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Gloria Jerome
| Gloria Jerome | |
| Born | August 10, 1922 |
|---|---|
| Died | May 15, 1994 (age 71) |
Gloria Jerome (1922-1994) performed magic professionally in the 1940s.
Biography
Her parents were both circus performers for the Ringling Brothers, her dad was a trapeze artist and her mom performed on the slack-wire.
After her dad retired from the circus, he put together a magic act as a second career, billing himself as The Great Jerome. By the age of 5 Gloria was dancing in the act and learning magic. Gloria wanted to be a dancer, but her father advised that she learn some magic to set herself apart from the other acts.
She started her first tour as a magic act the day after she graduated from high school with the Music Corporation of America (MCA). Her first show was at the Park Plaza in St. Louis, billed as "The Famous Girl Magician".
Gerrie Larsen profiled her as a part of the "Ladies Column" in the October, 1940 Genii, mentioning her work with eggs, ropes and handkerchiefs. Throughout World War II she performed at USO and camp shows. She also worked for a time as a magician for Chun King, the frozen Chinese food line. Wearing a black wig she appeared as Princess Fu Ling Yu.
Then, about 1948, she disappears from the magic scene, possibly setting off for Hollywood to try to get into films. She reappeared at the 14th Texas Association of Magicians Convention in 1959 and became an active part of the magic community in the Texas area.
Gloria Jerome passed away on after a prolonged battle with cancer.[1]