Temple Tuesday: Shirley Gets Sick!

While traveling across the country in July 1938, Shirley Temple made headlines for…a tummy ache. Yup. Here’s the publicity blurb:



You don’t speak German? Thanks to the miracle of online translation, here’s what it says:

Shirley Temple, the youngest and highest paid film actress in the world, needs to rest for a while. The doctor put her on bed rest and no excitement. She is in her suite at the Carlton Hotel in Boston, where daily bulletins are issued about her condition.

Daily bulletins for a ten year old who had a stomach ache from eating rotten apple sauce. At the Waldorf Astoria in NYC, no less. I don’t recall seeing that tidbit in the news reports!



The press photographer who snapped the sickbed pic was Charles W. Banks of the Post, who had to wait for Shirley’s mother to arrange Shirley’s curls and add a tiny pink ribbon. After all, a movie star must always look their best!

Thanks to Shirley expert supreme, Rita Dubas, you can see some of the more local coverage:



I wonder if the Waldorf paid off the press to keep the applesauce situation on the downlow? While resting in bed, Shirley had some of her favorite toys with her, including a stuffed dog and a Käthe Kruse doll she called “Marcia Field” because of its purchase at the Chicago Department Store:



…and Susie Blockhead, cradled in the little girl’s arms:



How Susie looked when auctioned off in 2015 by Theriault’s:



…and Little Marcia:



Melissa, aka “The Colonel,” supplied the rest of the info on Shirley’s illness:

Shirley’s mother Gertrude took Shirley’s temperature upon arrival and found it was 103 degrees. She immediately called family physician Dr. Leo Madsen, asking him to fly out. Meanwhile, two child specialists from Massachusetts General Hospital were called in – Drs. Harold L. Higgins and Joseph L. Lewis. They found her to have a temperature of 100.5 and an upset stomach, but no pneumonia or appendicitis. Before being put to bed, it was reported that Shirley said, “Just as soon as I feel better I’m going to see Bunker Hill and Paul Revere’s house and where the Indians dumped the tea and all those places.” She was watched overnight by Massachusetts General nurse Rita Gibbons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gibbons of Salem, NH. The next day, July 30, Dr. Higgins said her temperature had dropped to 99.2, but she was ordered to stay in bed. One doctor took a blood sample and the first prick was too shallow and the second too deep, causing a bit of bleeding. Shirley asked the doctors to examine her dolls, and they advised her that she could not do any of the activities she had planned. The 200 children who waited at Bunker Hill Monument would not see Shirley as expected that morning, nor would she be able to take Captain Guglielmo Lazzari up on his offer to visit the Italian Line motorship Vulcania.

On July 31, she was still confined to bed, her temperature hovering around 99.2, but it was reported that she had spent a rather good night. By August 1, Dr. Madsen had arrived by plane from Santa Monica and declared that her illness was not serious and that her temperature was near normal. After consulting with Drs. Higgins and Lewis, Madsen agreed that the specialists were no longer necessary. Shirley was well enough to wave from her window to the waiting fans below. The Governor of Massachusetts, Charles F. Hurley, and the Governor of New Hampshire both called on the young star, but were not permitted to see her. They left their cards and sent a bouquet of gladioli, larkspur and roses.

After four days in bed, Shirley was finally able to see some of the sights of Boston on August 3. Dressed in the light blue smocked dress, a blue hair ribbon and white shoes and socks, she went to the Public Garden for a ride in the famous swan boats. Shirley came down from her hotel at 4:15 pm and was greeted by a squad of 12 Boston police officers.

Once on the swan boat, Shirley sat in front. Also aboard were her parents, Mayor Tobin, Captain John McArdle and Dr. Leo Madsen. The third seat of the boat held Grif, detective Slack and Sgt. William Crowley. Behind them sat six reporters. The boat was propelled by 17-year-old Robert Paget, son of Commander John Paget. Shirley was presented with a yachting cap and given the honorary title of “admiral of the swan boat navy.”



A “house call” where the doctor flies from Los Angeles to Boston. It boggles the mind.

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.