Just like with any progress women have made, we must always appreciate the ones who came before us and paved the way to make things a little bit easier. Here are some women who literally set the stage for the comediennes of today to flourish. Fanny Brice is often cited as “America’s first female comedy superstar.” Born in 1891, Brice left school behind to become a burlesque performer. Her path of performing led her to be discovered by the famous Florenz Ziegfeld of Ziegfeld Follies, where she first made a name for herself. Following her enormous success she went on to star in both movies and on Broadway. Brice's story later inspired the film Funny Girl, where she was portrayed by Barbara Streisand.
You can't talk about pop culture in the 50's without talking about I Love Lucy. The sitcom starred Lucille Ball and her husband at the time Desi Arnaz and is said to have laid the groundwork for the sitcoms we know today. I Love Lucy made history as the first show to use a three-camera setup, be filmed in front of a live audience and was one of the first TV shows to ever be sold into syndication. The production was not the only thing that made the show groundbreaking. Originally CBS did not want to have her husband on the show out of prejudice for the Latino community (Arnaz was Cuban), so she they began as a vaudeville act. Once the network could not deny the growing popularity of the duo they signed them both on.
Making the transition from flashy vaudville style gimmicks was Phyllis Diller. who is often cited as the very first female stand-up celebrity. Diller may have had some eccentric hairstyles and outfits, but relied on her jokes alone. For anyone who said women aren't funny the Guinness world record organization proved them wrong by awarding her with the world record for most laughs per minute. Diller inspired many comedians after her and is referred to as the "Queen of Comedy."
Ever heard of Marilyn Suzanne Miller, Anne Beatts, or Rosie Shuster? No? Ok well, you have probably heard of Saturday Night Live. This trio of talented funny ladies were the three lone female writers during the first season of SNL and helped shaped the tone of the variety show that became a household name. These three opened the doors for the amazing women writers that would follow like Tina Fey, who became the show’s first female head writer in 1999.
The younger generation may only know comedian Whoopi Goldberg as one of the hosts on The View, but this multi-talented performer has made a name for herself on every recognizable stage.Goldberg has flawlessly moved between comedy and other genres, but was recognized for her comedic talents as the first woman to ever be presented with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Goldberg earned the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for her role in Ghost and making her the first African American woman in more than half a century to win the award. Her groundbreaking accolades have only continued and she stands alongside only 15 other people to ever "EGOT" - win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award.
