Betty Boop

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 created as 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 strip for the "Brooklyn Daily Eagle" in 1902 and went on to join the "Popular Science" magazine in 1906. In 1915 Max, Dave and brother Joe invented a new way of cartooning that revolutionized animation. The "rotoscope" became one of the key patents in animation. It gave a much smoother, more life-like quality to the motion of the characters. Betty Boop's on screen debut was in 1930 in a little film called "Dizzy Dishes". The part was small but it gave her the opportunity to show off her musical talents. In 1931 Betty's friends Koko the clown and Pudgy, Bimbo's replacement, were introduced. Betty finally came into her own with "Betty Co-Ed" when she shed her dog identity and the long ears became earrings. By 1932 Betty was considered to be the first and only female animated screen star who could do it all - Drama, Musicals and Comedy. She took the country by storm and Straight into society's hearts. Betty had a flare all her own, she could be daring and assertive all the while keeping an air of innocence the public loved. There were more than one hundred Betty Boop cartoons produced including ninety in the official Betty Boop series. "Stopping the show", "Betty Boop for President" and "Boilesk" are among the most noteworthy. Others included "Betty Boop's