Original Cartoon Art . Betty Boop Original Art in an AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED, by NATWICK, MYRON "GRIM"

MYRON "GRIM" NATWICK draws Betty Boop kicking up her heels to celebrate a birthday and the end of the year holidays. The sketch catches the readers' eye about midway along the first page left margin of this three page letter. In a large hand, Natwick first sends birthday wishes and continues noting the passage of time as the holiday season begins starting with Thanksgiving. "How fast everything moves at this time of year." He draws an open exclamation mark filled in with yellow water color on the right margin and opposite his drawing. Betty Boop's hair is shaded with the same color. "After Thanksgiving, time moves on 12 cylinders...." He continues with news of mutual friends and signs, "Grim."

The drawing measures approximately 3 1/2 inches tall from foot to hand and similarly across from hair to outstretched foot on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch page. Overall fine condition with some show through water color on verso and sunning on lower portion of the first page. The second and third pages must have been laid on top of the first page since those sheets show water color from the cartoon. A charming chatty letter with a sketch of his enduring cartoon character.

The letter consists of three pages two separate sheets, dated Dec. 6, 1980. Boop started out as the girl friend dog character to her canine boyfriend Bimbo in cartoon series, "Talkartoons"
produced by Max and Dave Fleischer for Paramount. Natwick transformed Betty into a girlish vamp whose figure was modeled after actress Mae West and voice on the singer Helen Kane (who sued Fleischer and lost). Betty Boop was a hugely successful cartoon during its tenure on the screen during the 1930's. She was retired in 1939. A revival of interest took shape in the 1970's and continues. Natwick's drawing of his most famous cartoon reflects the renewed interest. In addition to creating Betty Boop, when Natwick moved to Disney Studios, he became a lead animator on films including, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" and worked on Mickey Mouse for the film, "Fantasia, " Autograph