Temple Tuesday: Shirley and Santa

Back in the day, famous stars like Shirley Temple had to do their share of holiday publicity shots. This darling photo from 1934 (before the Twentieth Century as added to Fox!), little Shirley sleeps through Santa’s visit. The stylist for this photo was on point; notice the clock has been set to midnight.



While I was overwhelmed in trying to find out info about the Nativity painting hanging over the mantel, I was able to find the Popeye toy in the stocking on ebay; it’s a J. Chein Popeye Boxing Punching Bag Wind-up Toy. J. Chein & Company was an American toy manufacturer from 1903 through the 1980s, best remembered for their mechanical toys made from stamped and lithographed tin produced from the 1930s—1950s. If you’d like one of these for yourself, there’s currently one on ebay for the bargain price of $1,495!



Couldn’t match the paper doll book either. Am guessing it was one of the many that Saalfield publishers printed.



By 1937, Shirley was old enough to be awake at midnight. Wait! The clock says two-thirty; who was in charge of styling this photo?!? I am surprised that no Shirley dolls are in sight under the tree; I guess 20th Century-Fox was not interested in promoting the Ideal Toy Company.



Shirley’s last Christmas shoot at Fox was in 1939; Santa was relegated to a silhouette, and Shirley was sound asleep!



If you celebrate, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

See more holiday Shirley Temple photos at my main website.