Helen Kane was the first known "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl in the business. She did not voice Betty Boop, and initially found Betty Boop to be repugnant. According to Grim Natwick, she is "partially" the inspiration for the character. Partially as in the Fleischer Studios were already considering a "female counterpart" for Bimbo, an idea by Max Fleischer's wife Essie Fleischer.

Helen Sugar Kane

Helen Kane

Name Helen Clare Schroeder

Helen Kane

Sugar Kane Audio: Helen Kane:

Helen Kane Helen Kane - The Original Boop Boop a Doop Girl

Name Helen Kane

Helen Kane was an actress and singer who became popular in the 1920s. In May 1932, Kane filed a $250,000 Infringement Lawsuit against Max Fleischer and Paramount Publix Corporation for the "deliberate caricature" that produced "unfair competition". While Kane had risen to fame in the late 1920s as "The Boop-Boop-a-Doop Girl", a star of stage, recordings and films for Paramount, originally known as the "Poop-Poop-a-Doop" girl. Her career was nearing its end by 1931, with her last Paramount feature being A Lesson In Love. Paramount promoted the development of Betty Boop following Kane's decline. The case was brought in New York in 1934. Although Kane's claims seemed to be valid on the surface, it was proven that her appearance was not unique as both Kane and the Betty Boop character bore resemblance to Paramount top-star Clara Bow. On April 19, Fleischer testified that Betty Boop was purely a product of the imaginations of himself and detailed by members of his staff. Little Ann Little, Bonnie Poe, Kate Wright, Margie Hines, and most notably Mae Questel were all summoned to testify, Wright however did not testify in court. The case dragged on for more than two years before the judge ruled against Kane, claiming her testimony did not prove that her singing style was unique and not an imitation itself; Kane was asked if she had taken her "scat" lyrics idea from Felix Mayol's 1913 recording "Bou Dou Ba Boum", which she denied. Another witness claimed that Edith Griffith had "Booped" before Kane in a early recording. An African-American child performer from Chicago known as "Baby Esther" originally billed (Lil Esther) was cited by the defense as "Booping" in song, with Kane having seen Esther's cabaret show in the 1920s and swiping her act, becoming popular overnight. This was what the defense explained when they showed an early test sound film featuring Baby Esther. In the actual court documents it states that the motion picture that was shown in court featuring Esther performing her own unique song which was "Wa-Da-Da". But it also states that she is performing two Helen Kane songs which are; "Don't Be Like That" and "Is There Anything Wrong In That?". This information has been hidden from the public and can only be accessed by reading through the lawsuit documents. During the lawsuit Kane claimed that she didn't know what "hot licks" were and lied under oath that she never heard of the term "scat singing" and claimed to not know what "scatting" in songs was. Had she not known what "scat rhythm" was, she would have never been able to interject "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" into her songs. Helen Kane later told the press that she was shocked and disappointed, remarking that both she and her friends were convinced that the Betty Boop cartoons were a deliberate caricature of her. Helen appealed her case but it was dismissed by the Appellate Division of the N.Y. Supreme court, which prohibited her from further appeal. Helen based her action on the grounds that Fleischer and Paramount used her voice and originality in the cartoons by Fleischer in his animated shorts, without her permission. She also sought an injunction, Judge Carew held no one could copyright a voice and Miss Kane did not hold the copyright on the actions of the Fleischer character. It later came out that the one true originator of "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" was Gertrude Saunders, who had originated the scat singing style in alternative form in the 1921 musical Shuffle Along. Gertrude was succeeded by Florence Mills, who in turn was succeeded by Baby Esther Lee Jones.

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Quotes

Helen Kane: " When I was fourteen years old, I left the St. Anselm's Convent for, like Dolores Del Rio, Raquel Torres, Lupe Velez, and nearly all the other Hollywood stars, I too, am a simple convent girl. " (1929)

" (1929) Helen Kane: " Mother was ill and we needed money for the doctors so dad thought I'd better leave school and go to work. " (1929)

" (1929) Helen Kane: " I clerked. I filed. I typed. I wrapped bundles. I carried cash. I sold aprons and ribbons and notions and hardware, dishes, kitchen utensils, glassware, tin pans. " (1929)

" (1929) Helen Kane: " I had held about all the different kinds of jobs a young kid in New York could hold and keep her feet on the straight and narrow. I was hired, fired, hired and fired, and left of my own accord. " (1929)

" (1929) Helen Kane: " I started Booping about 1928 on the radio and screen. Later 20,000,000 persons knew me as the Boop girl. Then came Betty Boop a cartoon and I almost lost my identity. " ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit)

" ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit) Helen Kane: " Boop-Boop-a-Doop means nothing. I just got tired of singing Vo-Do-Do-Deo-Do. "

" Helen Kane: " The younger generation that loves Boops hardly remembers my Boops. They even call me Betty Boop, after the cartoon character. " ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit)

" ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit) Helen Kane: " Of course I'm the original Boop girl! I began Booping about 1928. My Boops earned me as much as $25,000 a week. Here's how I Boop! " ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit)

" ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit) Helen Kane: " I want a pound of Fleischer! " (The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, 1934)

" (The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, 1934) Helen Kane: " I just put Boop-Boop-a-Doop in at one of the rehearsals, a sort of interlude. It's hard to explain - I haven't explained it to myself yet. It's like Vo-De-O-Do, Crosby with Boo-Boo-Boo, and Jimmy Durante with Cha-Cha-Cha. "

" Helen Kane: " I consider it very unfair as all my friends believe the cartoon is a deliberate caricature of me. " ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit)

" ($250,000 Infringement Lawsuit) Helen Kane: " You know, people in show business usually stick together. You can imagine how I felt when these three girls that sing for Betty Boop - Mae Questel, Bonnie Poe and Margie Hines testified against me. Why I started them on their careers. "

" Helen Kane: " They all won Helen Kane contests and I gave them my picture and wished them luck. The verdict was a great shock to me. It's not the money - I'm financially independent and I'll spend my last dollar fighting that verdict. There should be some way an artist can protect her creations. "

" Helen Kane: " I am MAD! MAD! MAD! I am so mad! I am going to spend a lot of money appealing this case. "

" Helen Kane: " They have stolen my idea! I don't need money. I sued these Betty Boop people for $250,000, I don't want a cent of it. All I want is vindication. It has broken my heart. "

" Helen Kane: " I have become a ghost... "

" Helen Kane: " Recently in Hollywood when some children ran to open the door of my car they greeted me as Betty Boop. Betty is just one stroke removed from Mickey Mouse ."

." Helen Kane: " When I listen to this rock and roll and look at you kids, I don't think it's a whole lot different than the Charleston and the Varsity Drag. "

" Helen Kane: " I know when I was a kid, I used to look at these pictures and listen to the songs of the Gay Nineties, and I used to say to my mother, 'Oh, I wish I had lived then, it was so gay and so wonderful. Now the Jazz Age seems very mysterious and wonderful to you, kids, and when you have kids, they'll say; 'Gee, Dad, those 50s, they were something.' I really think it goes in cycles. When your kids come in and say; 'Gee, Dad, I wish we had done that, and so on and so forth,' it's the same thing. I don't think its changed a great deal. "

" Helen Kane: " I was signed for Arthur Hammerstein's Good Boy and I met a handsome Irishman in the show named Dan Healy. He was a famous master of ceremonies and producer of the Cotton Club shows. " (1961)

" (1961) Helen Kane: " I sang 'I Wanna Be Loved By You' to him so many times and he finally took the hint and married me. " (1961)

" (1961) Helen Kane: " I had imitators in every town in the country, dolls were named after me, even animated cartoons began to Boop. Get the picture? " (1961)

" (1961) Helen Kane: " I have had two cancer operations and now feel great. " (1961)

" (1961) Helen Kane: " People may smile and say that we have nothing, but they are wrong. We have each other, and that's everything. " (1961)

" (1961) Helen Kane: "Everything has gone, fame, money, cars, name in lights, the works - everything." (1961)

Helen Schroeder (1921-1922)

Helen attended the St. Anselm's Parochial School in the Bronx. When Helen was a little girl, she was starstruck. She asked her mother Ellen Schroeder for $3.00 to buy a costume, so that she could play the role of a "Queen" in a school play.

Helen is cited as being 15-years-old in 1921, however she would sometimes fabricate her age to make herself either younger or older, she appeared in the Marx Brothers' show On the Balcony.

Harpo Marx, one of the Four Marx Brothers, walked into an agency and saw her. She was the type he was seeking for a new act the Marx Brothers were preparing. Harpo said he would engage her if she had had previous stage experience, and so Helen invented long airing of impressive important engagements, Toured with Marxs' for many months she remained with the Marx Brothers, touring America and Europe.

In the show, Helen played the small role of Dorothy Gould, a hotel worker. Helen got the job, at $65 a week. Her mother didn't like the idea and her father Louis Schroeder was hurt by it. For years, her father had worked for $50 a month.

Helen is cited as stating "Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Ken Murray, Lulu McConnell, Ruth Etting. When you came in here you had to be tops. There was a great deal of talent."

In her spare time while touring with the Marx Brothers, Helen would chew gum and babysit.

When the show On the Balcony made its way to London in June of 1922, it was given great reviews at first.

However one show in particular was a disaster. The show opened for only half an hour, and the British audience threw pennies at the cast on stage. According to information, the dancers and or Helen ruined the show, which upset the audience. London's leading critic demanded that the Marx Brothers "fire that squeaking thing" - Helen.

After that show, Helen who was upset returned to America. Helen's mother asked her daughter what the Marx Brothers had done to her. Helen then found herself back at agencies. Helen accepted night club work, chorus work, anything to tide her over until she could get another engagement.

