1894 – Jackie “Moms” Mabley is Born
On March 19, 1894, Loretta May Aiken was born. In her teens she joined the Black vaudeville scene and adopted the name Jackie Mabley. She continued on to have one of the most fortunate stand-up careers, performing on the Chitlin Circuit, Harlem’s famous Cotton Club, and became the first female comedy act to hit the stage of the Apollo Theater. By the end of her life in 1975, Mabley’s accomplishments included film performances, appearances on mainstream television and several albums.
1939 – New Negro Theater is Founded
In 1939, Langston Hughes founded the New Negro Theater group to serve as the West Coast counterpart to the famous Harlem Suitcase Theater, which sought to bring Black art directly to the Black Community. The group debuted with a production of Langston Hughes’ play, “Don’t You Want to Be Free?” at the May’s Grusart Studio in Los Angeles.