Moms Mabley

Loretta Mary Aiken (1894–1975), known professionally as Moms Mabley, was an American stand-up comedian and actress. Born in Brevard, North Carolina, she developed a stage persona as a sharp-tongued, elderly woman in a housedress, using frank, often risqué humor and social commentary. Mabley became a major attraction on the Black vaudeville circuit and later performed widely in nightclubs and theaters. She appeared in films including *The Amazing Mr. X* (1948) and *Boarding House Blues* (1948), and gained broader visibility through television and recordings. In the 1960s and 1970s, she achieved mainstream success, including appearances at Carnegie Hall.