Helen Kane (b. August 4, 1903, some sources indicate 1904 [1] – d. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on September 26, 1966) was an American popular singer, best known for her "boop-boop-a-doop" trademark and her signature song, "I Wanna Be Loved By You". Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick used Kane (along with Clara Bow) as the model for his studio's most famous creation, Betty Boop. Fleischer Studios Inc is an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City New York. An animator is an Artist who creates multiple images called frames and Key frames that form an illusion of movement called Animation when rapidly displayed Myron "Grim" Natwick ( August 16 1890 – October 7 1990) was an American Animator and Film director Clara Gordon Bow ( July 29, 1905 &ndash September 27 1965) was an American Actress and Sex symbol, who rose to fame Betty Boop is an animated Cartoon character appearing in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop series of films produced by
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Early life
Born as Helen Schroeder, she attended St. Anselm’s Parochial School in the Bronx. Her German father's employment was questionable at times and her Irish mother worked in a laundry. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate
Kane's mother, Ellen Dixon Schroeder, reluctantly contributed $3 for her daughter's costume as a queen in the youth's first theatrical role at St. Anselm's. Fairy's gowns in the same production cost fifty cents, a not-inconsiderable amount of money back in those days. By the time she was 15 years old, Helen was onstage professionally, touring the Orpheum Circuit with the Marx Brothers. Orpheum Circuit Inc was a company started by Martin Beck who owned a series of Vaudeville theatres and motion picture theatres The Marx Brothers were a popular team of sibling Comedians who appeared in Vaudeville, stage plays film and television
Helen spent the early 1920s trouping in vaudeville as a singer, and kickline dancer with a theater engagement called the 'All Jazz Revue. The 1920s is sometimes referred to as the " Jazz Age " or the " Roaring Twenties " when speaking about the United States and Canada Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s The Rockettes are a well-known precision dance company out of the Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City. ' She played the New York Palace for the first time in 1921. Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Her Broadway days started here as well with the Stars of the Future (1922-24, and possibly a brief revival in early 1927). She also sang onstage with an early girl harmony singing trio - The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce.
Helen's roommate was Jessie Fordyce at this time. Though this trio could have been the Hamilton Sisters and Schroeder, Pearl Hamilton had chosen Jessie instead to tour as a trio act "just to see what happens" during the end of a theatrical season, around 1924. Year 1924 ( MCMXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Music
The big break of Helen Kane's career came in 1927, when appearing in a musical called A Night in Spain. Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Although the musical was a flop, closing after only 22 performances, the band conductor, Paul Ash, put her name forward for a performance at New York's Paramount Theater).
Kane's first performance at the Paramount Theater in Times Square proved to be her defining moment and career's launching point. Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West Kane was singing the popular song That's My Weakness Now, when she interpolated the scat lyrics “boop-boop-a-doop. " That's My Weakness Now " was written by Sam H Stept and Bud Green, (words and music in 1928. In Vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with random vocables and syllables or without words at all ” The rather odd gamble paid off, resonating with flapper culture and, four days later, Helen Kane’s name went up in lights. The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young Women who wore short skirts bobbed their hair listened to the new Jazz music
Overnight, the world changed for Helen. Kane’s agent, Harry Besney got her $5,500 a week in Oscar Hammerstein’s 1928 show Good Boy (where she first introduced the hit, "I Wanna Be Loved by You" ). Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. " I Wanna Be Loved by You " is a song written by Herbert Stothart and Harry Ruby, with lyrics by Bert Kalmar, for the 1928 musical "Good Boy"(1 From there it was back to the Palace, but this time as a headliner for $5,000 a week. Helen rejoined her pals from vaudeville The Three X Sisters of NBC radio fame (aka The Hamilton Sisters and Fordyce) for one night, during a live stage performance in 1935 she harmonized with their unique banter to a novelty tune "The Preacher and the Bear".
