ISSUES #22: MAY 2016
black history
The Origin Of Betty Boop
Research by: Vernon R. Heard
Esther Jones, known by her stage name, "Baby Esther," was an African-American singer and entertainer of the late 1920s. Baby Esther coined a vocal style using boops and other childlike scat sounds during her act. Her "baby" singing style often included the phrase, “Boop-oop-a-doop”. She performed regularly at the Cotton Club in Harlem.
There is not an abundance of information available about Esther Jones as Black entertainers of the day were mostly relegated to the sidelines of the mainstream entertainment industry. Today, there is only one authenticated picture of Esther Jones though there are several recreation photos online that emulate the Betty Boop cartoon.
Esther's character and vocal still was essentially stolen in 1928 by white singer Helen Kane. Helen Kane saw Jones' act at the Cotton Club and appropriated Jones' style for a recording of "I Wanna Be Loved By You" in 1928. Jones' style, as imitated by Kane, went on to become the inspiration for the voice of cartoon character Betty Boop. From the published pictures of Helen Kane, she may have also borrowed from Baby Esther's "Baby" concept and personna and incorporated her entire image into her own act.
Fleischer v. Kane
In 1930, Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick introduced a cartoon character with droopy dog ears and a squeaky singing voice, in the Paramount Studios 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. Some historians point to Helen Kane as the inspiration, an opinion backed up during an episode of the television history talk series, Stu’s Show. In the episode, animation historian Ray Pointer and Fleischer’s nephew, Bernie Fleischer, spoke at length about Betty Boop and her background. Another white starlet at the time, Clara Bow, may also have been an early inspiration for the cartoon.
In May 1932, Helen Kane filed a $250,000 lawsuit against Max Fleischer and Paramount Publix Corporation, for “exploiting her image.” charging unfair competition and wrongful appropriation in the Betty Boop cartoons. Contending that Betty Boop's "boop-oop-a-doop" style constituted a "deliberate caricature" that gave her "unfair competition."
The trial opened that year in the New York State Supreme Court, with Kane and Betty Boop films being viewed only by the judge. No jury was called. Vocal performers Margie Hines, Little Ann Little, Kate Wright, Bonnie Poe, and most notably Mae Questel were all summoned to testify.
A rare picture of Esther "Baby Esther" Jones, late 1920s
Recording artist and actress Helen Kane
Little Ann Little told the court that, to her knowledge, the "boop-oop-a-doop" phrase had started out as "ba-da inde-do", which developed into "bo do-de-o-do" and finally to "boop-oop-a-doop". Helen Kane's counsel asked Little, who spoke throughout the trial in a Betty Boop voice, "Oh, do you speak like that way at home?" Little responded to the court, "Yes, indeedy!" The defense argued that Kane had taken the idea from Baby Esther. Jones' manager testified that he and Kane had seen her act together in April 1928, and just a few weeks later, Kane began to "boop."
In the court transcripts, theatrical manager Lou Bolton testifies for the defense stating that in 1925, he coached a "young negro child" named Esther, teaching her how to interpolate her songs with scat lyrics which she later repurposed into her trademark "boop oop a doop."
The original Betty Boop cartoon Dirty Dishes, 1930
Helen Kane performs in the "Baby" style created by Esther Jones
Paramount was able to prove that Kane did not uniquely originate or have claim to the Betty Boop style of singing or look. Paramount proved this by showing Clara Bow (a Paramount Actress) who also had the Betty Boop style of dress and hair. 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 character.
After a two-year legal struggle, Max Fleischer located an old film of Esther Jones performing. Judge Edward J. McGoldrick ruled: “The plaintiff has failed to sustain either cause of action by proof of sufficient probative force.” In his opinion, the “baby” technique of singing did not originate with Kane.
Esther Jones is now spoken of mostly in the context of her contributions to Betty Boop's vocal stylings. Jazz studies scholar Robert O'Meally at Columbia University has referred to Jones as Betty Boop's "black grandmother." Baby Esther's 'baby' style of singing didn't bring her much in the way of mainstream fame. She died in relative obscurity, presumably in 1934. She unofficially lives on in the Betty Boop character still prevalent today. Unfortunately Esther was one another example of Black culture appropriated and profited from by white artists. I guess it's safe to say Esther got Iggy Azalea'd.
Just for the record, the above pics are erroneously identified on the internet as photos from the 1920s of Esther Jones. They are actually the model Olya in a retro photo shoot done by Retro Atelier. They were shot in 2008 as a tribute to Betty Boop. The only known picture of Esther Jones that I could locate is noted earlier in this piece.
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