Helen Kane--This Is Your Life, I Wanna Be Loved By You, Harry Ruby, 1958 TV

The legendary Boop-Boop-a-Doop Girl, Helen Kane, was surprised by Ralph Edwards in this rare 1958 edition of "This is Your Life". She even gets to sing a chorus of her signature hit, "I Wanna Be Loved By You," accompanied on piano by its composer, Harry Ruby. Also appearing is veteran star Fifi D'Orsay. Kane was the inspiration for Betty Boop, though that character was voiced by imitator Mae Questel. The show includes vintage commercials for Colgate ("Look Ma, no cavities!"), Ivory soap and Pace home permanent.

[@CJODell12]

Even in her 50s, Helen was cute as a button.

[@newmoon54]

First thought that came to mind.......... THIS is the real-life ~ BETTY BOOP ~ ~!~ It's no coincidence with that squeaky voice, and even her face and hairstyle are one IN THE SAME BOOP!!!!! LOLOLOL!!!! Great show!!! We used to watch it all the time back in the 50's and 60's!!!!!

[@GH-oi2jf]

Yes, Betty Boop appropriated her character.

[@alanaronald244]

She is adorable: what a treat to see her sing with Ruby accompanying her playing the song he co-wrote - with no rehearsal! And Fifi's entrance....inimitable. French champagne. Fun, funny, & frothy. What a hoot!

[@ediekoller1144]

Others may try to Imitate her but there is only ONE Helen Kane .Boop Boop Be do Girl!

[@ediekoller1144]

Ya sure! I need some documented proof mustard lady or man?

[@aeichler]

Helen Kane was under contract to Paramount and any photo of her will show that she had Betty Boop's hairdo and look, before the cartoon was ever created. The Betty Boop cartoons became more popular than Kane, and were cheaper to produce, so Helen's contract was dropped. A good lawyer should have been able to win her case.

[@ediekoller1144]

Thanks Alan I did not know that. When I was a kid in Cleveland Ohio we use to watch this is your life all the time and I do remember that show being aired in 1958 as I was almost 12 that year. I also remember when she passed in 1966 (i was almost 20 then ) and in Navy Wave Basic Training then. I have some of her albums too.

[@ediekoller1144]

go away mustard your a troll

[@c.estrada8289]

Eat Mustard Out of My Nostrils, you have presented no proper evidence, only your opinion. As for Baby Esther looking like Betty Boop, you're thinking of those fake photos that were going around the internet saying that this is Baby Esther Jones, the real Betty Boop. Well, guess what, idiot? Those were pics of a Russian model named Olya who was dressed up as Betty Boop for cosplay. You're so stupid, you fell for the BIG lie that's been circulating the internet for years. Look up the REAL Esther Jones, she looks nothing like Betty Boop. Helen Kane did NOT steal her her act, her look, her clothes, her makeup or her hair, dumb ass. God, some people are too stupid to live. 🙄 REPLY

[@reneecarter6702]

Gosh her voice hadn’t aged at all then ❤️❤️❤️

[@aleccaprari8664]

Her style marked an era, influenced more than a decade. One of the most important showbiz leading ladies, and surely the best female voice during the Depression. A funny, positive girl who, still today, is recognized as the one and only boopadoop gal. CHAPEAU

[@russellpappalardosr5318]

Without a doubt!!

[@fatyes891]

Uh not the "one and only", she stole the style from baby Esther jones

[@justice7550]

@@fatyes891 No, she did not. She may have been inspired by Esthers "Bo Bo Di" but their styles were totally different. Helens style was more sexual and way more coherent. It's what gave Betty Boop umph

[@fatyes891]

@@justice7550 helen went to court trying to sue the ppl who made Betty Boop but that didn't work because she couldn't prove that she didn't steal the style from Ester first..

[@justice7550]

@@fatyes891 Esther Jones was only 10 years old when Betty Boop was created in 1930. Betty's image and style were inspired by Helen. Helen may have been inspired by the sound effects of Esther but that's about it.

[@Farrah300]

That truly was funny when Helen's sister talked of when Helen would skip school so much that the Truant officer became a friend of the family.

[@hoozerob]

It's just amazing, that every time I see old shows like these, I admire the way people seemed to be so more refined, dignified, respectful and honorable the way they talked, talked to each other, treated others with respect and kindness. Where did it all go..

