Did You Know: Cartoons

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Did You Know that Betty Boop made her first appearance on 9 August 1930, in the cartoon Dizzy Dishes. Betty Boop is regarded as one of the first and most famous sex symbols on the animated screen, she is a symbol of the Depression era, and a reminder of the more carefree days of Jazz Age flappers. Her popularity was drawn largely from adult audiences, and the cartoons, while seemingly surreal, contained many sexual and psychological elements, particularly in the 1932 "Talkartoon" Minnie the Moocher, featuring Cab Calloway and his orchestra. Betty Boop's best appearances are considered to be in her first three years due to her "Jazz Baby" character and innocent sexuality, which was aimed at adults. However, her films were affected by the National Legion of Decency and the Production Code of 1934. The Production Code of 1934 imposed guidelines on the motion picture industry and placed specific restrictions on the content films could reference with sexual innuendos. 1 July 1934, Betty became a spinster housewife or a career girl who wore a fuller dress or skirt. That and the addition of new characters in the films, and the aim toward a younger audience contributed to the decline of the series. Although through the years, films, home video and comics were made it was in the 1980's that she became popular again with merchandise. She also became the official fantasy cheerleader for the upstart United Football League in 2010. Betty is known world wide now and in 2002 Betty was voted in TV Guide's 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time, ranking #17. In March 2009, a UK newspaper voted Betty Boop the second sexiest cartoon character of all time, with Jessica Rabbit in first place and the Cadbury's Caramel Bunny in third.