William E. Ritchie was an American trick cyclist who performed around the world, including the United States, England, continental Europe,"Passport application by William E. Ritchie at U.S. Embassy in London for the purpose of travelling on the Continent", 27 May 1898. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Emergency Passport Applications (Issued Abroad), 1877-1907; Roll #: 45; Volume #: Volume 085: England - via Ancestry.com."Passport application by William E. Ritchie at U.S. Consulate in Budapest for the purpose of travelling in Europe", 20 Feb 1901. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Emergency Passport Applications (Issued Abroad), 1877-1907; Roll #: 25; Volume #: Volume 042: Austria - via Ancestry.com."Passport application by William E. Ritchie at U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona", 14 May 1903. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: Emergency Passport Applications (Issued Abroad), 1877-1907; Roll #: 21; Volume #: Volume 035: Kingston, Jamaica to Montreal, Canada - via Ancestry.com."Passport application by William E. Ritchie at U.S. Embassy in Berlin for the purpose of entering Russia", 18 March 1911. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; NARA Series: General Emergency Passport Applications, 1907-1923; Volume #: Volume 130: France to Korea - via Ancestry.com. Africa, and Australia. He was one of the first to use the tramp cyclist routine on stage, where he appeared in vaudeville with Will Rogers and W. C. Fields.
He is not to be confused with the tramp comedian William 'Billie' Ritchie.
Early life William Edward Ritchie was born in Philadelphia, United States, to George and Mary Ritchie (née May) on 11 October 1871.
Career He initially found fame in New York, appearing dressed as a tramp riding on various bicycles. His main bicycle was a Cleveland, possibly a model 69 made by H. A. Lazier Company.
In London in 1899, he appeared in two short films: Ritchie, Tramp Cyclist, produced by the Warwick Trading Company, and Ritchie the Tramp Cyclist, produced by the British Mutoscope and Biograph Company.
He performed at various times in combinations with fellow trick cyclists Madeline Kilpatrick, May Villion, and W. H. Barber (aka 'Diavolo'), in acts called the Ritchie Duo, the Barber-Ritchie Trio, and the Four Ritchies.
In both 1917 and 1918, he appeared in the Ziegfeld Follies alongside W. C. Fields, Marilyn Miller, Will Rogers and Eddie Cantor.
Death On 12 May 1943, age 71, he died of a heart attack in his home at 2167 Haviland Avenue in the Bronx.
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