In his obituary, the New York Times highlights: “In a career that lasted more than eight decades, Wences repeatedly proved himself a stellar part of the tradition that included Edgar Bergen, Paul Winchell and other popular ventriloquists who delighted audiences from the 1920s well into the television age. What set Wences apart from everyone else was that his main character was not carved out of wood, as were Bergen's Charlie McCarthy and Winchell's Jerry Mahoney. Johnny, Wences' dummy, was simply formed by his right hand. He painted lips on his thumb, draped a ridiculous orange wig across his fist, stuck eyes on the side of his hand, just below the wig, and let the hint of a body dangle below. As soon as he began his act, this unlikely creation came to life as Johnny, a lovable, impertinent little boy, not unlike the boy Wences had been.”
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