Bimbo's Initiation - Wanna Be a Member?

Bimbo's Initiation Fleisher Studios Betty Boop Bimbo Wanna Be a Member
If you've never seen this cartoon, you're in for a treat! Fleischer Brothers Studios' Talkartoon, "Bimbo's Initiation" is one of the all-time weirdest and funnest and mind-bendingest cartoons ever made. Yes, I realize that "funnest" isn't a word, but I didn't want to interrupt the flow.
The reason I'm posting it here is that I finally found a decent copy of it on the web! Most of the versions I've seen are extremely low-res, but the one you're about to see is pretty clear and has a nice resolution. If you click ON the video while it's playing instead of just hitting the "play" arrow, you will be able to see it on its own page even BIGGER.


I have never found this on a commercial DVD, so if anyone out there knows where there's a better version available, please leave a comment and tell us where we can find it!


This 1931 cartoon features one of the first appearances by Betty Boop...before she starred in her own series for the Fleischer Studios. She was originally designed as a sexy dog character, and she still has dog-ears in this cartoon. Eventually the dog ears were replaced by the earrings she still wears to this day. For more information on this Max and Dave Fleisher cartoon masterpiece, see THIS article on Bimbo's Initiation at The Big Cartoon Database.

There's no point in discussing the "plot." I could summarize it, buy why? It's really beyond description and its creepy animated delights are eternal. I seriously never get tired of watching this cartoon.

Until it's available on DVD, sit back and press, "play." Watch, laugh, repeat.

Wanna be a member?

5 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 5, 2007 at 12:14 PM

    Thanks. This has always been my favorite cartoon. It beautiful, bizarre and witty. I WANNA be a member!

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  2. UnknownJuly 22, 2008 at 6:45 PM

    I have a friend who taped this off TV years ago and I never found it again until now - thanks for providing. BIZARRE! Ran the story by a film buff buddy of mine who suggested it might have had anti-Fascist message at the time - ?

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  3. ShermJuly 22, 2008 at 6:49 PM

    Hi Mary Alice...I'm glad you finally got to see it again...this cartoon is definitely one that sticks in your brain! I wish I had it on DVD, but for now, there's the Internet ^_^

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  4. Mose BusbyAugust 17, 2012 at 8:45 AM

    Well, it's not there now. Youtube removed it. Please let me know if you ever find another good quality version.

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  5. Dan BrumerSeptember 2, 2023 at 11:25 AM

    I entered a costume contest at a Max Fleischer film evening. I had a lit candle on my head, a bucket on a pole with a rope hanging out of it which I pulled and asked “Wanna be a member? Wanna be a member?” I took 3rd place! Now ask me how many contestants there were. That’s right: three.

    ReplyDelete