With a body modeled after May West and an attitude to rival Madonna’s, she has evolved into a cult figure with thousands of fans world wide. Although only a cartoon character, her obvious sensuality and her “I can do anything a man can do” approach to life, have earned her as loyal a group of fans, as any flesh and blood woman. This year she celebrates her 80th birthday, and she is still going strong. She is the incomparable Betty Boop.

Betty started life as a dog type character with a human body in the 1930′s film “Dirty Dishes”. Created by Max Fleischer with the help of animator Grim Natiwck, she was originally intended to be the love interest of Bimbo, the lead dog in the Talkartoons cartoon series. Bimbo met with moderate success, but the public instantly fell in love with the nameless little girl/dog. Within a year she had evolved from semi-canine to full human form and was given the name Betty Boop. In early 1931, with her new name and an ever growing audience, she appeared briefly in the film “Kitty From Kansas City”. Later that year in “Silly Scandals” she delighted audiences with her rendition of “You’re driving Me Crazy”, during which her blouse kept slipping down revealing a frilly bra underneath. Her next release “Ups and Downs” pushed the boundaries of good taste even further containing a scene with her dress blowing up. This scene would be recreated many years later by another famous screen vixen, Marilyn Monroe, in “The Seven Year Itch”.

Created at the very end of the “Roaring 20′s”, Betty’s risqué nature was generally accepted by an American public that was relatively uninhibited about sexuality. Her cartoons were geared to an adult audience and as a result were rather explicit, especially in the early years. Interaction between her character and the male leads in her films was suggestive, to say the least, and on more that one occasion her catch phrase “Boop-oop-a-doop” could be interpreted to be more than just scatty nonsense. From 1930-1934 she was a top box-office draw, but as the moral attitude in America shifted, Betty found her self on shaky ground.

In the mid 1930′s women’s clubs, church organizations, and various reform groups began organizing demonstrations at theaters across the country, calling for censorship of Hollywood films. With Will Hays, the head of the Motion Picture Producers and Directors Association, as their spokesperson, studios were held to new standards of decency. Under the guidelines of the “Picture Producer’s and Distributor’s Code” and the “Hays Act of 1935″ heavy fines were levied against studio that did not comply. In addition Hays created the “Purity Seal” . Movies that did not qualify for this stamp of approval were not allowed to be shown in PPDA-affiliated theatres, which most major theatres were.

Betty Boop received a complete makeover. Her wardrobe was altered to skirts that reached below her knees and shirts that fully covered her cleavage. No more clothing that slipped off or back lighting to expose her ample silhouette. Films from 1935 forward saw her as a baby sitter, teacher or housewife. Gone were the great jazz songs of the 1930′s that had been the back drop for many of the early films, removed due to their questionable lyrics. The surrealism of “Minnie the Moocher” and “Snow White” was replaced with story lines about Betty and her new pet monkey. In fact, by the time the censors finished, Betty was all but unrecognizable and the public gradually lost interest in her films. After appearing in “Yip, Yip, Yippy” in 1939 Betty Boop retired. In the nine short years of her career she had worked with such greats as Rudy Vallee, Cab Calloway, Don Redman and Louis Armstrong and appeared in over 100 animated features

The risqué little girl with an air of innocence still enjoys a following of loyal fans who are willing to pay top dollar for authentic 1930′s Betty Boop memorabilia. Recent auction results include results include a string holder for $250, a celluloid bobble-head Betty for $450, a twelve inch chalk carnival figure for $1,994 and a linen-matted 1930′s Paramount movie poster for a whopping $7,455. Now that’s a lot of Boop-Oop-A-Doop! Until next time………Linda

Linda Hamer Kennett is an associate member of the International Society of Appraiser specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation of estates and may be reached at 317-356-8967 or lkennett@indy.rr.com}

Looking just now at Amazon (link), it seems to be a hot seller, as one seller only had two left in stock. There seems to be quite a few listed on eBay (link) with Buy it Now prices ranging from $40 to $50.

While you’re at it, check out the Show Girl Barbie on eBay (link) as well.

The product description: “When Barbie visits Star City, she needn’t worry about crime when Dinah Lance, the Black Canary, is on the case! Mattel recreates the DC Comics’ heroine as a Barbie Famous Friends: Black Canary doll, which stands nearly 12″ tall. With her comics-authentic costume of black leather jacket, black fishnet stockings, and black thigh boots, Barbie’s friend Black Canary will keep the criminal element at bay!”

Ironically, the Wagon Train set was sold just a few minutes after another Marx playset crossed the block and held, albeit briefly, the world auction record, too. It was a Ben-Hur playset (Series 5000, Stock No. 4701), also made circa 1960 and in mint condition in the box. The set sailed past its pre-sale estimate of $2,000-$4,000 to bring $9,320. The Wagon Train set was expected to bring $1,000-$2,000.

“Obviously, the prices realized for the Marx playsets were a nice surprise,” said Philip Weiss. “Overall, the auction did about what we expected. The better items brought solid prices and the mid-level merchandise held its own. Given the current state of the financial markets and the economy as a whole, I’d say the sale was a success.” About 1,300 lots changed hands over the course of three days.

Mr. Weiss said the crowd was modest by his standards – only about 150 people in total – but phone and absentee bidding was brisk and 1,500 people registered online, via LiveAuctioneers.com and eBayLiveAuctions. During the past year, Philip Weiss Auctions has seen numerous auction records fall, including unprecedented prices for stamps (6); a Punch Cigar Store figure; and now a Marx playset.

