![]() ![]() Fleischer's lawyer also cited a short sound test film allegedly showing Jones singing with the same style, using the "boop a doop" catchphrase. Lou Bolton, Jones' manager, asserted Kane had only started using the "boop a doop" phrase after having visited one of Jones' performances. However, Fleischer completely denied the Betty Boop character had been based on Kane.Īt trial, Fleischer's lawyer claimed Kane herself had taken the phrase "boop a doop" and her singing style from Esther Jones. 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.Baby Esther Jones the Original Betty Boop.Esther Jones: The Original Black Betty Boop!.Various videos and websites make the same claim, sometimes with different photos. 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. As Betty Boop grew more famous, Helen became more furious at the monetary success of Betty Boop and worked to get a portion of the profit.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. Helen claimed that the Betty Boop character was based on “her” stage qualities and continued to omit Esther from her storyline. Meanwhile Helen Kane began to build momentum in her Jazz career and continued to copy Esther’s style. Critics argue that Max Fleischer, like Helen, was also inspired by Esther Jones and had created Betty Boop based on the image and characteristics of Esther Jones. ![]() Esther Jones the Real Bety BoopĪs Esther Jones grew into womanhood she became much more curvy much like the transition from the cute puppy figure and more like Betty Boops new more modern figure. Helen would have probably totally gotten away with stealing Esther’s sound and trademark gestures but she became greedy when the creator of Betty Boop made tremendous money off of “her” style so she sued Max Fleischer, the creator and Paramount. But she failed to mention that she stole this trademark and her overall sound from black jazz singer that she was inspired by (clears throat… copied) by the name of Esther Jones. Helen Kane was a struggling jazz singer who’s career was fading until one night she decided to add “ Boop boop a doop” to her performance. Esther had a very distinctive sound and trademark showmanship which included eyebrow raises and quick eye ball girations! (I am laughing at that description, but just check out the video below and you will understand what I mean.) Meet Helen Kane – The Betty Boopy Dupe You can find that link here! The Scoop Boop De BoopĮsther Jones was a child star and traveled around the world entertaining crowds at night clubs. Betty Boop was black? This was total news to me! And yes I fact checked and found the New York Times article dating back to the 1934 lawsuit and court case. ![]()
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