| the Class Act. John
Bubbles says "he could do anything."
Maxie came to New York in 1920 and started performing in the Follies
and Fancies of 1920. Instead of the manager displaying McCree's
photo in front of the theatre, he displayed his contract which
was for the unheard of sum at the time, $500 with his partner
"George." in 1922 he was signed for George
White's Scandals which made him one of the few African-American
performers to star in an all white production.
Maxie's claim to fame was
a form of what was known at the time as Kazotsky's (see Russian
dance,) that he called "Knee-Drops." These
Knee drops were done long before Maxie started doing them h owever
it was the way in which he did them that made the difference.
Maxie used these knee drops as an accent to punctuate the music
in his act. He was able to do them with being jerky, didn't use
his hands to rise off the floor and no clumsy leaps or hops to
get up either, they were completely smooth and clean which was
unheard of at the time.
Maxie was drowned in 1922 in Winona, Minnesota, some say he was in love
with a girl in the Scandals show and was drowned by her lover.
White had to close the show down temporarily due to Maxie's role
in the show being a major part.
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Burlesque 