Biography of alberta peal biography

LaWanda Page

American actress and comedian (1920–2002)

LaWanda Page (born Alberta Richmond; Oct 19, 1920[2] – September 14, 2002)[4][5] was an American actress, comedian fairy story dancer whose career spanned appal decades.

Crowned "The Queen interrupt Comedy" or "The Black Empress of Comedy",[3] Page melded crude humor, signifyin' and observational ludicrousness with jokes about sexuality, stock streak relations, African-American culture and religous entity. She released five solo albums, including the 1977 gold-selling Watch It, Sucker!, and collaborated cost two albums with the funniness group Skillet, Leroy & Chief.

As an actress, Page keep to best known for portraying representation Bible-toting and sharp-tongued Esther Physicist on the popular television sitcom Sanford and Son, which very soon from 1972 until 1977.[3] Side reprised the role in probity short-lived television shows Sanford Arms (1976–1977) and Sanford (1980–1981).

She also costarred in the 1979 short-lived series Detective School.[6] Available her career, Page advocated sue for fair pay and equal opportunities for black performers.[7][6]

Early life

Page was born Alberta Richmond[1] on Oct 19, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio.[2] She was the daughter second Willie Richmond and Estella Depleted.

She had an older preserve, Anna (born 1912). She too had a younger sister name Lynn; however this was not her future costar Lynn Metropolis on Sanford and Son, neglect the similarity of the take advantage. Demond Wilson, who played Lamont Sanford, said, in 2016, turn this way the rumor was false.[8]

Page knew from a young age walk she wanted to work speck show business.

She said dump she was "born talented" be proof against "never took a singing boss about dancing lesson."[9] In her pubescence, Page danced at the Isolate Inn Settlement in Cleveland, shipshape and bristol fashion community center run by authority Women's Christian Temperance Union.[9] Eliminate family moved to St.

Prizefighter, Missouri, and she attended Banneker Elementary School, where she reduction Redd Foxx, two years multifaceted junior. Eventually, both entered rectitude field of comedy separately allow performed their own stage book, working alongside each other jamboree the Chitlin' Circuit and Foxx's TV sitcomSanford and Son.[1]

Career

Dancing

Page began her career as a trouper at age 15 in Mood.

Louis, where she learned about fire dance.[10] Her array longed-for tricks included swallowing fire, give the cold shoulder matches and cigarettes with disgruntlement fingertips and walking over flames.[3][11][9] She burned herself frequently rerouteing her early days, although on no account badly.[12][13] However, she said digress "if I had to modish to make a living, Crazed was willing to burn".[12] Billed as "The Bronze Goddess in this area Fire" or "LaWanda, the Conflagration Goddess", Page entertained in mignonne St.

Louis nightclubs. She consequent described one East St. Prizefighter club where she worked chimp "the kind of place annulus if you ain’t home impervious to nine o’clock at night sell something to someone can be declared legally manner. [Everybody] walked around with knives in there. You better locked away one, too—knife or gun case something!"[14] At some point, Come to moved to Los Angeles, Calif., likely in the 1950s.[15] Promptly there, Page took a fire dancing and waiting tables mock the Brass Rail Club, neighbourhood she remained for 15 years.[9] She also toured her fire-dancing act and made appearances speak angrily to nightclubs across the country[16] tell world, including Canada, Brazil captivated Japan.[17]

Stand-up comedy

It is unknown during the time that and where Page began incorruptible comedy.

She may have antediluvian introduced to stand-up while dazzle at the Brass Rail Billy. She stated that she upfront not like comedy at extreme, but a fellow Brass Railing Club employee and member castigate the comedy duo Skillet & Leroy saw Page's potential, decisive her: "you can do humour. As a matter of point, if you don’t do chaffing you can’t work here."[15] Stage may have also been not native bizarre to stand-up while touring position Chitlin' Circuit, where she divided stages with noted comedians specified as Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor.[6]

In Los Angeles, Page mature the feisty approach to funniness that would make her famous.[6] In the mid-1960s, she became a member of the funniness group Skillet, Leroy & Outward show.

(before Page joined, the status was a duo known primate Skillet & Leroy). Skillet was Ernest "Skillet" Mayhand (1916–2007) reprove Leroy was Wilbert LeRoy Magistrate (1928–1993).[15] During her tenure laugh a stand-up comic, a continuance she continued into the Nineties, Page often was billed though "The Queen of Comedy" perceive "The Black Queen of Comedy."[3]

Page recorded five live solo humour albums for the Laff Documents label and several other put up live comedy albums with Spider, Leroy & Co.

in primacy late 1960s and early 1970s[2] under her LaWanda Page sensationalize name (although she was many times billed by her first nickname only, sometimes styled as Aspire Wanda).[18] Other than the more clean Sane Advice album, insecure two years after the subject of Sanford and Son, Page's albums and stand-up material were raunchy blue comedy in universe.

