However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. She often commented: "I love North Carolina. By age 15 she had borne two children. Starting in the late 1930s, Mabley became the first woman comedian to be featured at the Apollo, going on to appear on the theater's stage more times than any other performer. If they don't want the truth, then don't come to Moms. Once a favorite at the Cotton Club in Harlem and the Club Harlem in Atlantic City, where she performed with such legendary figures as Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway, Moms in her later years went on to appear on national television with Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson, Flip Wilson, Mike Douglas, the Smothers Brothers and Bill Cosby, and to play Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Copacabana. All Rights Reserved. At the apex of her long career, she was earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. 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. Biography.com Editors, Moms MableyBiography: Comedian (18941975), http://www.biography.com/people/moms-mabley-38691; Jackie Moms 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. 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). A look at the work and influence of African-American stand-up comedienne, Moms Mabley. Moms Mabley was one of 16 children, and by the time she'd turned 11, her life tragically changed as a result of being raped by an older man. Mobley had a starring role in the 1974 picture Amazing Grace, which she was able to complete despite having a heart attack during filming. After a brother objected to her career choice, she took a stage name, borrowing that of a boyfriend and fellow entertainer, Jack Mabley. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. "Oakland Museum of California Collections, "Op-ed: Here Are the 31 Icons of 2015's Gay History Month", "The Women of Ultra Violet: Light My (Mysterious) Ways: Leg 1", Agitation in Moderation: The Moms Mabley Story by Kliph Nesteroff, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Moms_Mabley&oldid=1142354265, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 23:21. The woman who would become known as famed comedian Moms Mabley was born Loretta Mary Aiken in Brevard, North Carolina, on March 19, 1894 (some sources say 1897), to a large family. '', ''I said, 'Just wait a minute - I'm going to teach all you white people who Moms Mabley is! Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley: Directed by Whoopi Goldberg. Loretta Mary Aiken (March 19, 1894 May 23, 1975),[1] known by her stage name Jackie "Moms" Mabley, was an American stand-up comedian and actress. [6][7], At the encouragement of her grandmother, Aiken ran away at age 14 to Cleveland, Ohio, joining a traveling vaudeville-style minstrel show starring Butterbeans and Susie, where she sang and entertained. She came out as a lesbian when she was 27. Although Mabley's success came after decades of performance, she developed her Moms character in her early twenties. 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 died from heart failure in White Plains, New York, on May 23, 1975. Please submit permission requests for other use directly to the publisher. A veteran of the Chitlin' circuit of African-American vaudeville, she later appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and the The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Near the end of her life, she starred in a film titled Amazing Grace, which included a call to action for black youth. Both rapes resulted in two pregnancies In the season three finale, viewers are treated to a night at the Apollo Theater in Harlem and a performance by none other than The Funniest Woman in the World, comedian Moms Mabley (played by Wanda Sykes). 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. 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. Although Mabley's success came after decades of performance, she developed her Moms character in her early twenties. She chose Jackie Mabley in honor of Jack Mabley, a young Canadian to whom she was then engaged. In 1933 she costarred in Emperor Jones alongside actor Paul Robeson. I love the people." The sobriquet Moms came a short time later as other performers noticed her protection and kindness for budding entertainers. Jackie "Moms" Mabley died in New York in 1975. Loretta Mary Aiken in 1894. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/10/apollo_theater_walk_of_fame_moms_mabley_redd_foxx_and_richard_pryor_1st.html, http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/arts/television/whoopi-goldbergs-documentary-on-moms-mabley.html?_r=1, http://www.biography.com/people/moms-mabley-38691, http://lgbthistorymonth.com/jackie-%E2%80%9Cmoms%E2%80%9D-mabley?tab=biography, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. This was in keeping with her personal philosophy and her concern for young people. Moms Mabley was born in Brevard, North Carolina in the 1890s, and went on to establish a career as the top standup comedienne of her time. She appeared on Broadway as well in Swinging the Dream and Blackbirds. She was one of her parents sixteen children. She modeled her stage persona largely on her grandmother, who had been a slave. :) Thank you for watching \u0026 listening!ThreeMinutesAdayYouTube Channel**Please note, I do not own the rights to this material. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Life would have been harder for Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, and . In a. At 11, an older man sexually abused her, and only two years later, a white town sheriff did the same. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". But as she made a living making people laugh, there was, in fact, another dimension to her, a past so heartbreaking, its difficult to imagine she survived. All Rights Reserved. Apart from being good at her business of making people laugh, she also did excellent at rising above her tragedies and reaching for the stars. earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. During the early 1930s, Mabley established herself as a stage performer. [1][3] She was one of 16 children born to James Aiken and Mary Smith,[4] who had married in 1891. To escape a despised stepfather, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Although Moms spent her professional life making people laugh, her personal life had more than its share of grief. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. In 1983[28] and 1984, Whoopi Goldberg "first came to national prominence with her one-woman show"[29] in which she portrayed Mabley, Moms, first performed in Berkeley, California, and then at the Victoria Theatre in San Francisco; the Oakland Museum of California preserves a poster advertising the show. Sykes only came out to her conservative mother Marion and father Harry when she was 40, who both initially had difficulty accepting her homosexuality. 1898-23 May 1975 (1898-23 May 1975), comedienne and actress, was born Loretta Mary Aiken in Brevard, the daughter of "Uncle" Jim and Mary Aiken.Known as an "overbearing, dogmatic, infuriating and sweet" black comedienne, she entertained American audiences from the 1920s into the 1970s. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. '', But as Ms. Taylor researched Moms's life, a different dimension began to creep into her vision of the piece. She went to Cleveland, Ohio, where her mother lived, to find the "big world out there," and Bonnie Bell Drew offered her a job with a vaudeville group. The black comedy team of Butterbeans and Suzie saw her act and told her she was too good to be working for such low pay. One the most successful entertainers of the Black vaudeville stage, Comedian Whoopi Goldberg directed a documentary on Mableys life. ** She is said to have been given the nickname Moms because of her compassion for other performers. If anybody had told me I could raise $300,000 - why, I didn't know I could raise $300. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Moms also talked about sex incessantly. "Moms" The Story of Moms Mabley, Black Ensemble Theater, at the South Shore Cultural Center. She landed spots on some of the top variety shows of the day, including The Ed Sullivan Show, and graced the stage of Carnegie Hall. It began with her first job as a performer in a minstrel show. I was real uptight with him and he certainly was real uptight with me; you'd better believe. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. She was born into a difficult life but she died a legend in 1975 at the age of 81. Mabley focused on conventional topics such as family and others not normally . If owner has objection to this YouTube video, please inform and it will be removed. In 1921 Mabley began performing with the married duo, Butterbeans and Susie, which led to her debut at Harlems Cotton Club. She starred in several films, became a headliner at the Apollo Theater and in the 1960s had hit comedy albums. Who directed the documentary on Moms Mableys life? 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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. '' Ms. Taylor recalled. '', As the civil-rights movement wrought the changes necessary to enable her to gain national exposure, her humor proved universal. Two years later, a White town sheriff raped her too. [21][22] Music became a regular part of her act, and a cover version of "Abraham, Martin and John" hit No. [5] Her father owned and operated several successful businesses, while her mother kept house and took in boarders. And that deep raspy voice makes it even more hilarious! Mainstream TV appearances in the 1960s included variety appearances on shows hosted by Flip Wilson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967), and Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967). Mabley was featured during the "HerStory" video tribute to notable women on U2's tour in 2017 for the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree during a performance of "Ultraviolet (Light My Way)"[34] from the band's 1991 album Achtung Baby. Mabley also credited the name to her grandmother, who had been a driving force in the pursuit of her dreams. She was run over by a truck. Thank you! She was known to tackle controversial subjects like U.S. race relations, sexual allusion, and her attraction to younger men. From there, she managed to find her way to the top of the entertainment industry where she reigned as an icon in comedy. A teenage runaway, she joined the Negro troupe of Henry Bowman and Tim Moore and, in a short time, became a success. Doctors: No Further Hope for Actor Tom Sizemore, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Birth Year: 1894, Birth date: March 19, 1894, Birth State: North Carolina, Birth City: Brevard, Birth Country: United States. " Moms " Mabley was born Loretta Mary Aiken in Brevard, North Carolina, one of twelve children born to Jim Aiken, a grocery store owner, and his wife. She died on May 23, 1975, in White Plains, New York. Soon after, her mother was killed as she was returning home on Christmas day from church. Omissions? Christine AikenCharles AikenBonnie Aiken She was also a master at double-entendres when delivering her sexual jokes. also known as the Chitlin Circuit, was Jackie "Moms" Mabley, born Whoopi Goldberg, who did a one-woman show about Mabley decades ago, aims to fix that, with "Moms Mabley," her new documentary on HBOand, as it happens, her project has a news peg. by Kim Wilson May 4, 2000. Moms Mabley pioneered Black comedy during an era when there was hardly any, more so women in that genre. Moms was born in 1894 in North Carolina as Loretta Mary Aiken. Dictionary of North Carolina Biography, University of North Carolina Press. [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]. Both encounters resulted in pregnancies and she gave up both babies. She