Results tagged “bettyboop”

When Hollywood’s Production Code took effect in 1934, the onscreen antics of film characters got decidedly more wholesome. The same rang true for the cartoons of the time. Pre-Code, the animation by major studios was “just as violent, sexy, rude and crude as their live action counterparts. Nudity, naughty words, and outrageous gags involving body parts, toilet paper, voyeurism, ethnic stereotypes and, in particular, booze (remember, this was before prohibition ended) were the order of the day.” Tonight see rare Pre-Code shorts starring Betty Boop, Krazy Kat, Scrappy and Flip The Frog. Animation historian Jerry Beck (of CartoonBrew.com), who will also introduce the program.

People seem to have the misconception that Betty Boop was a lighthearted bit of fluff. But Max Fleischer was a master of animation. Combined with jazz great Cab Calloway singing St James Infirmary Blues, the creativity and the dark side of this cartoon were really able to come out.

American Idol hit Birmingham, Ala., last night – home of former Idolers Taylor Hicks, Ruben Studdard and Bo Bice. It took Ryan Seacrest less than 15 seconds to get a Lynryd Skynyrd reference (“Sweet Home Alabama”) in there. (But then again, it is Ryan Seacrest, so he was probably thought the scriptwriters were referring to the Reese Witherspoon movie.) There were a few things apparent from the get-go:Paula either had a bad night or...