Mabley, Moms (Loretta Mary Aiken)
1894-1975 · Contribution: 1923-1974
Comedian
First female comedian to headline at Harlem's Apollo Theater, where she performed more times than any other entertainer in the venue's history; pioneered stand-up comedy as a vehicle for addressing race, sexuality, and aging through a deliberately disarming grandmotherly persona
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1894
- Active since
- 1923
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- First woman to headline the ApolloGrandmotherly stand-up personaComedy on race and aging
Impact on the world
Mabley pioneered stand-up as social commentary, smuggling sharp truths about race and sex inside a beloved comic character. She opened the stage to women in comedy.
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Sources
- Book or scholarly workFind
Britannica
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