Shirley: I was born in Santa Monica, California on 4-23-1928. My father, George Francis Temple, was a bank manager,who later handled my finances. My mother Gertrude Amelia Kreiger was a housewife. My mother was the main person to push me into the arts. I also had two brothers, John and George. We belong to the Santa Monica Athletic Club; we would go there on Saturdays (Fletcher.)
On Sundays we would spend family time on the beach. I loved playing pretend tea parties. Later, I would play with several of my adult co-stars. I atteneded the Westlake School for Girls. I love to go to school. I love singing, art, piano, writing and dancing (Rhea.)
Reporter I: What events in your early life made you interested in the arts?
Shirlley: My mom was a dancer, but had grown to tall to be a ballerina. Frustrated, because of her ownfalling out, she enrolled me at the Ethel Meglin Dance Studios, in Hollywood. I was just 3 years old. I was spotted by two talent scouts from a minor studio, Educational Films. I was told that I was going to be an actor (Kelly.)
I really didn't know what that meant, but I love to “tap” dance and I was able o tap dance while I acted. I was sighed for 26 short films for $50.00 a week(Fletcher)
Reporter I: what role did mentors play in helping you develop the interest and talents you have as an artist?
Shirley: The friendships that I made growing up with fellow actors really inspired me. Jimmy Dunn and Dorothy Dell were two of my favorites. Jimmy was funny like my dad and the way they acted as well as off camera, I was, or I was told I was just like an adult. (“Shirley Temple Fans”)
When I had started in the series in 1932, “Baby Burlesk,” which today would seem inappropriate for a child to play that role. I was not allowed to act like a child off screen. I must act like a muture adult. If I did act like a child, I would be punished and out in the black “punishment box,” which contained a large block of ice. This was to “cool you off”(Katherine.)
Reporter I: What was the world of art like in your particular art field when you entered it?
Shirley: Since I was so young when I entered the entertainment business, I didnt really know what was right or wrong. I depepended on the guidance of my parents and fellow actors. I was an actor growing up in the depression, but I wasn't aware of this, my partents made sure that all I knew were of happy things, going to school, giong to work, playing on the weekends. I didn't realize that money was scarce. So many companies went bankrupt. Everyone seemed to be struggling. Truly the term “starving artist,”applies (Fletcher.)
Reporter I: How did the major cultural, economic, and political situations of the time impact your work?
Shirley: 1930's Americans were feeling the Great Depression. There wasn't much money, no jobs, and people were more conservative with their leisure time. Pop culture writers started out making movies that focused on the common man, and realistic times. Then they started to write about the high and exotic life. Musicals were made to up lift the people, and more “feel good” movies were made. This made me excited because I love to act and also loved to dance. I love to make people feel better. (America)
Reporter I: What were your major accomplishments and the methods you used in your art?
Shirley: Wow, I have had a lot of accomplishments, both on screen and off. 1934 I was given a special Academy award for “In grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution” during the Great Depression. 1935 received the Academy award “Juvenile Performer”. I made so many movies. On January 29, 2006, I received the Life Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild, this was a great honor. (Kelly)
I was married on 9-19-1945, to John George Agar, we had three children. I also had, 1 granddaughter, and 2 great granddaughters. I would say to be brave and I followed my heart and was not overly influenced by outside factors. Live life to the fullest. (“Shirley Temple Fans”)
Reporter I:What were the key opportunities you had that led to turning points in your life and art?
Shirley: I would have to go back to when I was 3 years old. When my mother enrolled me at the Ethel Meglin Dance Studios. Auditions were held and I was very shy and was told to go into a separate room, with other dancers. I tried hiding behind a plant, while I watched the other dancers, say their name and dance for the 2 gentlemen. The 2 gentlemen noticed me hiding behind the plant and asked me to come out and sing and dance. I asked if I could tap for them. I told them tapping makes me feel the music in my feet and all through my body . They loved my talent and my curls. From that point on my life had changed. (Fletcher)
Reporter I: What hardships or roadblocks did you have to overcome in order to be an artist?
Shirley: One of my roadblocks, as with all child actors, is that we start getting older. As we get older, filmmakers aren't sure really if we fit. I was up for the part for Dorothy., Wizard of OZ, but that role was given to Judy Garland. By the late 1940's, I left Hollywood. Two decades later, I would try for Congress, but lost the election . (“Shirley Temple Fans”)
I did go on and have a successful career with the United Nations and the State Department as a foreign affairs officer. A very tough time in my life is when I found out that I had breast cancer. I tried to deny it. I even hid this from my husband. When I did finally get a biopsy and found out that is was a malignancy. I had to face it and have a mastectomy. I decided that I needed to public with my illness and bring awareness. “Don’t sit at home and be afraid, go to the doctor and get it checked out”. (Severson)
Reporter I: Who are the people that you admired both in the arts and beyond, and why did they inspire you?
Shirley: The people I admired were all actors but did other things besides acting. I was usually only around actors. Jimmy Dunn – funny father like figure. Dorothy Dell – smartest adult. Clark Gable, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Carole Leonard, Ronald Regan – my political interest after acting, Gary Cooper, Buddy Ebsen, Bill Robinson – longtime friend. There were just so many that I admire and respected. I would watch and take in everything around me and use that to become better. (Gable)
Reporter I: What personal stories (anedotes) best illistrate how you became successful in the arts?
Shirley: One I can remember, unfortunately it was a sad moment, is when I found out on the set, that Dorothy Dell had been in an accident and died. We were shooting “Now and Forever” with Gary Cooper and Carole Leonard. I knew something was wrongby the way Gary was acting. I overheard Carole say “Dorothy is dead”. My mother pulled me aside to regain my composure and to tell that I must continue working. I was the only one on the set able to pull my lines. And because of that moment being of such a young age, I was given many opportunities. ( Fletcher)
Bibliography Gable, Clark. “Gable Fears Shirley Temple!.” Dear Mr. Gable. Web 2 Mar 2012.
sleep well darling Shirley
ReplyDelete