Mavor Moore
Encyclopedia
James Mavor Moore, CC
, OBC
(March 8, 1919 – December 18, 2006) was a Canadian
writer, producer, actor, public servant, critic, and educator.
, Ontario
, the son of Francis John Moore, an Anglican theologian, and Dora Mavor
, who helped establish Canadian professional theatre
in the 1930s and 1940s, Moore graduated with a BA
from the University of Toronto
in 1941. During World War II
, he was an intelligence officer.
As a director and known as Mavor Moore was a pioneer of Canadian television in the 1950s and was the creator of the CBC National News, later known as The National selecting the program's first regular newsreader, Larry Henderson
.
He is better known for his contribution to drama having created more than 100 plays
, documentaries, musicals and librettos for stage
, radio
and television
. From 1970 to 1984, Mavor Moore taught theatre history as a professor
at York University
. He was the first artist to chair the Canada Council
from 1979 to 1983.
In 1973 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Companion in 1988. In 1999 he was appointed to the Order of British Columbia
.
, ending in divorce in 1978. In 1980, he married opera singer Alexandra Browning, who survives him. He died in 2006, aged 87, after several years of ill health.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, OBC
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
(March 8, 1919 – December 18, 2006) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
writer, producer, actor, public servant, critic, and educator.
Biography
Born in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, the son of Francis John Moore, an Anglican theologian, and Dora Mavor
Dora Mavor Moore
Dora Mavor Moore, OC was a Canadian actor, teacher and director who was a pioneer of Canadian theater.- Life :...
, who helped establish Canadian professional theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
in the 1930s and 1940s, Moore graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1941. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was an intelligence officer.
As a director and known as Mavor Moore was a pioneer of Canadian television in the 1950s and was the creator of the CBC National News, later known as The National selecting the program's first regular newsreader, Larry Henderson
Larry Henderson
Larry Henderson was the first regular newsreader on the CBC Television's The National News, later rebranded as The National, from 1954 to 1959. He was born in Montreal....
.
He is better known for his contribution to drama having created more than 100 plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
, documentaries, musicals and librettos for stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. From 1970 to 1984, Mavor Moore taught theatre history as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. He was the first artist to chair the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
from 1979 to 1983.
In 1973 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Companion in 1988. In 1999 he was appointed to the Order of British Columbia
Order of British Columbia
The Order of British Columbia is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Instituted in 1989 by Lieutenant Governor David Lam, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier Bill Vander Zalm, the order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to honour...
.
Family
In 1943, he married Darwina Faessler, with whom he had four daughters. His second marriage, in 1968, was to Phyllis GrosskurthPhyllis Grosskurth
Phyllis M. Grosskurth, is a Canadian biographer.Born in Toronto, Ontario, she received a Bachelor of Arts degree, honours English from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Ottawa...
, ending in divorce in 1978. In 1980, he married opera singer Alexandra Browning, who survives him. He died in 2006, aged 87, after several years of ill health.