The Great Gabbo

An insanely, egocentric ventriloquist, even though he is possessed by his wooden dummy, is in love with a dancer who is in love with another. The dummy gives advice to the ventriloquist. For the ventriloquist Gabbo his wooden dummy Otto is the only means of expression. When he starts relying more and more on Otto, he starts going mad. —Stephan Eichenberg <eichenbe@fak-cbg.tu-muenchen.de> Gabbo, a ventriloquist and a supreme egotist, Mary, his mistress, and Little Otto, his dummy, comprise a popular vaudeville act. Gabbo constantly finds fault with Mary's efforts to please, while insisting upon his own greatness. During a performance Mary infuriates Gabbo by dropping a tray. He berates her after the performance and forces her to leave. Years later, Gabbo is featured in "The Manhattan Revue," in which Mary and her new partner, Frank, are also appearing as a song-and-dance team. More conceited than ever, Gabbo is certain that Mary will return to him. Spying Otto at a cafe, Mary converses with Gabbo through the dummy, and Gabbo believes he has won her back. Gabbo ultimately learns of Mary's marriage to Frank, and he is driven to madness. He rushes the stage brandishing a sword during the show's finale, resulting in his dismissal. After he is fired, Gabbo is unable to recognize Mary as she tries to comfort him. He shuffles from the theater carrying Otto by the leg, and watches hopelessly as workmen remove his name from the marquee.