His/Her Story (History)

The definition of Originality: 

The Ability To Think Independently & Creatively

We all have a definition of originality, but the fact of the matter is being original mean’s being the first to do it.

When something becomes “BIG” in our eyes it's assumed to be original. Well, no intention to burst any one’s bubble, but there are a few that need to be popped!

For instance, may have taken you by surpise! As a child, there were certain “iconic figures” when you found they're not in actuality the original. Bear with me...

You will never forget them but, at the same time the origin of these figures may come as a surprise.

Remember the black and white cartoon of a lady with the curl who could sing and

Dance. Was she all she seemed to be? His/Her story (History) seems to say differently.

Without further adue it’s “Betty Boop"!

Cotton Club

Let me take you to a cotton club in Harlem. The music is jumping, your heart is pumping, you're hearing a new swinging sound you haven’t heard before, you look over to your gal, and man!, you're eager to pay for the two of you to get into the club.

Meanwhile, she's so excited, she keeps

sneaking to pull up her girdle hoping he don't see her. Especially since he just spent a whole 25 cents on her to get into this cotton club! You case the room and see the black folk that you have no choice but to sit with. (#Segregation)

You make your way in and ask for a drink.

The curtain opens and there she is, what a sight!

The music starts, and so does she, not missing a beat:

"Dooooo Booooo Booooo Boooo”, suttle but the crowd goes wild. Her name “Baby Ester",
A Black Woman.

So who is the real Betty Boop?

(WARNING: Fact's Below)

Helen Kane as "Betty Boop"

In 1930, Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick introduced a caricature of Helen Kane, in the form of an anthropomorphic singing dog with droopy ears and a squeaky singing voice, in the Talkartoons cartoon Dizzy Dishes. "Betty Boop", as the character was later dubbed, soon became popular and the star of her own cartoons. In 1932, Betty Boop was

changed into a human, the long dog ears becoming hoop earrings.

In May 1932, Helen Kane filed a $250,000 lawsuit against Max Fleischer and Paramount Publix Coproation, for "exploiting her image"

Betty Boop (Left) Helen Kane (Right)

The defense

argued that Kane had taken the idea from Baby Esther. Evidence was produced

that Kane actually derived that singing style from watching Baby Esther perform

at the Cotton Club several years before the creation of the Betty Boop that in 1925, he coached a "young negro child" named Esther, teaching character. Theatrical manager Lou Boulton testified for the defense stating her how to interpolate her songs with scat lyrics, "boo-boo-boo" and

her act together in April 1928, and just a few weeks later, Kane began to "doo-doo-doo", which Kane later reinvented as her trademark "boop oop a doop". Jones' manager testified that he and Kane had seen "boop".

Paramount was able to prove that Kane did not uniquely originate or have

claim to the Betty Boop style of singing or look. In addition to adducing Baby Ester's

performances, they showed performances by actress Clara Bow, who also had the Betty Boop style of dress and hair.

After a two-year legal struggle, Max Fleischer located a sound film made in 1928 of her performing, which was introduced as evidence. Judge Edward J. McGoldrick ruled, sufficient probative force." In his opinion, the "baby" "The plaintiff has failed to sustain either cause of action by proof of technique of singing did not originate with Kane Jones is now spoken of mostly in the context of her contributions

to Betty Boop's vocal stylings. Jazz studies scholar Robert O'Meally has
referred to Jones as Betty Boop's "black grandmother"...

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