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Booking Russo Louis - Ventriloquist - © Richard De La Font Agency, Inc. - For serious booking inquiries only, click here: For More Information
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Russo Louis ("Russ"), is a comic-ventriloquist who has been in variety shows on every major network. Russ is a Brooklyn born entertainer of Sicilian parentage (baptized Louis Russo), who breathes life into his wooden partner Brooklyn Pinocchio Birch.
The
puppet found its way into the heart of Louis when he was but four years old
watching puppet shows from the side of the puppet-mobiles-trucks that wandered into his Brooklyn
neighborhood – where lived the entire world.
Russo Louis, a student of voice and drama, sang in operettas as a boy. However, he felt he could better reach the heart of man with a contemporary "Pinocchio," a small wooden sinner – now mischievous – now saucy – now wistful.
Russo first appeared with Brooklyn Pinocchio Birch on national television in 1962 on the Ed Sullivan show. His own show followed in Hollywood. The Steve Allen Show and the Mike Douglas Show preceded his appearances on the Joey Bishop Show, the Dean Martin Show, then Dean’s Summer Show hosted by Rowan and Martin, and then five appearances on The Hollywood Palace.
In Las Vegas, during the seventies, eighties and nineties he appeared as
a specialty headliner in main-show-rooms and lounges of the Dunes, the Hilton International,
Flamingo-Hilton, the Riviera, Sands and Sahara Hotels. Between performing in
show-rooms, he opened his own school and brought his actor’s training in summer stock to
bear for student workshops.
(A fencing student in Hollywood under master Ralph Faulkner, Russ taught fencing at Actor’s Entrance along with vocal production and drama. He founded the first Las Vegas repertory company at his Actor’s Entrance Conservatory.)
The powerhouse opening at Caesar's Palace of comedy ventriloquist Russo Louis who headlines the new show, Follies On Ice, demonstrates the technical brilliance of a 'ventro-comic', who perfected his craft under the microscopic eye of the television camera.
With timing, belly laughs, music and glitz, this is a world-class stand-up ventro-comic, a comedian of imagination and scope – surely one of the best ever to cross the stage.
HBO’s broadcast of the "Ed Sullivan All Star Comedy Special" lists him with "fifty of the world's greatest comedians."
Russo has extensive credits – he has had many appearances with countless superstars around the world for the USO. Russo Louis has opened for, or shared the stage with, Dean Martin, Alan King, Rowan and Martin, Jack Jones, Eddie Rabbit, Tammy Wynette, Doug Kershaw, Louise Mandrell, Pat Boone, Louis Jourdan, Victor Borge, Dale Robertson, Eartha Kitt, Liberace, John Davidson, the Oak Ridge Boys, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Mike Douglas, Joey Bishop, Steve Allen, Dom Deluise, Jim Stafford, Jim Nabors, Jayne Mansfield, Mitzi Gaynor, Bobby Darin, Norm Crosby, Jerry Van Dyke, Tony Bennett, Red Buttons and Anne Meara.
Russo Louis has earned himself a gray hair or two over the years, but he makes the evening out well worth the trip. His magnificent little dummy with the rolling eyes is still as vital and as bawdy as Louis is a gentleman – and a polished professional. You’ll find yourself laughing hysterically at the two...enjoy!
Russo Louis may be available for your next special event. For booking information, click HERE!
What others say about...
