Jonathan Harrington (c. 1811–1881) was an American ventriloquist and illusionist. He performed in Boston, Philadelphia, and elsewhere.

Biography

Harrington appeared in Boston in 1831, "astonishing Bostonians with ventriloquism at

Concert Hall A concert hall is a cultural building with a stage (theatre), stage that serves as a performance venue and an auditorium filled with seats. This list does not include other venues such as sports stadia, dramatic theatres or convention ...

." In 1834, he performed at Boston's

Federal Street Theatre The Federal Street Theatre (1793–1852), also known as the Boston Theatre, was located at the corner of Federal Street (Boston), Federal and Franklin Street (Boston), Franklin streets in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was "the first b ...

. Around that time he is described as a "professor of ventriloquism and natural magic, the same gentleman who still continues to appear at different periods of the year in this and the surrounding cities, making short excursions, returning to his snug and quiet home at North Chelsea." Harrington performed at the American Museum in Philadelphia 1836–1838, "with his automaton fortune teller." In 1840, Harrington engaged in business maneuvers in Boston related to the dismantling of E.A. Greenwood's New-England Museum collection and of

Moses Kimball Moses Kimball (October 24, 1809 – February 21, 1895) was an American politician, museum curator and owner, and showman. Kimball was a business rival and close associate of P. T. Barnum and public-spirited citizen of Boston, Massachusetts who ...

's interest therein. Accounts vary. According to one recollection, Harrington "established a museum in the rooms previously occupied as the New England Museum, on Court Street, with the principal part of a Philadelphia museum. ... But failing to meet with a suitable support, twas sold by an auctioneer's hammer, at a great sacrifice, in 1842." Sculptor Thomas Ball, who knew the relevant parties, tells the story in his memoirs, and adds intrigue and competition to the mix. He suggests that Harrington tried to outmaneuver Kimball, but in the end was unable to prevail. In April 1843, his performance at the Lowell Museum in

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, United States. Alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts, Cambridge, it is one of two traditional county seat, seats of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in ...

, and was advertised in the Lowell Courier newspaper promising:

Mr. Harrington of Boston "The original, well-known, and justly celebrated Ventriloquist, and Professor of Ledgerdemain". Laughable, Comical, Quisical, Mysterious, Magical, Wonderful, Astonishing Experiments of Ventriloquism, Imitations, etc, etc, etc." Tickets admitting two persons were 25 cents and the performance began at 8 PM.

Harrington appeared again at Philadelphia's American Museum in 1845, "performing his illusions;" and at Boston's National Theatre in 1848. Harrington performed at

Barnum's Aquarial Gardens Barnum's Aquarial Gardens (June 1862 – February 1863) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, was a public aquarium, zoo, and performance space located on Washington Street (Boston), Washington Street in the Financial District, Boston, Financ ...

in 1861 (pre-Barnum) and 1862. Associates included writer Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.Ella Waite Cobb
A memoir of Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
Published for his family, C. L. Peters & Son, printers, 1891.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harrington, Jonathan Ventriloquists American magicians American entertainers People from Greater Boston 1810s births 1881 deaths