Staff Writer
America’s
sweetheart, Shirley Temple Black passed away this month. Born in Santa Monica,
California, on April 23, 1928 to Gertrude and Francis Temple, a starlet was
born. First appearing on the screen at just three years old in Educational
Pictures’ Baby Burlesks, it was the beginning of something great. She was a
light in the midst of the darkness of the Great Depression, someone America
will always remember. The year of 1934 was an outstanding one for the young
actress. After Education Pictures declared bankruptcy in 1933, Temple signed
with Fox Film Corporation, which would later merge to become 20th Century Fox,
in February of the next year. In April she was featured in her breakout film,
Stand Up and Cheer! In December of that year she starred in her first
full-length film, Bright Eyes, which brought around her hit song “On the Good
Ship Lollipop”; due to Temple’s many accomplishments she was honored with
miniature Juvenile Oscar. Temple’s films provided a time for the public to
forget the troubles of the Depression; Franklin D. Roosevelt said, As long as
our country has Shirley Temple, we will be all right." She went on to
produce four films a year for 20th Century Fox, including, Curly Top, which
produced yet another hit song, “Animal Crackers in My Soup.” Other performances
include the films, Heidi, The Little Princess, and her personal favorite, Wee
Willie Winkie. Many setbacks occurred, and after being denied for the role of
Peter Pan on Broadway, she announced her official retirement from the big screen
at the age of 32.
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| Shirley Temple |
On
a more personal note, Temple was married twice. Her first marriage with John
Agar lasted only five years; they had a daughter together. She met Charles
Alden Black in 1950, and married later that year. Their 54 year marriage ended
with Black’s death in 2005. They had two children, a boy and a girl. Trying to
steer away from her childhood fame, Temple got involved in politics when she
ran, unsuccessfully, for a seat in California’s eleventh congressional
district. She did, however, become a Representative to the 24th United Nations
General Assembly and the U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. Diagnosed
with breast cancer in 1972, she had a double mastectomy and encouraged women to
go to their doctor. She died at the age of 85 on Feb. 10, 2014. Temple
brightened many hearts, and will always be America’s sweetheart.
