Rudy Vallee and Betty Boop

 

"Screen Songs" was a 1930s film-short series put out by Fleischer Studios which often combined film actors and characters in a new way. Fifty years later, the effect was mimicked by the comedy "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" 

Oh, and also in that movie with Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny in it. . .

Max Fleischer (whose brother Dave was also a cartoonist) was a contemporary of Walt Disney. Disney's studio had Mickey Mouse and Jiminy Cricket, while Fleischer had Popeye the Sailor and Betty Boop. Both studios did a version of "Cinderella." More on that later. 

It was Max Fleischer who invented the "follow the bouncing ball" animation techniques used in singalongs, both here in the States and in the UK, where they were also very popular. 

A side note: If you were born in the 50s, you remember the television program "Sing Along with Mitch," and you probably remember it wrong. Due to "the Mandela Effect" (google it) early everyone believes there was a bouncing ball above the onscreen lyrics, and there wasn't. The lyrics were simply shown on the screen one line at a time. Want proof?

The bouncing ball does show up in "Rudy Vallee Melodies," a short subject film which is a combination music short and cartoon in Fleischer Studios' Screen Songs series. 

From the cover of a folio sitting on the music stand of Betty Boop's piano, Rudy shares some dialogue with Betty, seated on the piano bench. Betty's having a house party, and wants to have guests perform for the group. None of the animals except a rabbit (who plays the piano "by ear") will take a turn playing or singing. Then the photo of  Rudy Vallee comes to life and speaks kindly from the music stand. He's taken the bouncing ball from his pocket and it hovers over his open palm. 

RUDY:  I'll help you out, Miss Betty Boop!

BETTY:  Will it be an old song or a boop-oop-a doop?

RUDY (still looking at Betty but now speaking to the movie audience): 

         I'll sing some song which you'll all recall

        If you'll sing along with the bouncing ball

        

The full Screen Song appears below, but first a "grr" moment. Old cartoons has to be watched for culturally-horrifying moments, which are usually racist depictions. But sadly, it used to be okay to be awful to all kinds of people. In "Rudy Vallee Melodies," the very swishy character of Percival is asked to sing, and after he strikes a Clara Bow pose, he goes into full limp-wristed "fairy" mode. Suddenly, another character's fist comes in fro the left, and give him what-for. Bleah. 

But that's ten seconds of the cartoon, so I'm just gonna slide past the violent homophobic attack and pay attention to Rudy Vallee and Betty Boop. And there's always that talented rabbit who plays by ear. So click on the thumbnail and enjoy!

g offered Rudy Vallee and Betty Boop as a team. They also appear in "Kitty from Kansas City," and another one where Rudy plays a musical judge. And then there's "Betty Co-ed," which features Rudy singing about Betty's fun life on a college campus. Does she ever go to class or study? Hmmm. 

 In the Fleischer Studio cartoon "Poor Cinderella," it's not Rudy who mostly sings the main theme, but Bonnie Poe singing as Betty Boop.*  Rudy does not appear in real-life form, but rather as another cartoon character. However, as Betty Boop / Cinderella dances with Prince Charming, cartoon Rudy (with megaphone of course) does provide the vocal for a reprise of the theme in waltz time for the whirling pair.  In between verses, the cartoon Rudy does some Bing Crosby "buh-buh-buh-boo"stuff through the megaphone, which I find slightly mystifying. Maybe it was funnier then?

I've got the link for "Poor Cinderella" for you below, but first, check out this opening-credits screen

You can see that it was Max Fleischer's brother Dave who directed this particular edition of the "Screen Songs" series. And the credit for recording goes to Phil Spitalny. Ten years later, during the era of the Second World War, Spitalny became famous for directing an all-women's orchestra called The Hour of Charm Orchestra. YouTube has a recording of the H of C gals playing (and singing) excerpts from "Rhapsody in Blue."

Now, cartoon time! I really enjoy this one. 

*Mae Questel was the best-known actress to voice Betty Boop, but Bonnie Poe was known for her singing impersonations and thus got this musical role in "Poor Cinderella." 

Next week: Rah-Rah Rudy

                                                              Garbo