UnCabaret is a Los Angeles –based alternative comedy company that produces live, TV and web projects.
41-461: UnCabaret was created by performance artist-turned comedian Beth Lapides whose frustration with the comedy club scene of the late 1980s in the Los Angeles lead her to seek 'a better way'. She began producing shows in 'alternative' venues and in 1988, with writer-producer Greg Miller, launched UnCabaret at The Women's Building. In November 1993, UnCabaret was booked for three nights at LunaPark,
82-619: A U.S. senator for the seventeen-day overlap before Bill Clinton's term came to an end. Established in 1912, the First Ladies Collection has been one of the most popular attractions at the Smithsonian Institution . The original exhibition opened in 1914 and was one of the first at the Smithsonian to prominently feature women. Originally focused largely on fashion, the exhibition now delves deeper into
123-464: A festival of un-aired TV pilots introduced by their creators, including Robert Smigel , Conan O'Brien , Bob Odenkirk , Judd Apatow and others. 100 episodes of "Radio UnCabaret" for Comedy World and Sirius Satellite Radio. 2000-2001 UnCabaret has been featured on “This American Life”, “All Things Considered”, “Morning Edition” and “Marketplace” on NPR. Several compilation CDs including "Freak Weather Feels Different", "The Un & Only", "The Good,
164-885: A global fashion icon: her style was copied by commercial manufacturers and imitated by many young women, and she was named to the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1965. Mamie Eisenhower was named one of the twelve best-dressed women in the country by the New York Dress Institute every year that she was First Lady. The "Mamie Look" involved a full-skirted dress, charm bracelets, pearls, little hats, and bobbed, banged hair. Michelle Obama also received significant attention for her fashion choices: style writer Robin Givhan praised her in The Daily Beast , arguing that
205-661: A new music club in West Hollywood. Every Sunday night for the next seven years, Beth gathered a group of performers to develop an idiosyncratic story based form of stand-up. The idea of the show was to be funny without doing an 'act' and use story-based stream-of-consciousness techniques rather than the set-up and punchline formula of mainstream standup. In 1997, Comedy Central produced an UnCabaret TV special hosted by Beth Lapides and featuring Taylor Negron , Dana Gould , Julia Sweeney , Kathy Griffin , Andy Dick and Scott Thompson . When LunaPark closed, UnCabaret moved to
246-684: A piece for the New York Times Magazine about it, which was killed the night before publication. Lapides began her career as a visual artist in New York. Her work was shown at Dance Theater Workshop and The Metropolitan Museum of Art Library among others. Her more recent work has been featured in film and television. First Lady of the United States The first lady of the United States ( FLOTUS )
287-425: A range of sectors, from fashion to public opinion on policy, as well as advocacy for female empowerment . The use of the title First Lady to describe the spouse or hostess of an executive began in the United States. In the early days of the republic, there was not a generally accepted title for the wife of the president. Many early first ladies expressed their own preference for how they were addressed, including
328-591: A satirical 1992 campaign to make First Lady an elected position. She was featured on CNN, The Montel Williams Show and was invited to be on Oprah . People magazine, the Los Angeles Times , and Interview magazine all covered the campaign. Lapides appeared in the sixth season of Sex and the City TV series as the performance artist Marina Abramović in the twelfth episode "One" (2003), in which Carrie meets Aleksandr . Lapides wrote
369-470: A staff to support these activities. Lady Bird Johnson pioneered environmental protection and beautification. Pat Nixon encouraged volunteerism and traveled extensively abroad; Betty Ford supported women's rights; Rosalynn Carter aided those with mental disabilities; Nancy Reagan founded the Just Say No drug awareness campaign; Barbara Bush promoted literacy; Hillary Clinton sought to reform
410-664: A widower, he has usually asked a relative to act as White House hostess. While the household always had domestic staff, since the early 20th century, the first lady has been assisted by her event staff, which has grown over the years to include communications, personal, and program staff. Her office is now known as the Office of the First Lady and is headquartered in the East Wing of the White House . Jill Biden has served as
