Garland Boyd, Jr. was born August 21, 1935 in Kosciusko, Mississippi.

As an only child, Garland found his entertainment listening to radio comedies, and his favorite show was the Chase and Sanborn Hour with Ventriloquist, Edgar Bergen, and his wooden sidekick, Charlie McCarthy.

Garland took up ventriloquism at the early age of eight, using puppets he crafted himself, and was soon performing for family and friends.

He got his first "real" wooden dummy in 1948.

It was a figure made by John C. Turner, the Los Angeles, California figure maker.

Garland named this figure Josh McElroy, and they immediately bagan making many public appearances together, including a performance for the Mississippi State Legislature.

They also appeared on television and radio, and Garland won several talent shows with his ventriloquist act.

This led to his performance at New York's Madison Square Garden for the Lion's Club International Convention on July 19, 1949.

In 1950, Garland received a new ventriloquist figure as a gift from his mother. This one was made by the most famous figure maker, Frank Marshall.

Garland named him Elmer Peabody, and together they began a career that spanned almost 50 years!

During this period, Garland spent three summers in the Los Angeles, California home of the famed ventriloquist from Vaudeville, Harry Lester, known as "Great Lester".

As Lester's pupil, Garland learned the finer points of ventriloquism, as did the most famous of all ventriloquists, Edgar Bergen.

While Garland attended college at the University of Mississippi at Ole Miss in the late-1950's, Elmer went by the nickname, "Colonel Rebel", the Ole Miss team mascot, and he wore a red cowboy hat and tailcoat at all their performances.

The highlight of this period would have to be their appearance on the same stage as Bob Hope when he brought his show to Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi.

Throughout the 1960's, Garland's act with "Elmer" even payed his way through dental school!

The two continued to perform for various functions during the 1970's, 80's, and 90's, and regularly attended the annual Vent Haven Ventriloquist ConVENTion in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky until shortly before Garland's death caused by cancer at the age of 63 on May 2nd, 1999.

Great Lester and Garland Boyd

painting ventriloquist figures on Lester's rooftop in L.A., 1952.

A payment receipt for ventriloquial instructions from Great Lester to Garland Boyd.