A man dubbed “the Father of Modern Ventriloquism” has been honoured at his former Putney home with a Blue Plaque.
Fred Russell’s achievements were commemorated on September 20 at Kenilworth Court, Lower Richmond Road, where he lived between 1914 and 1926.
He is widely credited with creating what became the established ventriloquial act, in which the “vent” plays the “straight man” and the dummy cracks the jokes.
His act - based on the cheeky-boy dummy Coster Joe - broke from the prevailing format of a family of dummies, establishing a precedent for legendary performers such as Edgar Bergen and Paul Winchell.
Russell began his career as a journalist, working as editor of the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette until he was offered a role at London's Palace Theatre and he took up his stage career permanently.
A spokesman for English Heritage said: “Fred pioneered the art of performing with a single figure, the Cockney Coster Joe, rather than with a large group of figures, formulating what became the established style, earning him the deserved title of Father of Variety.”
In 1948, Russell was awarded an OBE for his long services to the profession.
He continued to perform late in life, giving televised music hall performances in 1952, billed as "the oldest ventriloquist in the world" before his death in 1957.
Roy Hudd, who attended the presentation, told English Heritage: “His contribution is indisputable and we are delighted to see him commemorated with an English Heritage Blue Plaque.”
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