By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:09 pm:

The incredible intelligence and discussion knowledge of this forum leads me to believe that this subject has already been discussed, but I need to ask it anyway. Does anyone know what happened to Willie Tyler & Lester? I was reviewing some old tape and came across Diana Ross and the Supremes hosting Hollywood Palace and they were one of the guests. It reminded me that Willie Tyler and Lester had a heavy connection to Motown at one time.

By Eli (172.162.110.209) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:13 pm:

Lester probably wound up in Willie's fireplace, as he was kinda sassy anyway!!
Either that or Lester went on without Willie thinking that he could make it on his own!!
His act WAS kinda stiff, though.

By Vickie (198.81.26.231) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:26 pm:

I interviewed Willie last year..he still works and does shows...He lives in CA.

Vickie

By Eli (172.162.110.209) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:28 pm:

Vickie...didja interview Lester too????
I hear that he ws a great conversationalist.

By Ritchie (62.254.0.9) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:31 pm:

Somebody call?

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:32 pm:

Vickie:

Thanks for the info. I remember Willie as being extremely talented and one of the few ventriloquists who truly did not move his lips when the dummy was talking.


Eli:

You are a hoot!! LOL!!!

By Eli (172.162.110.209) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:38 pm:

Vickie... yes, but Lester moved HIS lips when Willie was talking!!!

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:39 pm:

LOL!!!!

By Eli (172.162.110.209) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:40 pm:

Since we are on the subject of Ventriquilism, can y'all name some more of the same??????

By R.H.lORD charles (217.14.178.5) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:41 pm:

Mr Ritchie Sir,
that my good fellow
is nothing but balder dash.
yours in esteem order of the
grand Bar OF Elite wooden gentlemen
the right honourable
Lord Charles(kcv,m.a.n.n.ikin and bar)
silly arse,wot!

By (172.162.110.209) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:43 pm:

What the f***???????

By Vickie (198.81.26.231) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:46 pm:

Funny!! LOL
I remember when I hung up I was not sure who I had just talked to LOL..
Willie was very kind and nice and shared a really nice/cute Tammi story with me...
He did a lot of shows with her..


Vickie

By Harry Corbett (62.254.0.9) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 12:48 pm:

------------


(Sooty)

By Dat Gal (198.81.26.231) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

I herd dat dis guy named Paulie is a vertriloquist ..
ya know what I mean Gumba!

By paulie3shoes (64.12.97.7) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 01:27 pm:

whaddya tryin ta make fun a da ways I tawk, eh??
wel it aint funny..ya dont mess wit paulie(over here) dis iz da ways I tawk, love it or not!@#$%^&*()
i gots alla kinda conexions ans*t and ya dont f**k wit ol paule(over here) catch my drift, eh????capice???ised CAPICE!@#$%^&*()_
(as he puts his fist on the upper inside arm of the other arm with a look of disgust on his face)
Eh vagarooch a fongool a stunad~!@#$^%&*()

By paulie3shoes (64.12.97.7) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 01:29 pm:

by da way.. what da frig am I doin on a t'read about a friggin dummy, eh@#$%^&*()

By Mr.Cuprinol (212.159.48.33) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 03:19 pm:

Hey all you wise guys,
the dummy is the guy holding us up!
Euro-mannequin-puppets unite!
Mein Gott ein puppettun
merci Les puppeteers
Gertcha woodentops
si,si ole pooperteer
Jasus,wors wooden patrick den.
Howdy y'awll,tex the wooden mex.
Greetings fellow wooden sculptured finks
Around the world in 80 puppeteers
Regards
big hank the plywood plank.

By RD (63.188.49.81) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 03:32 pm:

Willie Tyler and Lester opened for many of the Motown acts when they played Leo's Casino in Cleveland. The act was hilarious. Flip Wilson also opened for some Motown artists. I was at one of the shows he opened for the Supremes and he had people crying and rolling on the floor with that high pitched "Geradine" voice. Berry Gordy showed up too. Years later I read that he didn't approve of Flip's act and had him tone it down.

