Shirley Temple Launched Career in Odd & Embarrassing ‘Baby Burlesks’ Before Iconic ‘Bright Eyes’
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While the movies that boost actors to stardom are well-orchestrated works of art, Shirley Temple’s path to fame began with odd and embarrassing films when she was only a toddler.
Temple began her big acting debut with a speaking role in the 1932 “War Babies.” She was only three. Her role featured her as an exotic dancer, entertaining “army men” who were just shirtless toddlers in diapers.
At 5, she starred in “Baby Burlesks,” a series of short films that portrayed a group of toddlers satirizing grown-up roles.
Shirley Temple as a child star Inset: During her adult years | Source: GettyImages
AN EMBARRASSING BEGINNING FOR TEMPLE
But despite the clips’ odd plots, her role saw her become the youngest actress in history to receive an award. Temple was only 6 years old when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences graced her with a Juvenile Academy Award.
To top it all up, the American Film Institute listed her as the 18th of 25 female Greatest Screen Legends. And that was just the beginning of Temple’s enviable career in film.
Shirley Temple (1928 ) the American child star started performing in films at three years. | Source: Getty Images
In her autobiography “Child Star,” Temple would come to later criticize the roles she played as a child in the series, which, according to The List, she referred to as:
“A cynical exploitation of our childish innocence that occasionally were racist or sexist.”
BECOMING ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR STARS OF HER TIME
And yet, despite the cringe-worthy nature of the films, they boosted Temple to a world of fame and popularity she would never have dreamed of. She was named one of the most popular stars between 1935 and 1939.
15th March 1965: Film star Shirley Temple Black on a visit to London. | Source: Getty Images
Following her embarrassing entry into the industry, Temple landed her first major role in the 1934 feature film, the musical “Stand Up and Cheer!” which would place her on the map.
That same year, she took roles in “Little Miss Marker” and “Now and Forever,” But despite the success of the movies, none quite shot her to stardom like the musical “Bright Eyes.”
Temple may have started out awkward from her roles, but she went on to live a long, busy, diverse, and full life.
Smiling studio portrait of American actor Shirley Temple, sitting in front of a red backdrop, wearing a straw hat and black top with white collar. circa 1945 |Source: Getty Images
HER FIRST AND SECOND MARRIAGE
Temple would continue to star in several ’40s films, and when her teenage years came around, she started focusing on something entirely different. At only 17, she got engaged to 24-year-old John Agar Jr, an Army Air Corps Seargent.
The marriage, however, took a fast nose dive, and with Agar being unable to keep up with Temple’s notoriety, he turned to alcohol to help him cope. And it only went downhill from there.
Four years into their marriage, and only a year after they welcomed home their daughter Linda Susan, the young couple ended their things.
Headshot studio portrait of American actor Shirley Temple, in front of a green backdrop, wearing a short sleeve white blouse with a colored bows pattern and a pearl necklace. circa 1955 | Source: Getty Images
But three months after her divorce, love was knocking on her door once more, and she got engaged to 30-year-old Charles Alden Black, with who she was with until her passing.
RETIRING FROM ACTING AND JOINING POLITICS
In 1950, Temple hung up her acting coat, saying she was tired of always being chosen to play the same roles time and time again. She was also not satisfied with the quality of movies she was making.
Her heart was in politics, and by the time 1967 was coming around, she was convinced she wanted to try her hand at the congress. Given the country’s state at the time, it was not going to be easy, but she was determined.
Actress Shirley Temple Black attends the 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center January 29, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
According to USA Today, the List reports her to have expressed her desire to make a difference in Congress as the only woman, She said:
“I think men are fine and here to stay but I have a hunch that it wouldn’t hurt to have a woman’s viewpoint expressed in that delegation of 38 men.”
She considered herself “Republican-Independent,” but she, unfortunately, lost the battle to Republican Pete McCloskey. Her political career was, however, not over, and in 1969, she was appointed the United Nations General Assembly delegate by president Richard M. Nixon.
Shirley Temple Black during 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Rehearsal at Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images
Seven years after that, she beat the odds to become the first female Chief of Protocol. And in ‘89, she rose the ranks to become President George Bush Senior’s ambassador to Czechoslovakia, today’s Czech and the Slovakia Republic.
BEATING CANCER
In 1972, Temple was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy. And during a time when women received their diagnosis in great secrecy, she became the women’s voice, writing and educating women on the illness.
Temple may have started out awkward from her roles, but she went on to live a long, busy, diverse, and full life, and in 2014, while still working on the second volume of her autobiography, she breathed her last. She was 85.
Muggles Welcome to John Ball Zoo’s Wizarding Weekends
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I solemnly swear I am up to no good.
Okay, for the non-Harry Potter fans that may be confusing. But, for those of you that, even as an adult, feel instantly joyful and nostalgic when anything related to Harry Potter is mentioned…get ready.
John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids is hosting wizards, witches and muggles alike for two magical weekends.
Wizarding Weekends
As shared on their Facebook page, John Ball Zoo is kicking off their Wizarding Weekends tomorrow, September 11th. The special event will continue on September 12th as well as the following weekend, September 18th and 19th.
Each day of the event goes from 9am - 6pm. Here’s what you can expect:
You’ll be able to explore the Forbidden Forest
Enter through Nocturne Alley
You’re welcome to wear your House’s robes and even bring your wand if you so wish
According to the Facebook Event page, which you can see here, John Ball Zoo recommends purchasing your tickets ahead of time online to make entry to the zoo easier and quicker.
Get our free mobile app
Tickets
Tickets for the Wizarding Weekends are not specifically highlighted on John Ball Zoo’s website. Instead, you’ll select “Daily Tickets” and simply pick the day you’d like to attend. Again, the dates are September 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th.
Ticket prices are $15 for adults and $12 for children 3-12 years old. Children under 3 are free. You can find more information here.
Aside from the Wizarding Weekends, John Ball Zoo has a few continuous special events including IllumiZoo and Supersized Creatures that are created from toy bricks. See them all by visiting their website.
Popular Child Stars From Every Year Below, Stacker sifted through movie databases, film histories, celebrity biographies and digital archives to compile this list of popular pint-sized actors from 1919 through 2021.
From: Popular child stars from the year you were born
Shirley Temple: Google Doodle honors American child star-turned-diplomat
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Google is paying tribute to one of Hollywood’s biggest child actors.
On Wednesday, Google’s search page featured an homage to Shirley Temple Black, whose stardom was so immense she made history by receiving an honorary Academy Award at age 6.
On June 9, 2015, California’s Santa Monica History Museum opened an exhibit titled “Love, Shirley Temple” featuring rare memorabilia, Google says in a post detailing Wednesday’s doodle.
Temple was born April 23, 1928 in Santa Monica. She starred in a dozen films released in 1934 alone, including “Bright Eyes,” during which she performed the famous routine “On The Good Ship Lollipop.”
As a child star, she was earning $1,000 a week and receiving 16,000 fan letters a month.
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After retiring from the film industry in her 20s, Temple became more politically active. In 1969, President Richard Nixon appointed her the U.S. representative to the United Nations. In 1974, she was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Ghana.
In 2006, Temple was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild.
She died Feb. 10, 2014 at age 85.
Kim Hjelmgaard and Gary Strauss contributed to this report. Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.