[@zodiac6703]

I know right

[@b0ltun0]

I agree, i really like the innocence and silliness in that many people seemed to have back then. This makes it so super adorable :)

[@CrazyHorseInvincible]

If TV executives knew back then what they know now, which is how stupid the average person is, TV would have been just as insipid as Jerry Springer and Big Brother.

[@trendingnow9682]

CrazyHorseInvincible Hello, They always say art reflects life. That being too much TV has drawn people away from reading and studying and socializing. So in the years past TV hadn’t had the time it now has had to influence society. So people weren’t stupid back then in the same way they are now. But try not to have such a bleak outlook. This world is still worth living in.

[@garytheroux9526]

@Tom Clark The reason why the guest comments were rehearsed was that the episode had to fit into a 22 minute time frame. A show like "This Is Your Life" could easily evoke ad-libs and long stories that would eat up so much time not all the guests could be fit in. The fact that the guests' comments were rehearsed is not a sign of "phoniness" but instead a desire to keep the episode on schedule.

[@aleccaprari8664]

Such a lovely Bo-Op-A-Doop girl !

[@jajohnson7809]

She seemed like a truly lovely woman, and a real shame she only lived to be 62. I bet she was fun to hang out with, even more fun to drink with.

[@filmidioten]

How wonderful seeing this, what a lovely, adorable lady Helen Kane was and how powerful hearing the stories of her hardship. There was no sugarcoating it back then from the tv hosts! One of the surprise guests, orchestra leader Paul Ash, passed away only a few months after his appearance here...

[@evilpuffcat]

HER VOICE IS SO CUTE!!😱😩😍😄

[@chasencrooks7115]

She stole the singing style from Esther Jones. The original Betty Boop. This animal even stole Boop oop a doop from her. POS!

[@shikisubss]

@@chasencrooks7115 wasn’t Esther like 7- 💀

[@PotatoesMashedComedy]

The end of this made me so sad for her. She was forgotten and then battled cancer. It was so nice of them to give her some work again and appreciate her.

[@raquelgoro3130]

Thank you so much for this, I love Helen

[@zh9652]

days u will smile while watching a tv show😄

[@samwolfenstein5239]

Everything about this program is amazing

[@aeichler]

The back story is that Helen was ill and broke, and this was Ralph Edwards' way of helping her.

[@jackandthebeanstalk4253]

@@aeichler really? That’s so sad. I’m happy Helen got that contract at the Moulin Rouge. Does anyone know if she was successful while performing there? I know cancer took her life soon after this was filmed.

[@kennedy20007]

Helen Kane had such incredible talent!

[@mikepeterson7175]

Omg she’s infectious ❤

[@Wafuller84]

15:12 - I Wanna Be Loved By You

[@brentdiana]

Wow, I never thought I'd be able to see this! Thank you so much for posting!

[@aleccaprari8664]

We need more Helen Kane TV shows!

[@kylenagel849]

Fantastic! Thank you for uploading this - I've been looking for this episode for years!

[@jenflipz1424]

I remember seeing This is Your Life on Sesame Street only it would be like a loaf of bread and the guests behind the curtain were the farmer who harvested the grain and the baker who kneaded the flour.

[@Farrah300]

I remember that as a little girl. iteas called "Here Is Your Life".

[@petermintunmusic]

Thank you, Alan!

[@terrid5449]

Love this show.. it's very entertaining

[@mov1ngforward]

What a sweetheart. ❣

[@jackandthebeanstalk4253]

Helen Kane was adorable and very talented. After 30 years she could still sing “I want to be loved by you” perfectly. But I did not like the host much. They didn’t let Helen speak hardly at all. I understand that they needed to fit in a bunch of appearances in a limited timeframe but let Helen talk. She had a very interesting life, she was the main inspiration for Betty Boop. Unfortunately, she died a few years after this appearance. I hope her performances at the Moulin Rouge were successful

[@CJODell12]

This episode first aired on Wednesday February 19, 1958 at 10:00 pm. "This Is Your Life" ranked in the Nielsen Top 20 for the 1957-58 season, finishing at #19 with a 28.1 rating (equivalent to 11.8 million households that season).

[@SwingBandHeaven]

Brilliant. I've only ever heard her sing and never speak so this has been very interesting. Thought that the host of the show probed a bit too deep at times and was overly blunt with things that obviously made her uncomfortable but overall very enjoyable. I actually felt quite emotional when she met with the lady who helped her out and when her old agent provided her with a contract for work. Very moving.

