Steve recently sent me this email:
I thought I’d mention a couple of memories of Maher Studios and how it affected me.
After getting out of the U.S. Air Force (where I became more involved with ventriloquism) in 1976 I was in Palm Springs visiting my parents when I heard Willie Tyler and Lester were performing at a local club.
I was only 22 yrs. old and a little naïve but went to the club the day before Willie’s performance and asked if they knew where Willie was staying as I wanted to meet him.
The hostess said sure, he is staying at the Tiki Palms (long since gone).
That would never happen in today’s environment, and the hotel clerk even told me what room he was in.
I knocked on Willie’s door, he answered, and I could see Lester sitting on a chair in the corner of his room.
I told him I was a ventriloquist and still learning. He said great, “let’s talk by the pool” where I found out he also was a U.S. Air Force veteran and that we both learned ventriloquist from the Maher Studio’s correspondence course.
Willie Tyler was a very gracious, nice guy.
In 1977 I hopped in my camper with my dog and puppets and drove from San Francisco to Main and back performing along the way at community centers and day care centers (there were a lot of KinderCare daycare centers around the U.S. back in those days).
Going across Colorado I happened to have a show in Littleton, Colorado and remembered that Maher Studios was located in Littleton.
I checked the address and ended up on a residential street looking for a store, but lo and behold it turned out the address belonged to a wonderful old house where Clinton and Adelia Detweiler lived.
I knocked on the door and was invited in and visited with both and was lucky enough to have a tour of Clinton’s workshop, incredible.
Over the years we kept in touch at conventions or by phone until his passing.
This year marks my 50th anniversary of performing and slowly retiring (of course, ventriloquists never fully stop talking to themselves).
Great memories, great friends.
If you are a part of the Maher Community, email me to be featured on the site! I’d love to share how Maher has helped you with ventriloquism!
