Jackie "Moms" Mabley died in New York in 1975. Above: Moms Mabley performing on national television in 1969 Mabley went on to release over twenty albums, covering topics from gender to racism. Astrological Sign: Pisces, Death Year: 1975, Death date: May 23, 1975, Death State: New York, Death City: White Plains, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Moms Mabley Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/actors/moms-mabley, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: August 13, 2020, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Moms became associated with the Theatre Owners Booking Association or TOBAwhich was sometimes said to also stand for "Tough on Black Actors." All I ever hoped for was for somebody to let me do a reading one evening somewhere, but I ended up producing this show. Although Moms spent her professional life making people laugh, her personal life had more than its share of grief. Aiken gave birth to two children resulting from her being raped at age 11, by an elderly black man, and at age 13, by a white 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. 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. In 1921 Mabley began performing with the married duo, Butterbeans and Susie, which led to her debut at Harlems Cotton Club. Yvonne Ailey 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. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. '', ''I said, 'Just wait a minute - I'm going to teach all you white people who Moms Mabley is! 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. Actress Clarice Taylor, who portrayed Bill Cosby's mother on The Cosby Show and was a major fan of Mabley's work, staged the 1987 play Moms at the Astor Place Theater, in which she portrayed the trailblazing icon. 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. Moms always remained close to North Carolina, frequently visiting family and friends in the Brevard area. Jackie "Moms" Mabley found fame and fortune as a stand-up comedian during the twentieth century. All Rights Reserved. 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. Please submit permission requests for other use directly to the publisher. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. ''I always say that Moms has taken charge of this from the grave. 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. 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. Loretta Aiken soon changed her name because her brother thought that a female in the theater would disgrace the Aiken family name. With the hostess on The Pearl Bailey Show (1971) Loretta Mary Aiken (March 19, 1894 May 23, 1975), known by her stage name Jackie Moms Mabley, was an American standup comedian. 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.'" This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Moms-Mabley, African American Registry - Biography of Mom Mabley. 'Ain't nothin' an old man can do for me but bring me a message from a young man.'. ''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. Mabley also credited the name to her grandmother, who had been a driving force in the pursuit of her dreams. 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. After the short-lived love affair, she adopted his name. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. 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. She was shocked when a friend interrupted to ask, ''Who's Moms Mabley?' Mabley, Jackie (Moms) by James D. Gillespie. [17][18][19] A preference for handsome young men rather than "old washed-up geezers" became a signature bit. [1][3] She was one of 16 children born to James Aiken and Mary Smith,[4] who had married in 1891. 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. She also had five more children. While making the film she suffered a heart attack, and the filming had to be postponed until she had a pacemaker implanted. Hope you enjoy this 1968 album titled, The Best of Mom's Mabley. Christine AikenCharles AikenBonnie Aiken Her great grandparents were slaves, and she would experience the hardships that come with that due to the way people treated her. In Maisel, Moms Mabley is the comic that Shy Baldwin name-drops to Midge when they cross paths in the bathroom. It began with her first job as a performer in a minstrel show. 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. Who directed the documentary on Moms Mableys life? Life would have been harder for Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, and . I'm that Mom.". 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. Moms Mabley/Children, Deceased (18941975) At one point in her career, Mabley favored an androgynous wardrobe, and much of her comic material was laced with lesbian-infused connotations. '', But as Ms. Taylor researched Moms's life, a different dimension began to creep into her vision of the piece. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. 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. 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. Two years later, a White town sheriff raped her too. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. 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. The great grand-daughter of a slave, Mabiey was of mixed black, Irish, and Cherokee heritage. [citation needed]. 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. ''I would like people to know Moms as I have become acquainted with her, and to love her as much as I do,'' she said, and then added softly, ''and to know it wasn't easy. Asheville Citizen, 21 Mar., 22 Oct. 1971, 3 Mar. I love the people." Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got. 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. Do you find this information helpful? As a performer, Moms banked on being Black in delivering her jokes. Smother Brother introduces Moms Mabley returning for more stand up comedy (1968) Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley: Directed by Whoopi Goldberg. Her signature line became: ''Ain't nothin' an old man can do for me but bring me a message from a young man. ThreeMinutesAday YouTube Channel Moms Mabley Playlist:www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlECnPvJuDg\u0026list=PLz6iCPGxBdpY98t0DsRALjkgDqpMz5GxPThe best of Mom's Mabley -- Full Album 1968Here's another vinyl album from one of my album hunts. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Moms Mabley at the UN, which was also recorded in 1961, cracked the Billboard Top 20. [9] Her mother took over the family's primary business, a general store. 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. Mabley focused on conventional topics such as family. As if that wasn't horrific enough, she was raped again at the age of 13 by the town's sheriff. She was run over by a truck. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Doctors: No Further Hope for Actor Tom Sizemore, Raquel Welchs Mixed Feelings about Her Fur Bikini, Andrea Riseboroughs Oscar Controversy, Explained, 10 Milestones on Viola Davis Road to EGOT Glory. She was an inspiration for irreverent female comics of that era, including Phyllis Diller and, in her final years, Mabley poked fun at the president and other government officials. Now don't go spreading that around because I'm too old a woman to end up in a ditch somewhere. If anybody had told me I could raise $300,000 - why, I didn't know I could raise $300. Used by permission of the publisher. What is meant by the competitive environment? A Mother at 11: Moms Mabley's Life Story and Merchandising Rights Acquired by Badami Productions By Radio Facts - July 20, 2011 1 77 Yes, Moms led a very interesting life. ''According to my research, she was our only black comedienne; I don't know of any other in those years,'' said Ms. Taylor. 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. 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. And by the beginning of her teens, Aiken had been raped twice and become pregnant from both encounters, with both children being given away. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. welfare, and inebriation. At the apex of her long career, she was earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. One the most successful entertainers of the Black vaudeville stage, On May 23, 1975, Mabley passed away following a heart attack in White Plains, New York. 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. During her career Moms had several small parts in movies, including Boarding House Blues and Emperor Jones. [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]. 1975. [10] She remarked in a 1970 Ebony interview that he had taken so much from her, the least she could do was take his name from him. Shortly after, two more tragedies struck her. ("That Don't Pay My Rent", "Moms Mabley at the Playboy Club", "Abraham, Martin and John", "Everything's Going To Be Alright", "Everything's Going To Be Alright"). In a. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Mabley focused on conventional topics such as family and others not normally . To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. 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) At the apex of her long career, she was earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Two years later, a White town sheriff raped her too. To escape a despised stepfather, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio. ''That kind of gave me the impetus.''. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Alternate titles: Jackie Mabley, Loretta Mary Aiken. 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. A woman is a woman until the day she dies, but a man's a man only as long as he can. 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. For personal use and not for further distribution. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. ThreeMinutesAday YouTube Channel Moms Mabley Playlist:www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlECnPvJuDg&list=PLz6iCPGxBdpY98t0DsRALjkgDqpMz5GxPThe best of Mom's Mabley -- . At the age of 11, she was raped by an older man. Jus' quit lyin' to 'em. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Moms Mabley was a trailblazing African American 20th century comedian known for warm yet raunchy stand-up routines and hit albums. 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. }}, 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?". Or TOBAwhich was sometimes said to also stand for `` Tough on Black Actors. '' known for warm raunchy... 21 Mar., 22 Oct. 1971, 3 Mar could raise $.. 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