Ray was my uncle. He was also a member of The Magic Circle; an impressionist; could sing and play the ukulele and was also a comedy scriptwriter. He started his career as a magician/impressionist. He was on the bill during Laurel and Hardy's last tour of Britain. The original ventriloquist was Harry Worth. Stan saw his potential as a comedian and advised him to switch to comedy instead. Ray was his replacement. Harry went on to become a very successful and funny comedian. Stan gave Ray a lot of advice on his act. Lord Charles face is modelled on Stans face. To get to the top in the fifties, you had to be really talented. He met Eric and Ernie during a Summer Season in the early fifties. They remained good friends. It took them all many years of hard work before they reached the top.

@davidluck4608

3 жыл бұрын

Real Talent🧐

@paulhenshall2221

3 жыл бұрын

He is still the greatest ventriloquist this country has ever produced IMHO.

@Hotshotter3000

3 жыл бұрын

Small world. BTW, I studied ventriloquism for a bit and I studied Ray's mannerisms and style a lot. He is, from my observation, one of the best ventriloquists every around. He not only mastered most tropes associated with the profession, but also built upon them in many ways that I cannot get around. Like here, when he makes Lord Charles do the ventriloquist dummy being a ventriloquist bit (which is a very old cliche) he does it with an intense mastery that I cannot fathom. He usually places his fist near his ear when he does most of the voices. I wonder if he did that to control the muscle movement on his face when he was doing some of the more difficult words. I know I did that after seeing his performances, as it did help suppress lip movements in some parts. But then again, he clearly did much more practice than me. I never did a show, but he did hundreds. He is a real inspiration for all people who want to go through with being professional ventriloquests.

@peterward2275

3 жыл бұрын

Your Uncle Ray was the World's Best technical ventriloquist EVER, hands down. 👏💯

@bloodisfrightening1203

2 жыл бұрын

This looks and sounds like you just read his Wikipedia.

I remember when it was announced on Radio 4s Today programme that Ray Allan had passed away . A statement from his family said -"Lord Charles was unavailable for comment" . . . . . . . . English wit at it's best !

@canids

8 жыл бұрын

Classic

@morpheusatloppers

8 жыл бұрын

I love that! I'm sure Ray would have too.

@fatyowls

6 жыл бұрын

That's an awesome statement!

@PawanBhakuni

5 жыл бұрын

How old r u dude

@-NoneOfYourBusiness

5 жыл бұрын

One of the best video and best comment on the whole KZread platform. Thank you for that.

Ray Alan was so good that you tend to forget that Lord Charles was a dummy. The best ever Ventriloquist

@ItsTerryTime

2 жыл бұрын

While he was undoubtedly great, I think what helps as well is that Lord Charles is such a strong, believable character.

@franl155

2 жыл бұрын

I love that Lord Charles has his own mike, which reinforces the illusion.

@jamespasifull3424

2 жыл бұрын

Have you seen how the Americans revere Jeff Dunham? FFS! The guy moves his lips less, when HE'S the one who's talking !!! 🤣🤣🤣

@Jamie_Pritchard

2 жыл бұрын

@@jamespasifull3424 🤣😂😅

@jpbackhouse

Жыл бұрын

He's real, he sits in the House of Lords with a load of dummies.

Extraordinary. I'm skeechless.

A ventriloquist dummy with his own ventriloquist dummy. Just brilliant.

@sha11235

3 жыл бұрын

Right, like Jeff Dunham didn't do this?

@tomkent4656

3 жыл бұрын

@@sha11235 Long afterwards!

@peterward2275

2 жыл бұрын

@@sha11235 Jeff Dunham was probably a child when this was recorded. Get your fact right about who is doing the plagiarising.

@JJONNYREPP

Жыл бұрын

Ray Alan with "Lord Charles" - World's Greatest Ventriloquist - 1986 0437am 1.9.22 probably one of the last vents to appear on the radio....

@robertbrighton9797

Жыл бұрын

@@sha11235 maybe he did but Jeff was probably in high school when this was recorded

I was a sound and lighting engineer at Butlins, Bognor Regis when Ray Allan was one of the visiting artists during the summer season. Whenever we did a sound check Ray would move the dummy closer to the mic....

@postscript67

5 жыл бұрын

It's a nice touch that Lord Charles is wearing a mic in this clip.

@hardtrailrider3374

5 жыл бұрын

Weird that I'm watching this. And I live around 5 miles out of bognor Regis. Tis a small world

@cogidubnus1953

4 жыл бұрын

@@hardtrailrider3374 Better out than in...I live about five miles from you...

