Betty Boop a cartoon character started by Max Fleischer in 1930, and aired on the Talkartoon and Betty Boop Series. She made her first appearance on Aug 8, 1930 in Dizzy Dishes, sixth installment in Flsischer’s Talkartoon series.  She was little like her soon to be self, however an animator for Walt Disney and Ub Iwerk’s, Grin Natwick took over the character for Paramount Studios and changed her to a French Poodle. Modeling after a singer Helen Kane.  The voice for the French Poodle was several different voices until 1931 when Mae Questel took over and remained for the remainer of the series.  Natwick himself later conceded that Betty’s original look was quite ugly and then redesigned her to be more of a human character.  The floppy poodle ears became hoops; the poodle fur became a bob haircut. She also for a time was called “Nancy Lee and Nan McGrew and was a supporting actress for the studios star “Binbo’s Girlfriend.  She was portrayed as a flapper girl with more heart than brains.
 
Some has the perceived notion that her name came from the cartoon Betty Co-ed, but it has been proved that is not the case. (The official Betty Boop website describes the titular character as a “prototype” of Betty.) In all, there were at least 12 Screen Songs, Cartons that featured either Betty Boop or a similar character.
 
She was featured in only two films that were in color.  ‘Poor Cinderella’ and ‘Crazy Town’ (1932).   She did appear in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, however all the remaining were black and white.  She was known to have remarked, “Work may have been slow since cartoons went to color, put she still had what it took.  “That’s the sprit” 
 
Look for part #2 ---Betty as a sex symbol coming soon!!!!