Helen Kane Impersonation Contest

Helen Kane Impersonation Contest
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Name	Helen Kane Contest

Some of the information is Boop-Oop-a-Dooping full of SPOILERS. Boop-Oop-a-Doop!

Kane Kane Impersonation Contest

Helen Kane Look-a-Like & Sound-a-Like Contest

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Helen Kane Impersonation Contests^[1] were contests which were held in the 20s and 30s by Helen Kane the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl to find her double.^[2] The one who could sing and act in a way most resembling Helen Kane received a cash prize and was given a personal audition before the actress. A preliminary contest was held in the ballroom, where judges selected five girls from the total entries. These five appeared on stage with Miss Kane. One of the girls was eliminated each night thereafter until only the winner remained. The girls who were eliminated were given prizes and received an autographed picture of Helen Kane. The initial age to enter was 6-16, 16 and over, and later 4-18. The contests ran from 1929-1938. Winners were awarded a cash prize, a dress or jewelry, whereas children were awarded with toys. Several of the women who entered these contests went on to become the voice of Betty Boop, as the animated character who debuted in the Talkartoon series starting 1930 was partially based on Helen Kane. In 1930, there was also a "Paramount Publix Hour" radio impersonation competition on WDAE, which promoted songs from the film Dangerous Nan McGrew.^[3]

Quotes

Helen Kane: "I am most anxious to see what my best double in the state of Indiana looks like. I only hope that she makes a big hit at her stage appearance Monday night."

Helen Kane: "I held amateur contests for amateurs that I thought it would be fun and would stimulate business in the theatre."

Helen Kane: "We had Helen Kane's 'Boop-Boop-a-Doop' contests and these girls came in and I heard them personally myself, and selected them, and then they appeared at the theatre one night during the week and they sang and they were awarded $25, or maybe a dress."

Helen Kane: "Margie Hines won three 'Boop-Boop-a-Doop' contests. I think she won one of them or two in Brooklyn, and one at the Riverside Theatre, New York City. Let me see, where was I? In 1931, I should say, or 1932. I don't remember?"

Margie Hines: "My uncle told me that there was a contest at a theatre in Brooklyn and he urged me to enter."

Margie Hines: "I did not win any prize at the Riverside, Miss Questel and Miss Poe won first prize."

Margie Hines: "In the Albee Theatre I think 20 or 25 girls appeared backstage. 12 to 15 appeared on stage. After the elimination contest backstage at the Albee I saw Miss Kane."

Margie Hines: "When I was selected to voice Betty Boop for Paramount in 1930, I would sing in my own baby-voice."

Mae Questel: "I was the winner of three Helen Kane contests, in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Manhattan."^[4]

Mae Questel: "The man who introduced us seemed to dwell longer on my likeness to Miss Kane than he did on the others, I guess I was the most surprised person in the theater when I was selected."

Mae Questel: "I would sing 'Boop-Boop-a-Doop' in song but I would sing it differently to Helen Kane."

Bonnie Poe: "Miss Kane told me about the Helen Kane contest that was going to be held at the Riverside the following week and told me that she thought that it would be a very good idea if I joined the contest."

Bonnie Poe: "There was a contest at the Riverside but that was not the final contest, and I received a prize of $25, preliminary contest."

Bonnie Poe: "Prior to meeting Helen Kane I had never seen her work, but I heard her sing from records and things."

Bonnie Poe: "In the first Helen Kane contest there wasn't any first prize, the first prize was divided between Mae Questel and myself."

Bonnie Poe: "No, I don't remember what Mae Questel sang."

Bonnie Poe: "Sometime that year, or a month or two after the contest, I appeared at the Everglades Night Club. I don't remember the exact date."

At the Kenmore (1929)

Helen Kane singing comedienne, tops the bill at the Kenmore Theatre. It was only a short time ago that Helen started her stage career as a member of a neighborhood dramatic club. Since that time she has risen to the peak of theatrical prominence, becoming, in turn, a radio favorite, recording artist. Her records selling in the millions, musical comedy and screen star. The surrounding attractions include a special stage feature on Thursday evening with a "Helen Kane Impersonation Contest," open to all local girls, to be judged by the audience and Miss Kane.

E. F. Albee Theatre (1929)

Helen Kane, musical comedy, motion picture, and vaudeville star, will be the headline attraction at the E. F. Albee Theatre for the week beginning Saturday, November 23rd. Miss Kane is appearing in person on the Albee stage and presenting, with the help of Joe Keden at te piano, those inimitable songs that have brought her stardom during the past two years. Along with Miss Kane's personal appearance at the Albee, a "Helen Kane Impersonation Contest" is being held. The contest is sponsored by Miss Kane herself and the Albee theatre. The contestants will be judged from the Albee stage on Monday evening, November 25th. Miss Kane and the audience will be the sole judges as to who wins the contest.

Helen Kane on WSGH Radio (1929)

The delightful little miss who sings the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" in such a pleasing manner, was our guest Saturday afternoon at WSGH. Miss Kane, whose contract prohibited her singing, made a very nice little microphone speech in which she "Boop-a-Dooped" once or twice.

She is appearing at the Albee Theatre this week and during her radio speech announced that she was sponsoring a contest for girls who could impersonate her. Therefore, the radio listeners have a chance to get into the contest, the first prize of which is well worth having.

As accompianist for Miss Kane, Joe Kedan, the famous "Kedan on the Keys" of radio fame, also wandered up to WSGH and played several solos on the piano. One of these "I'd Go Barefoot All Winter Long," was a composition of his own, and was, we understand dedicated to Helen Kane.

