In this article I will be talking about Moms Mabley. This might be a new name to most people. Moms Mabley was called the "funniest woman in the world." She was the first African-American comedian to find a wide audience.
Mabley was born Loretta Mary Aiken into a large family of twelve children. Mabley had a traumatic experience in which she was raped at age fifteen. She was reportedly raped twice and had two children that were given up for adoption. After being pressured to marry a older man by her father she was encouraged by her grandmother to free herself. She then ran away to Cleveland, Ohio with a traveling minstrel show where she began entertaining.
She got her s
tage name from an early boyfriend whose name was Jackie Mabley. In a 1970s interview she explained that he had taken so much from her that the least she could do was to take his name. It was later that people started to put "Moms" in front of Mabley. She was considered a "Mom" to many other comedians on the circuit in the 1950s and 60s.
tage name from an early boyfriend whose name was Jackie Mabley. In a 1970s interview she explained that he had taken so much from her that the least she could do was to take his name. It was later that people started to put "Moms" in front of Mabley. She was considered a "Mom" to many other comedians on the circuit in the 1950s and 60s. It was during the 1920s and the 30s where she appeared in androgynous clothing. At age twenty-seven she came out as a lesbian also becoming one of the first triple-X rated comedians on the comedy circuit. She had recorded several of her early "lesbian stand-up" routines recording more than 20 albums. She was one of the most successful entertainers earning $10,000 a week at Harlem's Apollo Theatre at the 
height of her career. She was the first comedian to play the famed theatre. She was unique in her comedy where she tackled topics too edgy for many other comedians of the time that included racism, sex and off color language. She was the perfect example of using humor to overcome misfortune. Much of her material reflected on her teen years.
height of her career. She was the first comedian to play the famed theatre. She was unique in her comedy where she tackled topics too edgy for many other comedians of the time that included racism, sex and off color language. She was the perfect example of using humor to overcome misfortune. Much of her material reflected on her teen years.In 1960, Chess Records release Moms Mabley: Funniest Woman in the World, which was a live recorded performance gave in Chicago. The album sold more than one million copies.