By Soul Sister (65.43.150.250) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 05:55 pm:

You guys crack me up.. I remember when Willie & Lester were on the Apollo show with us one time well Smitty's sister was scared to death of that dummy and use to hide when she saw them coming, Willie was always hittin'on me whenever he saw me , his dressingroom was right next to the Manhattans, Smitty's sister & I both would run & hide whenever we saw Willie & Lester heading our way! We had some funny times back then.
The Supremes were on that show too,Jean, Cindy, & Mary. They did a great show & Mary was the best person you'd want to meet, so sweet.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 06:57 pm:

I had posted a long time back regarding Willy and Lester playing Saturday nights at the Web-Wood Inn when I was with The Sunliners. We were all so young. John Lester, in case you're wondering, I would say this was after the " Rosie incident ".

By stephanie (64.63.221.70) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 08:59 pm:

I cant believe that Willie Tyler and Lester are still around!!!! He is one of the few black ventriloquist out there and still going strong...
My props go out to him there was
Shari Lewis and Lambchop
Charlie McCarthy and Edgar Bergen
and Wayland Flowers and Madame
all of them are dead now

You go Willie and Lester..
Stephanie

By Greg C. (207.103.134.14) on Monday, June 02, 2003 - 09:07 pm:

Willie Tyler & Lester were Motown artists. I have a picture of them in the roster book from 1966. These books always came out every year at Christmastime and were sold at the Motortown Revue. They had a picture of every Motown artist who was on the label at the time.

Willie Tyler & Lester also had one Motown album release. I remember the cover for it and in hindsight I wish I had purchased it because it's since LONG out of print.

By John Lester (217.40.203.225) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 03:12 am:

I have the album on Tamla 265 - one of the few Motown albums that contains more than 12 tracks on one side! lol

And Ralph......tell us your story cos it's bound to be a good 'un!

By dvdmike (65.208.234.61) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 07:02 am:

Willie's son Cory is an actor, most notably as Glynn Turman's son Clarence on the sitcom, "A Different World".

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 09:56 am:

Sorry John, we've been down that road before.

By Uptight (24.55.6.144) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 10:39 am:

Stephanie, I knew about Shari Lewis & Lambchop, but Wayland Flowers and Madame are gone, too?

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 10:47 am:

REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE A KID AND YOU COULDN'T MOVE YOUR LIPS WHILE YOUR PARENTS WERE TALKING,HEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 10:59 am:

Willie Tyler & Lester also guest starred on ABC-TV's "Hollywood Palace" when Diana Ross hosted the show & the Jackson 5 were guests on the program. Motown released a soundtrack LP of the Hollywood Palace special (which is sadly out of print).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By stephanie (64.63.221.206) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:01 pm:

Hi Uptight
I remember when it was on TV Wayland Flowers died in Oct of 1988 of AIDS and they buried Madame with him....so sad he was very talented here is a link you might want to see.

http://www.amiannoying.com/2001/view.asp?ID=508

Stephanie

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:11 pm:

KevGo:

I have that particular tape. Unfortunately, Willie Tyler and Lester are cut out of it. However, if you would like to have it, email me and I will send you a copy.

By ouch (217.14.178.16) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:26 pm:

By the way
regards the pic
which one is the dummy

By Michael/cleoharvey (160.79.83.208) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:30 pm:

Euch:

Did I miss something? Is there a picture of Dick Cheyney and George W. on this thread. LOL!!!!

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 04:55 pm:

Michael/Cleo:
I would love to have a copy on VHS. I still owe you a Libra Records CD so maybe we could meet up in Manhattan and exchange stuff. Email me at kevingoins@juno.com so we can make plans.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Greg C. (207.103.134.92) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 05:41 pm:

dvdMike Hey..Thanks for the memory jolt. Your're right about Willie Tyler's son being on A Different World. Only his name on the show was "Terrance", not "Clarence" and he was indeed Col. Taylor's son.

By STUBASS (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 05:46 pm:

I THOUGHT THAT "WILLIE TYLER AND LESTER" MADE ALL THE SENSE IN THE WORLD FOR BERRY GORDY TO SIGN!!!...IT SHOWED A LEVEL OF DIVERSIFICATION...*AND*...PROVIDED MANY A MOTOWN ARTIST A VERY ENTERTAINING OPENING ACT!!!...STUBASS

By dvdmike (68.23.177.202) on Tuesday, June 03, 2003 - 07:18 pm:

You're right, Terrance. Oops!