Generally considered the first female stand-up comedy superstar, she overcame much to become billed as “The Funniest Woman in the World.” She was the first woman to be featured at the Apollo. In 2013, she also was the subject of an HBO documentary by Whoopi Goldberg. From most sources she was also known as openly lesbian (and during the early 20th century no less), making her a pioneer in that regard as well, considering the time period. So how funny was she? See for yourself.
Born “Loretta Mary Aiken” 1894, Brevard, North Carolina. Coming from a big family (one of 16 children), Mabley had a horrific childhood. At age 11, her father, a volunteer firefighter, died while on the job. In 1910, her mother was run over a truck. By age 14 she had already been sexually assaulted twice resulting in two children being put up for adoption.
It was around this time that Aiken ran away to join the African-American vaudeville circuit as a comedian. Her stage name “Jackie ‘Moms’ Mabley”, inspired from a fellow performer who was her boyfriend for a short time (the moms came later on, as she became a mentor for younger comedians). In the 1920s, she worked with duo Butterbeans & Susie for a time and grew in popularity. As her presence grew over the years, she would move her act to New York City, and worked her way into television, movies, and stage performances over her career. She appeared on both the Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.
In the 1930s, Mabley became the first woman comedian to be featured at the Apollo Theater, and would appear on their stage more than any other performer. Her routines were a clever mix of social commentary on bigotry and the struggles of African-Americans, and raunchy stand up touching on female sexuality, edgy at the time. Through various indirect accounts and sources, Mabley was also considered “out” as a lesbian for most of her adult life, making her a gay pioneer as well (I’ve yet to find an absolute definitive source, but thought it should be noted as most online sources with this entry state it as fact).
Mabley recorded over 20 albums of comedy routines over her career, and even became the oldest person ever to have a US Top 40 hit with a cover song she recorded in 1969 at the age of 75.
In 2013, Whoopi Goldberg created a (partially kickstarted) documentary for HBO, “Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley”, detailing the comedian’s life with rare footage and interviews.
*edit* Read my note addressing a Tumblr user’s comment on this particular entry regarding Mabley’s sexuality.
“[…] as one in a trance, at a Greek gem carved with the figure of Adonis.
He had been seen, so the tale ran, pressing his warm lips to the marble brow of an antique statue that had been discovered in the bed of the river on the occasion of the building of the stone bridge, and was inscribed with the name of the Bithynian slave of Hadrian.
He had passed a whole night in noting the effect of the moonlight on a silver image of Endymion.”
Put wayyyy too much effort into this extra credit assignment for Latin, it’s a few lines from the Metamorphoses’ Creation
“There was no Titan [the sun] yet, supplying light to the world, nor Phoebe [the moon] repairing her new horns by increasing, nor the earth hanging in the air spread round it balanced by its own weights. Nor through the long shore of the lands had Amphitrite [the sea] spread [her] arms.”
Actually now that I think about it they both have a mother that is not of american descent (if that’s the right term?) they’re both short, they got the whole abilities to create from their father, both their mother’s are dead and well they’re both depressed
I dont think I worded that perfectly but you get the point
