Shirley Temple Black’s sweet charm and bouncy ringlets enchanted the public during a rather dark time in American History, the Great Depression. She put out big hits for 20th Century Fox such as The Little Colonel, Our Little Girl, Curly Top, The Littlest Rebel, and Poor Little Rich Girl. Eventually Shirley grew too mature for her niche and was overshadowed by other young stars. Temple was unable to make the jump into more mature roles and retired from acting at just 21-years-old.
Temple exchanged her fame for a more simple life where she could focus on her growing family and political interests. She served as the US ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia and US Chief of Protocol. Unlike many child stars, Shirley avoided the pitfalls of fame such as drugs and alcohol. Her mother Gertrude supported her career, which started at age 3, but was extremely careful when it came to exposing her daughter to the Hollywood lifestyle. Temple made several appearences on television in guest roles and even hosted a short-lived program called Shirley Temple’s Storybook.
Overall, she will be remembered in the hearts and minds of all the generations she has touched through her work. Rest in Peace, Shirley.
An iconic scene from Curly Top, “Animal Crackers in My Soup”
