Betty: Born To Be A Star
Animated movies were also known as cartoons and talkartoons. The studio, which was considered to be at the forefront of this new film experience,was the New York City based Fleischer Studio's. Betty Boop was first createdas a dog character by Grim Natwick and appeared as the girl friend of another dog named Bimbo. Betty's figure was modeled after Mae West's and her singing style taken from Helen Kane the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl. The voice of Betty was that of a young lady by the name of May Questal. Max & Dave Fleisher produced the Talkartoons for Paramount. Max drew his first comic stripfor the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" in 1902 and went on to join the "PopularScience" magazine in 1906. In 1915 Max, Dave and brother Joe invented anew way ofcartooning that revolutionized animation. The "rotoscope" becameone of thekey patents in animation. It gave a much smoother, more life-likequalityto the motion of the characters. Betty Boop's on screen debut wasin 1930in a little film called "Dizzy Dishes". The part was small butit gave herthe opportunity to show off her musical talents. In 1931 Betty'sfriends Kokothe clown and Pudgy, Bimbo's replacement, were introduced.Betty finally cameinto her own with"Betty Co-Ed" when she shed her dogidentity and the longears became earrings.By1932 Betty was consideredto be the first and onlyfemale animated screenstarwho could do it all- Drama, Musicals and Comedy.She took the countryby stormand Straightinto society's hearts. Betty hada flare all her own,she couldbe daringand assertive all the while keepingan air of innocencethe publicloved.There were more than one hundred BettyBoop cartoons producedincludingninetyin the official Betty Boop series."Stopping the show", "BettyBoopfor President"and "Boilesk" are among themost noteworthy. Others included"BettyBoop's birthday","Red Hot Mama","Betty Boop and the Little King","Zula Hula"and "Riding theRails. In 1939her last film "Yip Yip Yipee"was released.Betty Boop was madeinto toysand dolls in the 1930's andin 1934, King FeaturesSyndicate starteddistributionof "Betty Boop",a newspaper comic strip drawnby Bud Counihan.Now afteralmost 60 years,audiences seem to have rediscoveredthe wit, themusic andthe charm ofBetty Boop.

Credit Where Credit Is Due
This brief Betty history was provided by Susan Bay
Pictures of Betty Boop, Bimbo, and Pudgey are copyrighted to King Features Syndicate,Inc/FleischerStudios, Inc

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