Temple Tuesday: Shirley & Cary

Shirley Temple and Cary Grant co-starred in the 1947 comedy, “The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer.” I believe this publicity shot was taken outside the Beverly Hills High School where a few of the scenes were filmed. The accompanying caption:

HOT RODSTER
Cary Grant is ridin’ the movie ranger these days in a “hot rod” with the best of the bobby-soxers. It’s the result of an involvement with co-star Shirley Temple in their new RKO Radio film, “The Bachelor And The Bobby-Soxer.”

By most accounts, Grant liked things the way he liked them, and could sometimes be difficult on set. At one point during filming, he caught Shirley doing an imitation of him for the film crew; he stalked off and complained to producer David O. Selznick, who read the actress the riot act for her unprofessional behavior.  Selznick had Shirley under contract at the time, thus his involvement. Back on the set, Shirley apologized to Grant, who graciously accepted it and replied, “By the way, it was a pretty good imitation.” Below, Grant’s character makes nice with Shirley’s boyfriend in the film, played by Johnny Sands.



Almost forty years later, Shirley appeared at a tribute to Grant staged by the Princess Grace Foundation, due to the close friendship between the Grant (who died in 1986) and Grace Kelly (who died in 1982). Proceeds from the gala event held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills went to the Princess Grace Foundation. From the LA Times on July 15, 1988, just a few months before the event:

And this fall comes a tribute to the classic and classy actor that will indeed be one of a kind—an Oct. 19 benefit at the Beverly Hilton for the Princess Grace Foundation U.S.A. Barbara Grant, widow of the actor who died in November, 1986, said that she and his daughter, Jennifer, wanted “only one special tribute to Cary, and due to his close friendship with Princess Grace and her family we decided that the proceeds from the evening should benefit the foundation named in her honor.” Although planning is just getting under way, the committee list for the black-tie gala already reads like a list of Hollywood royalty. First Lady Nancy Reagan and Barbara Grant are honorary co-chairs. Dina Merrill chairs the evening, with co-chairs Merv Griffin, Kirk Kerkorian, Veronique and Gregory Peck, Don and Judy Balaban Quine (who was a member of Princess Grace’s wedding party), Barbara and Frank Sinatra, and Lew and Edie Wasserman. In the audience: Prince Rainier, Prince Albert, Princess Stephanie and, reportedly, if her schedule can be changed, Princess Caroline. Sources say the party will be the debut of the new International Ballroom at the Beverly Hilton.

Shirley looked stunning that evening!



The Times spilled more tea on September 14, 1988:

When is a $1,000-a-person benefit ticket worth the price? Try Oct. 19, when the special gala tribute to Cary Grant, benefiting the Princess Grace Foundation U.S.A., brings together the princely family of Monaco with just about every royal persona Hollywood can muster. This evening is unique in many ways--it will be the only tribute Grant’s widow, Barbara, is permitting for the late, beloved actor. And, because there was only one Cary Grant, the evening will have an extraordinary retinue of stars up on stage: James Stewart, Gregory Peck, Frank Sinatra, Walter Matthau, Roger Moore, Shirley Temple Black, Robert Wagner, Warren Beatty, benefit chair Dina Merrill, Eva Marie Saint, Quincy Jones, Robert Mitchum, John Forsythe, Dean Martin, Michael Caine and, performing, Liza Minnelli, Sammy Davis Jr. and Henry Mancini, all in a production designed by Jack Haley Jr. and emceed by Merv Griffin highlighting Grant’s films.



In the front row are Frank Sinatra, Merv Griffin, Robert Wagner, Prince Albert II, Princess Stéphanie, Prince Rainier III, and Henry Mancini. Back row: Michael Caine, Eva Marie Saint, Gregory Peck, Barbara Grant, Unknown, Liza Minnelli, Dina Merrill, and Roger Moore. What a lineup!!

