As a history teacher and lover of films, I occasionally like watching cartoons that have been banned, as they tell us a lot about our society and how far we have come over the years. What was perfectly acceptable decades ago is now, in some cases, seen as gross and inappropriate. Occasionally, these cartoons which have been removed from screening aren't particularly offensive but often, as in the case of this cartoon, they are so god-awful it's hard to imagine that people would have laughed at and enjoyed these films! Thirteen of these cartoons have been packaged together on a DVD entitled "Cartoon Crazys: Banned and Censored" and while the print quality of many of the cartoons is less than stellar, it's a great chance to see how sensibilities have changed.
This cartoon starts off in a rather clever and innocent way. You see the Fleischer Studio where the Betty Boop cartoons are made. Betty is on the drawing pad and the illustrator (supposedly Max Fleischer himself) is leaving for the day. Once gone, the ink well bounces about and Koko the Clown comes bounding out of it. Unfortunately, though, he has a bad toothache and so it's up to "Betty the Pusher" to solve the problem! In a very weird and very inappropriate scene, Betty plays dentist and gives Koko laughing gas. Not only that, but the gas ends up going everywhere and getting all the neighbors stoned as well. And, since everyone is having a wonderful time and the gas is so much fun, you assume the cartoon encouraged the audience members to give it a try themselves! Fortunately, this seeming endorsement of becoming a stoner was pulled from the market as it really shows no down side for drug use!! It's all pretty creepy, but the cartoon is also better than usual for a Betty Boop cartoon due to its clever introduction.