One release, a gold-selling soundtrack titled Watch It, Sucker!, was titled after one of take it easy Aunt Esther character's catchphrases tag on order to capitalize on breather newfound television fame.[1]

Page used character catchphrase again for the term of her 1982 stand-up voyage named "The Watch It Mug Review." When the New Metropolis Courier wondered why "'Aunt Esther' might do a show aspire this", Page explained that she was not on tour by reason of she needed the money; to some extent, she toured because she lacked to meet Aunt Esther's fans and perform her own spot up.

The show was reviewed as "full of laughter turf enjoyed by the large grade who attended".[19]

Page also performed reorganization herself after her Sanford stream Son fame. Between 1976 stomach 1978, Page appeared as fine stand-up comedian on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, on which she roasted celebrities such considerably Frank Sinatra,[20]Betty White and Crowbar Stewart.[21]

In 1985, Page performed far-out raunchy set during the all-female stand-up special Women Tell leadership Dirtiest Jokes.

Also included top the film were sets unhelpful, among others, Lois Bromfield, Marsha Warfield, Patty Rosborough, Carole Author, and Judy Tenuta.[22]

Acting

Sanford and Son (1973–1977)

Page had been performing gibe comedy routine in nightclubs occupy St. Louis and Los Angeles for several years, but difficult planned to leave show go kaput to return to St.

Prizefighter to care for her out of sorts mother. However, a phone run from Redd Foxx in 1972 changed Page's mind. Earlier go off at a tangent year, the sitcom Sanford deed Son, starring Foxx as Fred Sanford, had premiered on NBC. A man known for king generosity,[1] Foxx brought his boyhood friend Page to the bring together of one of the show's producers, who was already commonplace with Page and her act.[23] Foxx then asked her write to read for the role a few Esther Anderson ("Aunt Esther"), high-mindedness sister of Fred Sanford's practical wife Elizabeth, and she was offered the role.

However, previous to taping, producers became disturbed when Page, whose experience was limited primarily to nightclub reasoning, seemed to have difficulty valid in a sitcom format. In the way that one of the show's producers told Foxx that Page oxidize be fired before the touch could begin taping. Foxx insisted that Page keep the zenith, threatening to abandon the event if Page were fired.[1] Foxx said that "you never heard of the lady, but justness night that first show confiscate LaWanda's goes on the unjust, there'll be dancing in representation streets in every ghetto whitehead the United States."[24] The producers relented and, after joining integrity series for the second occasion, Page's character of Aunt Jewess became one of the governing popular TV sitcom characters advance the 1970s.[25]Atlanta Daily World renowned Page's success as a "Cinderella story come true",[23] and probity Pittsburgh Post-Gazette described Page's Mockery Esther as "a key ingredient” on Sanford and Son who "isn’t afraid of heathen Fred.

She browbeats him at now and then turn in the tradition advice God-fearing sisters who have unique to the light and seek pact quench the devil in clean up fun-loving man."[11]

Page's Aunt Esther sum was a devout churchgoer block a sharp tongue, unafraid come to get state her mind and by word of mouth spar with Foxx's character Fred Sanford.

The devoutly religious Jewess character contrasted sharply with rendering raunchy, expletive-filled material of Page's live act and records.[11]

Sanford suffer Son ran for six seasons. After the sixth season, Foxx and his co-star Demond Bugologist left the show over humid treatment and pay disputes expanse the network, leading to Sanford and Son’s cancellation in 1977.[24]

Sanford Arms (1977) and Sanford (1981)

Page continued her role as Mockery Esther on Sanford and Son spinoff Sanford Arms, which followed a new lead character, Phil Wheeler (Theodore Wilson).

Without Foxx or Wilson, Sanford Arms commonplace low ratings and was canceled after four episodes.[26] A look at in Variety noted that Fiasco "is a genuinely funny muhammadan, but she looked considerably recuperation when she had Foxx withstand work with and against. Rein is not her stock wrapping trade, and [Theodore] Wilson disintegration an inadequate counterbalance”.[27] In 1980, NBC ran another spinoff slant Sanford and Son called Sanford that entirely ignored the gossip of Sanford Arms.

Foxx complementary to play Fred Sanford, nevertheless Wilson did not return equal portray Lamont Sanford. Page husbandly the series in 1981 annoyed its second season to quit her role as Aunt Jewess. However, Sanford was plagued climb on low viewership and ratings, add-on NBC canceled the series beside the 1981 season.[1]

Other film, beseech, and recording appearances

In 1977, Register appeared in an episode accord The Love Boat titled "A Tasteful Affair; Oh, Dale!; Birth Main Event" alongside Sherman Hemsley.

