Magic Collection of Rudiger Deutsch: Part 1

McElroy Talking Skull. Colon, MI: Abbott’s Magic Novelty Co., ca. 1939. Realistic imitation skull raps out answers to questions by clicking its jaw, once for "yes," and twice for “no.” Sturdy composition-like “wood dough” material finely sculpted and hand-painted. Height 6”. Small chip underneath, else very good. Shows virtually no signs of use. One of but four or five examples known. Crafted by the famous puppet makers Glen and George McElroy, and sold exclusively by Abbott’s, this realistic and exquisitely designed skull was only available for a few short years, starting in the late 1930s. The brothers’ vent figures and marionettes have become the stuff of legend, as they were among the most complex and fascinating devices of the genre. The figures retailed for extraordinary sums in the Depression era and beyond, and today command astounding sums. McElroy-made skulls such as this one are equally fine in terms of construction and finishing, even if they are, by their very nature, significantly less complex than the puppets the brothers made. Like all McElroy creations, however, these skulls are truly rare.