On the First Sex Symbol

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Regarded as an animated sex symbol from the Depression era as she was a Flapper Girl reminder of the Roaring 20s

The wind blew up her skirt before Marilyn Monroe’s famous skirt scene

122 cartoon appearances

#17 TV Guide’s Greatest Cartoon Characters

Famous Tagline: “Boop-oop-a-doop”
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Created by Max Fleischer and Grim Natwick

First appearance Dizzy Dishes (August 9, 1930)

Last appearance Rhythm on the Reservation (July 7, 1939)

First voiced by Margie Hines, but voiced by four others in that decade

Most famously voiced by Mae Questel, who also voiced Betty in Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) and other appearances until her death (1998)

Fleishcer used jazz great Cab Calloway and his Minnie the Moocher hit in a 1932 short – so, here’s Calloway’s introduction and the song from the cartoon.

Originally appeared in the sixth Talkartoon series

Comic strip from 1934 to 1937

Initially appeared as a poodle in human form

Appeared many times as companion to Bimbo

Character based on Clara Bow and Helen Kane (the latter eventually sued, but lost)

Originally black and white, but the first color appearance was Poor Cinderella (1934)

Betty Boop had international popularity

Here’s a well done 4-minute report about Betty’s history

Given her dress and cleavage, the National Legion of Decency and the Production Code of 1934 forced changes in her appearance, dress, and cartoon content

Fearless Fred, a boyfriend, introduced in 1935 and her dog Pudgy

Bette Boop balloon has appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Each year, a Betty Boop and Baby Boop Look-a-Like Contest is held in Montebello, California (last one was July 20, 2013)

Enjoy Riding the Rails (1938), her only Oscar nomination