Women in
ENTERTAINMENT
JACKIE “MOMS” MABLEY
LUCILLE BALL
Loretta Mary Aiken of North Carolina joined the vaudeville circuit as a comedian at just 14 years old. She took on the stage name “Moms Mabley,” for being viewed as a mentor and having a maternal persona. She became the first woman to perform at the Apollo Theater, and was featured on many variety shows, including "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour." On stage, Mabley would dress as an old woman in “a housedress, floppy shoes, and knit cap,” according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Her costumes were meant to be commentary on stereotypes and bigotry against African Americans. Mabley was openly lesbian and in her daily life liked to wear clothes typically worn by her fellow male performers.
Star of the hit series "I Love Lucy," Lucille Ball paved the way and became an icon for women in comedy. Her success was hard earned, however. Ball was told by acting teachers that she lacked talent, and had difficulty finding work in Hollywood in the '30s. She met her husband, Desi Arnaz, on a movie set in 1940. The relationship inspired the television show, which was an overnight sensation, winning over 20 awards, including five Emmys. The couple started a production company, Desilu Productions. When they separated in 1960, Arnaz sold his share of the company to Ball, making her the first woman to own a major studio.
1894 - 1975
“It's no disgrace to be old. But damn if it isn't inconvenient.” -Moms Mabley
1911 - 1989
“Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: hard work- and realizing what opportunity is and what isn’t.” -Lucille Ball
CAROL BURNETT 1933 - PRESENT “You know, Carol, variety is a man’s game.” That’s what CBS told Burnett when she pitched the idea for The Carol Burnett Show. By 1971, it was one of the networks highest rated shows, and her slapstick humor and over-the-top silliness was beloved by viewers across the country. Burnett went on to perform in a number of films and other television shows. A six-time Emmy winner, she was also the inaugural recipient of the Golden Globes’ Carol Burnett Award, recognizing her lifetime achievement in television and entertainment. “When I was little I would always stand in front of a mirror and cross my eyes. Then my mother would come in and say, ‘Stop that, nothing will ever come of it!” -Carol Burnett
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Story by Libby Williams | Illustrations by Sara Roach | Design by Katie Jo Stewart Information sourced from britannica.com, biography.com, womeninhistory.org and nmaahc.si.edu
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SUMMER 2021