@horacehunter8627

4 жыл бұрын

@@hardtrailrider3374 ok

@df3yt

4 жыл бұрын

This was almost funnier than the act I just watched

I think putting a mic on Lord Charles is priceless.

@design7054

Жыл бұрын

Didn't even notice that, what a brilliant detail!

@aliced7505

Жыл бұрын

@@design7054 I didn't notice, either, and I've watched this many times. Yes, he was a genius.

Ray was the best vent this country ever produced. not a tremor or twitch from his mouth. To voice one dummy is hard enough but to voice two, and having to change between them so quickly, is a mark of genius. Lord Charles telling Ray he wished he would keep quiet when Ray gives him his voice is hilarious. R.I.P. Ray, you are sorely missed in these days of talentless overnight wannabes.

As an American kid in the 70's doing ventriloquism, I knew little of the world of the British vents. I knew the puppets were far more sophisticated (no gaps around the mouths) and could do many things. Here, I see this guy, Ray Alan, and I'm absolutely laughing so hard! He took the format of the act to the next level. The way he did the "inside joke" about the labial sounds was a crack-up! More importantly, he was creative and, I can see it clearly, an excellent ventriloquist! Glad he had a marvelous career. Thanks for posting this!

The agsolute gest on the clanet!

@TonyMarinou82

4 жыл бұрын

😬

@MOGGS1942

3 жыл бұрын

@Hoaxcrit And his lips didn't move. 😁

Ray Alan wasn’t just the finest ventriloquist, but the very way he animated Lord Charles is incredible, so realistic 🧐

@antfbi

9 ай бұрын

Also a hell of a basketball player too

."You silly arse!" why does that still make me laugh and as so many have mentioned no bad language , Thank you Ray.

@keithclark6299

3 жыл бұрын

Not a F word ever, not even at private functions, ventriquilism (I know) at it's best. Jimmy Carr and his disgusting humour doesn't even come close

@stevenesq

3 жыл бұрын

@@keithclark6299 so true this is true professionalism without even the need to use obscenities.

@ItsTerryTime

2 жыл бұрын

@@stevenesq While I agree, some would say "arse" was bad language too.

I'd almost forgotten how good a ventriloquist Ray was. Thank you for sharing.

@colinwilkes8957

4 жыл бұрын

Certainly brings back great memories ,and the script is spot on.

@janetwestwood9194

3 жыл бұрын

🤔😅👍🇬🇧

To anyone growing up in Britain in the 60s and 70s, Ray Alan and Lord Charles were the ONLY vent act worth watching! Superb technique, gentle satire, quick-fire wit. This video is a great example of Ray's skill. Brought back many memories.

@briane5706

6 жыл бұрын

Will Dunlop Dont forget Tich and Quackers, a more family oriented act. Wonderfully self-deprecating Ray Allen was unsurpassed both technically and comedic quality. R.I.P.

@keithnaylor1981

4 жыл бұрын

Will Dunlop - he was brilliant but I also remember Arthur (look at me when I'm talking to you) Worsley).

@nigelfinch3481

4 жыл бұрын

Will Dunlop no no no Arthur Worsley was the greatest vent

@keithnaylor1981

4 жыл бұрын

Nigel Finch - Arthur very good, had a brilliant routine and a tough time of trying not to laugh. There's some clips of him on KZread, but this one of Lord Charles with his own dummy is the most inventive sketch ever of 'ventricalism'!

@Trev359

4 жыл бұрын

@@nigelfinch3481 No way was Arthur Worsley in the same class a Ray Alan.

This is the world's best ventriloquists ever and a lot of people look to ray for inspiration he is sadly missed

@victorroque5667

5 жыл бұрын

OK we know that, but who's the guy in the very right??

@ianmedium

4 жыл бұрын

victor roque Brilliant! :)

@georgebuller1914

2 жыл бұрын

@@victorroque5667 LOL!...

There has never been anyone in rays class.This is absolutely one of the funniest things ever.

@johno4521

26 күн бұрын

5.52 - Ray speaks for "Johnny", Lord Charles and himself all in the space of two seconds! Amazing talent.

Lord Charles was an absolute star! Loved it when he called him a "silly arse"

Absolutely wonderful. Ray was one of the best.Trying to run 2 dummies and still be very funny. It may be nearly 30 years old but still a magic piece of TV. Simple but well crafted and impeccable timing.

@madeinuk68

4 жыл бұрын

Andy Haslam great acts like this are timeless.

@colinwilkes8957

4 жыл бұрын

Agree Andy but I doubt it was simple.

