I’ve had this RPPC of “Aunt Boo” for a while, and finally decided to learn her story. Turns out she was a member of Bob Burns comedy troupe rather than a poor, struggling Ozarkian. Several scarce Aunt Boo dolls are on the web. Each is identified by a printed label. I was sympathetic to the woman’s apparent plight of poverty…but it was a hillbilly show business ruse. In fact, I’m not even sure Aunt Boo was a woman. Aunt Boo was an associate of Bob Burns, the Van Buren, Arkansas favorite son. Bob specialized in what I today refer to as “Hillbillyana” but has also been described as “toilet humor” frankly. He was a radio “star” from the 30s and 40s. A Vaudevillian and a Minstrel. His most remarkable accomplishment was inventing the word “Bazooka”. Today a bazooka is a weapon, but the word originates from Bob! Back in the 1930s when Bob was performing, he invented primitive instrument made from pieces of pipe that he blew into making “Boo” noises. He held a copyright on the word! Not many of his bazooka’s remain today, as he often destroyed them in a frenzy on stage as part of his act. Sorta like Pete Townsend and his guitar. The best source I find on the real photo postcards is from the Pittsburgh Press of August 2, 1947. In part, it indicates a relative of Bob Burns ran a souvenir shop in Van Buren which sold “…pottery, cedar trinkets made locally, dolls, picture postcards of Grandpa Snazzy, Aunt Boo, Cousin Watford. They are real photographs posed by Ozark characters in make-up”. So I guess the real Aunt Boo was nobody. The Smithsonian holds a copy of the photo.
Original Aunt Boo Real Photo Postcard c. 1940 Collection Jim Linderman.
#rppc. #hillbillyana #Dolls. #ozarks. #dulltooldimbulb