Helen Schroeder (1923)

In 1923 Helen made her Broadway debut in Stars of the Future, which was presented by Milton Hockey and Howard Green. Six girls were picked from choruses for this show. Jessie Foydce performed a Belle Baker imitation, Pearl Hamilton was notable in this show for her high kicks, and her little sister Violet Hamilton for the "dance" that she did. Betty Moore did a Spanish dance, and Jean Page for dancing. Helen Schroeder reversed the order of things in which juveniles imitated adults, by herself imitating a juvenile. The musical show featured singing, dancing and comedy.

Helen Schroeder (1925)

During the 1920s, Helen had started her career as a dancer and toured in a vaudeville troupe, making her initially a dancer. Helen was a trained dancer, and she often did kickline dancing. Kickline dancing is a leg kick performed in perfect unison in a chorus line. Helen would also sing, but she wouldn't become a "known singer" until 1928. Prior to 1928, Schroeder didn't have the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" gimmick.

Kane shared a room with Jessie Fordyce. The girl group known as the Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce would have became Hamilton Sisters and Schroeder, however, Pearl Hamilton chose Fordyce over Schroeder to tour as a trio act "just to see what happens" at the end of the theatrical season. The girl group later became famous as the Three X Sisters.

In 1935, Kane would reunite with the girl group for "one-shot" live stage performance. The Three X Sisters and Helen sang a novelty coon song "The Preacher and the Bear" in harmony.

Baby Esther

According to history, Helen Kane was inspired to scat sing after she and her booking agent Tony Shayne saw Florence Mills impersonator Little Esther Lee Jones, an African-American child performer from Chicago scat sing on stage at the Everglades in 1928, and that Helen had taken direct inspiration from what she saw.

Tony Shayne was not only agent for Helen Kane, he was also Esther Jones' booking agent in 1928 and both he and Kane had ringside seats, and according to Esther's ex-manager Lou Bolton they both watched Esther's "unique" performance on the stage.

Helen took Esther's original "scat singing" interpolation, and adapted it to "Boop-Boop-a-Doop." This among many other things was later brought up in court, proving that Helen Kane was not original, which led Helen to lose her suit against Paramount Pictures and the Fleischer Studios.

Esther Jones who had been "scat singing" since 1925, never once laid claim to the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" style. However Esther did do a "Boop" routine among her other unique "scat interpolations" in Esther's lost 1928 MGM Movietone appearance, as "Booping" was all the rage in 1928, as made famous by Helen Kane.

Kane had taken inspiration for the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" from Esther earlier in the year, but Helen had changed the words, making them not exactly Esther's interpolations. Helen's "Boop" is more of less "deprived" from Esther's scat singing. As Helen basically adapted her own "interpolations" several times throughout 1928.

A comparison between Kane and Esther is that, Kane was also known for her "squeaky high pitch" voice, which is what got her fired in 1922 from the Marx Brothers' show. Esther also had a "high pitch" voice, as stated in many newspapers, and also used a "cute" gimmick in her act.

Esther Jones is better remembered in history for dancing, not singing. But she did often sing in her act. Kane never publicly admitted to "taking inspiration" from Esther Jones. When Kane was asked during the "$250,000 Infringement Lawsuit" if she had ever visited the Everglades Club in 1928, she gave "vague" answers.

There are people out there who try to erase the real Baby Esther from history, by stating that she was a nobody and once even went to the length to say that she didn't exist. Until the real Esther was tracked down, proving them to be liars and fabricators.

False information passed around is that Esther died, that is false information, she did not die in 1934. But true research proves that Esther was very well known in the 1920s, and had attracted major white audiences while performing on stage in America. Esther was more popular in Europe and South America, she was also a jazz singer, dancer and acrobat.

When Esther returned to America she became a singer and dancer for Cab Calloway and returned to the vaudeville stage under the title "The Sepia Dancing Doll." The reason as to why Esther is not remembered in Cab Calloway's revue, is because she was no longer a star attraction, and was a background Sepia dancer, although in Helena Justa's revue, she was given her own tap dancing number. Esther later became a full-time acrobat and appeared at several African-American fundraisers in 1934 from July to September. Today in history, Esther is credited as the original Betty Boop but was in fact the black version of Baby Rose Marie, and was really a miniature Josephine Baker.

During the $250,000 Infringement Lawsuit, Helen Kane's attorney Samuel Weltz claimed that the footage of Baby Esther singing was irrelevant, incompetent and immaterial and stated that Esther Jones was a Helen Kane impersonator. He was denied by the court.

Helen Kane's Scat Interpolations:

Helen Kane's original scat techniques were neither "Boop" or "Poop," her original interpolations seem to be a variety of scat sounds. The original scat singing techniques that Kane used in early 1928 are said to have been inspired by interpolations that Florence Mills impersonator Baby Esther Jones used to use at the Everglades. Kane's original interpolations are very similar to sounds used in the all-black Broadway musical Shuffle Along. Similar sounds that Gertrude Saunders, Florence Mills and Josephine Baker would frequently use in their musical performances.

