[78-L] Whoopie Boop

[Bill McClung]

According to "Out of the Inkwell" by Richard Fleischer (Max's son), Helen
Kane sued  Max Fleischer, Fleischer Studios, and Paramount Pictures for
$250,000 on the grounds that Boop-oop-a-doop had originated with her and had
been wrongly appropriated from her.

The character that became Betty Boop first appeared in the cartoon "Dirty
Dishes" in 1930 as a half-dog, half-human with no name.  A later cartoon in
1930, "Minding the Baby," turned Betty into a fully cartoon human.   It
wasn't until 1931 that Fleischer hired Mae Questel as Betty's voice and Mae
stayed the voice until the Boop series ended.

Kane lost her case when a piece of sound film made in 1928 proved that a
black nightclub entertainer named Baby Esther was singing Boop-oop-a-doop
long before Helen Kane said she had.

On Thu, Apr 15, 2010 at 2:53 PM, Ken "Silver Showcase" <kenreg at tds.net>wrote:

> Banjo Bud wrote:
> > If memory serves (and at my age it can sometimes be nefarious, at best),
> > Helen Kane once sued Mae Questal for her Betty Boop persona.  However,
> she
> > lost her case when it was pointed out that the "boop-a-doop" style of
> > singing was originated by another singer called Baby Esther.  I don't
> think
> > Helen ever pretended to be Betty Boop.  It was said that she hated the
> > characterization.  If anyone on the list knows more about this.....lay it
> > on.
> >
> > Bud
> >
>
> I think Kane sued the Fliescher Studio, the creator of the Boop
> character, instead of Mae Questal.  Although Questal is the best known
> of the woman who voiced Boop in those cartoons, there are a few others
> who also did that job.  But you are correct that Kane lost the case when
> it was demonstrated that she had not originated that vocal style.
> Still, I don't think anyone doubts that the Fleisher brothers were
> inspired by Helen Kane when they created Betty Boop.
>
> I might be wrong about this, but I think Kane even used the
> "boop-oop-a-doop" phrase before the appearance of the Betty Boop cartoon
> character.
>
> Anybody else have more info?
>
> -- Ken
> > --------------------------------------------------
> > From: "Malcolm Rockwell" <malcolm at 78data.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 15, 2010 12:27 PM
> > To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> > Subject: Re: [78-L] Whoopie Boop
> >
> >
> >> In what media?
> >> Both women used the persona.
> >> Malcolm
> >>
> >> *******
> >>
> >> Banjo Bud wrote:
> >>
> >>> Especially since the voice of Betty Boop was Mae Questal, and not Helen
> >>> Kane.
> >>>
> >>> Bud
> >>>
> >>> --------------------------------------------------
> >>> From: "Malcolm Rockwell" <malcolm at 78data.com>
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:00 PM
> >>> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
> >>> Subject: [78-L] Whoopie Boop
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Hard to believe that 4 Helen Kane "Betty Boop" records just closed on
> >>>> whooBoy for $281.00.
> >>>> Even in E condition they shouldn't have grabbed $50.00 for all 4.
> >>>> Ah well, what do I know?
> >>>> Mal
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
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> >>
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