Betty Boop!
The first appearance of Betty Boop was in the 6th Talkartoon starring Bimbo, entitled "Dizzy Dishes" (1930.). Grim Natwick was the first animator to draw Betty, who had not yet been officially named. He took inspiration for Betty's spit curls from a song sheet of Helen Kane, commonly called the "Boop Oop a Doop Girl". Her high baby voice, like her spit curls, were in imitation of singer Helen Kane. Her first starring role was in "Betty Coed" (1931), which also marked the first time the name Betty was connected with the character.
Betty's Sex Appeal Unlike Disney, Fleischer Studios' only real competitor at the time, Fleischer allowed several racy images and scenarios to enter his cartoons. In several cartoons, Betty loses the top of her dress ("Any Rags"-1932 and "Poor Cinderella"-1934), exposing a frilly strapless bra, and in others her skirt flies up ("Dizzy Red Riding Hood"-1931 and "Barnacle Bill"-1930.) You can even catch a glimpse of her breast in "Betty Boop's Rise To Fame", while she changes into her hula outfit, but only if you look quickly (The scene lasts only 1/24th of a second.) In the same picture, she performs the hula dance with only a strategically placed flower lei to cover her chest. In a couple of cartoons ("Mysterious Mose"-1930 and "The Old Man of the Mountain"-1933), Betty loses her dress completely, but is conveniently hidden behind a tree or in her bed. Very often Betty's curved silhouette could be seen through her clothing as she passed before a fire or other light. By 1935, in the era where sitcom married couples slept in separate beds, Betty was toned down. Her skirt was lengthened and her strapless dress given a top and short sleeves.
Betty's Legal Troubles All was not wine and roses for Betty. In April 1934, Helen Kane, whose popularity had waned since her debut in 1929, filed suit against Max Fleischer, Fleischer Studios and Paramount Pictures for $250,000. She claimed that Betty Boop had stolen her fans. Max Fleischer gave testimony that Betty Boop was not based on Helen Kane (which was untrue - Kane was one of the main inspirations for Betty, though she developed other features on her own as the years progressed.) Five of the women who had been the voice for Betty Boop appeared in court to deny that they had attempted to imitate Kane's voice. The judge even watched and compared several of Betty's cartoons with some of Helen Kane's films. There was testimony that the "Boop Oop a Doop" phrase came long before Kane's popularity, as one witness claimed to have heard the phrase uttered in an Edith Griffith song. And on May 2nd, Paramount Pictures was able to locate a film clip of another singer, Baby Esther, who used the same phrase in a song in 1928.
Betty Today The first Boopabelia hit the stores in 1934, decorating such items as coats, tea sets, cards, dolls and watches with her now familiar image. Today, you can find anything from t-shirts and shower curtains, to personalized checks and nail polish, each bearing Betty's charming likeness. A new line of Betty Boop dolls from Precious Kids has just been released, including some talking dolls. Her cartoons have been released and re-released, and her complete set of cartoons is now available in an 8 tape set, celebrating her 60th year, (available at any major movie retailer, and Amazon.com.) She remains popular in Europe and in Mexico, as well as other places around the world. With her round wide eyes and her pouty mouth, she has boop-oop-a-dooped her way into the hearts of hundreds, or even thousands. There is even a new book out "How to be a Betty". I hope she stays around for a very long time, it would be a shame for future generations of Betty's not to be able to bat their eyelashes and say....
(This Stolling is dedicated to our very own Betty and to all the "Betty's" out there)
