Silent Mora - The story of Louis J. McCord

Rauscher, William V.: Silent Mora
©2014 1st edition, 1878 Press Company
Hardcover, 240 pages

In the first half of the previous century, the popularity of Vaudeville, Chautauqua, and Lyceum kept thousands of performers, magicians included, fully employed. These venues, coupled with nightclubs, private dates and clubs produced heady days of success. After the advent of the first motion picture talkies, then later, television, many performers were left to wonder where they could work and survive.

Such was the case of Silent Mora, a well-known and popular Vaudeville performer with expert manipulative skills. Mora traveled the country, who managed to continue contributing original articles and tricks to the magazines of the day, and a frequent correspondent with his fellow magic stars.

Like so many performers of his time, his image faded after his death only to surface fondly in conversation. Today, Mora is recognized by magic collectors who eagerly seek out his handmade props such as his custom-made and decorated bamboo Chinese wands, fans, and other effects.

Few magicians attain the household recognition of Houdini, Thurston, or Keller, who were America's favorite magicians of their time. Most are forgotten by the general public today. However, Mora was popular among the magic fraternity, and deserves a brighter spotlight in magic history. This book is an effort to resurrect his memory and imprint his name and magic onto theater history.

Pages: 240 - 8.5" x 11" - Hardcover - 60 pages in color - hundreds of black and white photos.

Product Details
No. of Pages	240

Personal Details
Read It	No
Location	Magic Library (Home)
Condition	Near Mint
Owner	Bryan-Keith Taylor

Silent Mora (Louis Jerome McCord)

Born:
October 25, 1884
Allegheny, Pennsylvania

Died:
August 5, 1972 (age 87)
City Hospital, Boston, Mass

Nationality:
American

Silent Mora (1884 - 1972) made most of his own apparatus and may be best known for his Balls in Net routine.

Biography:
Mora tutored in magic by John Lawrence McKissock and while young he became friends with Edward Maro who was a successful bandleader and magician. He reversed the vowels in Maro to create his stage name.

He performed on vaudeville, doing a silent act early in his career, possibly the first pantomime magic act in Oriental costume. Ching Ling Foo taught him a number of routines. He also did shadowgraphy and juggling.

He may have also been one of the first to synchronize magic to music in a performance.

Silent Mora later settled in Boston and became active in the magic community.

References:
The Sphinx, Vol. 42, No. 4, Jun 1943, Cover, page 72
The Linking Ring, Vol. 26, No. 6, August 1946, Silent Mora, Great Artist, by John Braun, page 24
Photo Genii 1951 November
The Linking Ring, Vol. 37, No. 5, July 1957, Silent Mora named Magician of the Year in Ring 122, by Irv Weiner, page 53
M-U-M, Vol. 48, No. 9, February 1959, “Silent” Mora magician-of-the-month, by Leslie P. Guest, page 375
The New Tops, Vol. 2, No. 11, November 1962, Cover Portrait … “Silent” Mora by George Corregan, Jr., page 4
M-U-M, Vol. 62, No. 5, October 1972, Broken Wands, page 20
Goodliffe's Abracadabra, Vol. 54, No. 1387, August 1972, SILENT MORA, by Jerry Rosenfield, page 135
Obit Genii Magazine, Vol. 36, No. 8, August 1972, OBITUARIES, SILENT MORA, by Jerry Rosenfield, page 374
The Linking Ring, Vol. 52, No. 11, November 1972, Broken Wand LOUIS MoCORD "Silent Mora", page 102
The Linking Ring, Vol. 89, No. 11, November 2009, Letters From the Past, Silent Mora (Louis Jerome McCord) 1884 – 1972 By Samuel Patrick Smith, page 46
The Linking Ring, Vol. 90, No. 1, November 2010, Letters From the Past, Silent Mora (Louis Jerome McCord) 1884 – 1972 Part Two By Samuel Patrick Smith, p. 56
Bio-bibliographisches Lexikon der Zauberkünstler Edition Volker Huber, April 2002, McCord, Louis “Lou” Jerome = Silent Mora, USA Zauberkünstler (*25.10.1984 Allegheny, Pennsylvania; †25.10.1972), page 229