Vigo County Historical Society

Museum doll attracts comments from visitors

The Tribune-Star on Feb. 28, featured a story on the life of Dr. George Mitchell of Marshall, Ill. Two pictures were included with the story. One was of Dr. Mitchell and a patient as he is today and the other was taken in a military hospital in northern California just before or during World War II.

Mitchell was given orders to go to an auditorium and assist in a skit. Young Dr. Mitchell is shown giving an injection to Charlie McCarthy with an oversized hypodermic needle. The soldiers were there and, of course, Edgar Bergen was watching and probably getting in a few words.

Where Charlie went, Bergen went along, as he was Charlie’s voice. Bergen was a ventriloquist--one who is able to make it appear that Charlie was speaking.

Who was Charlie and who was Edgar? Radio fans of that day knew very well who they were. Rudy Vallee introduced the pair on his show Dec. 17, 1936. They were an instant hit.

They were listed in the Ten Best Radio Programs for more than 10 years. Later they performed in movies, on the stage and on television. They also entertained many times for military bases.

The doll in the picture today was a look-alike of Charlie. The Effanbee doll was made from 1927 until well into the 1960s. Children were fascinated with Charlie and tried to put themselves into the role of Edgar Bergen. We don’t know how many children succeeded but hundreds of dolls were sold.

The Charlie we see today is minus most or all of their clothes and the doll itself shows that it has been loved. Charlie, when new, was dressed in one of three costumes. There was the military dress with a cap, of course; there also was a tuxedo complete with ascot tie and evening hat; and a third outfit consisted of a black jacket and white slacks.

Charlie also wore a monocle to impress his audiences.

The museum doll has none of his original garments. He was given to the Vigo County Historical Museum by Beverly R. Johnson in 1945. Charlie is indeed a treasure from the past.