Shirley Temple: Americas Princess

Birth/ birthplace:

On April 23, 1928, Shirley Jane Temple was born in Santa Monica, California to the parents of Gertrude Amelia Temple and George Francis Temple.

Family:

Shirley Temple was the only girl out of her 2 other siblings. She had 2 older brothers named George Francis Temple Jr. and John Stanley. Her mother, Gertrude Temple, was a homemaker while her Dad, George Francis Temple, worked at a successful bank as a manager. Shirley’s family kept to themselves and never really had many people over because they valued family bonding and keeping the paparazzi out of the Temples’ lives. In fact, Gertrude made it a rule that on Sundays, Shirley was not to go to the movie studio and work because Sundays in the Temple home were considered family time.

Childhood/Early Life: 

By the age of 4, Shirley Temple was already working as a child actress. Her mother, Gertrude, had a dream that she would one day have a little girl whom she could turn into a Hollywood star. When Shirley was born, Gertrude made sure to do just that. Shirley never went to a public school as a child. Because of her successful childhood career, Shirley had to be home schooled so other kids would not swarm her like the paparazzi. She was home schooled on her movie sets 3 hours a day until her acting career took a fall and she then started the 7th grade at Westlake school for girls.  It wasn’t until Shirley Temples “12th” birthday that she learned she was actually turning 13 years old. Gertrude had changed shirleys age to appear that she was one year younger so that Shirley could earn more movie roles during her young acting career.

Career:

Shirley Temple started her Career at a very young age. With her mom wanting a child star in the family, She had put Shirley in dance and singing classes by the age of 2. It was not until the age of 4 had Shirley landed a small acting job at Educational Pictures in a small film series called Baby Burlesques. In 1933, Education Pictures went bankrupt and Shirley signed on with Fox films. It was not until a year later, in 1934, had Shirley received her “big break” with the film “Stand Up and Cheer”. Within the first week of release of her movie, she became the symbol of family wholesome.  With her new found fame, Shirley went on to create “Bright Eyes” and “Little Miss Marker” in the same year. Shirley’s career took off like wildfire. Businesses wanted to advertise her on their posters and merchandise sellers wanted to sell Shirley Temple products. Before she reached the age of 6, Shirley Temple was one of the most top paid actors in the world raking in a whomping 6 million dollars a year. Shirley continued to thrive in the movie industry putting smiles on everyone’s face who came to see "Americas little princess" perform on the big screen.  It was not until 1940 when Shirley Temples career had started to decline. She was now growing up into her teenage years and was losing her touch as a “cute” girl with charismatic charm. With the release of “The Bluebird” flopping in box offices, Shirley Temple had been let go of her acting contract and her parents sent her to an all girls school. She continued her acting career in small rolls but never in anything big that would revamp her career the way it had once been.

Marriage and Children:

Shirley Temple had a very authoritative Dad growing up during her childhood and so on September 19, 1945 Shirley married John Agar to escape her dad‘s strict control. Shirley and Agar had a baby girl, Linda Susan Agar, together however, their marriage did not last long. By December 1950, Shirley Temple had divorced Agar. During her divorce, however, Shirley had met a man named Charles Aden Black who she married in December of 1950, right after her divorce had been finalized. The couple relocated to Washington where they had a son, Charles Aden Black Jr.,  born on April 28, of 1952. After a while, the family moved to California where Shirley and Charles lived together for 54 years until Charles died on April 4, 2005.

Later Life:

Following her passion for television, Shirley hosted a television show called "Shirley Temple's Storybook". She then decided to make career in Politics. Temple had decided to drop the Hollywood scene and focus her time on the political problems of America. She became active in the Republican party of California, appointed the Representative to the 24th United Nations General Assembly, and also appointed United States Ambassador to Ghana on December 6, 1974 thru July 13, 1976. Shirley had a hard time getting rid of her Shirley Temple name in her political work field but managed to have her co-workers fall in love with her.

Anecdotes:

1.) Toward the end of 1972, Shirley had been diagnosed with breast Cancer. The tumor was phenomenal and so a radical mastectomy was performed. After the operation, Shirley announced to the world and talked openly about breast cancer; making her one of the first women to ever speak freely about the subject.

2.) In 1935, 6 year-old Shirley Temple was awarded the first Juvenielle Oscar trophy at the 7th annual Oscar Awards. In September 11, 2002, Shirley was awarded a life size Oscar in exchange for her miniature Oscar awarded more than 50 years prior. Her life size Oscar currently stands at the Fox studios lot where it will remain forever.

Photos:

 

Shirley Temple tap dancing in the movie  Stand up and Cheer.

Shirley had to pose for more than 50 photos a day.
Back then,  each individual photograph required a
 person to stand still for at least a minute per shot

Newly weds, Shirley Temple Black and Charles Aden Black, eat dinner to celebrate their marriage

One of many Shirley Temple products sold to make money. 

Shirley Temple in 2002, more than 80 years old, at an Awards show
\where she was honored with a life size Oscar in replace of the miniature one
 she had been given more than 50 years earlier.