Boop-Boop-a-Doop Festival (1930)

Boop Boop a Doop Contest Warner Brothers 1930 BettyBoopWikia

Just now this "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" thing is all the rage. Helen Kane has made it famous and Warner Brothers and the Little Theater are trying to find her best impersonators. Consequently and therefore a contest has been planned that will sift the participants through preliminary auditions semi-finals at the Enright and the finals at the Stanley Theater until the winners are revealed. Girls of any age are eligible and details of information are available at any of the Warner neighborhood theaters. There will be a junior group of contestants under 16 and a senior division for those 16 and over. Duplicate prizes are promised in both competitive sections. Helen is coming to town - in person - and that visit will add interest to the vocalizing. The contest starts April 15.

Winner of New York Contest & Dangerous Nan McGrew (1930)

22nd August 1930 Claire Bart Boop Helen Kane

Winner of Helen Kane's New York "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" contest Claire Bart. The Personality Girl "Boo Boopa Dooping" all the latest hits for you in her cute snappy way. It's an entertainment treat!

Boop Boop Pa Doop Contest! Enter now! It's not too late! Cash prizes to the winners! Come on folk and applaud for your favorite. Don't by any means miss this!

She's A Rootin', Shootin', Bullet Proof Baby from the Wide Laughing Spaces! Helen "Sugar" Kane Getting her man at the point of a .38! Making 'em like it! Singing 'em oodles of gay "Boop-Boopa-Doop" songs! Raising old fashioned cain as only Kane can! Starting a riot of fun in the peppiest, happiest-go-luckiest romance you ever heard about! Dangerous Nan McGrew featuring Helen Kane with James Hall, Frank Morgan, Victor Moore, Stuart Erwin, a Paramount all talking singing comedy.

Helen Kane Makes Formal Complaint About Mae Questel (1930)

Helen Kane Is Upset With Mae Questel Using Boop Title In 1930

After competing in the Helen Kane Contests, substituting for Kane and being given great media coverage, Kane made a formal complaint about Mae Questel in 1930 for using the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl title in her act.^[5] Indicating that she was not happy with Questel, as some media outlets were claiming that Questel was better than the original. Kane noted that she was not in favor of her name in a tie-up with Mae Questel, as Questel had been given much exploitation and also covered a show for Kane when she was taken ill. Kane's request was heeded, and Questel had to change her title.

Mae Questel Helen Kane Contest Winner 25 November 1930

Winner of "Helen Kane Impersonation Contest" Mae Questel, the chic charming singer of sparkling songs.

Judges

Helen Kane
Newell Goodrich
Charlie Davis
Walter D. Hickman
Don Hasting

Contestants

Riverside Theatre:

Tri-Borough Theatre:

Mae Questel

Shea's Buffalo Theatre:

Lorraine Ryan

New York Theatre:

Chicago Oriental Theatre:

Ruth Havens

Little Theater of Pittsburgh:

Baby Betty Jane

Indiana Theatre:

Metropolitan Theatre:

Norma Nellis
Edith Barstow
Patsy Britten^[7]

Music

Trivia

Claire Bart^[8] was made a special judge by Helen Kane and was later sent to hold "Poo Poo Padoo" contests in Indiana.

Margie Hines entered three "Boop-a-Doop" contests and then went on to create the initial voice for Betty Boop.^[9]

After winning a few contests, Mae Questel became a substitute for Helen Kane^[10] when Kane couldn't appear on stage, and people couldn't tell the difference. A lot of people actually thought Questel was Kane, especially when she toured with Waite Hoyt and J. Fred Coot and then debuted in their Vitaphone Varieties film short titled A Battery of Songs.^[11]

By 1930, Helen Kane became envious of Mae Questel using the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" girl title at an RKO theatre where Questel had taken her place and made a complaint. Kane's request was heeded and Questel's title was changed. Reason for this was in most of the papers from 1929-1930 were saying that Mae had surpassed the chubby Helen, much to Helen's disdain.

According to the media, Mae Questel was the best Helen Kane impersonator, but according to Helen Kane, Claire Bart as picked by herself was the best Helen Kane impersonator.

Holding the contests allowed girls to impersonate Helen and copy her act. Kane claimed earlier in her career that she didn't mind people imitating her, but later got upset when most of the work in Hollywood for "Boop-a-Doop" singers was going to the impersonators and not her.

In 1932 when Mae Questel debuted as Betty Boop on radio with Max Fleischer, Helen wanted to know who "Betty Boop" was and why she was singing like her.

One of the "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" contest advertisements tells readers to remember that Clara Bow, Helen Kane, Claire Bart and many others broke into the pictures by entering contests.

When Helen Kane's popularity died out her "Boop-Boop-a-Doop" look-alike contests were replaced by "Betty Boop Impersonation Contests" which ran around the same time, in which played out similar only instead of finding someone who looked like Helen Kane, the winner was someone who looked most like Paramount's animated star Betty Boop. The Betty Boop contests ran from the 30s to present day, the most notable contest held was the 1995 "Boop-A-Like Contest".

According to Jo Miller's granddaughter, her grandmother entered either a Helen Kane contest or competition for the voice of Betty Boop, one held by the Fleischers and Paramount in which Little Ann Little had entered prior to becoming the 1933 voice of Betty Boop.

Patsy Britten competed in Seattle against 9-year-old Edith Barstow and 6-year-old Norma Nellis at the Metropolitan Theatre (4th Avenue and University Street) broadcast by KPCB. Britten sang "I Have To Have You" backed by the Max Dolin Orchestra. The audience demanded an encore, so Britten sang Helen Kane's current hit at the time, "Dangerous Nan McGrew," and won a Victor Micro-Synchronous radio.