Moms Mabley: Comedic Genius – Celebrate Black History Month

Join us to learn about the intriguing career of Jackie “Moms” Mabley, including her biography and clips from Whoopi Goldberg’s documentary. In it, we not only see some of her most famous bits, but also hear from a long list of women and black comedians on the influence that Moms had in their budding careers. Moms was a legend in black entertainment from 1915 to 1975.  She opened for Cab Calloway at the Apollo. Like all Apollo performers she could sing and dance, but it was her humor and light touch with forbidden subjects others did not dare mention, that made her a standout. The white world learned of her on the Smothers Brothers and Ed Sullivan TV shows in the 60s, and through her LP albums and films. From Joan Rivers and Kathy Griffin to Eddy Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Harry Belafonte and many others, Moms was a guiding light.

Martin Marshall has taught elements of his Contemporary Comedic Genius series at twelve OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) programs across the country over the past 10 years. Numbering more than 50 courses presented, these programs cover 17 of the greatest comedic artists and groups of our lifetimes, including Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Jon Stewart, Robin Williams, and others.

Martin is also a filmmaker, poet, actor, director, and producer. He learned his craft in the workshops of The Committee in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as the workshop at Second City in Chicago. He founded People Theater in Los Angeles in 1970, and co-founded Improvisation, Inc., in San Francisco in 1972. Besides improvisational theater, he has also directed a production of Geezer Theater, an SF Mime-Troupe-style revue, at OLLI San Francisco. He is well known as a slam and regular poet at venues throughout the Bay Area.