Let us not forget Moms Mabley (a true pioneer)

[William769]

Happy belated birthday to the original queen of comedy, who from the 1920s - 1970s broke all of the barriers about race, gender, and sexuality.

It seems fitting that Moms Mabley's birthday (March 19) would fall during what would later become Women's History Month because she was the very first woman to make a living as a comedian. And she didn't do it by playing safe.

Disguised as a "frumpy grandma" in a house coat and floppy hat, Mabley was able to get away with taboo topics like racism and sexuality that other comedians of the time wouldn't dare touch. Mabley was also a lesbian and would often wear men's suits as a sharp contrast to her onstage persona.

http://www.advocate.com/comedy/2014/03/20/throwback-thursday-salute-moms-mabley

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I saw the HBO documentary - produced by Whoopi Goldberg

and found it quite enlightening. I'm old enough to remember Moms Mabley from appearances on the Mike Douglas show, but I had no idea that she was so active in social reform movements.

[William769]

2. She's one of the greats.

[Cirque du So-What]

3. Indeed

Moms Mabley is now on my most-admired Top 10 list - with a bullet.

[Tikki]

4. Moms was awesome….Some of my fondest memories as a young housewife was time spent...

watching Moms on the tv shows.

A true original….


Tikki

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Loved, loved, loved her every time she was on TV.

As one of the commenters (Eddie Murphy?) said, she was real, like some feisty older woman in your family.

[Autumn]

6. I have a couple of her albums.

Awesome woman.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. Her albums are the best

She was a wonder. Hilarious.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. The HBO special was incredible!

She was a very funny woman.

[Agschmid]

9. Kick.

[LeftinOH]

10. "He was so ugly..he hurt my feelings." A choice MM quote.

[catbyte]

11. I remember watching her as a kid.

I can still hear her gravelly voice. SHe was hilarious.

[Tx4obama]

12. The HBO Moms Mabley documentary is still in the HBO Specials section (xfinity on demand)

... if I remember correctly.

It's an awesome documentary