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When I was growing up in the 60’s, Ventriloquist Paul Winchell and his dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff were my heroes as well as the Beatles, Mickey Mantle and many other legends. Unfortunately today because of corporate America, Paul Winchell’s legacy is a fraction of what it should be as most of the video of his TV series have been erased. At least though, before he died in 2005, Winchell sued and won a $17.8-million jury verdict in a lawsuit against Metromedia Inc. over its destruction of the only remaining tapes of his “Winchell Mahoney Time” children’s television series. Metromedia, which produced the show from 1964 to 1968, erased the 288 tapes in a dispute with Winchell apparently over syndication rights. So at least he was financially compensated for his legacy being practically destroyed - note there are some DVDs/Videos commercially available of Winchell from his TV Shows and appearences but they are far and in between and certainly too few to remind people of the greatness of Paul Winchell and his dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff. You get the feeling though, if given a choice between money and his legacy, Winchell would have chose his legacy.
“Then finally I had the opportunity to do this taped thing [from 1964 to 1968], and I felt that at last, I’ll have some remaining record of my work that future people could see, especially children. Suddenly I didn’t have it anymore. It was gone forever.” - Paul Winchell. To make an analogy, imagine if all the recordings and footage of the Beatles were erased except for their first 2 Ed Sullivan Appearences on TV! You might also be able to find other footage by collectors of Paul Winchell online.

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Besides doing acting, Paul Winchell was a noted voice of animated characters in television and movies including Tigger and he won a Grammy in 1974 for the best children’s recording with “The Most Wonderful Things About Tiggers” from the feature “Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too.

Paul Winchell was also an inventor holding 30 patents, including the original patent holder for the artificial heart, which he donated to the University of Utah and spent time with Robert Jarvik and heart surgeon Dr. William Devries. He also invented an early disposable razor amongsthis early patents.

To me it was a shame that Paul Winchell never received the Kennedy Center Honors, which are awarded annually for exemplary lifetime achievement in the performing arts. Chances are because of corporate America, Paul Winchell’s legacy will be lost. But, I thought I’d give Paul Winchell, Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smiff a shout out here. You guys rocked! Please check out our large Online Discount Gift Store Click Here and our other Online Discount Stores below which helps support this politically incorrect blog. Thank you.

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