@davidluck4608

3 жыл бұрын

I’ve been trying to work out how Ray worked Lord Charles and the little fellow also...... did he have an extra finger?

@netram28

Күн бұрын

@@davidluck4608 "Johnny's" movement was probably operated by Ray's right foot.

I have watched this hundreds of times and it still brings tears to my eyes.

@arthursteven5601

Жыл бұрын

Total agree its so so funny

That's an absolute master at his craft.

The master surely. A few years after this performance Ray Allan was sitting in front of me on a flight out of Gibralter. I swear I heard his hand baggage saying "Let me out!"

@michaelhawthorne8696

3 жыл бұрын

LMAO....Nice comment

@janetwestwood9194

3 жыл бұрын

🤔😅👍🇬🇧

He was absolutely the greatest ventriloquist ever.Its unbelievable,there’s not even the faintest quiver around his mouth!

@darrylashton8428

2 жыл бұрын

Dennis Spicer was the (in my opinion) the best. Ray was good. But Dennis was the one who stood out.

Great Ventriloquist. Both of them..

He was the very best. When I was a kid, I remember he started out with Mikki the Martian (a terrific looking dummy) on children's TV. Then Titch and Quackers, then broke into mainstream TV with Lord Charles. Apparently he also wrote gags for some of Britain's top comedians. Sadly gone, like so many great entertainers and like so much of Britain itself.

Commented on this seven months ago and here I am watching the best ventriloquist ever, over again,, there are some excellent ventriloquist around today, but none as good as Ray Allen 🙏👏👏👏❤️

LMAO when Lord Charles was happily amused at his own joke 😂😂😂😂 his slurry speech and wobbling is so captivating 😍😍😍

@MOGGS1942

2 жыл бұрын

The slurry speech and wobbling probably as a result of one too many glasses of cooking sherry. 😁

@notanumber1311

Жыл бұрын

@@MOGGS1942 Finest Brandy for a Lord. Silly arse.

i never get tired of watching this. so clever. i swear after a few minutes you watch the guy in the middle forgetting Ray is doing it all, it is genious, funny and unique.

This is the best act I’ve ever seen! Blows all the rest out of the water

This guy was the best ventriloquist ever. God bless Ray,rest in peace, remembered always❤️

Ray Alan was the greatest ventriloquist when I was growing up, appearing on a great many variety shows. He was a true master of his art.

Absolute master of his craft.

Ray Alan WAS the greatest vent bar none. I watched him from the Tich & Quackers days through to the many appearances on variety shows in the 70's and 80's. Genius.

Amazing! What a priceless piece of classic ventrikalism! Ray Alan was the best, and this is the most novel idea ever conceived.

The construct of this act is mind blowing. The most difficult script made to appear very easy. Genius!

I had completely forgotten about Ray and Lord Charles. Sat here with tears streaming down my face "I knew I should have got a green duck". Priceless! Thanks for posting this.

The best ventriloquist of all. I remember another couple of 'dummies' he had when I was a boy, called "Tich & Quackers" who were a boy and a duck respectively- not many people remember them. I remember an old boy at a place I worked at in the 1980s and he used to talk like Lord Charles. I always hoped he would say, "You silly arse".

I am 66 and can remember watching them when I was a kid , and it still makes me laugh

@georgebuller1914

2 жыл бұрын

Hi fellow "old-fart" (I'm 64) the kids of today eh! mutter, mumble, gabble gibber, gibber!... ;-)

The way he laughs at the jokes as though it wasn't him that said it gets me!

A great ventriloquist and a wonderful man. Ray you were the best.

No matter how many times I watch this ...and its many..the tears of laughter flow, there will never be anyone else like dear Ray...Thank you

I grew up watching this guy. Liked him all my life. Sunday night at the palladium and many other shows

@plainjayne1981

7 жыл бұрын

Me too

This is how it's done! A masterclass of this stuff!

Fantastic routine from the greatest of all ventriloquists.

"You silly arse!" Marvellous!

This is from the Monkey Bobhouse show! What a genius Ray was. Fantastic talent.

Alas. One of the all time greats.

This is just great to watch!

@plainjayne1981

7 жыл бұрын

Ray Alan and Lord Charles. Classic

Amazing! Especially when they are all talking after one another. I usually catch the ventriloquist talking during the transition but, it seems they all were different people, WELL DONE!

The entire skit I was looking at his mouth. 0 lip movement

@michaelhawthorne8696

3 жыл бұрын

I know what you mean, I'm not sure if the movement I saw was due to him or the poor quality of video.....You don't get better than this, do you....?

