The real betty boop trial#
With that sound film evidence, the trial ended and Baby got the credit she deserved. With this evidence, the defense team was able to say Helen was not infringed upon by Max because she was the one who infringed upon Baby. With the trial still going on for its second year, Max was able to find a 1928 sound film of Baby’s performance which was the only evidence available since Baby had died in 1934.
She was known for her baby-like voice as she sang and the catchphrase, “boo-boo-boo.” It was discovered during the trial that Helen had gone to the Cotton Club to see Baby perform and a few weeks later had begun to imitate the booping sound. The never-been-told, real life, true story of how Betty.
After making a name for herself and touring in Europe, she returned to the United States and toured and danced with Cab Calloway and his orchestra for a couple of years. With Rose McGowan, Billy Zane, Michael Raymond-James, Colleen Camp. She was later managed by Lou Bolton who saw her performance and lined up other shows around the U.S. She was a trained scat singer, dancer and acrobat performer. 17M views, 37K likes, 12K loves, 13K comments, 68K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Funny Or Die: Rose McGowan and Billy Zane star in the real-life, true story of Betty Boop, the inspiration behind. She began her career as a child star who lived in Chicago where she was first managed by her parents, Gertrude and William Jones. 17M views, 37K likes, 12K loves, 13K comments, 68K shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Funny Or Die: Rose McGowan and Billy Zane star in the real-life. The trial was on and this was only the beginning for the truth that was going to be revealed.Įsther “Baby” Jones was a black entertainer in the late 1920s who performed regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem. When it comes to hidden figures in Black history, few have a legacy as instantly recognizable as Esther Jones. Helen found out her image was used without her consent or compensation and she then sued Max for $250,000 for infringement. Published SeptemUpdated NovemA child singer and dancer, Esther Jones inspired Paramount to create the cartoon character Betty Boop in 1930 but she never received any credit or royalties. In a 1932 issue of Photoplay magazine, a photo of Helen and Betty Boop were put side by side to show the comparison. It’s said later that Max used actress and singer, Helen Kane as the model for Betty Boop. With a few corrections the French poodle became the cartoon vixen that we see today in human form. In 1932, Betty Boop was changed into a human, the long dog ears becoming hoop earrings. Originally, Betty Boop was a French poodle with long, floppy ears. The quick nutshell story is in the 1930s, cartoonist Max Fleischer created Betty Boop. However, behind that fun song is a bit of a controversy or hidden history of the character, shall we say? Let’s find out the story behind the real Betty Boop! Even they can read between the lines of where the origin of that famous 'Boop' scat sound originated. A big shout out to Melanin Apparel for sharing the true story that I shared with the world and not the fabrications. One is such a sensual and loving song while the other is fun and cheeky you can’t help but hum it. You can buy Baby Esther Jones t-shirts titled The Original Betty Boop from Melanin Apparel here. The first song is, My Funny Valentine sung by Chaka Khan and the other song is I Want to Be Loved by You sung by Betty Boop. O’Meally said that Betty Boop may have been inspired by a White woman but she had a Black grandmother.It’s Valentine’s Day and for some reason, I think of only two songs on this day of love. Sadly, Jones was presumed dead in 1934, just around the time the lawsuit was ending. Her signature song was” I Wanna Be Loved By You” where she scatted the lines “Boop oop a doop.”Īccording to testimony from Jones’ manager, Helen Kane saw Esther Jones’ act in 1928.Īt some point, Jones learned that Kane was using–or had stolen her style of singing and she took her to court.Ī test sound film showed Jones performing which disproved Kane’s claims that she was the originator of the style.Ī Supreme Court Judge ruled that Kane, the plaintiff had “failed to sustain either cause of action by proof of sufficient probative force.” In other words, he deduced that the baby technique did not start with Kane.Īnd Jones was awarded with a $250,000 infringement lawsuit. Jones was known for singing in a distinctive baby voice. Jones, an African American singer in the late ’20’s, worked regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem. But there is quite a bit of evidence showing that Kane stole her schtick from a Black woman named Esther Jones who went by the stage name Baby Esther.