Shirley Temple (April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014) was not only Hollywood’s most iconic child star but also a pioneering diplomat and the youngest person ever to receive an Academy Award. Below are some of the most fascinating facts about her remarkable life and multifaceted career.
1. Her 56 Signature Curls
Her mother, Gertrude, was the architect of her image. For every film, Gertrude would personally style Shirley’s hair into exactly 56 pin curls. This was a precise, grueling process that ensured her look remained consistent in every scene.
2. The “Baby Burlesks” Controversies
Before her wholesome Fox films, a three-year-old Shirley starred in a series of short films called Baby Burlesks. In these, toddlers were dressed in adult costumes (including “diaper-and-lace” versions of adult fashion) and parodied hit movies. Shirley later wrote in her autobiography that these sets were often uncomfortable and that the director sometimes used a “sound box” (an ice box) to discipline the child actors.
3. She Almost Played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz
MGM originally wanted to borrow Shirley Temple from 20th Century Fox to play Dorothy. However, the deal fell through, some say because Fox wouldn’t release her, others because her vocal range didn’t match the songs. The role, of course, went to Judy Garland, and the rest is history.
4. She Saved a Major Movie Studio
During the Great Depression, 20th Century Fox was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. Shirley became such a massive box-office draw that she single-handedly saved the studio. At just seven years old, she was the top box-office star in the world for four consecutive years (1935–1938), out-earning adult stars like Clark Gable and Joan Crawford.
Leave a Reply