Early 1928:

By mid-1928 Kane adapted her scat technique to "Poop" and was then known as the "Poop" girl.

"Poop," "Poo," "Pe," "Pa," "Doo" and "Doop" (1928):

"Boop-Boop-a-Doop" (1928):

Helen later decided to change her "Poop" routine to "Boop," and then change her title from the "Poop" and "Poo" girl to the "Boop" and "Boo" girl. Revealing that Helen Kane was never the "Boop" girl to begin with, she was originally the "Poop" girl. In most of her early performances, she is saying "Poop" not "Boop," which is why she held "Poo-Poo-Pa-Doo" contests.

African-American Composer Barks at Helen Kane (1934)

Clarence Williams barks at Helen Kane. Gives court proof of "Boops" origin.

The terms of jazz rightfully the property of the Race have been dignified in the courts of the realm since Helen Kane's "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" suit before Justice Edward J. McGoldrick in the supreme court last week introduced "hot licks" as evidence.

None other than the famous Clarence Williams, was the executor of the "hot licks" in the show which took place in court. Williams of course, hails from New Orleans, and married to Miss Eva Taylor, the radio songster. He appeared as witness for the defense.

"Now, don't sing, but just illustrate to his honor some 'hot licks' you did in 1915," instructed Louis Phillips, counsel for Paramount-Publix.

Williams hesitated a moment and wrinkled his brow. Then he started tapping his foot. The audience laughed.

"Wha-Da-Da-De," exclaimed Williams, forgetting the admonition against the use of his voice. The foot tapping continued at a faster tempo. "Sha-Da-Deda-Boo-Boo-Pa-Doo," said Williams.

Justice McGoldrick held up his hand, indicating that he had enough. But Williams didn't see see the signal, kept his feet going and "hot licked" the sounds.

He was "going to town." When he was through Williams beamed and explained that he had invented the "hot licks" in 1915. He had "to do something" when his musical ideas ran dry, he said.

Paramount Helen Kane Look & Sound-alike Contests

Helen Kane sponsored imitation contests dubbed "Helen Kane Impersonation Contest," with Paramount through the country. Helen Kane opened her Helen Kane Impersonation Contest held through the country to all local girls in which were judged by the audience. The girl who looked and sung like Helen and "Boop-Boop-a-Dooped" most successfully was the winner. In some of the earlier contests, several of the women who would later provide the voice for Betty Boop won first place. Margie Hines the original voice of Betty Boop won first place held in a local cinema cathedral in Freeport, and was later seen by a Fleischer Studios staff member, who thought she was perfect for the role as Betty Boop. According to Helen Kane, Hines entered three "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" contests and won first place in each and every one of them and the both of them met backstage. In 1934, Kane stated that she knew Hines was the voice for Betty Boop but would not acknowledge Questel, reason for this was in 1930 Helen Kane got upset with Mae Questel using the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl title. When asked how she heard of Betty Boop, Kane stated that she had heard Betty Boop (Mae Questel) and Max Fleischer on radio and wanted to find out who was singing like her.

Mae Questel had first won first place in a Helen Kane Impersonation Contest at the RKO Fordham Theatre. There she received an autograph from Helen Kane which read "To Another Me", and won a prize of $100. Mae would often substitute for Helen Kane, in the 1920s she was originally dubbed one of the greatest Helen Kane impersonators. While working in vaudeville Mae heard there was an audition taking place for the role of Betty Boop so she decided to audition and won the role. Several of the other voices of Betty also started out impersonating Kane and several others entered contests with each and every one of them winning first place. The contests were held by Kane was to help these girls start their careers in show business, to give back to the community. Because Kane grew up poor and wanted to help these girls. In the final contest held at The Riverside Theatre in New York, Questel came first, and Bonnie Poe and Margie Hines tied in second place. Helen Kane first saw Bonnie Poe impersonating her in an act. Kane and Poe later played the same bill in Chicago for three weeks. The Helen Kane contests ran from 1929 to 1938. The age range to enter was initally 6-16, and later 4-18.

Claire Bart

Helen's most favorite impersonator was Claire Bart. The newspapers stated that Mae Questel was Helen's best impersonator and had outdone the original, but not to Helen. Helen stated that Claire imitated her to perfection, and was chosen in the contest which instigated to find a double for her in both manner of singing and looks.

Restrained By Court Order (1930)

Helen Kane the Queen of all the "Poop-Poop-a-Doop" coloraturas, is said to have made a $40,000 deposit in a New York bank, believed to have been given her by a dress manufacturer. She has been restrained by a court order from touching the money and is being brought back from Chicago to tell what she knows about it and the financial condition of the dress firm from which it is alleged the money came. Helen denies knowing anything about it, or that she has anything like that sum in the bank. It's all very sad and trying on a working girl.

