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John Rannie
John Rannie was 19th-century magician and ventriloquist from Scotland who performed in the Eastern United States over a ten-year period.
Rannie had come to American with his brother James and a young dark skinned servant, Richard Potter (the first American born magic star) around 1802. The brothers toured together and at times separately in the Northeast. James, after a year, returned to England, leaving John as the major force in magic in America until his retirement in 1811. Rannie performed from Maine to the West Indies, and as far west as New Orleans.
John Rannie was was also an accomplished rope dancer, balancer, actor and producer, becoming major force in early American theater.
Reference
- Ten Year Tour of John Rannie:Magician-Ventriloquist in Early America by Charlse J. Pecor.
- Rannie in Boston By Gary Hunt