The Resume

(January 13, 1884-February 9, 1966)
Born in Russian Federation
Birth name was Sonia Kalish
Singer/comedian
Appeared in the films 'Honky Tonk' (1929), 'The Broadway Melody of 1938' (1937) and 'Follow the Boys' (1944)
Appeared on Broadway in 'Earl Carroll's Vanities' (1924) and 'Leave It To Me!' (1938)
Songs included 'Some of These Days,' 'My Yiddishe Mamma,' 'After You've Gone,' 'Cheatin' On Me,' 'I'm Living Alone' and 'M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means the World To Me)'
Nicknamed the Last of the Red Hot Mamas

Why she might be annoying:

She was in three short-lived marriages that ended in divorce.
She began in vaudeville by performing in blackface.
She was let go from the Ziegfeld Follies for scene stealing.
A Broadway musical about her life closed after only eight performances (1963).
Much of her schtick was borrowed by Bette Midler.

Why she might not be annoying:

After a censor tried to shut down her show over her suggestive songs, the theater held her over for two weeks of sold-out shows (1910).
'My Yiddishe Mama' was banned by Nazi Germany.
She was president of the American Federation of Actors (1938).
She endowed a chair in theater arts at Brandeis University (1955).
During a London show, she greeted George VI with 'Hiya, King!'

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Appeared in Black Face
• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 10]
• Ed Sullivan Show Guests
• I Am Vaudeville [M-Z]
• I Attended the Premiere of 'A Star is Born' [1954]
• I Died in 1966 (Ranked: 82)
• I Have a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[R-T]
• I Have Lung Cancer
• I Inspired a Dance
• I Sing About My Parents
• I was a Ziegfeld Girl
• Jewish Comedians
• Last Names that Rhyme with Dirty Words
• Musical Theater Star
• My Song was Inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Ranked: 1995)
• Person to Person - Guests [L-Z]
• Profiles 22501-22750 (Ranked: 22651)
• Roasted By the Friar's Club (Ranked: 1953)
• Vocalists Who Spell It Out

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 22 Votes: 31.82% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 25 Votes: 12.00% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 208 Votes: 44.23% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 50 Votes: 42.00% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 56 Votes: 41.07% Annoying