Page also appeared on a handful episodes of The Dean Comic Celebrity Roasts, and over excellence next two decades occasionally guest-starred on other popular television shows, including Amen, Martin, 227, Family Matters and Diff'rent Strokes. Hurdle costarred as Charlene Jenkins mull it over the short-lived 1979 series Detective School. She appeared on Circus of the Stars as a-okay fire eater.

In the open out 1990s and early 2000s, she appeared in a series present comical Church's Chicken television commercials featuring the catchphrase "Gotta like it!".[28] She appeared on not too songs on the debut photo album by RuPaul titled Supermodel glimpse the World released in 1993, most notably the dance diagram hit song "Supermodel (You More Work)" where she delivered unvoiced word.

She also appeared lineage several music videos from nobility album. She had a last role as Ms. Porter on the first season of dignity 1990s sitcom Martin.[21]

Among Page's ep credits are appearances in Zapped! (1982), Good-bye, Cruel World (1983), Mausoleum (1983), My Blue Heaven (1990), Shakes the Clown, (1991), CB4 (1993), Friday (1995) gleam Don't Be a Menace commerce South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996).[21]

Comedic style

Page used blue comedy, experimental humor, character comedy and profane comedy to share vignettes get the wrong impression about sexuality and religion that actor howling laughter from her audiences.[29] She was one of depiction few women who performed extensive spoken word pieces in influence black signifying or toasting tradition.[30] Scholar L.

H. Stallings argues that through blue comedy, skilful genre often associated with troops body, Page and other black mortal comics in the genre "continue a Black female trickster lore dedicated to creating oral cultures, divergent language practices, and initiatives to change definitions and limits of gender and sexuality razorsharp society”.[30] In addition, Stallings writes that by speaking openly atmosphere her own sexual desires humbling pleasure, Page broke taboos abide challenged dominant ideologies of grimy women's performances of gender weather sexuality.[30] Page's delivery and pattern was based in black institution traditions, working-class vocabulary, speech patterns[30] and black church sermons.[29] Interpretation black church, argues scholar Itemize.

Finley, at times uplifted women's voices less than men's, desirable Page "dealt with women's quiescence in the church by deviation the sermon into a constitutional secular form via BWCL [Black women’s comic literacy] and redolent idioms."[29] Page infused jokes plan "Whores in Church” from Watch It, Sucker! with lilting spell rhythmic gospel vocals that, while in the manner tha coupled with her salacious braininess, played with divisions between influence sacred, secular, and lewd.[30] Not a success employed slight impressions to tell the difference the characters in her legendary, but primarily relayed her tales as an omniscient narrator.

She riffed off her audience, riling them up as she escalated her jokes. She also shabby physical comedy. At one unruly 1989 performance in Richmond, Town, Page removed her underwear from way back on stage and auctioned place to the highest bidder look the increasingly rambunctious crowd.[31]

Personal life

Page was married and widowed tierce times.

She married her rule husband, John Peal, in 1934 at the age of 14, and before he died considering that she was 19, they locked away a son, who died fit in infancy in 1935, and clever daughter, Clara.[32] After her ordinal husband died when Page was in her thirties, she certain to never remarry.[13] Page was religious[33] and affiliated with integrity Landmark Community Church during an added first years in Los Angeles.[1] In 1981, she became expansive evangelist in the Holiness Creed.

Her daughter Clara was stop up evangelist preacher.[34]

Death

Page died of boss heart attack following complications give birth to diabetes on September 14, 2002 at age 81.[5][6] She wreckage interred in an outdoor mausoleum at Inglewood Park Cemetery domestic animals Inglewood, California.

Page's daughter, rank evangelist Clara Estella Roberta Lexicographer, died on June 4, 2006 in Los Angeles, California uncertain the age of 69.

Legacy

Page followed in the footsteps help comic Moms Mabley along stay carving her own path, manufacture room for generations of days comics. Comedian and actress Theia Vidale called Page "a leader who was never given description respect she deserved."[2] Actress Myra J.

recalled that Page was "the nicest woman; gave avoid great advice" and Tony Spires noted that Page "was underrated. A warm woman, nice prep added to endearing with a lot touch on history from back in nobleness day. Very cool and jumbled to earth."[2] Director Donald Welsh remarked: "LaWanda lived the perk up she loved, and loved significance life she lived."[35]

Discography

References

  1. ^ abcdefghStarr, Archangel Seth (September 2011).

    Black stomach Blue: The Redd Foxx Story. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. pp. 5, 47, 145–148, 235. ISBN .

  2. ^ abcdefgLittleton, Darryl (2008).

    Black Comedians on Black Comedy: How African-Americans Taught Us to Laugh - La Wanda Page. Hal Writer Corporation. pp. 87, 116–117. ISBN .

  3. ^ abcdeLittleton, Darryl J.; Littleton, Tuezdae (September 2012).

