Temple Tuesday: Shirley & Rita

In June 1942, Shirley Temple was between film gigs and paid a visit to Columbia Studios. One of her stops was for a few publicity shots with Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, who does not seem very pleased that her dancing partner is being borrowed by Shirley. The shot below was accompanied by the following caption:

BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY — Shirley Temple, on a recent day off, visited Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth on Columbia’s “You Were Never Lovelier,” set. Standing is Xavier Cugat, the rhumba king, who plays himself in the musical.



The next photo opp I have in my collection showing Shirley and Rita together is from April 1943 when the two  welcomed Madame Chiang Kai-shek to the Hollywood Bowl. Left to right are Norma Shearer, Marlene Dietrich, Mary Pickford, Shirley, Loretta Young, Rita, and Barbara Stanwyck.



In the fall of 1945, Shirley found herself back at Columbia Studios. From the accompanying caption:

WELCOME HOME — Director Charles Vidor, Rita Hayworth and Glenn Ford welcome Shirley Temple back to the Columbia lot on the “Gilda” set. Shirley recently starred in “Kiss and Tell” at the same studio.

“Kiss and Tell” had a $1.2 million budget while “Gilda” came in at $2 million.



“Kiss and Tell” was released October 18, 1945, and “Gilda” had its New York City premiere on March 14 1946. A lovely portrait of Shirley in angora to publicize “Kiss and Tell” below:



The American Film Institute website states that Rita Hayworth was the original choice for “Kiss and Tell”:

According to pre-production news items in Hollywood Reporter and Daily Variety, Columbia spent two years negotiating for the screen rights to the F. Hugh Herbert play. The studio initially conceived the play as a vehicle for Rita Hayworth and assigned Al Hill to direct.…According to Columbia publicity material, Herbert based the character of "Corliss Archer" on his teenage daughter. A New York Times article notes that David O. Selznick, who loaned Shirley Temple to Columbia for the production, initially demanded approval of the screenplay and daily rushes because he was concerned that the subject matter was too "sexy" for former child star Temple.

Herbert’s play of the same name debuted on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on March 17, 1943 and ran until June 23, 1945, with a total of 956 performances.

That last tidbit I could find about the two actresses was this none-too-flattering remembrance from Shirley’s autobiography, Child Star:

As the New Year [1949] rang in the Hollywood Women’s Press Club nominated me, after Rita Hayworth, the second least cooperative star in the industry. The vote came to me as a thunderbolt. My lifelong conviction held that a critical aspect of professionalism was popularity, including popularity with the working press, upon whose opinion the public relied…At my request, on January 5, 1949, I met with the entire club. The reception was sincerely unfriendly. Epithets like “stinker” and “always totally unavailable” were delivered, albeit with a smile. One writer claimed to have tried unsuccessfully for an interview for three years. Only columnist Hedda Hopper rose to shift the blame, saying officious underlings of the Selznick studio had rejected press inquiries without consulting me. In rebuttal another woman snarled things would never change; I was simply terrified to speak candidly with the press. “How about now, this afternoon?” I called back from the podium. Far too late to rescind my award, the group apologized as individuals, and lined up to schedule exclusives. Far from an egotistic exercise, my appearance recognized the pervasive power that the Women’s Press Club exercises, its opinion echoing in unexpected Hollywood crannies, as I soon found.

Shortly after, Shirley and then husband John Agar attended a party at Errol Flynn’s home. When she declined his invitation to join him in his steam room, he replied, “So that’s why the press voted you most uncooperative, eh?”

And that’s all I have for the Rita/Shirley connection!
 
See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: The Princess Meets The Prince

Shirley Temple Black attended the Golden Apple Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on December 19, 1976. Captured here is that awkward moment when you are being stalked by the paparazzi but are between conversations. “Please,” pleads Shirley, “find me someone interesting to talk to.” It’s not going to be the lady below wiping her nose.



But while we’re here, let’s take a look at Shirley’s lovely jewelry!