"Boop Boop" Is Wrong! (1931)

Helen Kane says phrase is "Poop-Poop-a-Doop". Take it from Helen Kane, its inventor, the phrase isn't "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" at all, it's "Poop-Poop-a-Doop". "Somebody got it all wrong the first time," said Miss Kane as she stopped here for personal appearances. According to Chic Kennedy in 1931, she originated "Poop-Poop-a-Doop" and it was stolen from her by Helen Kane. (The Pittsburgh Press )

Paramount on Parade (1930)

In 1930 Kane debuted in Paramount on Parade which featured Clara Bow, Nancy Carroll, Maurice Chevalier, Gary Cooper, Clive Brook, Skeets Gallagher, Harry Green, Jack Oakie, Zelma O'Neal, Ruth Chatterton, Leon Errol, William Powell, Buddy Rogers, Mary Brian, George Bancroft, Richard Arlen, Abe Lyman Band, Dennis King and Mitzi Green.

Two years later Kane made a small cameo appearance in the 1932 Paramount short Hollywood on Parade No. A-3, a year before Betty Boop made her live-action debut in Hollywood on Parade No. A-8.

Helen "Sugar" Kane

Helen Kane was known as "Sugar Kane" on Broadway.

Meeting Competition (1932)

Curiosity impelled a search of the records to find out just what sort of competition Helen Kane, now at the Buffalo, had to meet when she made her Broadway debut as a Boop-a-Dooper. It disclosed that Clara Bow's picture, Ladies of the Mob, was playing at the Paramount when Paul Ash's protege stepped in to sing "That's My Weakness Now". La Bow was at the height of her screen fame. Helen was just beginning. It was the opening of a six week run at the world's crossroads, in the second of which her name was in the lights out in front, for the first time on any street.

The Only Original Boop-Boop-a-Doop Girl (1933)

While appearing on the stage in 1933, Kane changed her title to "The Only Original Boop-Boop-a-Doop Girl" in an effort to prove that she was the original.

Helen Kane Must Pay $32,500 (1933)

Helen Kane was ordered to pay $35,500 to the Bond Dress Company, after being given somewhere between $40,000-$50,000 by Murray A. Posner, which led the company into bankruptcy. The $32,500 payment was a compromise.

The Irving Trust Company, wanted to recover the money which was paid to her as a preferred creditor. The company claimed that Miss Kane gave Posner the money to invest in his business, whereas Miss Kane claimed that she gave it to him to invest in Liberty bonds.

Kane was unable to explain, why in 1930 Posner paid her $1,500 directly be check, and two months later concealed a similar payment of $10,000 to retire a loan, through a third party, because he did not want the banks to think he was giving money to an actress.

Initially Posner and Kane were good friends and Kane made no secret of the jewels that Posner gave her and would say to I. Gainsberg, the counsel for the Irving Trust: "Posner gave me this" and "Posner gave me that".

Prior to coming forward with the truth, Kane stated on direct examination, that she said she gave Posner large sums of money to invest in bonds. Later they quarreled over his use of the money and, she testified, she got it back only after pressure was brought to bear on him.

$250,000 Lawsuit

On the 3rd of May 1932, Helen Kane launched a three way lawsuit against the Fleischer Studios & the Paramount-Publix Corporation claiming that they had stolen her style.

"Plantiff originates and still uses a method of singing songs consisting of the interpolation at frequent intervals of the sounds Boop-Boop-a-Doop, or Boop-Boopa-Doop or Boop-Boop-Pa-Do or Boopa-Doop or simply Boop alone."

Kane filed a permanent injunction to restrain the Paramount Publix corporation, as well as Max Fleischer from the production and display of their "Boop" series. Kane's height (only 5 feet tall) and slightly plump figure attracted attention and fans. Her round face with big brown eyes was topped by black, curly hair. Her voice was a baby squeak with a distinct Bronx dialect. Oscar Hammerstein's 1928 show Good Boy was where she first introduced the hit "I Wanna Be Loved By You". In 1930, Grim Natwick introduced a caricature of Helen Kane, with droopy dog ears and a squeaky singing voice, in the cartoon Dizzy Dishes. Betty Boop as the character was later dubbed, soon became popular and the star of her own series. In 1932, Betty was changed into a human, with the long dog ears becoming hoop earrings.

Films featuring Kane used in court as evidence were Pointed Heels (1929) - Dizzy Dishes (1930), Nothing But the Truth (1929) - Boop-Oop-a-Doop (1932), Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930) - The Bum Bandit - (1931) parallel to that of the Betty Boop films. $250,000 Infringement Lawsuit for more details. To get specific facts and information on how Kane lost, read the article How Did Helen Kane Lose Her $250,000 Lawsuit?.

Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery (1934)

Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery but it often proves disastrous to amusement originators. A shining example is the eclipse of Helen Kane. Her petulant Boo-Boop-a-Dooping jumping her out of obscurity into a four figured weekly salary.

She packed movie stage shows and musical comedies as no other performer of her day. Then came a flood of imitators on the stage, screen and radio. So excellently done her art seemed an easy accomplishment. In a movie cartoon suit she brought, the defendant showed a half hundred girls could do her trick.

Chubby Helen Kane's Case Threw Out of Court (1934)

Supreme Court Judge Edward McGoldrick yesterday in New York threw chubby Helen Kane's case against Max Fleischer, creator of Betty Boop cartoons, out of court. Miss Kane had sued for $250,000, claiming that the characterization was an infringement on her own title and right to the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" expression.

Helen Kane's Loses Suit For $250,000 (1934)

New York court holds she failed to prove theft of technique. Justice McGoldrick's decision constituted this contribution to musical knowledge: The "baby" technique of singing did not originate with Miss Kane. One of the main reasons as to why this happened according to the lawsuit documents, was because when being questioned, Kane admitted that other "baby-talk" singers had preceded her, this and all the other evidence that was brought up in court was used against her and she lost her suit.

Helen Kane Comic Strip

Caricature of Helen Kane.

By Bernard Schmittke.

Cartoon caricatures of Helen Kane.







In 1933, when Helen Kane learned that Betty Boop was going to star in a comic strip, she contacted King Features. See Betty Boop Comic Strip (1934-1937) for more details.

Helen Kane & Max Fleischer

According to Leslie Cabarga (who had met Mae Questel in person), Helen Kane went to Max Fleischer and said: If you use me in the cartoons instead of the other girl (Questel) I'll drop the suit. Fleischer, who knew Mae Questel, said "I won't use anyone but my Mae." According to a Brooklyn newspaper after Kane had sued Fleischer, he had not a single good word to say about her. The Brooklyn newspaper even blacklisted Kane, and stated in one article that they wasn't supposed to mention her by name but ended up doing so. Max Fleischer started out his early career as a newspaper cartoonist.

Deeply Shocked at Verdict

Helen Kane the Boop-Boop-a-Doop girl today lost her suit for $250,000 against Max Fleischer, cartoonist, the Fleischer Studios Inc., and the Paramount Publix Corporation. Supreme Justice Edward J. McGoldrick held that she had failed to prove her contention that the defendants wrongfully appropriated her singing technique in the "Betty Boop" film cartoons. Miss Kane said she was deeply shocked at the verdict. "I consider it very unfair as all my friends believe the cartoons a deliberate caricature of me," she said. Samuel R. Weltz her attorney said an immediate appeal would be filed. The "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" trial began April 17th, Miss Kane seeking damages on grounds that the defendants had used her picture in violation of the civil rights law and that the cartoons constituted "unfair competition". In the opinion of the town's faithful court ringsiders, there has never been a more melodious trial in the city. At times, during attempts to determine the origin, and even the reasons, for the "Boop" style of singing it resembled a musical comedy. The testimony given during the trial was, for the most part in two-fourths time and very syncopated. The defense presented a galaxy of talented performers to show that long before Miss Kane made her debut as a singer of "baby" songs the practice of interpolating songs with meaningless sounds was quite common.

Do-Do-De-Do-Ho-De-Wa-Da Claimed Boop-a-Doop Parent (1934)

Court stenographers who struggled to record in shorthand the "Boop-Oop-Doops" of Helen Kane were on the verge of hysterics tonight. Supreme Court Judge Edward J. McGoldrick ordered them to set down "Do-Do-De-Do-Ho-De-Wa-Da-De-Da." The "Boop-Oop-a-Doop" trial, in which Helen Kane seeks $250,000 damages from the animated cartoon creators of "Betty Boop," became this complicated when Lou Bolton testified, for the defense, Bolton testified that nine years ago in Chicago he taught Baby Esther, a negro child to interpolate "Do-Do-De-Do-Ho-De-Wa-Da-De-Da" between the bars of music in popular songs. Bolton said Miss Kane heard Baby Esther's song treatment here in 1928 and shortly afterward began her famous "Booping." Testimony also was heard today from Bonnie Poe and Margie Hines, two petite piping-voiced misses who said they were hired by the Max Fleischer studios as voices for Betty Boop after winning Helen Kane contests. Miss Hines said she won a preliminary contest before she ever heard Miss Kane. (Democrat and Chronicle)

Mistake

After Helen had lost the suit (with the complaint that she was losing her identity as Helen Kane and becoming Betty Boop), lawyers agreed that Helen had made the mistake of charging plagiarism when she should have claimed re-straint of trade.

Trial of the People vs. Helen Kane (1934)

In 1934 Helen Kane opened a show based on the $250,000 Infringement Lawsuit titled Trial of the People vs. Helen Kane, which featured Helen Kane and Harry Carroll.

