Temple Tuesday: Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

This press photo dates from April 1952. The attached caption:

HAPPY BRIDE: Shirley Temple’s first appearance back in Hollywood following her honeymoon with groom Charles Black was at the Brown Derby, when she lunched with her father, George Temple. Note Shirley’s magnificent diamond star choker, not to mention her blazing marquise diamond engagement ring.

Another year later, in October 1952, it would appear that Shirley had acquired a matching pair of earrings:

NEW YORK, Oct. 22 — MAMA SHIRLEY STEPS OUT — Shirley Temple, the one-time baby sweetheart of the screen, spends an evening on the town with her husband, Navy Commander Charles Black, during a visit to New York from their Bethesda, Md., home. Shirley, retired from the screen since her second marriage, recently recovered from a series of complications following the birth of a son.

 

Director Mitchell Leisen fastens the choker on Shirley for the premiere episode of “Shirley Temple’s Storybook,” January 12, 1958. As the show’s hostess, Shirley had to look her best — and she most certainly did!

Wowza...that’s a lot of carats!

Shirley can be seen wearing the diamond choker and earring set in this publicity shot for “Shirley Temple’s Storybook.” John Raitt, who starred in the 1958 Rumpelstiltskin episode, poses alongside Shirley.

GOR-GEOUS!

I was unable to find any other shots of her wearing this stunning set of star jewelry after 1958, and none of it surfaced in the 2015 Love, Shirley Temple auction. Anybody know the whereabouts of it?

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesdays: Behind the Storybook Pt. 2

It looks like Shirley Temple's daughter, Linda Susan, is ready to go home. She's had enough of waiting around the set. Shirley checks her wristwatch and reassures Linda that they will be heading out shortly.



Linda Susan double checks her own watch...



and the two hug it out. Awwwww...



More backstage in-between takes shots from "Shirley Temple's Storybook":







Check out the vintage television cameras!





A closeup of the camera and prompter:





Shirley has left the building; finally, Linda Susan gets to go home.



How 'bout that personalized luggage? STB = Shirley Temple Black. NEVER forget the Temple.







And that's the end of that series!

UPDATE! Many thanks to David at Gorillas Don't Blog for sending in two shots that match the background of the last few photos of Shirley & Linda Susan getting ready to drive off the lot.



That's St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank and the water tower from the Disney Studios.



More 1950s Shirley at my main website.

Temple Tuesdays: Behind the Storybook Pt. 1

From a batch of vintage negatives come these behind-the-scenes shots of Shirley Temple rehearsing her anthology television show, "Shirley Temple's Storybook."



Running on NBC from January through December 1958, it was a mix of color and black and white episodes. I tried to zoom in to be able to read Shirley's script, but to no avail. However, check out the ice on her fingers!



Although the golden curls had straightened out and gone darker, that famous dimpled smile was still around to charm.







I believe the gentleman with the cig and his back to the camera is Mitchell Leisen, who directed three of the series' episodes.



More 1950s Shirley at my main website.

Temple Tuesdays: 1950s Shirley

Shirley Temple helps us usher in Valentine's Day with a color photo showing Director Mitchell Leisen zipping her up in one of the Don Loper gowns that she wore on "The Shirley Temple Storybook," circa 1957. The edge of another one of her dresses can be seen to the left. Oh, hey...here she is with Producer Alvin Cooperman wearing that very dress on set, December 1957.



But back to the original image, here are some detailed shots:



Here is her famous blue diamond ring that she received in 1940; currently estimated to be worth between $25-35 million. That sure would make a nice Valentine's Day gift!



More 1950s Shirley at my main website.

Shirley's 1958 Comeback

Shirley Temple retired from films in 1949 and then returned to the (little) screen in 1958 with an anthology of Fairy Tales titled, "Shirley Temple's Storybook." Wearing gowns designed by Don Loper, Shirley looked like a million bucks! From the vintage publicity still:

BACK IN ACTION—Shirley Temple, remembered for her childhood starring roles, is directed by Producer Alvin Cooperman as she begins rehearsals in Hollywood for a new TV series starting Jan. 12.

Here's a shot of her with Director Mitchell Leisen:



More 1950s Shirley at my main website.