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
) who describing himself as "often imitated", employs a dummy and a high-pitched, Spanish-accented voice similar to Johnny. The second is near the end of the film, when Aladdin suggests Jafar wish to be a genie. The Genie makes a Johnny-like hand puppet. - In the Sam & MaxSam & MaxSam & Max is a media franchise focusing on the fictional characters of Sam and Max, the Freelance Police. The characters, who occupy a universe that parodies American popular culture, were created by Steve Purcell in his youth, and later debuted in a 1987 comic book series...
comic book, Bad Day on the Moon, Max spends a brief time as disembodied spirit in possession of Sam's hand, taking on the appearance of a Johnny-type puppet, except with bunny ears, and saying the "S'awright" line. - In the novel CarameloCarameloCaramelo is a 2002 novel by American author Sandra Cisneros. It was inspired by her Mexican heritage and childhood in the barrio of Chicago, Illinois. The main character, Lala, is the only girl in a family of seven children and her family often travels between Chicago and Mexico City...
, one of the characters meets Señor Wences in a Chicago jail cell. - In the movie America's SweetheartsAmerica's SweetheartsAmerica's Sweethearts is a 2001 romantic comedy film, directed by Joe Roth, starring Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, John Cusack, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. The film also stars Keri Lynn Pratt, Hank Azaria, Stanley Tucci, Seth Green, Alan Arkin, and Christopher Walken, and features a cameo appearance...
, when Lee Phillips (Billy CrystalBilly CrystalWilliam Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
) urges Dave Kingman (Stanley TucciStanley TucciStanley Tucci is an American actor, writer, film producer and film director. He has been nominated for several notable film awards, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in The Lovely Bones...
) that they have to make a film with an actor that Phillips insists is a genius, Kingman responds, "No, there's only one genius in this business, and that was Señor Wences. A little lipstick, some hair, and his hand, and the guy had a career for 85 years!" - On the July 14, 2009 episode of The Colbert Report, host Stephen ColbertStephen ColbertStephen Tyrone Colbert is an American political satirist, writer, comedian, television host, and actor. He is the host of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, a satirical news show in which Colbert portrays a caricatured version of conservative political pundits.Colbert originally studied to be an...
used a Johnny-like character named Senator Wences to question Supreme CourtSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
nominee Sonia SotomayorSonia SotomayorSonia Maria Sotomayor is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, serving since August 2009. Sotomayor is the Court's 111th justice, its first Hispanic justice, and its third female justice....
during her confirmation hearing. - In the May 20, 2010 The Rush Limbaugh ShowThe Rush Limbaugh ShowThe Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, LimbaughRush LimbaughRush Hudson Limbaugh III is an American radio talk show host, conservative political commentator, and an opinion leader in American conservatism. He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United...
derisively referred to the President of Mexico, Felipe CalderónFelipe CalderónFelipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
, as Senor Weñces and gave a short review of who Señor Wences is. Limbaugh explained the comparison as Calderón seemed to be a puppet, articulating US President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's philosophies during the State visit press conference on May 19, 2010.