Charlotte Rae Stand up from 1954!

[FOL85NatandMrsGRock]

Hey everyone! I found this gem on YouTube of Charlotte Rae doing a standup act about dieting. It’s a HOOT!! Totally reminds me of the dirty episode from season 1 too. It’s like full circle. What a great comedian and singer she was. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/jCJuGEl-er4

[Lorimar Television]

Ooh nice find! I’ll watch soon!

[RetroGuy2000]

Nice find! I think I've seen this one before, but what a talent Charlotte Rae was! Not only could she do stand-up, she could sing while doing so. Loved it!

[valentina warner]

Oh my god she doesn't sound like CHARLOTTE RAE at all! (she does resembles her and you can see how young she was)

[Sxbc2010]

This was a fun watch. She was funny. I had no idea she did standup.

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by Sxbc2010

This was a fun watch. She was funny. I had no idea she did standup.

And let's keep in mind that she did it in 1954- a year before Phyllis Diller (considered the pioneer female stand-up comedian) started her stand-up career. That definitely took some guts for Miss Rae to have done this on television when NO other woman seemed to be attempting to do this for a career a that point!

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by PracTz

And let's keep in mind that she did it in 1954- a year before Phyllis Diller (considered the pioneer female stand-up comedian) started her stand-up career. That definitely took some guts for Miss Rae to have done this on television when NO other woman seemed to be attempting to do this for a career a that point!

You know, that's a great point.

I honestly can't think of an earlier female stand-up comedian.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

You know, that's a great point.

I honestly can't think of an earlier female stand-up comedian.

It looks like Moms Mabley may be one of the first that's still a recognized name today.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

It looks like Moms Mabley may be one of the first that's still a recognized name today.

Thanks for the link! I had heard of the name Moms Mabley, but had no idea who she was.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

Thanks for the link! I had heard of the name Moms Mabley, but had no idea who she was.

Yeah, I was kind of in the same camp. I was very familiar with the name, and I did think she was African-American, but I've never heard any recordings or anything of hers.

[80s Dude]

Don't forget Carol Burnett either. Probably the last remaining living comedienne of that era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxiQDqb_9r4

[PracTz]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Don't forget Carol Burnett either. Probably the last remaining living comedienne of that era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxiQDqb_9r4

Great bringing up some excellent pioneers! However, even though some like Moms Mabley and Sophie Tucker were honing their one-woman shows decades before Miss Rae's TV standup routine, it STILL was quite rare (and brave) for a woman to have done this in 1954!

I wonder what Mrs. G. would have had to say if one of the Four had wanted to become a comedienne.

[80s Dude]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Great bringing up some excellent pioneers! However, even though some like Moms Mabley and Sophie Tucker were honing their one-woman shows decades before Miss Rae's TV standup routine, it STILL was quite rare (and brave) for a woman to have done this in 1954!

I wonder what Mrs. G. would have had to say if one of the Four had wanted to become a comedienne.

Tootie was the comedienne on the show. At least in the first season or two.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by PracTz

Great bringing up some excellent pioneers! However, even though some like Moms Mabley and Sophie Tucker were honing their one-woman shows decades before Miss Rae's TV standup routine, it STILL was quite rare (and brave) for a woman to have done this in 1954!

I wonder what Mrs. G. would have had to say if one of the Four had wanted to become a comedienne.

Mrs. Garrett seemed very supportive of Geri being a comedienne, even setting up the cafeteria for Geri to perform her comedy.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

Don't forget Carol Burnett either. Probably the last remaining living comedienne of that era.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxiQDqb_9r4

Oh we definitely wouldn't! It's just that she wasn't famous until well after 1954. And also, she never did stand-up. She says she can't tell a joke to save her life!