She had excellent diction, intonation and timing, acquired during her apprenticeship in vaudeville. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s These were put to good use, as her songs have a strong word focus; they also capitalise on her pert, coquettish voice. She blended several styles which were fashionable at the end of the 1920s. These included scat singing, a kind of vocal improvisation, and also blending singing and speech; sprechgesang, or "speech-song" was fashionable at this time in the German Weimar Republic in both nightclubs and in serious music. In Vocal jazz, scat singing is vocal improvisation with random vocables and syllables or without words at all Sprechgesang and Sprechstimme ( German for spoken-song and spoken-voice) are musical terms used to refer to an expressionist vocal The term Weimar Republic ( ˈvaɪmarɐ repuˈbliːk is used by historians to signify the democratic and Republican period of Germany from 1919 to 1933
Kane made 22 song recordings during the height of her fame, during 1928-1930. After 1930 and up to 1951, she made only five more, including a re-release of "I Wanna Be Loved by You"[2]
Discography
| Single | Release Date | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Get Out and Get Under the Moon" | (16-Jul-1928) | |
| 2 | "That's My Weakness Now" | (16-Jul-1928) | |
| 3 | "I Wanna Be Loved by You | (20-Sep-1928) | from the musical Good Boy |
| 4 | "Is There Anything Wrong in That?" | (20-Sep-1928) | |
| 5 | "Don't Be Like That" | (20-Dec-1928) | |
| 6 | "Me and the Man in the Moon" | (20-Dec-1928) | |
| 7 | "Button Up Your Overcoat" | (30-Jan-1929) | from the musical Follow Through |
| 8 | "I Want to Be Bad" | (30-Jan-1929) | from the musical Follow Through |
| 9 | "Do Something" | (15-Mar-1929) | from the movie Nothing but the Truth |
| 10 | "That's Why I'm Happy" | (15-Mar-1929) | |
| 11 | "I'd Do Anything for You" | (14-Jun-1929) | |
| 12 | "He's So Unusual" | (14-Jun-1929) | (later covered by Cyndi Lauper on her album She's So Unusual) |
| 13 | "Ain'tcha?" | (29-Oct-1929) | from the movie Pointed Heels |
| 14 | "I Have to Have You" | (29-Oct-1929) | from the movie Pointed Heels |
| 15 | "I'd Go Barefoot All Winter Long" | (18-Mar-1930) | |
| 16 | "Dangerous Nan McGrew" | (12-Apr-1930) | from the movie Dangerous Nan McGrew |
| 17 | "Thank Your Father" | (12-Apr-1930) | from the movie Flying High |
| 18 | "I Owe You" | (12-Apr-1930) | from the movie Dangerous Nan McGrew |
| 19 | "Readin' Ritin' Rhythm" | (1-Jul-1930) | from the movie Heads Up |
| 20 | "I've Got It (But It Don't Do Me No Good)" | (1-Jul-1930) | from the movie Young Men of Manhattan |
| 21 | "My Man Is on the Make" | (2-Jul-1930) | from the movie Heads Up |
| 22 | "If I Knew You Better" | (2-Jul-1930) | from the movie Heads Up |
| 23 | "I Taut I Taw a Puddy Tat" | (between 1931-51) | with Jimmy Carroll & His Orchestra |
| 24 | "Beanbag Song" | (between 1931-51) | with Jimmy Carroll & His Orchestra |
| 25 | "Hug Me! Kiss Me! Love Me!" | (between 1931-51) | with George Siravo & His Orchestra |
| 26 | "Aba Daba Honeymoon" | (between 1931-51) | with George Siravo & His Orchestra |
| 27 | "I Wanna Be Loved by You" | (c. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January " That's My Weakness Now " was written by Sam H Stept and Bud Green, (words and music in 1928. "Button Up Your Overcoat" is a popular Song. The music was written by Ray Henderson, the lyrics by B " He's So Unusual " is a song from the late 1920s performed by Helen Kane, who was the inspiration for the Betty Boop character In Popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition ( Performance or Recording) of a previously recorded commercially released Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper (born June 22 1953 is an American Grammy - and Emmy award winning Singer-songwriter and She's So Unusual is the solo debut Album by American 1980s iconic pop singer Cyndi Lauper. 1950?) | from the movie Three Little Words |
The release dates of recordings 1 to 22 are derived from the cover notes of the CD "Helen Kane - Great Original Performances - 1928 to 1930" (RPCD 323)[1]
Cult Following
As she took on the status of a singing sensation, there were Helen Kane dolls and Helen Kane look-alike contests, appearances on radio and in nightclubs. Three Little Words ( 1950) is a Hollywood Musical film biography of the Tin Pan Alley songwriting partnership of Kalmar and Ruby and stars In late 1928 and early 1929 this cult following had reached its peak. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Kane's height (about 5 feet tall) and slightly plump figure attracted attention and fans. Her round face with its huge brown eyes was topped by black, curly hair; her voice was a baby squeak with a distinct Bronx accent.
Films
In mid-1929, Paramount Pictures signed Helen to make a series of musicals, and put her on a salary of $8,000 a year. Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California.