Other top lots from the auction follow. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Original pen-and-ink Peanuts comic strips by the legendary cartoonist and illustrator Charles Schulz have become commonplace at most Philip Weiss Auctions, but that doesn’t stop them from fetching dizzying prices. Four Peanuts strips sold for a combined $98,000. Included in the group was an original Sunday page with a cute bowling story line that went to a determined bidder for $33,000.

An extremely rare cardboard concert poster from 1969, advertising some of the great rock ‘n’ roll acts of the day (Jimi Hendrix, the Monkees, Glen Campbell and Rod McKuen), went for $5,750. The poster, from the collection of Concerts West promoter William Easley, advertised the spring and early summer lineup of shows at the Sam Houston Coliseum and Houston Music Hall in Houston, Tex.

Another rock ‘n’ roll poster – this one advertising an appearance by Jimi Hendrix at the Electric Factory on Feb. 21-22, 1968, extremely rare and in overall excellent condition – commanded $4,970. Returning to toys, a lot comprising a pair of Heyde elephants, made by the renowned German toy maker Heyde in the teens or early 1920s, climbed to $2,600. The lot included accessories (riders, etc.).

The Friday session was dedicated, in part, to rare and vintage dolls. A top earner was a lot of ten Nancy Ann Story Book dolls expected to bring about $150-$450 but when the final gavel came down the set had found a new owner for $2,930. All the dolls featured jointed legs, painted black slippers and complete costumes with hats or bows. Four of the dolls had circular gold labels on their period dresses.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be held the weekend of Nov. 21-23, in the firm’s spacious showroom, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside, N.Y. Friday, Nov. 21, will feature hundreds of fresh-to-the-market lots of fine art; estate jewelry; period furniture; sterling silver; pieces by Tiffany, Rand & Crane and Gorham, Oriental rugs; George Jones dinner plates; rare antique china; and more.

The Saturday, Nov. 22, session will be the firm’s greatest sports sale ever. Leading the charge will be a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, often called the Holy Grail of sports cards. Graded SGC 3, it is expected to bring $500,000-$800,000. The T206 series was made from 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company. Just 200 of the Honus Wagner cards were ever distributed. Only a few exist today.

The Nov. 22 session will also feature an original owner collection of T205 and T206 cards, to include a highly prized Ray Demmitt error card; a bat signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig; a contest bat signed by Ruth; a Ruth signed ball from 1927; an archive of Ty Cobb letters; and an important collection of items pertaining to Willie Shoemaker, perhaps the greatest horse racing jockey of all time.

The Nov. 23 session will feature two fresh-to-the-market comic art collections that include three original Charles Schulz Peanuts strips and original Prince Valiant art by Hal Foster and John Cullen Murphy. The day will also include a Herriman Krazy Kat daily; a Felix the Cat Sunday page; a Segar Popeye; and an archive of 1950s DC comic pages, including pages from Superman and World’s Finest.

Also set to cross the block on Nov. 23 are several Wayne Boring Superman dailies; a high-grade copy of Famous Funnies #1; and other comic books and Big Little books. Rare books and autographs include an important Frank Lloyd Wright letter regarding the building of the Guggenheim Museum, with initialed plans by Wright. Also, a Louis Vuitton trunk from the Guggenheim family will be sold.

Philip Weiss Auctions will conclude the year with yet another blockbuster weekend event slated for Dec. 20-21. Featured will be the Ken Allisburg soda fountain and ice cream advertising collection; toys, including boxed amusement ride toys; 200-300 lots of toy trains; Part 3 of the B.L. “Phil” Philips collection, mostly battery-operated toys; vintage slot and coin-op machines; toy soldiers; and more.

Looking ahead to 2009, Philip Weiss Auctions is planning the fourth and final part of The Newport Stamp Collection (six world auction records were established in Parts 1-3). Early spring will see an auction dedicated to medical and scientific instruments and material. And recently arrived for an early 2009 sale is a huge single-owner toy train collection, including Post-War Lionel still in the box.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (516) 594-0731, or you can e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about the firm and its calendar of upcoming sales, and to view images of some lots to be offered in the November 21-23 auctions, log on to www.prwauctions.com.

The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers
February 17, 2008
By Megan Pennefather
STAFF WRITER

“Go ahead, make a joke about Fred Collins’ doll collection.

He’s well over 6 feet tall, 240 pounds, with a career in the construction industry and has, he’ll tell you himself, a pretty mean temper.

So go ahead, laugh about his 550 Barbie dolls that line the walls of the Berkley home he shares with wife, Barbara. You’ll probably regret it because this former city councilman and owner of Frederick Collins Construction takes his collection, estimated to be worth thousands, very seriously.”

Read the Full Story >>

By PAT BEALL
Palm Beach Staff Writer
Monday, December 10, 2007

“The girl’s gone wild.

Just under the retail radar, Barbie tries on black silk bustiers and garters, red kewpie-doll lips and dollops of mauve eye shadow. She dons tartan knickers to take tea “en suite” and black fishnet stockings when working as a French maid.

She comes in half a dozen lingerie-only versions, part of Mattel’s adults-only Barbie Fashion Model Collection.

“They’re so sleazy it takes my breath away,” says M.G. Lord, author of Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll. A recognized authority on the iconic toy, Lord says, “These are the 1950s sexual fantasies of middle-aged men. The nurse, the French maid, that creepy Asian fantasy doll. And there is definitely something going on with the riding boot and that little whip.”

Read the Full Story >>