The Great Maurice

The Great Maurice (? - 1948?) was well-known card manipulator before the first world war who spoke with a French accent that was very successful in England and the United States.

His full name is unknown and possibly Algerian, but was sometimes billed as a "French Card Magician."

The Great Maurice first appeared in the United States around 1910. Using his heavy French accented broken English for full comedic style ("Take zee card." "Eet ese zee ass of diamonds, yes?") he was sometimes called the "Fun-Making-Magician."

In 1913, Maurice played coast to coast from New York to San Francisco both in vaudeville and at society dates.

In 1920, the Great Maurice made a tour of London, then ended up in South Africa where he played for two years before making his way back to the United States.

When he arrived in New York in 1922, his publicity stories indicated that his hands were insured for $100,000. His act from 1936 in New York was described in Holden's Programmes of Famous Magicians.

The last noted appearance in the United States was on Broadway's nightlife circuit appearing at the Hotel Warwick in 1940.

In the May, 1958 issue of Genii it was reported that "DEATH came to THE GREAT MAURICE in Los Angeles last month. He will be remembered by many of the old timers".

There is a routine called "Card Finesse" attributed to the Great Maurice in Annemann's Miracles of Card Magic (1948).

Other also known as the Great Maurice

• Maurice Kaynen from Pittsburgh and then Miami, Florida in the 1940s.
• Murray Kesh who performed in the 1960s.
• Maurice Mackall who also performed in the 1960s.

References

• Magic A Pictorial History History of Conjurers in the Theater by David Price (1985)