Moms Mabley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moms Mabley |
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Mabley during an appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968
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| Birth name | Loretta Mary Aiken |
| Born | March 3, 1894 Brevard, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | May 23, 1975 (aged 81) White Plains, New York, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1919–1975 |
| Genres | Social satire |
Loretta Mary Aiken (born March 19, 1894 – died May 23, 1975), known by her stage name Jackie "Moms" Mabley, was a famous American stand-up comedian and actress. She started her career on stage in the 1920s. Moms Mabley became a well-known performer on the Chitlin' Circuit, which was a group of venues for African-American entertainers. Later, she made comedy albums and appeared in movies and on TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show.
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Early Life of Moms Mabley
Loretta Mary Aiken was born in Brevard, North Carolina, on March 19, 1894. She was one of 16 children. Her parents were James Aiken and Mary Smith. Her father owned several successful businesses. Her mother took care of their home and welcomed guests.
Moms Mabley's Career Journey
Starting Her Comedy Career
When she was 14, Loretta Aiken left home. Her grandmother encouraged her to join a traveling vaudeville show. This show was a type of minstrel show starring Butterbeans and Susie. Loretta sang and performed in this show. In 1909, her father passed away in an accident. Her mother then took over the family's main business, a general store. Her mother died a few years later.
Loretta chose the stage name Jackie Mabley. She borrowed the name from an early boyfriend, Jack Mabley, who was also a performer.
Rising to Fame as "Moms"
Mabley quickly became one of the most successful entertainers on the Chitlin' Circuit. This was a network of theaters and clubs for black performers. She made her New York City debut at Connie's Inn in Harlem.
In April 1939, Mabley became the first female comedian to perform at the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.
During the 1950s, Mabley started using the name "Moms." She also changed her look to appear as a toothless, older woman in a house dress and floppy hat. She said this look was inspired by her grandmother. This friendly, non-threatening character helped her talk about difficult topics. She could discuss things like racism that other comedians avoided.
In the 1960s, Moms Mabley became known to a wider audience. She performed at Carnegie Hall in 1962. She also made many appearances on mainstream TV shows. These included The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Music became a regular part of her act. Her version of "Abraham, Martin and John" became a hit song. It reached No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969. At 75, she became the oldest person to have a Top 40 hit in the U.S. She also performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival during this time.
Moms Mabley's Final Years
Mabley continued performing in the 1970s. In 1971, she appeared on The Pearl Bailey Show. Later that year, she performed before Ike & Tina Turner at the Greek Theatre. She also sang a tribute to Louis Armstrong. While filming her only starring movie role, Amazing Grace in 1974, Mabley had a heart attack. She returned to work three weeks later after getting a pacemaker.
Personal Life and Passing
Moms Mabley had six children during her life. Their names were Bonnie, Christine, Charles, and Yvonne Ailey.
Mabley passed away from heart failure in White Plains, New York, on May 23, 1975. She was buried at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
Moms Mabley's Legacy
Moms Mabley's influence continued after her death. In the 1980s, Whoopi Goldberg became famous for her one-woman show. In this show, she played Mabley. A documentary film called Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley was released in 2013. It was nominated for two Emmy Awards. In 2015, she was recognized as one of the 31 Icons for LGBT History Month.
Mabley also inspired the character of Grandma Klump. This character appeared in the 1996 movie The Nutty Professor.
Mabley was featured in a video tribute by the band U2. This tribute honored notable women during their 2017 tour. She also appeared in an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. In the show, she was played by Wanda Sykes performing at the Apollo Theater.
Moms Mabley's Work
Stage Performances
- Bowman's Cotton Blossoms (1919)
- Look Who's Here (1927)
- Miss Bandana (1927)
- Fast and Furious (1931)
- Blackberries of 1932 (1932)
- The Joy Boat (1930s)
- Sidewalks of Harlem (1930s)
- Red Pastures (1930s)
- Swingin' the Dream (1939)
Films
- The Emperor Jones (1933)
- Killer Diller (1948)
- Boarding House Blues (1948)
- It's Your Thing (documentary, 1970)
- Amazing Grace (1974)
Television Appearances
- The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1969)
- The Merv Griffin Show (with guest host Judy Garland, 1969)
- The Bill Cosby Show (1970)
- The Pearl Bailey Show (1971)
Discography (Albums)
- 1961 On Stage
- 1961 Moms Mabley at the "UN"
- 1962 Moms Mabley Breaks It Up
- 1962 Moms Mabley at Geneva Conference
- 1963 I Got Somethin' to Tell You!
- 1963 Young Men, Sí – Old Men, No
- 1964 Moms the Word
- 1964 Out on a Limb
- 1964 The Funny Sides of Moms Mabley (Chess)
- 1964 Moms Wows
- 1964 Best of Moms and Pigmeat, Vol. 1
- 1965 Men in My Life
- 1965 Now Hear This
- 1966 Moms Mabley at the White House Conference
- 1968 Best of Moms Mabley
- 1969 The Youngest Teenager
- 1969 Her Young Thing
- 1970 Live at Sing Sing
- 1972 I Like 'em Young
- 1994 Live at the Apollo
- 1994 The Funny Sides of Moms Mabley (Jewel)
- 1994 Live at the Ritz
- 2004 Comedy Ain't Pretty
See also
In Spanish: Moms Mabley para niños
