Shirley Temple was one of the greatest child actors of her time. She was talented, cute, and full of energy. However, what made her stand out? Sure, she was cute and fun, but these are common traits that almost all children share. What made her more talented than the other child actors? Shirley Temple Black was born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica California. Her Father, George Francis Temple, was a successful banker, and business man. Her mother, Gertrude Amelia Krieger, was a stay at home mother who loved dancing. Shirley had two brothers, Jack, and George Jr. (who were both older then Shirley). Shirley started her dancing lessons at age three with Mrs. Meglin, at Mrs. Meglin’s Dance Studio located in Los Angeles. She was soon spotted by two lucky producers, Jack Hays, and Charles Lamont from the Educational Films Corporation. She would work for them in 1932, and 1933. Shirley was chosen to star in a short film known as Baby Burlesks. She then stared in Frolics of youth. She was one of the greatest child actors of the 30’s. In 1933, Fox Films contracted Shirley, and agreed to pay her 150$ per week! They gave her a major role in Carolina (1934). This was her first full length feature film. She then stared in Stand up and Cheer (1934). It was a huge hit. This was her very first major film. She then continued to act in eight more films that same year. Some of the other films she stared in were Bright Eyes, and Little Miss Marker. She was soon given a miniature Oscar by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. From then on out, her career as an actress grew. She was at the top of almost all box office listings for the next decade! She was very talented at dancing, and often learned her lines as fast as the adult actors! However, by the time the 1940’s rolled around, much of her childish charm was gone. Her film, The Blue Bird (1940) was not a great success. She tried acting in the T.V. show, called Shirley Temple, but it proved to be another failure. People couldn’t seem to grasp the Idea that Shirley was growing up. They liked the cute, curly blond haired girl of the thirties. They seemed to forget about her amazing ability to dance, and her quick ability to remember lines. Maybe the thing that had made her so irresistible to the public was simply her youth. She was so young and cute, that everyone loved her. She was one of the few child actresses of her time, a rare find. As she grew up, her abilities only got stronger. Her dancing was better, she was an experienced actress, and her ability to remember lines was growing. Why did people seem to forget about her? What was so different about her? It was her age. She was growing up. She had lost her little girl charm that attracted so many people. Her skill may have played a part in her popularity, but the main attention grabber was her youth. She was a cute, young child in her prime. Her best films were made when she was still young. Maybe, it was merely her age that people liked. If she had been a teenager, she would have never landed a roll in Baby Burlesks. She would have never sighed with Fox Films and landed such complex important roles. However, she was still a great actress. She made almost anyone who watched her films smile.
