On April 19, 1942, just four days before her fourteenth birthday, Shirley Temple joined comedians Abbott and Costello for the Command Performance Broadcast on NBC. The program started off actor Paul Douglas reading a touching request from Corporal George “Sonny” Temple, Jr. of the United States Marine Corps, located “somewhere in the South Pacific.” “Would you please call up my kid sister and tell her I’d like to hear her voice?” Of course “kid sister” gladly complied. Below is a shot from 1935 with her brother “Sonny”:
Below are the participants in the broadcast. From left to right: Gordon Jenkins, Lou Costello, Frank Graham, Shirley Temple, Unidentified, Paul Douglas, Bud Abbott, Fanny Brice, and Hanley Stafford.
Highlights included “Blue Skies” performed by Gordon Jenkins and the orchestra, a Baby Snooks (Brice) and Daddy (Frank Nelson) routine, Abbott and Costello doing their legendary “Who’s On First?” routine, and Dorothy Lamour singing “Moonlight and Shadows.” Lamour is shown below with Shirley:
In my collection, I also have the photo below, which I am “assuming” was taken on the same day (outfit and hairstyle match). The accompanying publicity blurb:
In accordance with her annual custom, Shirley Temple celebrated her 14th birthday by gathering her friends for a big birthday party. This year it consisted of the children of the Pan-American consuls in the Los Angeles area and members of her “Junior Miss” radio cast. Shirley Temple’s friends help her blow out the candles on her birthday cake.
Shirley was a busy girl on April 19! You can listen to the broadcast for yourself on the oldtimeradiodownloads.com website.
See more photos at my main website.
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