She may be 68 years old now, but she's still as cute and sexy as the day she was "born."
She's Betty Boop -- the cartoon character with the oversized head, black spit curls, large eyes, small shapely body, and thigh garter with a heart. She is usually depicted wearing a form-fitting red or black dress, al- though she has been drawn in hundreds of fabulous outfits -- from evening gowns and furs to motorcycle garb.
Betty Boop's outfits left little to the imagination, much to the chagrin of 1930s moralists.
Originally designed by Grim Natwick, a top artist for animation mogul Max Fleischer, Betty Boop made her debut as a cabaret singer in the 1930 cartoon "Dizzy Dishes." A Fleischer cartoon released in December 1929, however, included a character resembling Betty Boop minus her trademark spit curls, according to Betty's current copyright holders -- King Features Syndicate Inc. and Fleischer Studios Inc.
"The character was based on the persona of singer Helen Kane," said Boop collector and impersonator Peppy Greene of New York. "Natwick said he was given a piece of sheet music featur- ing Kane's picture and instructed to create a cartoon character based on her.
"Kane later sued Fleischer and Paramount, saying she was never credited for being the inspiration for Betty Boop. She also claimed that Betty Boop had taken away her popularity by using her method of singing. But Kane lost the case."
Betty wasn't even the star in her debut film. The real star of "Dizzy Dishes" was a dog named Bimbo. Betty, who was still nameless at the time, was created as a love interest for Bimbo and was originally drawn as a dog, with long ears, huge jowls, and black button nose. Natwick said he based her loosely on a French poodle.
"Otherwise," Greene said, "she was all girl, and in future cartoons, she was made more attractive."
In her first appearances, she portrayed an Indian princess, the queen of a masquerade ball, Bimbo's girlfriend, a singer, and the leader of a strange cult. It was not until "Betty Coed" in 1931 that the name Betty was connected with her character.
The cartoon "Any Rags" in 1932 marked Betty's debut as a human. Her dog ears became her traditional hoop earrings. As Betty's popularity took off, Bimbo was relegated to the role of a pet or friend.
Betty fended off numerous advances by men without ever quite seeming to understand their behavior toward her.
In one scene, she slaps her harassing male employer and sings, "You can feed me bread and water or a great big bale of hay, but don't take my boop-oop-a-doop away."
As the 1930s evolved, Betty's appear- ance and mannerisms became more modest. Moralists had protested her appearance, and one of her films was even banned in Philadelphia in 1933.
Betty's voice was provided by several performers over the years, including Margie Hines, Kate Wright, Bonnie Poe, and Little Ann Little. But the most famous was Mae Questel, who did Betty's voice for most of the cartoons until the series ended in 1939.
Questel was also the voice of another Fleischer star -- Popeye's girlfriend, Olive Oyl.
Betty Boop has enjoyed a revival of sorts in recent years. The American Movie Classics cable television channel has aired her cartoons, and she was the first cartoon character to be profiled on Arts & AMP Entertain- ment's "Biography." References to Betty Boop can also be found in contemporary television shows and music.
A wealth of Betty Boop collectibles have been produced over the years, including this cookie jar.
Like many popular characters real and fictional, Betty spawned a series of toys in the 1930s and '40s. But this vintage Boop material is rare and expensive on the collectibles market today.
A Betty's Acrobat trapeze toy from the 1930s is worth $2,500 if still in "excellent" condition. A 12-inch wood-jointed Betty Boop doll is worth about $750 in top condition. A 1930s celluloid wind-up Betty Boop toy is worth about $500 if still in its original box. A Betty Boop wood guitar from the same era is worth about $250.
A few smaller items venture into the more affordable range. A deck of Betty Boop Co-Ed Bridge Playing Cards from 1932 are worth about $75 today. A 1930s tin litho pinback button and a frosted glass bulb are about $40 each. A Betty Boop valentine from the 1930s is worth about $35.
Betty Boop also found her way into book form. Betty Boop's Movie Cartoon Lessons from the 1930s is worth about $175. From 1934, Betty Boop in Show White, marketed under the Big Little Book brand, is worth about $90. The 1935 Betty Boop in Miss Gulliver's Travels, another Big Little Book, is worth about $75.
Modern Boop pieces produced during the early 1980s through the 1990s are more affordable. These items include cookie jars, mugs, ceramic pieces, toys, clothes, and jewelry. Companies such as the Franklin Mint and Danbury Mint also offer Boop collectibles.
Copyright 1998 by Krause Publications. For a free catalog of Krause Publications books or periodicals on collectibles, write Public Relations, Dept. IC, Krause Publications, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001, or visit www.krause.com on the worldwide web, or e-mail info@krause.com.