Editing Two Black Crows (section)

==History==
The act was originated by [[Charles Mack (blackface performer)|Charles Sellers]] (1888–1934), who hired actor [[John Swor]] as his partner. "Swor & Mack" enjoyed moderate success until Swor left the act. He was replaced by [[George Moran (comedian)|George Moran]]. The team of Moran and Mack caught on and became major recording stars. ''The Two Black Crows'' became a weekly radio show in 1928; Moran and Mack also guest-starred on [[Fred Waring]]'s radio show in 1933.

Although Moran and Mack's gags were mostly corny and the characters were stereotypical (one practical but naive, the other seemingly slow and lazy yet quick with a quip and a certain skewed logic), the relationship depicted plus their laconic delivery made them one of the most successful of comedy teams.

The team was known for two catchphrases. Moran would remind Mack of some unfortunate event, causing Mack to say, "Why bring {{em|that}} up?" Mack frequently would interrupt Moran's description of something with a drawling "What {{em|causes}} that?"
[[File:Moran and Mack The Two Black Crows - The Film Daily, Jul-Dec 1932 (page 464 crop).jpg|left|thumb|262x262px|Moran and Mack The Two Black Crows ad from ''[[The Film Daily]],'' 1932]]
The duo of Moran and Mack appeared in vaudeville with [[W.C. Fields]], on Broadway in the ''[[Ziegfeld Follies]]'' of 1920 and in ''[[The Earl Carroll Vanities|Earl Carroll's Vanities]]'' in the mid-1920s. They also appeared in ''[[George White's Scandals]]'' and ''The [[Greenwich Village Follies]]''.<ref name="broadway">{{cite book
| first=Leonard
| last=Maltin
| year=1970
| title=Movie Comedy Teams
| publisher=Signet Book
| location=New York, NY
| pages= 319
| oclc= 492201839}}</ref>

At the height of their popularity, after completing their first talking feature film, Moran had a salary dispute with Mack and sued him in 1930. A judge ruled that Mack legally owned the act and could pay whatever salary he wanted. Moran quit.<ref>{{cite news |title=Two Black Crows Part. 'Moran' In Los Angeles Sues to Bar 'Mack' From Using Name |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9805E1DF153BE23ABC4A51DFB766838B629EDE |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=January 22, 1930 |accessdate=2015-03-22 }}</ref>

He was replaced by John Swor's brother, Bert Swor, who adopted the name Moran. The second "Moran and Mack" talkie (without George Moran) faltered at the box office, and the team made no further films until 1933, when the low-budget [[Educational Pictures]] studio hired them for a feature film and a series of "Two Black Crows" short subjects.

Charles Mack died in an automobile accident on January 11, 1934.<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Mack, Comedian, Killed In Crash. Moran, His Partner in Blackface Skits, Escapes Injury in Arizona Mishap |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9907E6D91439E33ABC4A52DFB766838F629EDE |quote=A motor-car accident caused by a tire blowout tonight brought death to Charles E. Mack of the famous 'Two Black Crows,' vaudeville team of Moran and Mack, partners for many years, and injured Mack Sennett, former producer of 'Bathing Beauty' film comedies. |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=January 12, 1934 |accessdate=2015-03-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Mack's Funeral At Los Angeles, Widow Decides |quote=Funeral services for Charlie Mack, comedian of the Two Black Crows team, will be here |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=January 13, 1934 }}</ref> This ended the act, although George Moran did try to revive it with other partners.

Moran would later appear in three [[W. C. Fields]] films, ''[[The Fatal Glass of Beer (1933 film)|The Fatal Glass of Beer]]'', ''[[My Little Chickadee]]'', and ''[[The Bank Dick]]''.

Moran died on August 1, 1949.<ref name=moran>{{cite news |title=George Moran, 67, Comedian, Is Dead. Partner of Charles E. Mack in Famous 'Two Black Crows' Act From 1921 to 1934 |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=990CEFDA113BE23BBC4A53DFBE668382659EDE |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |date=August 2, 1949 |accessdate=2015-03-22 }}</ref>