Señor Wences (1896-1999)
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Alias:
Wenceslao Moreno
Birthplace:
Salamanca, Castilla y León, Spain
Born:
April 17, 1896
Died:
April 20, 1999
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."