The real betty boop how to#
The real betty boop trial#

It was not Esther Jones, but a white woman, Helen Kane, who sued Fleischer and his studio for US$250,000 for copying her visual appearance, including hair style, dress, makeup, and voice, as well as the 'boop a doop' catchphrase she used while singing. The character first appeared as a white woman with a long poodle like face, and drooping ears, and only later developing into a normal looking woman. Thirdly, the Betty Boop character was originally based on a French poodle not on Jones. Secondly, Esther Jones never claimed she was the original inspiration for the Betty Boop character, and never showed any interest in claiming any rights to it. It's a photo of Ukranian model Model Oyla (Модель Оля), in 2008, dressed as Betty Boop. Hidden Figures: Esther Jones (Baby Esther)įirstly, the woman in the photo at right is not Esther Jones. Various videos and websites make the same claim, sometimes with different photos.Įsther Jones: The Original Black Betty Boop!īaby Esther Jones the Original Betty Boop Another case of a talented black woman exploited by the white entertainment industry. The meme claims Esther Jones spent years unsuccessfully trying to win back her legal rights to the image. The meme typically claims the woman in the photo is Esther Jones, a famous black performer whose image was apparently unethically exploited when cartoonist Max Fleischer invented the cartoon character Betty Boop, based on Jones' image and singing style. Throughout history, there is a trend, now often brought to light as social and equity justice movements increase, of minorities, especially Black minorities, not being credited for their work in multiple fields.For a five minute video version of this post, go here.Ī widely spread meme shows a picture of the 1930s cartoon character Betty Boop, and a photo of a woman looking very similar. In 'The History of Animation,' author Charles Solomon, argues 'Fleisher won the case by proving that a black entertainer named Baby Esther had previously used the phrase before either Kane or Questel.' Betty Boop herself plays a part in also increasing the interest in Jazz music at the time.

The real betty boop trial#

As for Jones herself, there is no evidence suggesting she testified at the trial since her manager at the time could not pinpoint her location.Īlthough she may not have personally been active in the case, Jones' influence within the jazz community can be found through the development of scatting. admitted that Kane served as a visual model reference for the animated character known as Betty Boop, but verbal inspiration stemmed from Esther Jones. did not publicly acknowledge Jones' influence on Betty Boop outside of the trial.

Shortly after, Fleischer and Fleischer Studios Inc. also brought out the first recordings of Jones' vocal performance, now evidence that had been deemed as lost, which lost the case for Kane During which Fleischer and Fleischer Studios Inc. The trial consisted of other witnesses, including those who produced the recorded voices of Betty Boop, testifying inspiration did not stem from Kane but rather from other figures.

The real betty boop how to#

Walton had coached Jones on how to scat, allowing her to develop her own vocal signature. Lou Walton, Jones' manager, testified in the case claiming that Kane had seen Jones' performance and developed her rendition of 'Boop-oop-a-doo.' Kane filed a New York Supreme Court lawsuit in May of 1932 against Max Fleischer, the Fleischer Studios, Inc., and the Paramount Publix Corporation.Īs the lawsuit's popularity grew and Helen Kane's fame drew attention, Esther Jones was cast aside alongside her influential work. Kane was an American singer and actress in the 1920s, famously known for her song 'I Wanna Be Loved By You,' which features a similar rendition of Jones' ' Boop-oop-a-doo.' This signature 'Boop-oop-a-doo' expression landed Betty Boop in a court trial in the 1930s- the plaintiff being Helen Kane. Jones used scat, a singing technique used in jazz composed of dynamic and nonsensical syllables instead of words, which can, at times, sound similar by comparison to create the ' Boop-oop-a-doo ' performance. Yet, her child-sounding voice and popular ' Boop-oop-a-doo ' performance at Harlem's Cotton Club landed her a recognizable role in the musical community. Jones' musical compositions fell under the growing Jazz community. Esther Lee 'Baby Esther' Jones, a Black Chicago woman and well-known singer of the 1920s, is the initial inspiration for the cartoon character, Betty Boop, who first appeared in the 1930s.