[@nuwavedave]

As a "kid" of the 1960s &'70s - This is one of the best "This Is Your Life" episodes I've seen. You can hear where Gracie Allen . . . and Betty Boop got their style from. What a "goil"!

[@chicsartorial]

I watched this reluctantly... Wow, I was glad I gave it a chance. Way cool! Articulate guests, emotional highs and lows, interesting in so many ways, even the format was intriguing. Even the commercials. But Helen was best. Great clip, thanks a million.

[@GingerPauley1]

This is fantastic! Thank you so much for posting this!

[@francisco4benites]

this is so so amazing wow i love it

[@caroltenge5147]

Orchestra is kick ass great!

[@Farrah300]

Helen Kane is such a cute lady.

[@brennocalderan2201]

Fifi D'Orsay was so fine even on her 50s, the same with Helen.

[@lalalandhigh]

I honestly thought her voice was fake. Amazing.

[@TrollonymousFU2]

+lalalandhigh I wonder what her orgasms sounded like. Like stepping on a mouse I imagine.

[@lalalandhigh]

Or a squeaky toy.

[@joanneg.733]

+James Walls you guys are dirty.

[@TrollonymousFU2]

joanne gerard orgasms are dirty? messy maybe. i don't think they're dirty, unless you're having one in a tijuana whorehouse.

[@SueBeaWho]

lololol

[@bettyboop8927]

I love her... is so cute♥

[@evilpuffcat]

Looks fun back then

[@peachy_himiko_unicorn4657]

Them old commercials I like

[@kenowens9021]

She passed away 8 years later.

[@Farrah300]

So very sad😢

[@DonutTree]

Thank you so much for the upload!

[@williamschlenger1518]

She sings & I see Betty Boop.

[@alwcurlz]

And 8 years later she was gone :-/

[@garrettjeffer4617]

you are an idiot

[@tomboughan2718]

I remember a W.C. Fields movie with Helen Kane as his daughter. really funny.

[@anne123480]

shes like a real life Betty Boop shes awesome wish she was still around today

[@athenathegreatandpowerful6365]

Her persona is where Betty Boop came from.

[@kissantesanders1174]

@@athenathegreatandpowerful6365 actually she stole the Betty poop sound from a 10 year old black performer named esther Jones.. we get everything stolen from us

[@ArtistsCry13]

@@kissantesanders1174 Oh my God, this isn’t even true. Esther Jones was a 7-year-old tribute act, not a serious performer. Helen only saw her perform in 1927 and she had been performing since 1922. Esther would’ve been a toddler. Scatting was not unique to Esther or Helen, and Esther never did the “Boop-Opp-A-Doop” scat, that was Helen’s creation. Get over yourself and get a job.

[@TheGeekDotCom]

@@ArtistsCry13 not a serious performer? She was performing world wide

[@rotten_maro]

The different between a real adorable voice and Yuya.

[@williamschlenger1518]

I love this.

[@thespianalb]

Thank you for posting!

[@Farrah300]

Harry Ruby's song, "Who's Sorry Now?", would go on to be a big hit for Connie Francis.

[@patrixspringer2753]

Awesome show! Didja' notice nobody mentioned the Betty Boop cartoons? Sadly, the cancer did catch up with her & she passed away in 1966, I think.

[@c.estrada8289]

Eat Mustard Out of My Nostrils, you're wrong! That is a stupid lie that's been going around the internet for years and stupid people believe it. FFS, did you not hear Helen's voice? Have you not seen her photos when she was young? She WAS Betty Boop and only an idiot would believe otherwise. Esther Jones looked nothing like Betty Boop and Helen Kane originated the boop-oop-a-doop, just like all the people on the show said. Do more research and stop spreading lies!

[@aleccaprari8664]

It's a lie...

[@esther5379]

@@c.estrada8289 YOU do some research. The concept of Baby Esther was STOLEN by this woman who was then the inspiration for Betty Boop. Sure, without this woman the entirety of Betty Boop would not exist but it doesn't change the fact that it was stolen. This woman is a THIEF and karma bit her in the ass.

[@jackandthebeanstalk4253]

@@esther5379 the concept of Baby Esther wasn’t stolen but her scat style may have been used by Helen.