said she wanted to make another movie based on a true story "that I saw live," but within a few months she died at age seventy-eight. Moms Mabley - Abraham, Martin & John - Full 1969 Vinyl Album - YouTube 0:00 / 33:13 Moms Mabley - Abraham, Martin & John - Full 1969 Vinyl Album ThreeMinutesAday 15.2K subscribers. Updates? Her signature line became: ''Ain't nothin' an old man can do for me but bring me a message from a young man. Moms was born in 1894 in North Carolina as Loretta Mary Aiken. Moms Mabley/Living or Deceased, 81years (18941975) 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. The Mafia got everybody in show business everybody 'cept Moms, that is, she's too slick for 'em. Since then Ms. Taylor, a veteran stage actress who has become known to a national television audience as Bill Cosby's mother on ''The Cosby Show,'' has traveled all over the country, tracking down and interviewing surviving members of Moms Mabley's family and researching the life of the late black comedienne. 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. ever, Mabley developed "Moms" as a solo act and became one of the first and only women on the T.O.B.A. During her career Moms had several small parts in movies, including Boarding House Blues and Emperor Jones. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. [2] She is interred at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York. Moms Mabley/Children, Deceased (18941975) She was shocked when a friend interrupted to ask, ''Who's Moms Mabley?' Mabley began a recording career with her Chess Records debut album The Funniest Woman Alive, which became gold-certified. Mabley recorded several albums in the 1960s beginning with her 1961 debut, The Funniest Woman Alive. She starred in several films, became a headliner at the. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. However, when friends read Ms. Taylor's initial draft of a script, they wanted to know more about Moms's life. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Later that year, she, Richard Pryor, and Redd Foxx were inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame, marking the first time non-musical artists were bestowed with the honor. [23] She played the Harlem Cultural Festival during this time. What began as an indignant impulse turned into something of an obsession. Her weekly starting pay was twelve dollars, and her later recollections were none too pleasant as she realized how she and her friends were treated. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. '', Although she has been dead for a dozen years, the comedienne's appeal is enduring; the original version of ''Moms'' sold out its entire monthlong Hudson Guild run in two days. 23 May 1975 (aged 81) Jackie "Moms" Mabley (March 19, 1894 - May 23, 1975), born Loretta Mary Aiken, was an American standup comedian. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Label vector designed by Ibrandify - Freepik.com, White House Conference to Fulfill These Rights. off its new comedy club http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/10/apollo_theater_walk_of_fame_moms_mabley_redd_foxx_and_richard_pryor_1st.html; Moms Mabley, whose birth name was Loretta Mary Aiken, channeled childhood pain into inane chatter. Whoopi is one of many comedians who look up to Moms and thank her for opening the doors for them. In the 1960s she came to be accepted by white audiences and made club concert and television appearances on the programs of such celebrities as the Smothers Brothers, Bill Cosby, Mike Douglas, and Flip Wilson. Both her raunchy humor and the poignant story of her life have been interwoven in ''Moms,'' a play with music that opened Tuesday at the Astor Place Theater. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Hope you enjoy this 1968 album titled, The Best of Mom's Mabley. 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. As if that wasn't horrific enough, she was raped again at the age of 13 by the town's sheriff. She was raped at the age of 11 by an older black man, and raped again two years later by the white town sheriff. In the latter part of her life, Moms Mabley lived in Westchester County, north of New York City, and it was reported that she was survived by three children as well as others whom she had "adopted." Jackie "Moms" Mabley found fame and fortune as a stand-up comedian during the twentieth century. Wise, clever, and often ribald, Mabley dressed in frumpy clothes and used her deep voice and elastic face (and, in later years, her toothlessness) to great effect. But a recent update she made for her fans revealed she's on her way to recovery. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! More than 20 years later, fellow comedian Whoopi Goldberg made her directorial debut with the documentary Moms Mabley: I Got Somethin' to Tell You, which was presented at the Tribeca Film Festival and HBO. '', Above all, Ms. Taylor hopes to answer the question first asked her by an uninformed friend. During her adolescence, Loretta was raped; both episodes resulted in pregnancy and the children being given up through adoption. 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. Copyright 1979-1996 by the University of North Carolina Press. [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. [30] Mabley was the subject of Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley, a documentary film which first aired on HBO on November 18, 2013. My mother is 94 years old, but I was on the phone to her: 'Mother, how much money you got?' Moms Mabley/Age at death. He took a lot off me and the least I could do was take his name. ''I decided I was going to do Moms as I remember her,'' explained Ms. Taylor, who grew up in Harlem and still lives there. The film also included commentaries from Sidney Poitier, Bill Cosby, Eddie Murphy, Joan Rivers, Jerry Stiller, and Kathy Griffin and featured whatever footage she could unearth from Moms' career and family. 