One of America's most famous black vaudville comedians, Moms Mabley, was born on this date in 1894 in Brevard, North Carolina.
Born as Loretta Aiken, she was one of 12 children. When she was only 11 years old, her father died a sudden, accidental death forcing her mother to take in boarders to make ends meet. By the time she was 15, she had been raped twice and given birth to two children who were given up for adoption. It was her grandmother who eventually encouraged her to strike out on her own and escape her life with a tyranical stepfather and a much older husband whom she despised.
She discovered the entertainment business in Cleveland, Ohio, but it was in New York where she became part of the "chittlin circuit", performing in clubs that provided work for black entertainers and a venue for largely black audiences during a time of intense segregation. Her stage name developed after she took the last name of Jack Mabley, a former boyfriend. She was dubbed "Moms" because of her caring compassion for other performers. Her career included a stint at the famed Harlem Cotton Club and she was the first female comedian to appear on stage at the Apollo Theater where she became a regular, eventually becoming the longest running act in the theater's history.
By the 1960's she was performing in more mainstream venues including Carnegie Hall in 1962. She was billed as "The Funniest Woman in the World" and paved the way for future female comedians.
She died in White Plains, New York on May 23, 1975.
Source: Wikipedia, Findagrave.com
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