Maurice
Raymond Sauders was born on May 30, 1877 in Akron, Ohio. At nine years old, he joined his uncle and traveled with the show. At the age of
thirteen, he traveled the Chautauqua, the Kohl, and Castle circuits while still
in his teens. During this part of his life, his grandfather took him to Europe.
He met Alexander Herrmann. Seeing the master perform changed his life's work.
He adopted a part of the consummate performer's title (“The Great”) and placed
it with his own middle name.
Now,
The Great Raymond would go on and modify his work as a performer keeping in
mind all that his idol did. Before his career was complete, he toured parts of
the world that had never seen magic before. His stage presence, his
performance, the advertising, and the man were everything magic was supposed to
be and more on stage.