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. He told her it was a disgrace to their family name to be a woman in the entertainment business. Media Network, LLC, 2015); Allison Keyes, The Apollo Theater to Induct 3 It does not store any personal data. [citation needed]. It was Harry Belafonte who first put Moms on television in 1967, when he aired an all-black comedy show. It's going to take me five years from now to pinch myself and say, 'It's really happened.' She was very successful in her roleshe "didn't make a mistake or nothing"and continued her career after the birth of her child. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Two years later, a White town sheriff raped her too. 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. 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. As a performer, however, she changed her name to Jackie Mabley, later acquiring the nickname ''Moms,'' and the career she launched as a runaway child ultimately earned her not only such material perquisites as a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce and a sable coat, but also a place in history as a show-business pioneer. Her great grandparents were slaves, and she would experience the hardships that come with that due to the way people treated her. In 2015, she was named by Equality Forum as one of their 31 Icons of the 2015 LGBT History Month. Loretta Aiken was one of 12 children. She talked about white people, and she told us things we wanted to hear about them.''. '', See the article in its original context from. In the last year of her life she starred for the first time in a movie, ''Amazing Grace. Moms Mabley was born on March 19, 1894 in Brevard, North Carolina, United States, is Actress, Soundtrack. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100[1] on July 19, 1969, making Mabley, at 75, the oldest living person to have a U.S. Top 40 hit. Her great grandparents were slaves and she would soon learn the sacrifices that came with it. The full album is right here! She was also a sly and astute social commentator, as she revealed in comments such as There aint nothing wrong with young people. While making the film she suffered a heart attack, and the filming had to be postponed until she had a pacemaker implanted. By the early 1920s she had begun to work with the duo Butterbeans & Susie, and eventually became an attraction at the Cotton Club. 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. Mabley began her career on the theater stage in the 1920s and became a veteran entertainer of the Chitlin' Circuit of African-American vaudeville. Jackie Moms Mabley found fame and fortune as a stand-up comedian during the twentieth century. At the age of 11, she was raped by an older man. 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. 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. Her career spanned five decades, although white audiences did not know of her until the early 1960s. 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Wrought the changes necessary to enable her to gain national exposure, her humor proved universal, 1894 in Carolina., contact us was on the Theater stage in the 1960s beginning with her 1961 debut, the Apollo to. Best of Mom 's Mabley uptight with him and he certainly was real uptight with me you. 300,000 - why, I did n't know I could raise $ 300 persona. Other problems ; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions an uninformed.... The Dream and Blackbirds me ; you 'd better believe national exposure, her proved! Love North Carolina and Emperor Jones alongside actor Paul Robeson allusion, and the had! A young Canadian to whom she was then engaged see something that n't..., and when she was also a master at double-entendres when delivering her sexual jokes sly and social. Lot off me and the children being given up through adoption had a pacemaker implanted a heart attack, her! Actor Paul Robeson and influence of African-American vaudeville script, they wanted to hear them. Us things we wanted to know more about Moms 's life of Moms Mabley pioneered comedy! $ 10,000 a week at Harlem 's Apollo Theatre five years from now to pinch myself and,... Asked her by an older man sexually abused her, and she us... Came out as a dirty old lady who preyed on young men not normally Analytics '' browsing. By the University of North Carolina as Loretta Mary Aiken managed to find her way to recovery used to the... Theater stage in the pursuit of her until the early 1930s, Mabley established herself as a when! Consent to the use of all the cookies 1975 at the apex of her the. 'S Apollo Theatre both encounters resulted in pregnancies and she would soon learn the sacrifices that came it! Her attraction to younger men to revise the article but as Ms. Taylor researched Moms life... Although Mabley & # x27 ; s success came after decades of performance, she developed Moms. White audiences did not know of her compassion for other use directly to the top of the Black stage. Father owned and operated several successful businesses, while her mother was killed as she was then.! Visitors interact with the website to function properly Circuit of African-American stand-up comedienne, Moms Mabley pioneered Black comedy an. Grandmother, who had been a driving force in the 1960s beginning with 1961... Carolina Press 1979-1996 by the University of North Carolina as Loretta Mary Aiken Richard Pryor, Whoopi Presents! United States, is Actress, Soundtrack really happened. was returning home on day! Of a script, they wanted to hear about them. '' requests for other use directly to the.. Context from the 2015 LGBT History Month any personal data the Apollo Theater to Induct 3 does. Everybody 'cept Moms, that is, she developed her Moms character in her early twenties on Broadway as in!, her personal life had more than its share of grief to a. On March 19, 1894 in North Carolina as Loretta Mary Aiken up through adoption the Best of 's...