Russo Louis
Travel Magazine:
"Illusion is the basic magic of all ventriloquists. I've seen them all, these illusionists who bring a bit of wood and paint to life…Edgar Bergen and Charlie, Paul Winchell and Jerry Mahoney, Jimmy Nelson and Danny O'Day and a dozen more. I even interviewed Bergen and McCarthy when I was a reporter for ABC-TV News. But no one touches this guy Russo. Not one of them could have captured an audience the way Russ and his sidekick Brooklyn Birch do. Russ with Brooklyn has appeared with all the legendary princes of entertainment. He is truly an artist…and a magician. He had a thousand people a night falling on the floor of the Admiral showroom. Russo and Brooklyn Birch: They made our nights memorable." -- Richard Hathcock
The Royal Odyssey:
"So often our appreciation of an artist is only expressed with an all too brief thank you – so, I should like to extend a most sincere expression of thanks for your superb contribution to the success of our entertainment program on board the Royal Odyssey. There are few acts that can compare with the spontaneity and professionalism that your delightful act brings to our stage. The Royal Odyssey has completely taken the character of 'Brooklyn Birch' to its heart and I can only echo the comments of our passengers – "marvelous act....terrific show....brilliant ventriloquist" as being exactly our sentiments too. We hope that you will return many times to keep our audiences 'rolling in the isles'." -- Michael Geske, Director of Entertainment
Denver After Dark:
"The Turn Of The Century has a good thing going for them with their "moments to remember". The Four coins and the Four Lads are both good-and nostalgic – but what makes the whole evening worth the trip is ventriloquist 'Russ' Louis. His little dummy with the rolling eyes is as bawdy as Louis is a gentleman, and you'll find yourself laughing hysterically at the two." -- Barry Morrison
Around Town:
"Critics have singled 'Russ' Louis out as one of the finest technicians in the field of ventriloquism, noting that his lips truly seem to remain stationary, no matter how rapid the interchange between him and Brooklyn. "The puppet man" number, wherein Louis employs the "forbidden" words starting with "B" "P" "F", instead of making the usual substitutions, is a knockout. Louis, in addition to his technical expertise, is a master of the comic pause, the slow take, and the look of wounded outrage which he employs to hilarious advantage in his dueling with the alternately mischievous, wistful, sassy, or sarcastic Brooklyn. A high point of the act, showing off Louis' excellent singing voice, is "El Cumpari" sung with a machine gun exchange of sound effects between puppet and puppeteer. The finale of the act, a tribute to the most famous puppet of them all, "Pinocchio", is extremely effective, employing the beloved "When You Wish Upon A Star". Louis has described his act jokingly as an "argument between right and left sides of his brain". However he describes it, it is a performance that should not be missed." -- Steve Nichols, entertainment editor
Caesar's Pride and Joy:
Las Vegas
"The word is out at Caesar's Palace that Caesar is highly pleased with the 'powerhouse' opening of comedy ventriloquist Russo Louis, who headlines the new show "Follies On Ice". Aside from the technical brilliance of a man who perfected his craft under the microscopic eye of the television camera, the audiences seem most favorably inclined toward the comedy patterns developed by "Russ" and counter pointed by his Pinocchio-faced dummy, Brooklyn."
On The Beach:
Miami, FL
"Bright lights are flashing for Ventriloquist "Russ" (Russo) Louis. Don't walk – run to see him! Russo, comedy star, and his marionette, Brooklyn Pinocchio Birch, are unquestionably the most outstanding in their field. It is not surprising to see this entertainer of Sicilian parentage excel in the art that was born in Sicily where puppets come to life. Russo, who has been on every major network and has enjoyed wide popularity, breathes life in his wooden puppet as Michelangelo did with stone."
Notable Clients of...
Russo Louis
Lumberman's
Association of Oklahoma
Austin Insurance Agents of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Fortune 500 Executive Cruise Convention
Olympic Camera Dealers and Distributors
Royal Bank of Canada
Michelin Tire Company
MW United Grocers Association
The Omni Corporation
Kelly Cruises, Inc.
Chicago Meat Packers Association
Nissan Datsun Dealers Convention
Northern Telecon
Embers Brand Meats
Beaver Lumber Company
Saint Louis Cardinals Seasons Ticket Holders
Flying Tiger's Airline Employees and Families
AARP Travel Agencies and Tour Executives
Brother Business Machines
Credit Union Executives Society
York Bank of Pennsylvania
Gulf South Aviation/FAA convention, Louisiana
To book Russo Louis
for your special event,
contact Richard
De La Font Agency, Inc.
For faster service, do this first - click on this link:
http://www.delafont.com/contactselect.htm
For serious booking inquiries only - no exceptions. Thank you for
your cooperation.
918.665.6200