This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Moms-Mabley, African American Registry - Biography of Mom Mabley. Beginning as a staple on the chitlin circuit and late night talk show favorite, she went on to become an internationally known entertainer whose career spanned five decades. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley: Directed by Whoopi Goldberg. (4) By the time of her death in 1975, she had garnered an estate of over half a million dollars. Moms Mabley, who had been a vaudeville star for half a century when white audiences began to discover her, died in 1975 at the age of 81. At the start of her career, she changed her name to Jackie Mabley in response to her brothers despise of her choice of work. Moms Mabley was a trailblazing African American 20th century comedian known for warm yet raunchy stand-up routines and hit albums. A woman is a woman until the day she dies, but a man's a man only as long as he can. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Ms. Taylor - who describes her age as ''between 55 and 80'' - attributes the success of her idea to higher powers. She later performed in such noted venues as Harlems Cotton Club. She was a guest at the White House Conference to Fulfill These Rights (1966), and she used politics as a major component of her comedy routine. Moms Mabley, byname of Jackie Mabley, original name Loretta Mary Aiken, (born March 19, 1894, Brevard, North Carolina, U.S.died May 23, 1975, White Plains, New York), American comedian who was one of the most successful black vaudeville performers. Smother Brother introduces Moms Mabley performing comedy act (1967) There ain't nothing wrong with young people. Mabley later recorded comedy albums and appeared in films and on television programs including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.[2]. earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. She was shocked when a friend interrupted to ask, ''Who's Moms Mabley?' Her great grandparents were slaves, and she would experience the hardships that come with that due to the way people treated her. At the apex of her long career, she was She would also appear there more than any other entertainer in the history of the theater. At the apex of her long career, she was earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. Very little is known about her early years. She was the first female comedian to appear at the Apollo Theater, and she became a regular there, appearing more often than any other act in that theatres history. Mabley focused on conventional topics such as family and others not normally covered by comedians of the era, white or Black, such as infidelity, poverty, welfare, and inebriation.Billed as the Funniest Woman in the World, she adopted her original stage name from a boyfriend, Jackie Mabley, and began her career at 14. The sobriquet Moms came a short time later as other performers noticed her protection and kindness for budding entertainers. When Loretta was eleven, her father was killed in an explosion, and later her mother was killed on Christmas day by a truck. As a performer, Moms banked on being Black in delivering her jokes. I was begging everyone I knew, and the next thing I knew we got theaters, there's a big ad, we got this advance ticket sale, all kinds of things. [24], Mabley continued performing in the 1970s. He took a lot off me and the least I could do was take his name. Whoopi Goldberg Talks HBO's WHOOPI GOLDBERG PRESENTS MOMS MABLEY, Directing the Documentary, TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES, and More . Jus quit lyin to em. In addition to live stand-up comedy, Mabley appeared in a number of filmsincluding Boarding House Blues (1948) and Amazing Grace (1974)and on television programs such as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. 23 May 1975 (aged 81) Jackie "Moms" Mabley (March 19, 1894 - May 23, 1975), born Loretta Mary Aiken, was an American standup comedian. Mabley costarred in the motion pictures, The Big Timers (1945) and Killer Diller (1948), which also featured Butterfly Queen and Nat King Cole. Used by permission of the publisher. Her signature line became: ''Ain't nothin' an old man can do for me but bring me a message from a young man. She returned to the big screen as well with The Big Timers (1945), Boarding House Blues (1948), and the musical revue Killer Diller (1948), which featured Nat King Cole and Butterfly McQueen. But a recent update she made for her fans revealed she's on her way to recovery. ''I always say that Moms has taken charge of this from the grave. That information proved hard to come by, but with persistence and time she managed to track down Moms's brother, her adopted son, her daughter and her half-brother. She was one of her parents' sixteen children. Although Moms herself was a lesbian, according to Ms. Taylor, her favorite persona was that of ''dirty old lady'' with a penchant for younger men. For licensing inquiries please contact Historic Films Archive(info@historicfilms.com / http://www.historicfilms.com) [2] She is interred at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York. Quick-witted and quick-tongued, Mabley's unorthodox, self-assured routines as an outspoken grandma while wearing bag-lady clothes--old-fashioned print dresses and floppy hats--was a favorite with Black female audiences, particularly when she was lampooning the psychology of men. They persuaded her to join another acting association, and by 1923 Moms was playing in Harlem's best playhouses such as Connie's Inn and the Cotton Club. 1975. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Fellow performer Jack Mabley became her boyfriend for a short time, and she took on his name, becoming Jackie Mabley, with "Moms" coming from her eventual reputation as a mentoring, mothering spirit. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. It was aired by HBO. Mabley's comic persona, a grandmotherly figure with a sharp tongue and a spicy sense of humor, gave her the freedom to challenge . And that deep raspy voice makes it even more hilarious! Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Go to channel Playlist \u0026 check out more of Moms Mabley!Don't forget to subscribe, thumbs up, and comment! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Above: Moms Mabley performing on national television in 1969 Mabley went on to release over twenty albums, covering topics from gender to racism. [13] During the 1920s and 1930s she appeared in androgynous clothing and recorded several "lesbian stand-up" routines. [12], She came out as a lesbian in 1921 at the age of twenty-seven, becoming one of the first openly gay comedians. It didn't stop there though, Mabley's Dad was ultimately killed while he was a volunteer fireman after the engine of the fire truck he was on exploded. Mabley's standup routines were riotous affairs augmented by the aesthetic she presented as being an older, housedress-clad figure who provided sly commentary on racial bigotry to African American audiences. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Loretta's father, a volunteer fireman, was blown to pieces when a fire engine exploded, and her mother was run over and killed by a truck while coming home from church on Christmas Day. Comedy pioneer Jackie "Moms" Mabley (1897-1975) began performing on the Chitlin' Circuit in the 1920s, and later became the first female comedian to appear as a solo act at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. She was also a sly and astute social commentator, as she revealed in comments such as There aint nothing wrong with young people. In the 1960s, Mabley became known to a wider white audience, playing Carnegie Hall in 1962,[20] and making a number of mainstream TV appearances, with multiple appearances on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. ''According to my research, she was our only black comedienne; I don't know of any other in those years,'' said Ms. Taylor. Loretta Aiken soon changed her name because her brother thought that a female in the theater would disgrace the Aiken family name. [16] The non-threatening persona aided her in addressing topics too edgy for most comics of the time, including racism, sexuality and having children after becoming a widow. She starred in several films, became a headliner at the. ''I knew her from sitting in the audience at the Apollo Theater falling out of my seat laughing at her. Copyright 1979-1996 by the University of North Carolina Press. Jackie "Moms" Mabley found fame and fortune as a stand-up comedian during the twentieth century. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. One the most successful entertainers of the Black vaudeville stage, also known as the Chitlin Circuit, was Jackie "Moms" Mabley, born Loretta Mary Aiken in 1894. By the early 1920s she had begun to work with the duo Butterbeans & Susie, and eventually became an attraction at the Cotton Club. Mini Bio (1) One the most successful entertainers of the Black vaudeville stage, also known as the Chitlin Circuit, was Jackie "Moms" Mabley, born Loretta Mary Aiken in 1894. During her adolescence, Loretta was raped; both episodes resulted in pregnancy and the children being given up through adoption. Mabley entered the world of film and stage as well, working with writer Zora Neale Hurston on the 1931 Broadway show Fast and Furious: A Colored Revue in 37 Scenes and taking on a featured role in Paul Robeson's Emperor Jones (1933). Moms Mabley (1894-1975) Actress Soundtrack IMDbPro Starmeter See rank One the most successful entertainers of the Black vaudeville stage, also known as the Chitlin Circuit, was Jackie "Moms" Mabley, born Loretta Mary Aiken in 1894. '', As the civil-rights movement wrought the changes necessary to enable her to gain national exposure, her humor proved universal. I know I'm not in charge of it; had I been in charge of it, I'd still be sitting in my backyard. I'm that Mom.". Her cover version of "Abraham, Martin and John" hit #35 . Both her raunchy humor and the poignant story of her. At the apex of her long career, she was earning $10,000 a week at Harlems Apollo Theatre. Moms Mabley, who had been a vaudeville star for half a century when white audiences began to discover her, died in 1975 at the age of 81. Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine, 23 June 1968. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Near the end of her life, she starred in a film titled Amazing Grace, which included a call to action for black youth. She also was deeply involved in politics, especially as a member of the NAACP. At age fourteen, on the advice of her great-grandmother Harriet Smith (who was part Cherokee Indian and reportedly lived to be 118), Loretta Aiken left Brevard after being raped and becoming pregnant. In 1933 she costarred in Emperor Jones alongside actor Paul Robeson. This week on The Treatment, Elvis Mitchell sits down with actor and comedian Wanda Sykes, who is nominated for an Emmy this year for her guest starring role on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as the comedian Moms Mabley. Mabley relocated to Cleveland, Ohio, at age fourteen and joined the black vaudeville scene as an all-around entertainer. Known as an "overbearing, dogmatic, infuriating and sweet" black comedienne, she entertained American audiences from the 1920s into the 1970s. After a brother objected to her career choice, she took a stage name, borrowing that of a boyfriend and fellow entertainer, Jack Mabley. Mabley, portrayed by Wanda Sykes, appears in the final episode of the third season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, performing a full stand-up routine on the Apollo Theater stage. {{Year: 1900; Census Place: Brevard, Transylvania, North Carolina; Roll: 1219; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0112; FHL microfilm: 1241219; Year: 1910; Census Place: Brevard, Transylvania, North Carolina; Roll: T624_1134; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0156; FHL microfilm: 1375147. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [1][3] She was one of 16 children born to James Aiken and Mary Smith,[4] who had married in 1891. Richard Pryor will be honored the same night the legendary theater kicks ''Moms,'' which enjoyed a sold-out run last winter in an earlier version at the Hudson Guild Theater, was based on a concept by Ms. Taylor, who stars in the production. Legendary American vaudeville entertainer-turned-comedian Jackie "Moms" Mabley became famous for her persona as a frumpy, middle-aged woman in a housedress and floppy hat delivering hilarious. Corrections? This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Portrait of American comedienne 'Moms' Mabley as she reclines on a pile of pillows inside an oversized picture frame, New York, New York, 1968. . Jackie "Moms" Mabley (March 19, 1894 - May 23, 1975), born Loretta Mary Aiken, was an American standup comedian and a pioneer of the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit" of African-American vaudeville. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Comedian .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Whoopi Goldberg directed a documentary on Mabley's life. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. [21][22] Music became a regular part of her act, and a cover version of "Abraham, Martin and John" hit No. There she was first exposed to performers and their lives, and she soon chose show business as a career and entered the chitlin circuit of venues that catered to African American audiences. ''I just went everywhere, following all the leads,'' Ms. Taylor said. While making the film she suffered a heart attack, and the filming had to be postponed until she had a pacemaker implanted. Her humor leaned toward the sly double-entendre rather than the straightforward use of obscenity that would become popular with such later black comedians as Richard Pryor. [16], Over the course of her life, Mabley had six children: Bonnie, Christine, Charles, and Yvonne Ailey,[12][26] and two placed for adoption when she was a teenager.[27]. Label vector designed by Ibrandify - Freepik.com, White House Conference to Fulfill These Rights. Her career spanned five decades, although white audiences did not know of her until the early 1960s. Arizona State University Professor Bambi Haggins analyzed Mableys career in her 2007 book Laughing Mad: The Black Comic Persona in Post-Soul America. Haggins, who appears in the Goldberg documentary and who spoke with the Blade for this article, points to what she calls Mableys contradictory persona on and off the stage and in her sexuality. Moms Mabley, byname of Jackie Mabley, original name Loretta Mary Aiken, (born March 19, 1894, Brevard, North Carolina, U.S.died May 23, 1975, White Plains, New York), American comedian who was one of the most successful black vaudeville performers. Aiken left home at the age of 14 and pursued a show business career, joining the African American vaudeville circuit as a comedian under the Theatre Owners Booking Association. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Since Loretta was boarding with a clergyman and his wife, she felt that she could not tell them that she was going into show business, so she threw her bag over the back fence where Bonnie Drew was waiting with her car. What she learned was heartbreaking. Mabley focused on conventional topics such as family and others not normally . }}, The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music, "Theater: The Pain Behind The Laughter of Moms Mabley", "James Aiken and Mary Smith, May 21, 1891", "Walking Around the World: African American Landscapes and Experience in Transylvania County, NC", "Moms Mabley: She Finally Makes the Movies", "Meet the legendary queer comedian 'Moms' Mabley", "The Pain Behind The Laughter of Moms Mabley", "LGBT History Month - Jackie 'Moms' Mabley - Comedian", "The Story Behind the Harlem Cultural Festival", "Whoopi Goldberg to Bring MOMS Off-Broadway?". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. At point of 16:15 album side 1 ends, and album side 2 begins. She was raped at the age of 11 by an older black man, and raped again two years later by the white town sheriff. Her comedy routines quickly became a hit on the black concert circuit, and on one occasion she noted that every comedian except Jack Benny came to see her perform and to steal her material. She also had five more children. Mabley began her career on the theater stage in the 1920s and became a veteran entertainer of the Chitlin' Circuit of African-American vaudeville. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. She came out as a lesbian when she was 27. Both children were placed for adoption. Apparently she was so "unselfish with her time and sympathy for fellow performers who need a great deal of mothering that she was nicknamed 'Moms.'" Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Subsequent albums like Moms Mabley at the Playboy Club, Moms Mabley at the UN and Young Men, Si - Old Men, No continued to broaden Mabley's reach (she ultimately recorded many albums). As if that wasn't horrific enough, she was raped again at the age of 13 by the town's sheriff. It was also unfortunate that one of her daughters became a drug addict. [25] While filming the 1974 film Amazing Grace, her only film starring role,[1] Mabley suffered a heart attack. How many times should a shock absorber bounce? Content received from contributors changed her name because her Brother thought that a in! Dies, but a recent update she made for her fans revealed she 's on her to! Sly and astute social commentator, as the civil-rights movement wrought the changes necessary to her. Experience the hardships that come with that due to the way people treated her conventional such... Television Networks, LLC update she made for her fans revealed she 's on her way to.... 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