The Life and Times of Betty Boop: The 100-Year History of an Animated Icon

by Peter Benjaminson

Although Amazon.com is now selling more than 3,000 commercial products bearing Betty Boop's image, including calendars, tote bags, coffee mugs, and books about how young women can be more like Betty, no one has ever published a book about Betty herself.

The first biography of a major American cultural symbol ever written, The Life and Times of Betty Boop describes Betty Boop's incredibly active romantic and family life as revealed in her numerous comic strips, comic books, cartoons, and movies since 1930.

Award-winning author Peter Benjaminson details the creation of Betty Boop, based on two African American female entertainers who were the human models for Betty's character. He explores the many alterations of Betty's appearance, attitudes, and behavior over the years. Benjaminson also reveals the stories of the women who provided her with a speaking and singing voice, along with the backgrounds, intentions, and careers of Betty's numerous creators and animators.

The Life and Times of Betty Boop indulges in the controversies surrounding the character, including her adventures with Felix the Cat (a four-year daily comic strip production).

Benjaminson illuminates social trends that have kept Betty popular for nearly a century, including her recent transition from a helpless sex object to a feminist icon and her massive popularity with young American women.

Genres: History

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 15, 2023

About the author

Born in Washington, D.C., Peter was a reporter and City-County Bureau Chief for the Detroit Free Press from 1970-76.

While at the Free Press, he wrote the book "Investigative Reporting," with Dave Anderson (Indiana University Press, 1976 and Iowa State University Press, 1990), the first how-to book in that field. It was in print for 20 years.

In 1979 he wrote "The Story of Motown," and from 1979 to 1981 he was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He taught journalism at Binghamton University, New York University, and Columbia University from 1981-91.

In 1984, he wrote "Death in the Afternoon: America's Newspaper Giants Struggle for Survival" (Andrews, McMeel), the first and only book about the death of afternoon newspapers in America's big cities.

In 1992, he wrote "Publish Without Perishing" (National Education Association and National Writers Union); and in 1997, he wrote "Secret Police" (New York: Barricade Books).

From 1991-1994 he was the spokesman for the NYC Department of Investigation. He was Assistant Editor of the Chief Leader Newspaper in New York City from 1994-1998 and the spokesman for the NYC Correction Officers Benevolent Association from 1998-2003. In 2003 and 2009 he was the spokesman for Members for Change in NYC Teamsters Local 237.

Reviews

[Spip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The writing was delightful and sometimes crossed the border to subjective (which entertained me but could bother some). There were large and pleasant confetti pieces of information I previously lacked hidden throughout the book. These pointed me in the direction of other rabbit holes to flee into.
The book uses Betty as a magnet for discussing topics like 1930s American culture, feminism, capitalism and of course, animation. The author sure as **** likes putting words to animation. The description of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloon was one of my favorite parts.

[Boyce McClain · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was younger I had no idea or inkling that Fleischer Studios' animated heroine Betty Boop was a revolutionary and trend-setter.
Betty Boop originally started out as a completely different character and after a short period transformed into the “boop-oop-a-doop!” animated cartoon fans have adored for 100 years!

Remarkable isn’t it? Imagine a feminist character in the 1920s! Betty Boop challenged the preconceived and traditional female standards. She was feisty, head-strong, determined, a fighter and she let nothing stop her when she made up her mind to do something.

Oh sure, there were a few times when she reverted to a damsel in distress, but mostly she was true to herself and eventually became a role model for women all over the world.

In writer Perter Benjaminson’s The Life And Times OF Betty Boop The 100-Year History Of An Animated Icon softbound book, published by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books, readers follow the long and illustrious career and legendary status of animations first liberated woman.

Learn about her creation, copyright battles, traditional female roll rebellion and the spawning of her international, multi-million dollar mechanizing empire.

Betty Boop has evolved over the years and she’s changed with the times. But, she still remains one of the strongest (if not the strongest) female animated characters of all time.

Proverbs 12:20 - Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

[Jo Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty Boop was a cartoon first imagined by Max and Dave Fleischer in 1930 as a dark, sexy, urban alternative to Walt Disney's wholesome creations. No one seemed to care that Betty had no neck and, originally, dog-like features. Shortly, however, she became the first fully human and fully female animated cartoon character ever. Even more important, as the author observes, "Betty is the only classic female comic character who isn't someone's wife, girlfriend, or regular employee." Although she works all kinds of jobs, she is never defined by a man.

Her signature was "boop-boop-a-doop," borrowed or stolen from Helen Kane, a real life singer who was white, who borrowed or stole it from real life entertainer Esther Lee Jones, who was black. Author Benjaminson details the legal battles that ensued, as well as every single one of Boop's cartoons and the bad boy escapades behind the scenes.

I am not a Betty Boop fan, but many people are: Some $1 billion in Boop merchandise is out there. If you can plow through Benjaminson's prose and treasure chest of details this is the book for you.

[David Zimny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential reading for Boopheads like me! A synopsis of many of her cartoons from the 1930's. Details about the lawsuit singer Helen Kane filed against Boop creator Fleischer studios for allegedly stealing her likeness. I learned about comic strips Betty was in, both in the 30's and more recently in the 80's.
She was even in a comic book!

I loved this book.

[Renee Triveri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read for all Betty fans. The history and her evolution were interesting. Look at the bibliography at the end for a list of cartoons. They are all available on Utube. Betty for President from 1980 is a good introduction to many of the cartoons mentioned in the book.