Her films were:
- Nothing But the Truth (1929), a comedy starring Richard Dix
- Sweetie (1929), a college musical, which starred Nancy Carroll and Stanley Smith
- Pointed Heels (1929)
- Paramount on Parade (1930)
- Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930)
- Heads Up! (1930)
- A Lesson in Love (1931)
Fleischer v. Richard Dix ( July 18, 1893 – September 20, 1949) was an American Motion picture Actor who achieved popularity Nancy Carroll ( November 19, 1903 &ndash August 6, 1965) was an American actress Stanley Smith (born September 29 1949 in Chelsea Alabama) is a retired NASCAR driver and dirt-track racer A Lesson in Love (Swedish En lektion i kärlek) is a 1954 film directed by Ingmar Bergman. Kane
In 1930, Fleischer Studios animator Grim Natwick introduced a caricature of Helen Kane, with droopy dog ears and a squeaky singing voice, in the Talkartoons cartoon Dizzy Dishes. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Fleischer Studios Inc is an American corporation which originated as an Animation studio located at 1600 Broadway, New York City New York. Myron "Grim" Natwick ( August 16 1890 – October 7 1990) was an American Animator and Film director Talkartoons is the name of a series of 42 animated cartoons produced by the Fleischer Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures between 1929 Dizzy Dishes is a Animated short film created by the Fleischer Studios in 1930 as part of the Talkartoon series "Betty Boop", as the character was later dubbed, soon became popular and the star of her own cartoons. Betty Boop is an animated Cartoon character appearing in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop series of films produced by In 1932, she was changed into a human from a dog, her long ears turning into hoop earrings. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar.
In 1932, Kane filed an unsuccessful $250,000 suit against Paramount and Max Fleischer, charging unfair competition and wrongful appropriation in the Betty Boop cartoons. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American motion picture production and Distribution company, based in Hollywood California. Max Fleischer ( July 19, 1883 – September 11, 1972) was an important Austrian American pioneer in the development of the Betty Boop is an animated Cartoon character appearing in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop series of films produced by The trial opened in April 1934 with Helen Kane and Betty Boop films being screened by Judge McGoldrick (no jury was called). Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Betty Boop is an animated Cartoon character appearing in the Talkartoon and Betty Boop series of films produced by Margy Hines, Bonnie Poe, and, most notably, Betty Boop voice-over talent Mae Questel, were all summoned to testify. Mae Questel (Mae Questal is the spelling on the record label for Good Ship Lollipop 1932( September 13, 1908 – January 4, 1998) was an McGoldrick ruled against Kane in 1934, claiming that Kane's testimony could not prove that her singing style was unique or not an imitation itself (a little-known black singer known as "Baby Esther" was cited by the defence as "booping" in song). Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Later Years
With the hardships of the Great Depression biting, the flamboyant world of the flapper was over, and Kane's style began to date rapidly. The term flapper in the 1920s referred to a "new breed" of young Women who wore short skirts bobbed their hair listened to the new Jazz music After 1931 she lost the favour of the movie makers, who chose other singers for their films. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. She appeared in a stage production called Shady Lady in 1933, and made appearances at various nightclubs and theatres during the 1930s. Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Marriages
In the mid-1920s Helen married department store buyer Joseph Kane and took his last name professionally. By 1928 the marriage had ended in divorce. Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. On February 1, 1933 she married actor Max Hoffman Jr; they were divorced on May 17, 1935. Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
Five years later in 1939 on the third try she finally married the right guy, performer Dan Healy, with whom she had worked in the show Good Boy in 1928. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Dan Healy may refer to Dan Healy (detective, Chicago detective, famous for killing the leader of the North Side Gang Vincent Drucci Dan Healy Year 1928 ( MCMXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Together they opened a restaurant in New York City, "Healy's Grill". The City of New York She remained married to Healy for the rest of her life; the union was childless. [3]
In 1950, she dubbed a teenaged Debbie Reynolds who performed "I Wanna Be Loved By You" in the MGM musical biopic of songwriting duo Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby: Three Little Words. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (born April 1, 1932) is an Academy Award -nominated American actress, Singer A biographical motion picture &mdash often shortened to biopic &mdash is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people Bert Kalmar ( February 10, 1884 - September 18, 1947) was an American Lyricist. Harry Ruby ( October 29 1895 – February 23 1974) was an American Songwriter and Screenwriter. Three Little Words ( 1950) is a Hollywood Musical film biography of the Tin Pan Alley songwriting partnership of Kalmar and Ruby and stars She did not appear in the film's credits.
She appeared in several TV shows in the 1950s and 1960s, principally Toast of the Town (later episodes known as The Ed Sullivan Show). The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television Variety show that ran from June 20, 1948 to June 6, Kane's final public appearance was on the Sullivan show on St. Patrick's Day 1965. Saint Patrick's Day (Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig) colloquially St Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar.
Cancer/Death
Kane battled breast cancer for more than a decade. Breast cancer is a Cancer that starts in the cells of the Breast in women and men She had surgery in 1956 and eventually received two hundred radiation treatments as an outpatient at Memorial Hospital. Helen Kane died, aged 62 or 63, in her apartment in Jackson Heights, Queens (New York City) on September 26, 1966. Jackson Heights is a Neighborhood in north-western portion of the borough of Queens in New York City, USA. The City of New York Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. Healy was at her bedside. Helen Kane was interred in the Long Island National Cemetery. Long Island National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the village of Farmingdale, in Suffolk County New York.
Sources
- New York Times, Helen Kane Dead; Boop-A-Doop Girl, September 27, 1966, p. 47.
References
External links
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