all things betty boop
Mae Questels Early History
Her Early History
Mae Questel was a natural "ham," born into a family that didn't believe show business was a suitable profession for a respectable girl. The young New Yorker had obvious talent and performed frequently at charitable and community functions. However, professional opportunities were rejected by both her parents and grandparents.
In retrospect, it seems inevitable that Mae would eventually enjoy a professional theatrical career. While still a child, for instance, her talent brought her into the circle of famed violinist Mischa Ellman, who introduced her to many important people. Her career came about, however, not through the intercession of the powerful, but through a confluence of talent and pure happenstance at a time when she thought she had given up her theatrical aspirations for good.
Mae had embarked upon a career in teaching when some of her friends, knowing her to be a natural mimic, entered her in a Helen Kane impersonation contest at the RKO Fordham Theater where Miss Kane was appearing. Mae was concerned that such a public display would be inappropriate for a teacher, but she participated in the competition and was, of course, victorious. Alone among the competitors, Mae decided to watch Kane's act before the contest began, and as a result emulated the star with greater accuracy than any of the other contestants. Combined with her natural oomph, Mae's dead-on mimicry earned her a contract with the RKO vaudeville circuit which finally kicked off her professional career.
Mae quickly developed an act ("Mae Questel - Personality Singer of Personality Songs") that included impersonations of such other celebrities as Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting and Maurice Chevalier. She began appearing on radio programs and in short order was chosen by cartoon producer Max Fleischer to be the voice of his animated Helen Kane look/sound-alike, "Betty Boop."
Mae Questel was a natural "ham," born into a family that didn't believe show business was a suitable profession for a respectable girl. The young New Yorker had obvious talent and performed frequently at charitable and community functions. However, professional opportunities were rejected by both her parents and grandparents.
In retrospect, it seems inevitable that Mae would eventually enjoy a professional theatrical career. While still a child, for instance, her talent brought her into the circle of famed violinist Mischa Ellman, who introduced her to many important people. Her career came about, however, not through the intercession of the powerful, but through a confluence of talent and pure happenstance at a time when she thought she had given up her theatrical aspirations for good.
Mae had embarked upon a career in teaching when some of her friends, knowing her to be a natural mimic, entered her in a Helen Kane impersonation contest at the RKO Fordham Theater where Miss Kane was appearing. Mae was concerned that such a public display would be inappropriate for a teacher, but she participated in the competition and was, of course, victorious. Alone among the competitors, Mae decided to watch Kane's act before the contest began, and as a result emulated the star with greater accuracy than any of the other contestants. Combined with her natural oomph, Mae's dead-on mimicry earned her a contract with the RKO vaudeville circuit which finally kicked off her professional career.
Mae quickly developed an act ("Mae Questel - Personality Singer of Personality Songs") that included impersonations of such other celebrities as Eddie Cantor, Ruth Etting and Maurice Chevalier. She began appearing on radio programs and in short order was chosen by cartoon producer Max Fleischer to be the voice of his animated Helen Kane look/sound-alike, "Betty Boop."
Comment
About
Badge
© 2009 Created by Kira-Dee Le-Hane on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
You need to be a member of Betty Boop Network to add comments!
Join this Ning Network