Call Number
CWM Mss 40
Title
Ranee Sorenson Company Papers, 1912-1941 1 box (.2 c.f.)
Abstract
The collection consists of various business records clippings and photographs documenting the Ranee & Sorenson Company a vaudeville show that traveled the upper Midwest in the early years of the 20th century. The show was known for its vaudeville acts, moving pictures, illustrated songs, magic, and music. The most prominent item in the collection is a business ledger documenting the routes income and expenses between 1912 and 1919. Later the ledger was used as a scrapbook documenting the lives of Frank Ranee as well as other vaudeville performers and Uncle Tom’s Cabin Shows. The end of the ledger contains the lyrics of numerous songs which may have been sung during performances of the show. The collection also contains various loose clippings about different vaudeville performers and circus acts. Three photographs provide views of the two tents, and several trucks used to transport and house the show from town to town.
History
The Ranee& Sorenson Company was an upper Midwest vaudeville show in the early years of the 20th century. The company was founded by Frank J. Ranee (1868-1934) and traveled throughout eastern Minnesota and north western Wisconsin playing mostly rural venues. Frank J. Ranee was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a lifelong performer who started work in various travelling shows first as a dancer and later a juggler. In 1894 he started performing magic and was also managing the Winninger Bros. Stock Show. By 1911 he was running a show under his own name and added moving pictures to the lineup. In 1915 he entered into partnership with William J. Sorenson and for the remainder of his career the two men worked together under the title Ranee & Sorenson Company. The show was known for its vaudeville acts, moving pictures, illustrated songs, magic, and music. After the death of Ranee in 1934 Sorenson continued to operate the show under the joint title until at least 1937.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of various business records clippings and photographs primarily documenting the Ranee & Sorenson show between 1912 and 1919. The most prominent item in the collection is a business ledger documenting the routes income and expenses between 1912 and 1919. Later the ledger was used as a scrapbook documenting the lives of Frank Ranee as well as other vaudeville performers and Uncle Tom’s Cabin Shows. The end of the ledger contains the lyrics of numerous songs which may have been sung during performances of the show. The collection also contains various loose clippings about different vaudeville performers and circus acts. Three photographs, also found in the collection, provide views of the two tents, and several trucks used to transport and house the show from town to town.
Presented to Circus World Museum by Barbara Erickson Sticco in 2011
Container List
Box Folder
Box 1 Folder 1 Ledger, 1912-1940
News clippings
Box 1 Folder 2 Ranee& Sorenson Show, undated
Box 1 Folder 3 Vaudeville and other circus acts, 1928-1941
Box 1 Folder 4 Photographs, undated
Box 1 Folder 5 “Ten Little Brothers” (poem), undated
CWM Mss 40
Title
Ranee Sorenson Company Papers, 1912-1941 1 box (.2 c.f.)
Abstract
The collection consists of various business records clippings and photographs documenting the Ranee & Sorenson Company a vaudeville show that traveled the upper Midwest in the early years of the 20th century. The show was known for its vaudeville acts, moving pictures, illustrated songs, magic, and music. The most prominent item in the collection is a business ledger documenting the routes income and expenses between 1912 and 1919. Later the ledger was used as a scrapbook documenting the lives of Frank Ranee as well as other vaudeville performers and Uncle Tom’s Cabin Shows. The end of the ledger contains the lyrics of numerous songs which may have been sung during performances of the show. The collection also contains various loose clippings about different vaudeville performers and circus acts. Three photographs provide views of the two tents, and several trucks used to transport and house the show from town to town.
History
The Ranee& Sorenson Company was an upper Midwest vaudeville show in the early years of the 20th century. The company was founded by Frank J. Ranee (1868-1934) and traveled throughout eastern Minnesota and north western Wisconsin playing mostly rural venues. Frank J. Ranee was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a lifelong performer who started work in various travelling shows first as a dancer and later a juggler. In 1894 he started performing magic and was also managing the Winninger Bros. Stock Show. By 1911 he was running a show under his own name and added moving pictures to the lineup. In 1915 he entered into partnership with William J. Sorenson and for the remainder of his career the two men worked together under the title Ranee & Sorenson Company. The show was known for its vaudeville acts, moving pictures, illustrated songs, magic, and music. After the death of Ranee in 1934 Sorenson continued to operate the show under the joint title until at least 1937.
Scope and Content
The collection consists of various business records clippings and photographs primarily documenting the Ranee & Sorenson show between 1912 and 1919. The most prominent item in the collection is a business ledger documenting the routes income and expenses between 1912 and 1919. Later the ledger was used as a scrapbook documenting the lives of Frank Ranee as well as other vaudeville performers and Uncle Tom’s Cabin Shows. The end of the ledger contains the lyrics of numerous songs which may have been sung during performances of the show. The collection also contains various loose clippings about different vaudeville performers and circus acts. Three photographs, also found in the collection, provide views of the two tents, and several trucks used to transport and house the show from town to town.
Presented to Circus World Museum by Barbara Erickson Sticco in 2011
Container List
Box Folder
Box 1 Folder 1 Ledger, 1912-1940
News clippings
Box 1 Folder 2 Ranee& Sorenson Show, undated
Box 1 Folder 3 Vaudeville and other circus acts, 1928-1941
Box 1 Folder 4 Photographs, undated
Box 1 Folder 5 “Ten Little Brothers” (poem), undated