“No,” replies Shirley with her best tight-lipped smile, “I will not sing ‘On the Good Ship Lollipop’ for you. I’m the Chief of Protocol, Missy!” While that is just a guess on my part, Shirley DID say something similar according to the newspaper reports of the day:

Said Shirley Tempe Black to Lucille Ball on the dais at the Hollywood Women’s Press Club luncheon, “I must go over to speak to Allan Dwan. He directed eight of my pictures.” Said Lucille to Shirley, “You can’t leave the dais now. Things are just getting started.” “Oh yes, I can. I’m chief of protocol” — and off she went to talk with her former director.



Who did Shirley latch onto? None other than heartthrob Nick Nolte, wearing a (gasp) corduroy suit. You could title this, “The (former) Little Princess meets the (future) Prince of Tides.” Nick was still riding on his fame from starring in the “Rich Man, Poor Man” miniseries when this event took place.



“That doesn’t look like a Shirley Temple,” Nick seems to be saying as he stares at Shirley’s glass, attempting to say something witty. “Oh Nick, I’ve NEVER heard that one before! Ha!”



“What - is he bothering me?” Shirley replies to the guest who sense Shirley’s lack of interest in Nick. “Oh honey, I’ve fought off worse bores than this. Remember, I singlehandedly outran both Arthur Freed and David Selznick!”



Nick was the butt of one of emcee Monty Hall’s quips:

Said Nick Nolte in accepting his “New Star of the Year” Award: “Thank you. It’s always nice to win something,” and he shuffled off stage in his super-casual gear. Said emcee Monty Hall, “His eloquence is equaled only by his attire.”

When you’re at an event attended by “Old Hollywood,” you better dress the part! Margaret O’Brien received a backhanded compliment from columnist Joan Crosby:

Margaret O’Brien was also present, and she has lost all that extra weight she had been carrying around. She looks great.

Nearby were John Wayne and Glenn Ford.



Shirley ditched Nick and quipped to her old friend, The Duke, “Can you believe he asked for my phone number?!?”



Also at the party were Rob Reiner and wife, Penny Marshall. If only this set of negatives had a shot of Penny and Shirley, I could have titled this post, “When Laverne Met Shirley.” A missed opportunity.



In the world of soaps, none were bigger than super couple Bill Hayes and both real and reel wife Susan Seaforth Hayes, posing with Brenda Dickson and…DAVID HASSELHOFF!! The Hoff was in “Young and the Restless” playing Snapper Foster. Who came up with that name?



Patty Weaver joins “Days of Our Lives” costars Bill and Susan for this shot:



If you want to see some color shots from this event, see my previous post.

See more Shirley Temple Black photos at my main website.

Getting In Trouble

“If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont.”

– Harry Cohn

Much feared movie mogul boss Harry Cohn of Columbia admonished young heartthrobs William Holden and Glenn Ford for their drunken escapades in Hollywood. The two starred together in the 1941 Columbia Western "Texas." Yup, they sure do look like rabble-rousers!


photo found on A Drifting Cowboy.

Cohn's solution was to get them a suite at The Chateau, allowing them to cavort behind the very private walls of the legendary hotel.

Most people driving by on Sunset would miss the entrance; the neon sign in front says Garage. The staff at the garage that park your car for you are some of the nicest guys you could ever come across. Skillfully zipping cars in and out, maneuvering the gas guzzlers parked inside, they make a lot out of very little space.

You can take the elevator up one floor to the lobby, or walk up the stairs. I typically take the stairs (it's only one flight!), because you never know what you'll see along the way.



The artwork and stained glass in the lobby are breathtaking. Already, you feel like you are in another era.





One of my favorite areas of the hotel is this huge living room space.



Guests can relax here, order food, and even play on the piano that is positioned at the corner entrance to this welcoming arena.



The over-stuffed plush furniture beckons you to sit for a few hours and forget your troubles.



Don't even get me started on the light fixtures here; I could blow a whole memory card on these.



The food at the Chateau is also outstanding. But the bacon...good Lord that peppered bacon must be seasoned with crack. It is out of this world.



See more Chateau Marmont photos on my Chateau Marmont web page.