America’s First Professional Magician

New England Legends Podcast

Jeff Belanger

History, Paranormal, Ghosts, Folklore, Places & Travel, Monsters, Society & Culture, Legends, Newengland

4.8 • 951 Ratings

🗓️ 5 June 2025

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In Episode 399 Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger visit Potter Place in Andover, New Hampshire, to see the final resting place of America’s first professional magician. Richard Potter died in 1835, but not before he grew rich and famous from his magic act. He sold out shows in both the north and south, which was all the more impressive considering he was also a Black man. For his final trick… Potter isn’t buried where he was originally placed in the ground.

See more here: https://ournewenglandlegends.com/podcast-399-americas-first-professional-magician/

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Listen to Ray's Local Raydio! https://localraydio.com/

Transcript

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0:00.0	All right, Ray, pick a card, any card.
0:08.1	Oh, man.
0:08.9	Is this a magic trick, Jeff?
0:10.2	It is.
0:11.1	I have a couple of go-to card tricks, you know, but nothing up my sleeve.
0:14.8	All right, fine, fine.
0:15.5	I'll take this one.
0:16.7	All right.
0:17.4	Now put it back in the deck anywhere.
0:19.7	Okay.
0:20.7	And I'll shuffle it again.
0:25.1	All right.
0:25.9	Quick flip.
0:27.3	And your card should be right here on top.
0:29.4	Is that your card?
0:30.1	The six of diamonds?
0:31.5	It is.
0:32.4	Wow.
0:33.1	Okay.
0:33.5	How'd you do that?
0:34.7	Magic.
0:35.6	Fine.
	...

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