451-414: Is a title typically held by the wife of the president of the United States , concurrent with the president's term in office. Although the first lady's role has never been codified or officially defined, she figures prominently in the political and social life of the United States. The first lady of the United States is the hostess of the White House . Historically, when a president has been unmarried or
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#1732779523995492-450: The War of 1812 . Madison set the standard for the ladyship and her actions were the model for nearly every first lady until Eleanor Roosevelt in the 1930s. Roosevelt traveled widely and spoke to many groups, often voicing personal opinions to the left of the president's. She authored a weekly newspaper column and hosted a radio show. Jacqueline Kennedy led an effort to redecorate and restore
533-634: The 1980s where she created pieces for The Kitchen, PS 122, Club 57, Danceteria, and others. She received several National Endowment for the Arts grants and toured to theaters, universities and art centers like ICA Boston, ICA London, Oberlin College, University of Iowa, Hallwalls etc. Lapides has devoted most of her time as a stand-up comedian to her work at Un-Cabaret but she has also worked in countless comedy clubs including The Improv, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, Comedy U, and The Comic Strip. Lapides ran
574-407: The 45 presidents of the United States have been males, and all have either had their wives, or a female hostess, assume the role of first lady. Thus, a male equivalent of the title of first lady has never been needed; in 2016, as Hillary Clinton became the first woman to win a major party's presidential nomination, questions were raised as to what her husband Bill would be titled if she were to win
615-564: The Bad and the Drugly" and "Play the Word (vol. 1 & 2)". Beth Lapides Beth Lapides ( / l ə ˈ p iː d ʌ s / ; lə- PEE -dəs ) is an American writer, comedian, producer and host, best known for creating Un-Cabaret . Lapides is the creator, host and producer of Un-Cabaret , a live show that has become widely acknowledged as the first alt-comedy show and a critical venue for
656-553: The Democratic presidential nominee in the 2024 presidential election . Had Harris' presidential campaign been successful, Emhoff would presumably have been granted this title. However, Harris lost the election, again rendering this a moot point. The position of the first lady is not an elected one and carries only ceremonial duties. Nonetheless, first ladies have held a highly visible position in American society. The role of
697-612: The First Lady is an entity of the White House Office, a branch of the Executive Office of the President . When First Lady Hillary Clinton decided to pursue a run for Senator of New York, she set aside her duties as first lady and moved to Chappaqua, New York , to establish state residency. She resumed her duties as first lady after winning her senatorial campaign, and retained her duties as both first lady and
738-611: The HBO Workspace (where they developed the show with Warner Bros), then to The Knitting Factory and M-Bar. UnCabaret went on an extended hiatus in 2008. In 2012, Lapides brought UnCabaret back. UnCabaret produces a spoken-word comedy show, "Say the Word", which features original first-person stories from TV comedy writers including Cindy Chupack, Jay Kogen, Winnie Holzman, Alan Zweibel, Peter Mehlman, Merrill Markoe, Kevin Nealon and others. UnCabaret also produced The Other Network ,
779-485: The Los Angeles " alternative comedy " movement. Lapides wrote about it for an LA Weekly cover story on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary Show for CAP/UCLA at the Theatre at Ace Hotel . Un-Cabaret has produced five critically acclaimed CDs including The Un and Only . Spinoff productions from Un-Cabaret have included Say the Word , a story-telling show; The Other Network , a show featuring unaired pilots, and
820-547: The UnCab Lab, a student workshop. Recordings from Un-Cabaret have been featured on This American Life . Un-Cabaret was produced as a special for Comedy Central . And there are four on Amazon . Notable shows that emerged from Un-Cabaret include Julia Sweeney 's God Said Ha! and Laura Kightlinger 's book Quick Shots of False Hope . Lapides has written commentaries for NPR's All Things Considered . Lapides's first book Did I Wake You?: Haikus for Modern Living
861-487: The United States. During her lifetime, she was often referred to as "Lady Washington". Since the 1900s, the role of first lady has changed considerably. It has come to include involvement in political campaigns, management of the White House, championship of social causes, and representation of the president at official and ceremonial occasions. Additionally, over the years individual first ladies have held influence in
