BYE BYE, BETTIE PAGE

Retro pin-up queen Bettie Page died in Los Angeles at the age of 85. Bettie was the quintessential 1950s stripper elevated to icon status, the scantily clad babe who dominated (snap!) nudie magazines and 8 mm bondage reels and inspired biographies, fan clubs, and countless retro hairdos on hipster chicks who may not even know where those ubiquitous bangs originated. A full-scale Hollywood biopic was released in 2006, "The Notorious Bettie Page," starring Gretchen Moll as naughty Bettie.

CLASSIC CARTOON CORNER

Betty Boop and Koko the Clown get stoned on nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in this 1934 cartoon from Max Fleischer. The depiction of drug use, even justified by excruciating dental pain, got this classic cartoon banned by puritanical censors. This amazing cartoon is a highlight of early animation.

For more on the great Max Fleischer, click here.

FROM THE ANIMATION ARCHIVE

Here is the St. James Infirmary section of Betty Boop's "Snow White" from 1933. Yes, that's Cab Calloway singing! What wonderful animation! Produced by Max Fleischer, directed by Dave Fleischer.