Using Betty Boop's Image Without Permission

During Helen Kane's 1935 Brooklyn Fox appearances on stage, she used Betty Boop's image for her posters, and her appearance also featured a Betty Boop cartoon. It was thought that Max Fleischer should have sued her, but he did not, which allowed her to use Betty Boop's image without permission.

Nervous Breakdown (1935)

After her divorce to Max Hoffmann, Jr., the son of dancer Gertrude Hoffmann, Helen Kane was hospitalized in 1935 with a nervous breakdown. According to Helen, after the "death of her mother," "domestic troubles" and "court" she became depressed so she checked herself into medical facility for long-term illness. Helen was nursed back to health by her strict nurse Nano Carter, who she nicknamed Ol' Ironsides. Helen claimed that because Nano was so strict, it was just the medicine that she needed to get back on her feet. After recovering, Helen checked out of the medical facility.

The Original Betty Boop (1942)

Kane also used Betty Boop's name again in 1942. Heading the all star floor show Helen Kane the original Betty Boop "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl, Paramount's $100,000 star.

Mistaken for Betty Boop

When Helen Kane made her big comeback in the 1950s, Betty Boop had been long retired and forgotten. Betty Boop the cartoon character was later rediscovered in the 1980s, 30 years later. The animated cartoon character was around in the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, but studios did not produce any cartoons featuring the character, she appeared in one or two commercials. It wasn't until the 80s when the fictional character Betty Boop became iconic making her first comeback in the 1985 CBS animated TV special The Romance of Betty Boop followed up four years later by Who Framed Roger Rabbit and finally one year later in The Betty Boop Hollywood Mystery. The character also made multiple appearances in commercials.

Kane was mistaken for the voice of Betty Boop, she also used to sign photos of the cartoon character and hand them out to people. She was played by Debbie Reynolds in the 1950 MGM musical Three Little Words, where she dubbed Debbie's singing voice. Kane recorded 22 songs between 1928 and 1930. After 1930 and up to 1951, she recorded four sides for Columbia Records in addition to the "Three Little Words" soundtrack single recording of "I Wanna Be Loved by You". In 1954, MGM records issued the last Helen Kane recordings as a 45-rpm Ep X1164 called "The Boop-Boop-A-Doop Girl!", orchestra directed by Leroy Holmes, and the songs are "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street", "When I Get You Alone Tonight, Do Something" (from Nothing But the Truth) and "That's My Weakness Now".

When Kane died of breast cancer in the 1960s at the age of 62 she was tributed in the newspapers. In some newspapers she was mistaken for the original voice of the animated character Betty Boop. She had put up a valiant fight against cancer for 10 years.

Death

Helen Kane died on the 26th of September, 1966, at age 62, in her apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City. The cause of death was breast cancer. Her husband of 27 years, Dan Healy, was at her bedside. She was buried in Long Island National Cemetery, in Suffolk County, New York.

Universal Studios

Helen Kane's music was often used in Betty Boop's store as seen on the Betty Boop Biography, most promptly her recording of "I Wanna Be Loved By You" which is still often used at parade events, there was even a remix version of the Three Little Words song. During the 90s Universal Studios decided to give Betty Boop her own official theme songs for The Betty Boop Store, and hired Marie Danielle a high-pitched actress who had been hired by Universal Studios Hollywood to portray Betty Boop in person. Marie used to imitate Helen Kane in a 1920s jazz band titled The Coconut Manor Orchestra and would often open for legendary musicians, including Cab Calloway, Pete Fountain, Ray Charles and Dizzy Gillespie. She recorded several Helen Kane songs, including several renditions of "I Wanna Be Loved By You" one merged with Betty Boop's original official theme song "Don't Take My Boop-Oop-A-Doop-Away", a song which was originally written for Helen Kane.

Helen Kane's Discography (1928-1954)

1928:

1929:

1930:

"I'd Go Barefoot All Winter Long" (1930)

"Dangerous Nan McGrew" (1930)

"Thank You Father" (1930)

"I Owe You" (1930)

"Readin' Ritin' Rhythm" (1930)

"I've Got It (But It Don't Do Me No Good)" (1930)

"My Man Is on the Make" (1930)

"If I Knew You Better" (1930)

1951:

"I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Cat" (1951)

"Beanbag Song" (1951)

"Hug Me! Kiss Me! Love Me! (1951)

"Aba Daba Honeymoon" (1951)

1954:

"When I Get You Alone Tonight" (1954)

"When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" (1954)

"Do Something" (1954)

"That's My Weakness Now" (1954)

Helen Kane and Betty Boop Song Comparison

In the early 30s, it was quite common for many performers to use the same songs. Although these were deliberate. The 1980s song "I Wanna Be Loved By You" featured in The Romance of Betty Boop was more influenced by the iconic Marilyn Monroe, but originated with Kane in 1928 and was her signature song. Today, "I Wanna Be Loved By You" is Betty Boop's signature song, even though Betty's original theme song, which was initially especially written for the character by Sammy Timberg, is "Don't Take My Boop-Oop-A-Doop Away", which later also turned out to originally have been written for Helen Kane.