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#1732779523995902-402: The White House. Many first ladies became significant fashion trendsetters. Some have exercised a degree of political influence by virtue of being an important adviser to the president. Over the course of the 20th century, it became increasingly common for first ladies to select specific causes to promote, usually ones that are not politically divisive. It is common for the first lady to hire
943-702: The board of trustees of the National Cultural Center, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . Near the end of her husband's presidency , Hillary Clinton became the first first lady to seek political office, when she ran for United States Senate . During the campaign, her daughter Chelsea took over much of the first lady's role. Victorious, Clinton served as junior senator from New York from 2001 to 2009, when she resigned to become President Obama's secretary of state . Later, she
984-478: The contributions of first ladies to the and American society. In 2008, "First Ladies at the Smithsonian" opened at the National Museum of American History as part of its reopening year celebration. That exhibition served as a bridge to the museum's expanded exhibition on first ladies' history that opened on November 19, 2011. "The First Ladies" explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and
1025-548: The dream of the suffragettes by changing her title from First Lady to Acting First Man". According to the Nexis database, the abbreviation FLOTUS (pronounced / ˈ f l ə ʊ t ɪ s / ) was first used in 1983 by Donnie Radcliffe, writing in The Washington Post . Several women (at least thirteen) who were not presidents' wives have served as first lady, as when the president was a bachelor or widower, or when
1066-549: The earliest known written examples comes from a November 3, 1863, diary entry of William Howard Russell , in which he referred to gossip about "the First Lady in the Land", referring to Mary Todd Lincoln . The title first gained nationwide recognition in 1877, when newspaper journalist Mary C. Ames referred to Lucy Webb Hayes as "the First Lady of the Land" while reporting on the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes . The frequent reporting on Lucy Hayes' activities helped spread use of
1107-474: The election, rendering this a moot point. In 2021, Kamala Harris took office as vice president, making her husband Doug Emhoff the first male spouse of a nationally elected officeholder. Emhoff assumed the title of Second Gentleman of the United States ("gentleman" replacing "lady" in the title) making it likely that any future male spouse of a president will be given the title of first gentleman. Harris would later go on to replace President Joe Biden as
1148-469: The first lady has evolved over the centuries. She is, first and foremost, the hostess of the White House. She organizes and attends official ceremonies and functions of state either along with, or in place of, the president. Lisa Burns identifies four successive main themes of the first ladyship: as public woman (1900–1929); as political celebrity (1932–1961); as political activist (1964–1977); and as political interloper (1980–2001). Martha Washington created
1189-405: The first lady of the United States since 2021, being the wife of the 46th president, Joe Biden . Jill Biden is also one of twelve second ladies to have gone on to become first ladies during their spouses' terms as president. While the title was not in general use until much later, Martha Washington , the wife of George Washington , the first U.S. president (1789–1797), is the first First Lady of
1230-459: The healthcare system in the U.S.; Laura Bush supported women's rights groups, and encouraged childhood literacy. Michelle Obama became identified with supporting military families and tackling childhood obesity; and Melania Trump used her position to help children, including prevention of cyberbullying and support for those whose lives are affected by drugs. Since 1964, the incumbent and all living former first ladies are honorary members of
1271-431: The nation still preserved the habits of early life. Indulging in no indolence, she left the pillow at dawn, and after breakfast, retired to her chamber for an hour for the study of the scriptures and devotion." According to popular belief, Dolley Madison was referred to as first lady in 1849 at her funeral in a eulogy delivered by President Zachary Taylor ; however, no written record of this eulogy exists, nor did any of
