Jonathan Harrington (1811–1881) was a ventriloquist and illusionist in 19th century United States. 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 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 centres that may ...

." 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 and Franklin streets in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It was "the first building erected purposely for theatrical entertainmen ...

. 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 a US politician and showman. Kimball was a close associate of P. T. Barnum, and public-spirited citizen of Boston, Massachusetts. Biography Kimball was descended from Richard and Ursu ...

'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 The Lowell Museum, located in Lowell, Massachusetts, was founded by Moses Kimball in 1840, as an art exhibit hall and entertainment venue. History The Lowell Museum was housed on the upper floors of a building on Merrimack Street at the head of Ce ...

Lowell, Massachusetts Lowell () is a city in Massachusetts, in the United States. Alongside Cambridge, It is one of two traditional seats of Middlesex County. With an estimated population of 115,554 in 2020, it was the fifth most populous city in Massachusetts as of ...

, and was advertised in the

Lowell Courier Lowell may refer to: Places United States * Lowell, Arkansas * Lowell, California * Lowell, Florida * Lowell, Idaho * Lowell, Indiana * Lowell, Bartholomew County, Indiana * Lowell, Maine * Lowell, Massachusetts ** Lowell National Histo ...

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, USA, was a public aquarium, zoo, and performance space located on Washington Street in the Financial District. P.T. Barnum bought the Boston Aquarial and Zoologic ...

in 1861 (pre-Barnum) and 1862. Associates included writer

Sylvanus Cobb, Jr. Sylvanus Cobb Jr. (June 5, 1823 – July 20, 1887) was an American writer of popular fiction during the mid-19th century. His work was published in the ''New York Ledger'', ''The Flag of Our Union'', ''The Weekly Novelette'', ''Gleason's Pic ...

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 1811 births 1881 deaths