"I Have To Have You"

(Helen Kane: Film Pointed Heels/Victor Records) (Betty Boop: Dizzy Dishes, Fleischer Studios/Paramount-Publix Corporation)

"Do Something"

(Helen Kane: Film Nothing But The Truth/Victor Records) (Betty Boop: Boop-Oop-a-Doop,Fleischer Studios/Paramount-Publix Corporation)

"Dangerous Nan McGrew"

(Helen Kane: Film Dangerous Nan McGrew) (Betty Boop: The Bum Bandit, Fleischer Studios/Paramount-Publix Corporation)

"That's My Weakness Now"

(Helen Kane: Victor Records) (Betty Boop: Stopping the Show, Fleischer Studios/Paramount-Publix Corporation)

"I Wanna Be Loved By You"

(Helen Kane: Victor Records) (Betty Boop: The Romance of Betty Boop, CBS)

Filmography

1929:

Nothing But the Truth (1929)

(1929) Sweetie (1929)

(1929) Pointed Heels (1929)

1930:

Paramount on Parade (1930)

(1930) Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930)

(1930) Heads Up! (1930)

1931:

A Lesson in Love (1931)

Trivia

Kane's original scat lyrics were "Poop Poop Padoop", but everyone including news reporters misunderstood, so she changed her lyrics from "Poop" to "Boop." Poop can clearly be heard in many of her original film appearances.

Kane claimed on the 9th of August, 1930, that "she got tired" of singing "Vo-Do-Do-Deo-Do" so she created "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" and indicated that "Boop" meant nothing. ("Boop-Boop-a-Doop" Is Goofological Subtitute for "Vo-Do-Do-Deo-Do" )

Kane wanted to show the judge that the defendants had made a studied imitation of her style, eye movements and general mannerisms, and how Betty Boop had simulated her voice and style, but she failed due to lack of evidence and the recording of Baby Esther uttering the scat lyrics. However animator Grim Natwick who created Betty used Helen as base for his character, and stated that he had used her in several of his interviews. Grim created the character but didn't own the rights, Betty was owned by the Fleischer Studios.

Since Kane was very popular in 1928-1931, she had many impersonators, including Annette Hanshaw who often mimicked her on a few anonymous songs. Catherine Wright, who later provided the voice for Betty Boop on radio, also imitated Kane as The Mystery Girl in 1929 for Columbia Records and was often mistaken for her while singing on radio.

Kane also allowed for her impersonation by holding look and sound-alike contests, held by herself & Paramount Publix . Mae Questel won first prize in one of the contests and was given a signed autograph which stated "To another me," which allowed the use to impersonate her. It has also been attested that Margie Hines and Bonnie Poe also entered these contests held by Kane and Paramount-Publix.

. Mae Questel won first prize in one of the contests and was given a signed autograph which stated "To another me," which allowed the use to impersonate her. It has also been attested that Margie Hines and Bonnie Poe also entered these contests held by Kane and Paramount-Publix. In court Little Ann Little claimed that she "Booped" before Kane.

Kane wanted Betty Boop stopped by injunction.

Kane's popularity had decreased by 1933. She claimed other people (meaning Helen Kane impersonators) were stealing all the jobs that would have originally have gone to her. By 1934-1935 Kane was performing back on stage, lost much weight and retired from show business for a period, and even refused to utter any more "baby talk" after losing her lawsuit.

Kane made a comeback in MGM's Three Little Words as herself, embodied by Debbie Reynolds while dubbing over the singing voice to her 1920s hit "I Wanna Be Loved By You".

as herself, embodied by Debbie Reynolds while dubbing over the singing voice to her 1920s hit "I Wanna Be Loved By You". When Helen Kane died in 1966, she was confused in the newspapers for being the original voice of Betty Boop.

In the 1950 film Some Like It Hot , Marilyn Monroe plays a character that was partially influenced by Helen Kane, called "Sugar Kane"; in the film, Monroe sings Kane's 1928 hit song "I Wanna Be Loved By You" using Helen's original scat lyric, which was "Poop".

, Marilyn Monroe plays a character that was partially influenced by Helen Kane, called "Sugar Kane"; in the film, Monroe sings Kane's 1928 hit song "I Wanna Be Loved By You" using Helen's original scat lyric, which was "Poop". In the 1980s, Betty Boop made a big comeback. Kane was forgotten to time, but then Cyndi Lauper brought her back and was also influenced by Kane's 1929 hit "He's So Unusual" and used it for her album "She's So Unusual".

When Betty Boop made her 1980s comeback, her signature song and quote became "I Wanna Be Loved By You".