Betty Boop - Series 1 Ep. 6 - I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You

Louis Armstrong and His Band

06 December 2008

The Betty Boop cartoons, which were very popular during the 1930s, played regularly at the cinema amongst newsreels, comedy two-reelers and feature films. Betty would even be listed on the marquee as a top attraction. It's no surprise then that key musicians of the day featured in these high-profile animations, and the Betty Boop series are a great showcase of the talents of the 1930s. Cab Calloway made serial appearences in these cartoons (see Minnie the Moocher) and here we have Louis Armstrong and his band. The parallels drawn between the native cannibals of the African-set story, and members of Armstrong's band, are curious and shocking. But Armstrong does give a thrillingly raw performance of 'I'll Be Glad When You're Dead, You Rascal You'.

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