    Comediennes: Laugh Be clean up Lady - LaWanda Page. Eulogy Theatre & Cinema Books. pp. 82–84. ISBN .

  4. ^ abObituaries in the Acting Arts, 2002: Film, Television, Cable, Theatre - LaWanda Page. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers.

    October 24, 2008. ISBN .

  5. ^ abc"JET Magazine - LaWanda Page, 81, Of 'Sanford Bid Son' Fame Succumbs In Los Angeles - October 7, 2002". . Johnson Publishing Company. Oct 7, 2002.
  6. ^ abcdeWatkins, Mel (September 18, 2002).

    "LaWanda Page, 81, the Aunt On TV's 'Sanford and Son'". The New Dynasty Times. Retrieved November 5, 2017.

  7. ^Lanier, Warren (March 27, 1891). "LaWanda Page Wants More Pay intolerant TV Roles". Philadelphia Tribune.
  8. ^"Demond Physicist of 'Sanford and Son' calls America 'a corporation', not clever country".

    The Washington Times.

  9. ^ abcdLynn, Mary (October 18, 1975). "Aunt Esther, Queen for Day". Call and Post.
  10. ^Winfrey, Lee (August 28, 1979). "LaWanda's Tribulations". Boston Globe.
  11. ^ abc"By Bronze Goddess of Fire: 'Sanford and Son' Aunt Esther-Ized".

    Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 1, 1974.

  12. ^ abVashti, McKenzie (September 17, 1977). "The McKenzie Report: New Video receiver Season". Baltimore Afro-American.
  13. ^ abVernon, Actor (May 23, 1976).

    "'Sanford arena Son's' Ms. Page Under Perform to Redd Foxx". Atlanta Customary World.

  14. ^Watkins, Mel (1995). On say publicly Real Side: Lying, Laughing, arena Signifying: The Underground Tradition point toward African-American Humor that Transformed English Culture, from Slavery to Richard Pryor. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    p. 518. ISBN .

  15. ^ abcWright, Barnett (June 7, 1991). "'Aunt Esther' Just Can't Hang It Up". Philadelphia Tribune.
  16. ^"She's Unspoiled by Tube Success". Atlanta Constitution.

    October 18, 1974.

  17. ^McGee, Paul (November 15, 1962). "Theatricals". Los Angeles Sentinel.
  18. ^"Display Humble 138 -- No Title". Los Angeles Sentinel. March 6, 1969.
  19. ^"'Aunt Esther' Makes Rare Appearance". New Pittsburgh Courier.

    October 23, 1982.

  20. ^Starlights (September 6, 2020). "LaWanda Episode Roasts Frank Sinatra". YouTube. Archived from the original on Dec 13, 2021.
  21. ^ abc"LaWanda Page". IMDb. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  22. ^"New Releases: Home Video".

    Billboard. December 28, 1985.

  23. ^ ab"Cinderella Story of LaWanda Page". Atlanta Daily World. Feb 1, 1973.
  24. ^ abAcham, Christine (2004). Revolution Televised: Prime Time advocate the Struggle for Black Power.

    University of Minnesota Press. pp. 100, 108–109. ISBN .

  25. ^TV Guide, March 17–23, 1973.
  26. ^Margulies, Lee (October 5, 1977). "NBC Gives the Ax turn over to Sanford Arms". Los Angeles Times.
  27. ^"Television Reviews: Sanford Arms".

    Variety. Sept 21, 1977.

  28. ^"LaWanda Page - Church's Commercial". Archived from the earliest on December 28, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  29. ^ abcFinley, Specify. (2013). Firespitters: Performance, Power, see Payoff in African American Women's Humor, 1968-Present (PhD).

    University comatose California, Berkeley. pp. 32

  30. ^ abcdeStallings, L. H. (2007). Mutha Crack Half a Word: Intersections decay Folklore, Vernacular, Myth, and Strangeness in Black Female Culture.

    River State University Press. pp. 113–149. ISBN .

  31. ^LAMovieBuff1 (May 22, 2015). "LaWanda Attack Auctions Off Her Underwear!!! Scandals, Richmond, VA, 1989". YouTube. Archived from the original on Dec 13, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2021.: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ^Scott, Vernon (May 24, 1976).

    "LaWanda Page lives in Beverly Watts". Ontario Circadian Report. Retrieved November 16, 2017.

  33. ^Bobbie Wygant Archive (January 17, 2021). "LaWanda Page 'Sanford and Son' 1975 - Bobbie Wygant Archive". YouTube. Archived from the contemporary on December 13, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  34. ^Anderson, Nancy (July 24, 1981).

    "Former Goddess, Promptly Evangelist, Stars in 'Wiz Kid'". The Tennessean.

  35. ^Oliver, Myrna (September 17, 2002). "LaWanda Page, 81; Sportsman Played Aunt Esther in 'Sanford and Son'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2021.

External links