Word of mouth

Karen Rostoker-Gruber ’85 credits her career to baby talk, McDonald’s packaging, and tight lips.

Words by Corinne Coakley

Karen Rostoker-Gruber ’85 and her puppet, Maria

What does it take to be a ventriloquist?

A good ventriloquist can make a puppet talk without moving their own lips. But an excellent ventriloquist creates a distinct personality with their dummy — the puppet says what it wants to say, and the ventriloquist doesn’t have much time to think about a response. Sometimes I’m so into the performance that my puppet, Maria, and I have a real conversation. It’s odd; I know. 

How did you get into ventriloquism? 

As a kid, I felt it was my responsibility to entertain my baby sister. I would pretend to make objects talk — her dolls, her blankets and pillows, even her food. It made her so happy, so I did it all the time. 

Tell us about your first real puppet. 

My parents bought me the Willie Talk doll, which had a string near its neck to open and close the mouth. Days after I got Willie, I pretended he had a dangerous fever. I stuck a thermometer down his mouth to take his temperature, but it got stuck and ruined his mouth mechanism. When I asked my parents for a new puppet, they said no. Back then, McDonald’s gave out burgers in Styrofoam containers that connected in the back, which made for an easy puppet mouth. So I began making my own puppets out of McDonald’s containers and my mother’s beaded jewelry. Don’t tell her. She still doesn’t know. 

How did you learn the art of ventriloquy?

I’m a self-taught ventriloquist. When I was younger, there were no books on how to be a ventriloquist. I watched a lot of Shari Lewis and Lamb Chop. Since then, we have seen ventriloquists like comedian Jeff Dunham and, more recently, America’s Got Talent winner Darci Lynne. I am sure there’s a lot more information now. 

How did you develop Maria’s character? 

Maria is 5 years old and in kindergarten. She says things a 5-year-old would say, and she does things that a 5-year-old would do. She has no filter, which sometimes gets her into big trouble. I believe that everything has a voice and that everything has something to say. Kids think she’s real. Magic is a really important part of being little, and Maria provides that suspension of disbelief.