In the early days of animation, Olive Oyl and Betty Boop were two of the most popular characters in existence. Instantly recognizable not just for their appearance, but their unusual voices. Or should I say, their unusual voice. A few different women played each character, but Mae Questel played both cartoon heroines.

 

Check out Mae Questel as Olive Oyl in the pilot episode of Popeye the Sailor (1933), and as Betty Boop in Baby be Good (1935).

After that, is an appearance Ms. Questel made on a talk show in 1978, at the age of 70.  She talks about her career in vaudeville, and being the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl and even does a little impromptu singing. I’m absolutely astounded by her voice!

As Olive Oyl:

 

 

As Betty Boop:

 

And here’s that incredible voice, undiminished, all those years later: