The Real Inspiration And Evolution Of The Betty Boop Cartoon

Early Fans

Cartoons became popular very quickly after they were first introduced. Betty Boop had some famous (and brilliant!) fans in the early years. According to the New York Times, “Gertrude Stein and Jean-Paul Sartre were said to be big fans of the scantily clad gamine, whose sex appeal and sassy attitude got her into racy situations with legions of lecherous suitors. That is, until 1934, when the Government imposed controls on American movie content, altering Ms. Boop’s wardrobe and toning down her adventures.” Stein was a playwright and novelist, while Sartre was a critic, philosopher, and novelist. Maurice Chevalier, the French singer and actor, was also a fan of the flapper.