Marvello, Harry (Harry Hutchison). Harry Marvello?s Engraved VAF Medallion. [London], 1918. Nine-carat gold enameled medal presented to the illusionist Harry Marvello by Fred Russell, the famous ventriloquist. Variety Artistes? Federation Logo on recto, engraved verso with hallmarks. Enamel worn, else very good. Together with a three-page Marvello ALS describing his performance in detail, and clipping related to The Silver Hat. Marvello is best remembered for his illusion act incorporating the ?million dollar? ideas of Walter Ceretta Jeans in a routine titled ?The Silver Hat.? Fred Russell is considered the ?father of modern ventriloquism,? as he was one of the first performers to use a knee-sitting vent figure. The VAF, a union of theatrical performers founded in 1906, was folded into the British Actors Equity Association in 1966.