In 1930 Max Fleischer introduced a fabulous character to the world: Betty Boop. Perhaps he was inspired by Helen Kane, the original Boop-boop-a-doop girl, or perhaps he had magical powers that allowed him to tap into Helen Kane's style and voice without ever actually seeing her at all. Regardless, the singer who's version of "I Want to Be Loved By You" landed her 1920's fame and a Great Depression downfall in popularity, sued Fleischer in 1932. She lost, but I believe that Fleischer owed Kane much more credit than she actually received.
To most people, it would seem obvious that Kane's plump lips and black curly bob, along with her high girlish voice, are the real life manifestation of Betty Boop. The daughter of German immigrants, Kane started performing professionally at the age of 15 and was no stranger to the stage. She represented the flapper, the young woman caught up in a time of women's liberation from corsets, bootleggers and Jazz. And her little girl persona worked for her. To me, Kane is one of the mothers of modern-day femmehood. She oozed coquettish charm, she flashed a coy smile, and pouted furiously as she sang. (Not that these traits are the only femme traits in the world. This is just a broad example of style.)
With Kanes dwindling fame, along came Betty. I know it's weird to think about, but in 1930s Betty Boop was directed toward a mature audience. She reminded veiwers of a looser time gone past full of credit spending, booze, and sex before everyone lost their jobs due to the stock market crash. Another thing to be noted is that the 1930s was an era before television existed. The majority of adults who went to see Betty Boop saw her in Talkies (movie theaters). Can you imagine going to the movies to see Betty Boop? With a bunch of dirty old men? Betty's entire image was drawn up and slapped on a screen to satisfy a sexual curiosity of men at the time. The cute fun loving flapper, only with a much shorter skirt and much weirder adventures. Once episode of Betty Boop was banned for drug use for example.
So where do I draw inspiration from all this? The heart-shaped neck line of Betty's nightie...
The fact that someone designed a Valentine with a dog trying to rip her dress off (I kind of wish I was that dog...) and despite the fact that she looks shocked, you know that she secretly she's excited. Or maybe it's that red is such a beautiful color, and Betty looks fabulous donned in her little red mini dress. Regardless. I'm envisioning red chiffon knickers, and a heart-shaped neck line of a bralette. Max Fleischer, watch out.
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