Evening star., 1934-01-12
BLACK CROW MACK
KILLED IN CRASH
Arizona Auto Accident Re-
suits Also in Injury of
Mack Sennett.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated FreSS.
MESA, Ariz., January 12.-Charles e.
Mack, As, originator of the famous
comedy team of Moran and Mack,
known as the 1.-TWO Black Crows" was
fatally injured as an automobile over
turned 6 miles from Mesa last night.
Others in the automobile, who all
escaped serious injury, were Mack SEN
nett, former bathing beauty" motion
picture producer: the comedians wife
and daughter Mary Jane, and his part
ner, George Moran
Mack was crushed under the ma
chine, but was still alive when passing
him to a hospital. He died a short
time later. .....
Moran, who said he had been associ-
ated with Mack off and on ID years, de-
clared the dying comedian, whose Negro
dialect phrases were once hy-words OF
the country, kept mutterlng, The END
is here, pal
Mack, born in White Cloud. Kans,
November %, 1887, obtained his flrSt
vaudeville chance from Alexander Pan
tages in Seattle more than 25 years ago.
He had previously been base ball player,
street car conductor and electrician.
Several "Morans'' in Act.
Several "Morans' were associated
with him in the BLACK Crows" COM
bination. l.. A. Young. publicity man
for the educational pictures at Los An
geles, said the partner, who was IN
the accident, had his name changed last
Summer from George Searcy to Moran.
Moran said his wife resides at Kew
Gardens, Long Island, N. Y.
,rfTy
was en- route from New York to Holly
wood. where he and Mack were plan
ming 10 engage in motion pictures.
Moran said he, his partner and Miss
Mack were in the back seat when q
rear tire of the machine blew out and
IL tlHned over.
Mrs. Mack was kept under observa-
tion at the hospital for an injured back
which physicians said was not serious
The others in the party went to hotel
after receiving emergency treatment.
Mack, whose first vaudeville act
brought him $14 week. capitalized on
the popularity of the 1.-TWO, Black
Crows" and advanced the comedy COM
bination to fame on Broadway He ap-
peared in Ziegfelds "Follies," George
Whites Scandals" Earl CAROLS
'Vanities" and the Greenwich Village
''FollieS."
Had Varied Career.
He graduated to vaudeville from
job as stage electrician.
With his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Elmer
Mack, he moved to Tacoma, Wash.
while a boy. He attended the Vashon
Military Academy in Tacoma.
He sold newspapers on the streets
His early ambition was 10 be q base
Ill ,,Io hn haPSY1oa catcher
an olympia, Wash, professional team
The team was owned by the Olympia
Street Car Co., and part of Mack's
time was spent working as conductor
on street cars.
He conceived the idea of writing and
acting his own dialogues. He met
Alexander Pantages, then manager OF
chain of small tf1eaters in store
rooms on the coast. Pantages gave
him tryout.
He toured the country in vaudeville
He Joined forces with John Swor
younger brother Of Bert Swor, one OF
the recent "Morars." When they fin
ished a week in big-time vaudeville ir
Chicago they got an offer for another
week in German beer garden.
Not wanting to risk their profes-
sional regulations by appearing there
as Swor and Mack, Mack chose the
billing The Two Black Crows"
George Searcy was Moran in Mack's
first Hollywood film production, why
Bring That Up?" In 1929. Bert Swor
was Moran in Two Black Crows" pro-
duced later.
Their career ON the ''big time" began
after their triumphant homecoming
More than 100000 pi1onograph rec
ords Of their Negro dialect converse
tons were sold. They had several dis
agreements, but their differences were
patched up in 1880, after Moran's suit
to enjoin Mack from appearing in a
motion picture with another comedian
was dismissed in Los Angeles.