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1312-477: The newspapers of her day refer to her by that title. Sometime after 1849, the title began being used in Washington, D.C., social circles. The first person to have the title applied to her while she was actually holding the office was Harriet Lane , the niece of James Buchanan ; Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper used the phrase to describe her in an 1860 article about her duties as White House hostess. Another of
1353-482: The presidency. During the campaign, the title of First Gentleman of the United States was most frequently suggested for Bill Clinton, although as a former president himself, he might have been called "Mr. President". In addition, state governors' male spouses are typically called the first gentleman of their respective state (for example, Michael Haley was the first gentleman of South Carolina while his wife, Nikki , served as governor). Ultimately, Hillary Clinton lost
1394-686: The role and hosted many affairs of state at the national capital (New York and Philadelphia). This socializing became known as the Republican Court and provided elite women with opportunities to play backstage political roles. Both Martha Washington and Abigail Adams were treated as if they were "ladies" of the British royal court. Dolley Madison popularized the first ladyship by engaging in efforts to assist orphans and women, by dressing in elegant fashions and attracting newspaper coverage, and by risking her life to save iconic treasures during
1435-414: The stories that most make them. Beth's guests have included Lily Taylor, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Cho, Daniel Radcliffe, Ana Gasteyer and others. Her radio show, The Beth Lapides Experience, ran for a year on the short-lived Comedy World Radio. In addition she hosted Radio UnCabaret for the network. Lapides has been a creative force in the solo show arena. She began her career in the downtown NY art scene of
1476-525: The title outside Washington. A popular 1911 comedic play about Dolley Madison by playwright Charles Nirdlinger, titled The First Lady in the Land , popularized the title further. By the 1930s, it was in wide use. Use of the title later spread from the United States to other nations. When Edith Wilson took control of her husband's schedule in 1919 after he had a debilitating stroke, one Republican senator labeled her "the Presidentress who had fulfilled
1517-499: The use of such titles as "Lady", "Mrs. President" and "Mrs. Presidentress"; Martha Washington was often referred to as "Lady Washington". One of the earliest uses of the term "First Lady" was applied to her in an 1838 newspaper article that appeared in the St. Johnsbury Caledonian , the author, " Mrs. Sigourney ", discusses how Martha Washington had not changed, even after her husband George became president. She wrote that "The first lady of
1558-530: The ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The exhibition features 26 dresses and more than 160 other objects, ranging from those of Martha Washington to Michelle Obama , and includes White House china , personal possessions and other objects from the Smithsonian's unique collection of first ladies' materials. Some first ladies have garnered attention for their dress and style. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis , for instance, became
1599-611: The wife of the president was unable to fulfill the duties of the first lady herself. In these cases, the position has been filled by a female relative of the president, such as Jefferson's daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph , Jackson's daughter-in-law Sarah Yorke Jackson and his wife's niece Emily Donelson , Taylor 's daughter Mary Elizabeth Bliss , Benjamin Harrison 's daughter Mary Harrison McKee , Buchanan's niece Harriet Lane , Chester A. Arthur 's sister Mary Arthur McElroy and Cleveland's sister Rose Cleveland . Each of
1640-523: Was published in 2007. She created So You Need to Decide an audiobook original that discusses complex life decisions. Lapides has hosted Un-Cabaret live and in all media since its inception. This has included residencies in nine Los Angeles venues including weekly runs at LunaPark, The Knitting Factory, HBO Workspace, First and Hope and since January 2018, a monthly residency at Rockwell Table and Stage. Lapides' podcast Life and Beth are half an hour conversations in which guests are asked to talk about
1681-549: Was the Democratic Party nominee for president in the 2016 election , but lost to Donald Trump . The Office of the First Lady of the United States is accountable to the first lady for her to carry out her duties as hostess of the White House, and is also in charge of all social and ceremonial events of the White House. The first lady has her own staff that includes a chief of staff, press secretary, White House social secretary , and chief floral designer . The Office of