Tyler remains tight-lipped about his comedic act

Kimberley Mcgee

Friday, April 27, 2001 | 8:48 a.m.

Willie Tyler has worked with dummies his entire life.

As long as there's a call for ventriloquism, Tyler will continue to work the only job he's ever known -- speaking for a 3-foot-tall doll.

The television star and stand-up comedian, along with sidekick Lester, take the stage Monday night, through May 6, at the Riviera Comedy Club.

After more than 30 years in the business, the 59-year-old Tyler still performs seven months out of the year on average and continues to appear in bit parts in movies and commercials.

Lester, his 3 1/2-foot dummy -- or ventriloquist figure, as Tyler prefers -- has been with Tyler for more than 40 years.

The talent, and the figure, have made it possible for Tyler to make a comfortable living at his craft since he was a teenager. He eventually gained popularity at Las Vegas venues and on national television shows such as "The Jeffersons" and comedy specials in the '70s and '80s.

Tyler has more recently appeared on NBC's "Tonight Show," USA's "Pacific Blue," and TNN's "The Statler Brothers' Show."

Tyler first became intrigued with the idea of throwing his voice when he saw ventriloquist Paul Winchell in the 1950s.

"It was fascinating how he made that little character come to life," Tyler said in a recent phone interview from Detroit.

At age 10 Tyler knew he wanted to perform. He practiced talking without moving his lips in the bathroom while looking in the mirror. As he improved he looked for props. He found his sisters' discarded doll and used that as his first figure.

A teacher helped him purchase his first figure when he was 14. It was small, perfect to fit on a young boy's knee. A friend of Tyler's, named Lester, had an uncanny resemblance to the plastic-and-wood figure.

The name stuck.

In the Air Force, Tyler bought a medium-sized figure for military variety shows and put away the smaller version of his silent partner. He took the stage while serving in the Air Force in the early '60s as an entertainment specialist. He was 22 when the Air Force released him and he hit his hometown streets of Detroit for work.

Within months Tyler found fame in the music industry.

Motown Records in the early '60s was an obscure record company, Tyler said. It had recently signed newcomer, Mary Wells, and her hit, "My Guy" was climbing the music charts.

The Detroit-based company arranged a traveling show featuring its artists. It sought out a variety act to emcee and relieve musical acts.

It was Tyler's big break. For the next eight years he worked alongside top music performers of the time -- Diana Ross, the Temptations and the Four Tops among them.

Tyler later appeared on television variety shows and music programs while Las Vegas booked him in lounges and nightclubs. He continued to make television appearances and book comedy clubs so as to build a strong foundation of contacts and fans.

That foundation, and the ongoing giggles and guffaws from audiences, keep him working in the entertainment business. Tyler received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Ventriloquists' Association last summer at the Vegas Ventriloquists' Festival at Harrah's.

The honor by the IVA, which is based in Las Vegas, honors ventriloquists who have furthered the craft such as the late Shari Lewis, who made the puppet Lambchop popular to school-aged children.

"(Tyler) has been a prominent ventriloquist throughout the country," Valentine Vox, director of the 1,000-member IVA, said.

Ventriloquism is not as popular as it once was, Tyler said, but it certainly has not disappeared. Agents continue to call him, although sporadically.

"It shows you how much luck plays a part in this business," he said. "It seems everybody wants you on that same month and same day. Not in-between."

The 42-inch Lester is maintained by Tyler, who carts the prop around in two suitcases when he travels to gigs in other cities on commercial airlines. He usually has difficulty transporting the head and body through check-in.

"Nine out of 10 times they want to look in that case," he said. "When they see the hair they get suspicious quick."

He carries a 4-by-5 photo for inquisitive airport employees, who usually ask for autographs once they recognize the ventriloquist.

"It saves a lot of time if I just show them the picture," he said.

Tyler writes about 85 percent of his material. He attempts to relate to what is happening in politics and the world.

"I try to make Lester experience that kind of thing, so it's new," Tyler said.

Tyler's brother, who is an engineer, created hands for Lester that move independently. A patent on the addition is pending.

While Tyler does treat Lester as an equal onstage, off, he says Lester is simply a prop that has been a lucrative creative outlet for the comedian.

"Onstage you have to believe the character is real, that way other people will believe it," Tyler said. "But he's in the suitcases offstage. It's just me behind him."