UPI had this to say after the event:

European royalty mingled with Hollywood royalty in tribute to the late sultan of suave, Cary Grant. The Wednesday night gala benefited the Princess Grace Foundation-U.S.A. and Prince Rainier of Monaco and two of his offspring, Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert, attended the black-tie banquet at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Frank Sinatra, Michael Caine, Gregory Peck, Eva Marie Saint, Robert Wagner, Roger Moore and Dean Martin were on hand to swap memories of Grant. The entertainment was provided by Sammy Davis Jr. and Liza Minnelli and Merv Griffin, who owns the hotel, was master of ceremonies. Film clips from Grant's long career were shown in addition to taped tributes sent in by President Reagan, Sophia Loren, Walter Matthau and others. The Princess Grace Foundation-U.S.A. raises funds to help aspiring artists in theatre, dance, and film.

Milton Berle puts the moves on Liza and Shirley, with Jack Haley, Jr. on the right (Liza’s husband at the time) and Eva Marie Saint in the background.



I wonder if Shirley did her Grant imitation? I sure would have loved to have seen that! BTW: Shirley seemed even less interested in Berle one year later, when he attempted to have his photo taken with her again. Give it up, Miltie! Actor Stewart Granger is on the right.



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Fun with Hoarding

A few years ago I discovered the Punchy Players on YouTube. From their description:

Favorite personalities of Old Hollywood are celebrated in these satirical videos. Produced and conceived by Chris Tassin. Featuring the voice talent of Jeff Marquis with visuals and additional voice work from Chris Tassin. Written by Jeff and Chris.

Not only is the writing for these brilliant, but the voices nail the personalities they portray. This is a recently discovered favorite. If you are a fan of the old MGM musicals, this will make a great start to your weekend, and it might encourage you to clean out your clutter!

See more Pop Culture fun at my main website.

Tribute to Shirley Temple Black

I was saddened this morning to read that one of my childhood heroines, Shirley Temple Black, had passed away. I vividly remember the first time I saw her on television; I was flipping channels and came upon a black and white movie with a little curly-haired girl tap dancing on top of an all-white piano. Turns out it was the end of the movie ("Curly Top," 1935) and I would have to wait until the next Sunday to see another Shirley Temple movie. Here's a colorized version of that very scene:



Every week, "The Shirley Temple Theater" on our local TV station would show a different Shirley Temple movie, and I sat in front of the set and watched every one of them.

What fascinated me about her so? Well, there were others who danced better, and plenty of others who sang better, too, but very few (if any) in films had her sunny disposition, can-do attitude, and total lack of artifice.



Her films were simple and adhered to a very strict format. Typically, Shirley was orphaned or missing at least one parent, causing her to shamelessly play matchmaker to create a new family for herself. You knew there'd be a happy ending and that Shirley's home would be whole again by the end of the film. Along the way there'd be plenty of opportunity for Shirley to sing and dance a memorable tune that would stick in your head, and if there were any mean-spirited or hateful people that she'd encounter, well...Shirley would unthaw them pretty darn quick with a smile and a positive message. Even President Lincoln had to acknowledge her request, which in this particular film ("The Littlest Rebel") was to free her father from jail.



During the Depression, one of the darkest times of this nation's history, Shirley provided 80 minutes of happiness in a darkened theater for those who had very little joy in their own life. She was credited with lifting the spirits of the world with a toss of her curls and the warmth of her smile. For 20th Century Fox, she was a cash cow, saving the studio from bankruptcy and becoming a merchandising bonanza, spearheaded by the release of a slew of dolls created in her likeness, which happened to save the Ideal Toy Company from financial ruin, too.



Shirley's film career as a child ended for all the reasons you might guess; she got older, the country became a bit bored with the predictable nature of her films, and others came along that had more talent. At the age of 12, Shirley temporarily retired to focus on being a normal teen and to attend private school at the Westlake School for Girls.



Shirley made a number of movies as an adult, some of which are actually pretty darn good, with my favorite being "The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer" with Cary Grant.



Shirley eventually decided to leave films and with her second marriage, achieved happiness with both husband (Charles Black) and family.



