Remembering Shirley Temple

February 10, 2014, the entertainment industry lost one of it's great citizens, as Shirley Temple passed away at the age of 85.

During the 1930's Shirley Temple was not only the top child star of the era, she was THE top star, period. She was the #1 box office draw during the late 30's, topping such established stars as Katherine Hepburn and Joan Crawford. During her short movie career, Shirley Temple made over 50 films, including the classics THE LITTLEST REBEL, HEIDI and CURLY TOP.

Shirley Temple would have been Dorathy, in the WIZARD OF OZ, but her contracted studio, 20th Century Fox, tuned down a huge offer from MGM to let the star play Dorathy, in the classic film.

Temple had a small carrer in television. In 1958, she hosted the anthology series SHIRLEY TEMPLE'S STORYBOOK. The series aired 16 episodes, of which she stared in three of the episodes. Her son, Charles Black, Jr., made his acting debut on the series. The series was reworked in 1960, in color, with the title of THE SHIRLEY TEMPLE SHOW, but the fate was the same as in 1958 run. The actress even stared in a sitcom pilot, that never made a network schedule.

As an adult, Shirley Temple became active in politics. Under President Nixon, she was a United Nations Representative. During the Ford addministration, she was appointed the US Ambassador to Ghana. She was appointed first female Chief of Protocol of the United States, for six months, and was in charge of arrangements for President Jimmy Carter's inauguration and inaugural ball. And for three years, she served as the United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia, during the George H. Bush Presidency.

Shirley Temple has served on numerous boards of directors of large enterprises and organizations including The Walt Disney Company, Del Monte, Bank of America, Fireman's Fund Insurance, the United States Commission for UNESCO, the United Nations Association, and the National Wildlife Federation.

Although I was not of the generation that grew up with Shirley Temple, she was done with acting by the time I was born, I did see most, if not all of her movies on local TV. I remember TVBC, (TV before cable), one of our local TV stations aired the old Shirley Temple movies every Sunday morning/afternoon. I think my favorite was THE LITTLE COLONEL. I loved the scene as they tap dance up and down the stairs.

Shirley Temple was not only a great child actor, but she was a child actor that became a great person. Serving her country, being a devoted wife of 55 years to Charles Black, and a strong woman in the business community. Shirley Temple was one of a kind and she will be greatly missed.

For more about Shirley Temple, visit the official web site at shirleytemple.com.