@jamespasifull3424

3 жыл бұрын

Now compare him to the 'genius' Jeff Dunham, or Paul Zerdin! They only succeed because Ray Alan's not around to show people how it SHOULD be done!

Amazingly funny !!! I had a relative that was just like him when he had a drink and as a result it has always been my favourite ventriloquist act. He was sooo talented. Shame we don't see the likes of him anymore. Thanks a lot for the upload !!

We shall never see his like again, sadly.

@johno4521

26 күн бұрын

Alan did a kids' version of his act in a show with characters called Tich and Quackers...

Ray Alan... the man who got away with saying "ARSE!" on childrens tv for 20 years! RIP Legend

The best in the business. Sadly missed.

Lovely to see a master at the top of his game. You get so absorbed in the Lord Charles/Johnny act that you almost forget it's Ray Alan doing it all.

Best ventriloquist EVER.

I loved watching Ray Allen and Lord Charles when I was younger you can't beat the classic Ventriloquist especially Shari Lewis.

Loved the Orville, green duck reference near the end!

Love that the dummy has a lapel mike! Brilliant.

@MOGGS1942

3 жыл бұрын

It's a lovely touch.

Genius! Perfect technique, gentle wit, and no smut or swearing. He was the best, and Lord Charles was an inspired creation!

@briane5706

6 жыл бұрын

Ian Dodd Maybe “Silly Arse” may be considered swearing?

@Gambit771

5 жыл бұрын

@@briane5706 If you consider 'silly-arse' to be swearing then I recommend you never leave your house or watch youtube. The shock might kill you.

@briane5706

5 жыл бұрын

Gambit771 I said maybe and that doesn’t affect my opinion that Ray Alan was one of the greatest ventriloquists ever. Lord Charles is a wonderful parody of the English Aristocracy. Silly arse is very mild. I’ve heard (and said) a lot worse.

@hihu7200

5 жыл бұрын

@@briane5706 Silly Arse is like here in Utah where we say gosh, darn, fetch or frick. Is it cursing? It is along the lines of the French saying sacre bleu instead of sacre Deau. The point is that talent precludes the need to curse.

@boofuls

4 жыл бұрын

Brian Edward I gonna say that doesnt count coz it Lord Charles saying it not Ray 🤔😏

I remember watching him as a kid in the sixties, watching these clips over and over again. Absolutely brilliant, the timing and dialogue between Ray and Lord Charles is superb, you can almost believe Lord Charles is real. Ray is a class act, my favourite vent.

Just brilliant. Ray Alan was the greatest. Even though he did steal the "I'm nearer to him than you are" gag from Sandy Powell!

3:34 Love it when Lord Charles takes 3 tries to say hospital, and also love the fact he has a mic on his jacket.

Only Nina Conti can match Ray Allen today; what a professional - really talented, dedicated, and well aware of the surrealist possibilities of the ventriloquist's art. I remember when he retired and, on various chat shows, gave away some of the long-held secrets of his peerless act, such as how to drink a glass of beer while the dummy sings. What struck me as most brilliant was his answer to the question of how to manage the letters 'b' and 'p'; his reply (despite demonstrating here that he could manage them superbly) was one of the best I've ever heard: "Well, I just wrote scripts that had no b's or p's in them." How simple and brilliant is that?

I think nuclear physics's would be easier to learn than this kind of ventriloquism....

That was amazing, I'm glad I came across this.

To Clare Edgar (YT won't allow a reply to it) - Lord Charles was SUPPOSED to sound drunk! The classic belted earl. In his early days, it also gave Ray the opportunity to slide past difficult consonents (although his skill by the time this performance was recorded is clear to see - he even makes a POINT of criticising Lord Charles' vent skills and - as Lord Charles - HITS a difficult consonent [at 3:02]).

@davidluck4608

3 жыл бұрын

It wasn’t just the perfect Ventriloquism, but the animation of Lord Charles, especially the “bouncing” of the head as he turns to confront Ray, absolutely PRICELESS😂 and in my opinion what modern performers lack is the lack of use of the wooden doll, rather than the soft “muppet” characters of today🧐(has anyone noticed this emoji which clearly relates to Lord Charles🧐)

Back in the day this guy was THE best!

@justingoodnow4631

6 жыл бұрын

Still is to this day

@simonprice1938

5 жыл бұрын

STILL IS IN 19.

@colinwilkes8957

4 жыл бұрын

Or even 2020.