At a time when women were fighting for equality, Shirley quietly began a second career for herself in politics, showing that you didn't have to burn your bra to be an achiever. Some of the positions she held included Representative to the 24th United Nations General Assembly under Richard Nixon, Ambassador to Ghana for Gerald Ford, and first female U.S. Chief of Protocol (also under Ford). She served as the U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1989—1992), having been appointed by President George H. W. Bush. She rounded up her political career by serving as a trainer to future diplomats.

She was also one of the first women to speak up about breast cancer, sharing her own story in 1973 and encouraging women to get checked early. It was a very brave thing to do for such a private person at a time when women just did not speak about such things.

Afterwards, Shirley stayed in the public eye with appearances, honorary Oscars, and the release of her autobiography, the very candid and funny book "Child Star" in 1989.



Here she is at a tribute to Cary Grant in 1988 with Liza Minnelli, Milton Berle, and Jack Haley, Jr. Eva Marie Saint can be seen in the background:



Thank you Shirley for your many years of service to this country. I am sure that Heaven will shine a little brighter with you up there.



See more vintage Shirley Temple photos on my main website.

Happy 85th Birthday, Shirley Temple Black!

Shirley Temple Black has crammed a lot of living into her 85 years: an actress, a singer, a dancer, a wife, a mother, AND a diplomat. Starting out in 1932 as the female lead in a series of extremely politically incorrect movie shorts called "Baby Burlesks," Shirley learned quickly how to steal a scene.



Her big breakthrough came in 1934 when she sang the hit song "Baby Take A Bow" in the otherwise forgettable Fox Film "Stand Up And Cheer." For a country weary from the Depression and on the brink of war, Shirley was a real shot in the arm.



It wasn't long before the talented tot was immortalized in the cement of Grauman's Chinese Theater's forecourt.



Her roles as a child star are still memorable, whether she was the goody-two-shoes counterpart to Jane Withers' brattiness...



or attempting to charm President Lincoln into pardoning her father...



or teaching a cripple how to walk...



Here she attempts to impress the judge and jury in a courtroom with her dance skills. Whatever it was, Shirley Temple put a smile on the face of this nation throughout the 1930's.



She began 1939 by handing out the Oscar(s) to Walt Disney for his achievement with "Snow White."



1939 also saw the release of her first all-Technicolor motion picture, "The Little Princess."



One year later, her super career faltered when "The Blue Bird" failed to register with the American public. Nobody wanted to see Shirley as a brat.



The 1940's saw a small resurgence in her career in a number of prestige pictures, such as "Since You Went Away" with Claudette Colbert and Jennifer Jones:



and "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" with Cary Grant and Myrna Loy.



Sadly though, her career ended before 1950 thanks to a number of duds that attempted to make money by using the marquee value of Shirley's name. "That Hagen Girl" with Ronald Reagan was one of the most laughable.



In the late 1950's, Shirley found new fame on television, presenting a series of classic fairy tales. She was a more than lovely hostess:



Some of the screenplays featured Shirley as well, including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" with Boris Karloff:



One of my favorite (and oddest) photos of Shirley is this one of her from 1964 with The Beatles.



By the 1960's, Shirley gave up her acting career and became a politician, earning a newfound respect thanks to her commitment and hard work. She was also one of the first women to come forward and encourage others by sharing the story of her breast cancer experience. Besides her stints as a diplomat (in Ghana and Prague), Shirley still appeared in the public eye to share stories about her Hollywood days. Here she is in 1978 with Jane Withers:



In 1989 she made best-seller lists with the publication of her autobiography, "Child Star."



She has supposedly finished part two of her autobiography, detailing the rest of her life, but has yet to get it published. I can only imagine the stories she has tell about her days in Washington. Last photo for today shows Shirley with Liza Minnelli, Milton Berle, and Jack Haley, Jr. In the background on the right you can see Eva Marie Saint.



So raise your Shirley Temple in salute to Shirley Temple Black - Happy 85th to a true American Princess!

See more Shirley Temple Black photos on my Shirley web page.