James D. Taylor Jr. 
Helen Kane and Betty Boop 

Betty Boop has been a beloved character since the 1930s. The quintessential "flapper, " her character was based on a handful of popular performers, and fans are still arguing who was the principal model. Helen Kane was a major inspiration for the unmistakable image of Betty Boop. Here, historian James D. Taylor has painstakingly accumulated all the facts that can be found about her life and her performing career – and these details make for an interesting story in themselves. In addition, he gained access to the official transcript of the trial that was a pivotal event in Kane’s life. Too many short, inaccurate biographies have been published that incorrectly quote from that trial.