Boop-Oop-A-Doop: The Untold Story Of Betty Boop and Esther Jones.

A beautiful black singer Esther Jones, also known by her stage name "Baby Esther," was an African-American singer and entertainer who gained popularity in the 1920s. Baby Esther's unique singing style involved using a technique called "booping," which involved singing in a baby-like, high-pitched voice with exaggerated pronunciation. Baby Esther's unique singing style, which involved adding "boops" and "dips" to her performances, caught the attention of Max Fleischer, a renowned cartoonist and founder of Fleischer Studios. He  was inspired by Baby Esther's distinctive vocalizations and incorporated them into the character of Betty Boop. Betty made her

1930's movie premiere with cartoon Betty Boop

debut in the cartoon "Dizzy Dishes" in 1930. In addition to her vocal style, Baby Esther's stage persona, which featured playful and flirtatious behavior, influenced the character of Betty Boop. Both Baby Esther and Betty Boop embodied the liberated and carefree spirit of the Jazz Age. Baby Esther's influence on Betty Boop became the subject of controversy when singer Helen Kane, who had a similar vocal style, claimed that Betty Boop was based on her.

original movie credit for Betty Boop movie

 The subsequent legal battle between Kane and Fleischer Studios brought attention to the origins of Betty Boop's character and voice. Despite the legal dispute, evidence supporting Baby Esther's influence on Betty Boop emerged in the form of recordings and performances that predates Helen Kane's claims. These findings validated Baby Esther's role as a significant inspiration for Betty Boop. Esther's contributions to popular culture and her influence on Betty Boop were largely unrecognized for many years, and her role as an inspiration for the character was only widely acknowledged in the 1990s. Baby Esther's career declined in the 1930s, and she eventually faded into obscurity. She passed away in 1961. In recent years, efforts have been made to recognize and celebrate Baby Esther's contributions to popular culture. Esther Jones is now acknowledged as an important figure in the history of animation and entertainment. Explore more about jazz muse Esther Jones.

    REFERENCE

Open AI. (2024)  ChatGPT  [Large language model].

https://chat.openai.com/chat

Colonial School District (Mar 11, 2021)

URL: https://www.colonialschooldistrict.org/blog/we-celebrate-the-real-betty-boop-esther-jones