In 1945, seventeen-year-old Shirley Temple was busy preparing for her wedding to Sergeant John Agar. On August 14, there was a bridal shower in Beverly Hills with all of her school chums from Westlake School for Girls. On September 10, Shirley was seen holding hands with her mother, Gertrude, as they headed to the Beverly Hills dressmaker to get her bridal ensemble.
The shot below shows them leaving the shop.
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF., SEPT. 10 — SHIRLEY SHOPS FOR WEDDING DRESS. Shirley Temple, accompanied by her mother, Mrs. George Temple, leaves a dressmaking shop here today after picking out her wedding dress. The young screen actress will become the bride of Sgt. John Agar sometime between Sept. 15 and 22, depending on when Agar is granted a furlough.
A week later, Shirley had to sign her autograph yet again, this time to get her marriage license.
While her fiancé, Sgt. John G. Agar, Jr., looks on, Shirley Temple, 17-year-old screen actress, signs an application for a marriage license issued to them in Glendale, Calif., Sept. 17. Their wedding will take place Sept. 19 in Los Angeles.
Unfortunately, you can’t read the writing on the license, but you can at least see the ring on her finger!
Every 1940s bride had to have an official wedding photo:
Wouldn’t you love to have been a fly on the wall to hear the pre-wedding chatter?
The actual wedding ceremony:
Just a few press photographers to cover Shirley’s exit from the church. Oh those paparazzi!
Presenting Mrs. and Mr. John Agar:
Recognize the doors?
The exterior of the Wilshire United Methodist Church (where the wedding occurred) as it looks now:
Back at Shirley’s home, the couple go upstairs to change clothes for their honeymoon:
Getting pelted with rice as they leave:
Shirley’s wedding dress was auctioned off in 2015 by Theriault’s. From the catalog description:
The ivory satin wedding gown, designed by Howard Greer, is decorated with appliqué scrolls composed of tiny pearls edging the bodice, tiny pearls dotting the bodice, a row of silk-covered buttons at the back which disguise the zipper closure, slightly dropped waist and long flowing skirt with very extended train. Along with a firm wired loop-shaped coronet with very extended tulle veil and train, ivory satin pearl-encrusted gloves and an Alençon lace handkerchief. The designer, Howard Greer, a 1920s costume designer for Paramount, opened his own couture studio in 1927, specializing in fine personal couture for actresses and society women, including this wedding gown for Shirley Temple which encompassed his favored look of fitted torsos with stunning accents.
Need to feel like you were there? Here’s the vintage newsreel footage:
See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.
I love when you do those before and after shots, like the doors to the Wilshire United Methodist Church. For some reason that really gives me a sense of connection to that historical moment when you can see it in modern times in full color. What's with John Agar? That dude does not know how to look at the camera or smile, but the one picture above where he is explain why. That's not so much a smile as a leer. Creepy!!
ReplyDeleteI never noticed the small side hoops on her gown before. I've worn the full-size version with 18th-century costume, but those little ones give a very interesting shape to the skirt. A beautiful bride and a lovely couple. I don't feel quite so bad that it didn't work out, knowing that they both went on to long, happy unions with others.
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