[@danielburger1775]

What is strange to me is that people of the Download Generation and American Idol don't understand the way things were. Helen Kane had been performing in her own style, as herself, for years before getting a break. Then moving steadily up the billing in show after show. By the time she finally broke into superstardom, she'd been performing for nearly a decade. Singing in her own voice(and even that was something, as someone with that voice had things working against her). She also too constant criticism for being "fat"(which she wasn't). So, after years and years of hard work, she finally made it big. And now, nearly 100 years later, some utterly clueless people accuse her of "plagiarism"? Look up everything that goes into planning a show, the writing, the casting, booking a venue, rehearsal, promotion. Your timeline of events would have been physically impossible.

[@musicom67]

Shirley Booth as "Hazel" had the same old-Bronx dialect as Helen Kane...

[@ajlyles164]

Sounds like she’s saying “Boop-boop-a-doop!”

[@SueBeaWho]

I want that Pace stuff! BUT, how do I cover the gray on TOP of my head lol? And yes I agree Helen is adorable. Still looks like her little baby pic, chubby cheeks and all!

[@ruthieannwhiteapple349]

Helen Kane was such a lovely lady! I surely aspire to meet even close to the standards she held! But.... The downfall.. The TV Host was a darn bully!

[@izabelcavalcante8833]

Se eu tivesse nascido nessa época que ela e visse ela de perto daria um abraço.

[@michaelmantle6043]

Listening to Ms. Kane sing has given me Excedrin headache number 37.

[@psylegal]

The creators of Betty Boop used money and threatened the judge (or jury) to force them to rule that she had stolen her act from a twelve year old girl that was an imitator of a long dead performer. People still think that was the case to this day. You can see in this appearance that Helen Kane is very much herself, not an impressionist, and undeniably the inspiration for Boop.

[@leticiacinquemotta3805]

Obrigada

[@meneermalik]

It was so ridiculous that her lawsuit for her image and character on Betty Boop was dismissed.

[@SeeburgMusic]

Look at dad making duck lips at 11:52

[@denisefigueroa7761]

Why does her eyes keep moving

[@justinkirby4234]

Seriously 😅😅😅😊😊

[@jensenbell]

She pronounces the third syllable "Bee". **Boop Boop BEE Doop.**

[@harlow743]

the truth is that Betty Boop was based on Helen not Clara Bow

[@zodiac6703]

Anyone else get here from pLasterbrain?

[@priscillacrow7344]

Well the host if this show sure didn't let Helen get a word in at all did he? He was quite rude

[@myqueenimagivemydumassopin6841]

Is this the Pluto in Aries generation?

[@veraautopilotradiodj63]

Autopilot radio DJ Vee Doll

[@grantalbrecht4402]

know how old we are?

[@michaelmcgee8543]

Too bad the videotape did not survive.

[@TranzVangal]

Omg that french woman's accent 🤣

[@justinkirby4234]

Honestly think she would be there no reason

[@ShadowsOnTheScreen]

Love Helen Kane, but I hate this show. Ralph Edwards makes me squirm.

[@eddiestyles4875]

I thought Fifi was a drag queen

[@SueBeaWho]

I'm not so sure she ain't!

[@red_ford23]

i think so

[@lone-welf]

27:18 guilt seems to immediately over takes her face lol. she knows she stole from esther.

[@erigo91]

They forgot to mentiont he part where she appropriated Baby Esther's original sound.

[@danielburger1775]

Baby Esther was a woman from the Bronx?

[@seygra20]

Baby Ester

[@KydWyz]

I am the original Betty Boop -"Baby" Esther Jones

[@aleccaprari8664]

BE was an underage impersonator!

[@myqueenimagivemydumassopin6841]

Betty boop was duplicated after Helen Kane....the boops were originated after baby Esther...

[@ASHERUHCHANNEL]

She experienced it first how to be a black woman when ur not smdh

[@DawnyaJones]

Culture vultures...😂😂😂

[@windy2win]

Please realize her entire act was stolen from a black singer named Baby Esther Jones. Surprise! Check into it.

[@jomcginnis6703]

Yes, it was, so glad someone posted.

[@jackandthebeanstalk4253]

It wasn’t her entire act JFC. Helen Kane might’ve used her scat style. There’s a damn difference

[@danielburger1775]

Scat style had been around before Esther was even born. Baby Esther was NOTHING like Helen Kane or Betty Boop. This is a blatant lie that someone started on the internet around 2013. Sadly, it has spread like a rash.

[@A2Z83]

this isnt an act. this is how she really sounds and acts and she doesnt act like a 6 year old.