Van Twinkle is not Fearless Fred, he is his counter-part.
Some of the information is Boop-Oop-a-Dooping full of SPOILERS. Boop-Oop-a-Doop!
Van Twinkle
| Van Twinkle the New Colossal Star |
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| Van Twinkle | |
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 ' | |
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Name |
Van Twinkle |
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Gender |
Male |
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Species |
Human |
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First Appearance |
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Last Appearance |
Betty Boop Comic Strip |
Van Twinkle is a character from the Betty Boop comic strip[1] from 1934 to 1937, who appeared infrequently during the comic's run. He is European and is the star of Colossal Film Co. Entertainment.
Van Twinkle is a Hollywood starring guy who is mostly recognized for his good looks at the expense of his boring and uninteresting demeanor.
Despite being dull, Twinkle doesn't appear to bother Hollywood actress Betty Boop, who could end up co-starring with him in films directed by Von Script. "Fickle" is how Betty characterizes Twinkle, someone who is so inconsistent with their opinions that you can never rely on them.
Betty is first introduced as "New Colossal Star" Van Twinkle by her director Von Script. She then makes many unsuccessful attempts to woo Twinkle. She drops her handkerchief, Twinkle picks it up and blows his nose with it. Another time Betty pretends to pass out in front of his automobile. Ignoring her, Twinkle gets into his car and drives away.
Just to meet him, Betty waits outside his dressing room. But after a long wait, she nods off. As he exits his dressing room, Twinkle tells his security not to wake Betty up because she appears to be at ease.
Sobbing to herself, Twinkle had Betty all broken up, and she sought a way to meet him. She explains to her butler that Von Twinkle is the only important thing in her young life.
When Betty finds Twinkle with a large group of women draped around his neck like a lavaliere, she becomes agitated. She therefore makes the decision that she will never see him again. Betty says that she doesn't want a boyfriend that goes for mass flirtations.
In one strip, Twinkle uses his sister Miss Lovewell as a ploy to make Betty jealous. So Betty calls Tom, Dick and Harry to get even. Each brother proposes to Betty, which enrages Twinkle.
Twinkle has a little brother called Percy Twinkle. Percy is Betty's brother Billy's rival. Billy calls Percy a sissy, and they get into a boxing match. While Betty is teaching Billy Boop a lesson in manners, and how he should let an older person a seat, Billy offers Twinkle his seat.
Following up on his study on Van Twinkle, author Peter Benjaminson wrote in "The Life and Times of Betty Boop"[2] that Twinkle is secretly gay, however Betty is not aware of this.
Quotes[]
- Van Twinkle: "Don't be sore at me Betty, I need your friendship and..."
- Van Twinkle: "Tell Miss Boop that she's the first girl to ever refuse Van Twinkle!"
- Van Twinkle: "Bye, bye, Betty!"
- Van Twinkle: "And I've always said, the girl I marry must be a good cook."
- Van Twinkle: "I'm surprised at Percy, daring Billy Boop to jump off the roof!"
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Animation character Fearless Fred had appeared early in the strip's run, although he came off looking quite different to his screen incarnation which was slender, blond, elegantly-dressed. The similar-looking "Van Twinkle" was possibly introduced as a substitute, to abandon such discrepancy regarding Betty's "love interest" from the cartoons.
- It is indicated that the Twinkle family are British.
- In some colorized comic strips Van Twinkle has brown hair, in others he's a redhead.