Moms Mabley

Moms Mabley was a famous funny lady.

She told jokes on big stages. She also sang many songs.

She wore a floppy hat and a house dress. This helped her tell jokes about hard things. She was the first woman to tell jokes at the Apollo Theater. People loved to laugh with her on TV. She was a very special star.

Do you like to make people laugh?

Jackie "Moms" Mabley was a famous American comedian.

She was born in North Carolina. At age 14, she ran away to Ohio. She joined a traveling show to sing and perform.

Mabley became a star on the Chitlin' Circuit. This was a group of theaters for Black performers. She was a very brave woman. She was one of the first openly gay comedians. In 1939, she was the first woman to tell jokes at the Apollo Theater.

Later, she changed her look. She wore a house dress and a floppy hat. She used this look to act like a kind mother. This helped her tell jokes about hard topics. She could talk about racism and being a widow.

Mabley also sang songs on TV. Her song "Abraham, Martin and John" was a big hit.

She appeared on many shows like The Ed Sullivan Show. She even acted in a movie called Amazing Grace. People still remember her great skill today.

Jackie "Moms" Mabley was a famous American comedian and actress.

She was known for her great skill at making people laugh. Mabley was a star on the Chitlin' Circuit. This was a network of theaters for Black performers. She was also very brave in her personal life. Mabley was one of the first openly gay comedians. In 1939, she became the first woman to perform comedy at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Mabley used many different ways to perform her acts. In the 1920s, she often wore clothing that was not strictly for men or women. She even recorded special comedy routines about being a lesbian. Later, she changed her style to become "Moms."

She wore a house dress and a floppy hat. She acted like a kind, older woman. This persona helped her talk about very difficult topics. She could joke about racism or being a widow without making people uncomfortable.

Mabley's life began in Brevard, North Carolina. She was born Loretta Mary Aiken in 1897. She was one of 16 children in her family. Her father, James Aiken, ran several successful businesses. Life was very hard for her as a young girl. At age 14, she ran away to Cleveland, Ohio. She joined a traveling show to sing and entertain people. She used the name Jackie Mabley for her stage work.

She had a very long and busy career. In 1962, she performed at the famous Carnegie Hall. Mabley also appeared on many television programs. These included The Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. She was even a singer. Her song "Abraham, Martin and John" reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. She was a very talented woman who could do many things at once.

Today, many people still celebrate her amazing life. The actress Whoopi Goldberg made a show about Mabley. This show helped more people learn about her. In 2015, she was named an icon by the Equality Forum. Even famous bands like U2 have used her image in their shows. A historical marker in North Carolina honors her work. Mabley showed the world that laughter is a powerful thing. She remains a hero to many people everywhere.

Jackie "Moms" Mabley was a legendary American stand-up comedian and actress.

She was a pioneer in the world of entertainment. Mabley broke many barriers for Black women and LGBTQ performers. She used humor to navigate a complex social landscape. Her career spanned many decades and several different types of media. She moved from live theater to comedy albums and television. Mabley remains a significant figure in American cultural history.

Mabley's performance style changed significantly throughout her long career. In the 1920s, she often wore androgynous clothing. This means her clothes did not strictly follow traditional male or female styles. During this era, she recorded several "lesbian stand-up" routines. In 1950, she adopted a new persona that defined her legacy. She began performing as "Moms," a character modeled after a maternal figure.

This persona involved wearing a house dress and a floppy hat. She often appeared as a toothless, bedraggled woman to create a non-threatening image.

This specific character allowed her to discuss very sensitive subjects. She used her "Moms" persona to address racism and sexuality. She also joked about the experience of being a widow. One of her signature comedy bits involved her preference for handsome young men. She would joke about preferring them over "old washed-up geezers." This humor allowed her to tackle edgy topics that other comics avoided. Her ability to blend comedy with social commentary was quite unique.

Mabley's journey began in Brevard, North Carolina, in 1897. She was born Loretta Mary Aiken to James Aiken and Mary Smith. She was one of 16 children in her family. Her early life was marked by significant hardship and trauma. At age 14, she ran away to Cleveland, Ohio. She joined a traveling vaudeville-style minstrel show to sing and entertain.

She chose the stage name Jackie Mabley. She borrowed this name from an early boyfriend named Jack Mabley. This name helped her establish a separate identity from her family.

She became a major star on the Chitlin' Circuit. This was a network of performance venues for Black entertainers. Although she was highly successful, her wages as a Black woman were often meager. In April 1939, she made history at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. She became the first female comic to perform at that venue. Mabley also reached a wide mainstream audience in the 1960s. She performed at Carnegie Hall in 1962. She also appeared on popular shows like The Ed Sullivan Show.

Mabley was also a successful recording artist. In 1969, she released a cover of "Abraham, Martin and John." This song reached number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100. At approximately 75 years old, she was likely the oldest person to have a U.S. Top 40 hit. She also performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival during this time. Her versatility allowed her to move between comedy and music seamlessly. She even appeared in the 1974 film Amazing Grace, which was her only starring film role.

The legacy of Moms Mabley continues to influence modern performers. The actress Whoopi Goldberg portrayed Mabley in a famous one-woman show. Goldberg also produced a documentary about Mabley that aired on HBO in 2013. This documentary was nominated for two Creative Arts Emmy Awards. In 2015, the Equality Forum named her an icon for LGBT History Month. Her influence even reaches popular music, as U2 used a tribute to her during their 2017 tour. She remains a symbol of resilience and comedic brilliance.