Jacob Rees-Mogg working David Cameron from the back

Oh what lovely memories flood back having watched a true genius at work. I can only say well done Lord Allen, even though you seemed to be under the influence of alcohol.

@georgebuller1914

2 жыл бұрын

Illcohol - surely not! ;-)

I remember as a kid my parents taking me to Jackson Earl’s Melody Inn at New Brighton. Ray was often the highlight of the bill.

Nobody will ever be as good as Ray Alan he was just a master at his profession and i also loved sheri lewis both outstanding ventriloquists.. absolutely loved them both..they were the most talented professionals of there kind..loved them as a kid god bless them both👌

Great to see so many people appreciating this clip. I keep searching for more of Ray but there's just nothing out there

I'd forgotten just how good he was. Brilliantly performed. RIP.

I'll never forget this guy, just pure talent. I love how Lord Charles also has a mic clipped on his lapel.....!!!

I love the fact that Lord Charles has a microphone strapped on. This really is a masterclass in how to do ventriloquism properly. Ray Alan's reactions and timing are magnificent. Also a gentle dig at Keith Harris!

This is so well written if you listen closely to the dialogue. Very witty

I like the bit where Lord Charles says, "I didn't say 'guggner' - I said 'governor'" - with a perfect "V". That's Ray showing off, that is! I also like your "handle". The AEC Routemaster was designed to last fifteen years, but like Rolls Royces, about half the examples ever made are still going, somewhere - FIFTY years later. As a kid I loved them - and I love them still!

@guatagel2454

14 күн бұрын

And Hospital with a perfect p. Amazing

Yes. This is Ray's premier number. Some routines fade with time - others evolve, refine. This one turned into an all-time classic!

@MOGGS1942

2 жыл бұрын

But he couldn't have done it without Lord Charles. 😁

Lovely how the Lord tells Ray how hard it is to say hospital while not moving your mouth xD Ventrill-inception, if you ask me.

I wish that big guy would shut up and let charles do his act. 😂😂

He is really a brilliant ventriloquist. Most likely the best one

Brilliant. Brought back so many memories of watching them on tv

Aw I so enjoyed that. It took me back to my childhood, watching him on tv with my family. I was always enthralled and found Lord Charles very funny. I could never get my head around how Ray did it without moving my mouth. I remember trying out words in front of a mirror but I realised very quickly that I would never be a ventriloquist. RIP Ray Alan….and Lord Charles xx

I love it when i get these random videos pop up. It takes me back to when great entertainment was on tv. Now it's all cookery programmes and fly on the wall emergency services programmes. Thanks for posting this clip, it made me laugh out loud. 👏👏

Simply the Best !! RIP Ray.

I always loved his act. A genius and a great comedian.

RIP Ray - 60's and 70's wouldn't have been the same without you. Thanks for the happiness.

BEAUTIFUL ! it's great to see such marvellous work, that we used to take so much for granted, passing the test of time.

Wow, that was next level stuff, and even more amazing if you have ever tried ventriloquism and understand how not so easy it can be!

@georgebuller1914

2 жыл бұрын

Me, I never really got past "A , GEE, See!" LOL

classic I was cracking up laughing..how he can keep track of it all...soooo funny

Class, thank you so much for this post

Absolute QUALITY........and true quality my friends is absolutely timeless.

Ventriloquinception

@eddiemglass

4 жыл бұрын

I think Paul Zerdin's baby chewed off a bit of that.

It's good that Charles is a ventriloquist

It's just amazing to watch Ray at work!! I remember seeing him 20 odd years ago, wondering "how the heck does he DO that?". Seeing him again now, I still don't know how he manages to pull it off. A genuine "Performing Artist" if ever there was one. Probably the best "vent" you'll ever see..........Lord Charles is so REAL...especially if you see more than just this one routine.... Many thanks Ray for you talent, gifts and for sharing them with us.

I'd forgotten what a genius he was. The fact I was still laughing at this nearly 40 years later shows how timeless good comedy is. I seem to remember him doing a regular sketch with the studio microphone as well. Very clever and funny man. The best!

Ray Allen & Lord Charles; very greatly missed.

My first time seeing a Ray Allan, and Lord Charles performance. About to comment, when I found out he passed away in 2010. This gentleman had talent, and Lord Charles's personality was awesome. Couldn't stop laughing. What a spectacular ventriloquist and amazing act. RIP Sir Allan.🕊

i come back to watch this once a month. still the best I've ever seen!

Ray Allan was a genius. It’s not just that you didn’t see his lips move, he was effortless. No sign at all of any vocal movements or facial strain.