100 Years Ago: Famous Ventriloquist and Alton Native Dies

Actor, ventriloquist, letter carrier, and Panama–California Exposition gatekeeper George Mold died on April 25, 1926. An Alton Evening Telegraph article the next day announced the news. At the time of his death, Mold resided in Coronado Beach, California, but he grew up in Alton and frequently came back to the area to visit family and friends.

George Mold moved to Wichita, Kansas, as a young man, and made “quite a success in amateur theatricals” there. In 1893, he played Ben Hur in Ben Hur, and newspapers in the city praised his performance. Several years later, he discovered ventriloquism. Mold decided to take his show on the road, and accepted a bet with a Wichita business owner, Charles Henderson, to embark on a four-year silent journey.

“On a wager of $10,000 George J. Mold, an ex-letter carrier and formerly an actor, will set off for a trip around the world January 1, 1896, under most novel conditions. He agrees to leave Wichita penniless, dressed as a clown and to carry a ventriloquist figure, not to speak during his absence except through his figure. He may engage in any lawful business temporarily, receive presents from admirers, write his autograph as many times as he can, or if it pays him to do, but he must make a daily report to Chas. Henderson of his whereabouts and financial condition. Mold may be absent four years and not a day longer, and when he returns as he is bound by the terms of the contract to do, he must have control of $20,000 or its equivalent. In that case he is to receive $10,000 from Mr. Henderson. In order that Henderson may know that the agreement is carried out, Robert F. Kinnaird is to accompany Mold on the entire trip.”

As the clock struck midnight, and New Year’s Eve 1895 turned into New Year’s Day 1896, a great crowd gathered around Henderson’s store. Kinnaird, acting as Mold’s press agent, dressed Mold in his clown suit: black silk trimmed with gold ruffles and spots. In each hand, Mold held a ventriloquist figurine; their names were Danny and Joey. “The figures cracked jokes with each other, sang songs, entered into disputes and discussions and in every way acted as though they were endowed with the power of speech.” Apparently, Mold was quite good at throwing his voice, and “it was impossible to discover a muscle in Mold’s face moving, nor was there any straining of the facial muscles to hide the effort.”

Mold, Kinnaird, and the figurines boarded a Missouri Pacific Railway train at noon on January 1, and began their journey. They made a stop in Alton on January 16, and stayed for a concert in Mold’s honor at Turner Hall on January 17. The band played several selections, and then Mold came to the stage. “Mold was received with tremendous applause, and as soon as the uproar subsided, Danny and Joey, his now constant companions, made themselves known…[Mold] entertained his many admirers with his ventriloquical [sic] figures and performed some very difficult feats in ventriloquism, one of which was placing a coin between his teeth and singing songs and duets through his dummies.” After the demonstration, the band played more songs, attendees danced, and everyone wished Mold well in his quest.

Several weeks after the Turner Hall concert, an Alton Evening Telegraph gossip column joked about the difficulty of Mold’s four-year goal. “The hardest task George Mold will have to perform during his four year’s tour around the world, is to keep silent. You know George, don’t you?”

Mold made it until May before giving up on the bet and breaking his silence. A May 12, 1896 Alton Evening Telegraph article announced the end of Mold’s tour. “The reason he intends to give up the ‘silent’ business is that the continued use of ventriloquism is ruining his voice.”

Sources

“The ‘Circumnavagator’ Here.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), January 17, 1896.

“Death of Geo. C Mold Fourth in his Family.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), April 26, 1926.

“Former Altonian is Gate Keeper.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), December 22, 1914.

“George J. Mold.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), December 14, 1895.

“Gossip.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), January 30, 1896.

“A Great Ovation.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), January 20, 1896.

Herford, Oliver. “[Ventriloquist with two puppets].” Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, CAI - Herford, no. 229 (A size) [P&P]https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2010716763/

“The Silent Circumnavigator.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), May 12, 1896.

“Silent George Mold.” Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, IL), January 9, 1896.

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