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Pre-Code Betty Boopathon!Post an Event »
Oddball Films and curator Kat Shuchter bring you Pre-Code Betty Boopathon!, a program of 16mm cartoons from 1930-1934 from the Fleischer Brothers starring the original cartoon sexpot and the most popular female cartoon character of all time: Betty Boop. Dave and Max Fleischer were true animation pioneers; the first to introduce sound in animation and creators of rotoscoping (tracing human movement from film) as well as the originators of Popeye, the first Superman cartoons and more. They also introduced the world to one of its sexiest and most beloved cartoon heroines ever. The Betty Boop cartoons are incredibly imaginative, sexy, surreal, and possess the spirit of the Jazz Age with a kooky and spooky edge. "Born" in 1930 as a dog lady singing in a Bimbo the dog cartoon, Betty eventually evolved over the next few years into not only a human woman but also from an unnamed bit player into the star of dozens of cartoons. In 1934 Betty's appearance changed again - thanks to the Hayes Morality Code - that forced her to raise the bustline on her dress and lower its hemline. Betty fell out of favor in the late 1930s but continues to inspire and amuse over 80 years later. The evening's selections include Mysterious Mose (1930) one of Betty's earliest incarnations as a dog - who keeps losing her nightgown to a horny ghost; she keeps dropping her top for Bimbo the rag man in Any Rags? (1931) which was also her final appearance as a dog; Betty Boop M.D. (1932) where she stars as a sexy snake oil salesman peddling a magic elixir with psychedelic effects; Betty Boop's Penthouse (1933) where a science experiment goes wrong and Betty captivates a monster with her charms; Red Hot Mamma (1934), the devil squares off against Betty and gets nothing but the cold shoulder; Betty sings her way into the heart of her Prince Charming (with the help of a risque makeover from her fairy godmother) in Poor Cinderella (1934); she sings for your vote in Betty Boop for President (1932); the great Cab Calloway teams up with the Fleischer Brothers and Betty Boop for a double dose of rotoscoped cartoons: Old Man of the Mountain (1933) and Minnie the Moocher (1932) including a spooky night of skeletons, ghosts and witches as well as the earliest footage of Calloway ever filmed. Betty hulas her heart out in nothing but a grass skirt and a lei in Betty Boop's Bamboo Isle (1932) with an authentic soundtrack by the Royal Samoans and rotoscoped hula moves. Betty shows off her flapper moves as she teaches a dance class in The Dancing Fool (1932). Plus, more 1930s cartoons for the early birds! Everything screened on 16mm film. Date: Thursday, November 10th, 2016 at 8:00pm Venue: Oddball Films, 275 Capp Street San Francisco Admission: $10.00 Limited Seating RSVP to RSVP@oddballfilms.com or (415) 558-8117 Web: http://oddballfilms.blogspot.com