Moms Milbey

Moms Mabley born March 19, 1894, Brevard, North Carolina, U.S. died May 23, 1975, White Plains, New York. She was one of Americas first American successful black vaudeville comedy performers. She modeled her stage persona largely on her grandmother, dressed in frumpy clothes and used her deep voice and face with comic effect.

She first came to fame on the “chitlin circuit”, appearing at venues that catered to African American audiences. She took the name Moms Mobley after her brother complained he was embarrassed about her career choice. It is said to have been given the nickname Moms because of her compassion for other performers.

Discovered by the vaudeville team known as Butterbeans and Susie, she went to New York City with them and made her appearance at Connie's Inn, and later perfomed She later performed Harlem's Cotton Club. She also to become the first female comedian to appear at the Apollo Theater, where she appeared more often than any other act in it'shistory.

Her routine comprised of jokes about old men, use of sexual innuendoand comic timing, with a remarkable ability to ad lib. She was also a sly and astute social commentator, as she revealed in comments such as “There ain't nothing wrong with young people. Jus' quit lyin' to 'em.”

She also appeared in a number of films such as Boarding House Blues (1948) and Amazing Grace (1974) and on television programs such as The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Several of her comedy performances were recorded live, including Moms Mabley, the Funniest Woman in the World (1960), her first of some two dozen comedy albums that where to follow.