Temple Tuesday: Mystery in Pink

In Shirley Temple’s “The Little Colonel,” she dances in the stables with Bill Robinson, wearing a cute little satin outfit trimmed with black velvet bows, frills, leather boots, and a straw hat. Shortly after the dance, the villains (Alden Chase and Sidney Blackmer) pay a call on her in an attempt to locate her father (played by John Lodge).



Little Shirley runs to her grandfather’s house to get help and alerts the cook (Geneva Williams), who tells the worried little girl that Grandpa is socializing at a neighbor’s home.



After a harrowing run through a dark wood at night, little Shirley finally reaches her Grandfather (Lionel Barrymore), who puts aside his contempt for her Yankee father to come save the day.



Naturally, a happy ending follows with father (Lodge) and mother (Evelyn Venable).



Shirley is shown wearing this costume in between takes with a visitor on the set:



From the vintage publicity blurb:

Shirley Temple entertains little Lily de Pourtales Lodge, daughter of John Lodge on the set of Shirley’s next picture. In the picture John Lodge plays the part of her father. Little Miss Lodge is the descendant of the Cabot, Lodge, Alden, and Adams families of New England.

That’s some lineage! These ladies were also photographed visiting Shirley:



Zell Hart Deming, publisher of the Warren, Ohio, Tribune-Chronicle, visits Shirley Temple on the set of “The Little Colonel” at the Fox studio. The publisher stands on Shirley’s right. The two other ladies are Mrs. Rena Wolcott and Mrs. Fred McBerty, both of Warren.

Here, Shirley relaxes between takes with costar Avonne Jackson. On the far left of the shot is Shirley’s stand-in, Marilyn Granas.



Want to see what the lady on the left has in her lap? I’m so nosy!



Many Lands was a 1935 reading and coloring book published by the Saalfield Company, who also produced Shirley Temple books and paper dolls.


Even little movie stars have to take it easy at some point!



The boots and bonnet Shirley wore were auctioned off by Theriault’s in 2015. Here’s how they looked when I saw them at the Santa Monica History Museum:



From the catalog description:

BONNET AND HIGH BUTTON BOOTS WORN BY SHIRLEY TEMPLE IN THE FILM “THE LITTLE COLONEL”

 Lot Number: 78. The porkpie-style woven bonnet has wire-framed brim to support its unique shape, and is decorated with long black velvet streamers and banding; the interior has pink taffeta lining and original inventory label 1105-H. Along with the matching pair of high button boots, each with nine pearlized buttons and having original label of Emidio Spezza of Los Angeles. Excellent condition. The bonnet and boots were worn by the young actress during the “Oh Susannah” song and dance sequence of the 1935 film “The Little Colonel.” Emidio Spezza, the Italian-born shoemaker, described in a 1936 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as “short, rotund, wears a waxed mustache and makes shoes for Hollywood people,” arrived in Hollywood about 1910 and earned a loyal clientele for his custom-made shoes ranging from Greta Garbo to Marlene Dietrich; in the 1930s this list of clientele included the specialty shoes for the young Shirley Temple. Realized Price: $2,000 Presale Estimate: 2000+

I often wondered what happened to the outfit itself? I remember in the 1980’s, when Shirley herself released a life-sized doll of herself wearing the same outfit, the publicity brochure stated that it was her very favorite outfit. Here’s a pic of that doll, currently listed on ebay. Yes, the doll itself looks a little creepy.



Later, the Danbury Mint also released a Shirley doll in this outfit, at a much more manageable size of 14":



Again…I wondered what happened to this outfit? Especially one that Shirley claimed was her favorite. Thanks to information submitted by Shirley’s Army member Connie, we now at least have some clues. In 1972, Shirley was co-host on the Mike Douglas talk show for a week.



In one episode, there were Shirley collectibles from the collection of Doris Studeman that were shown. From a vintage Shirley newsletter account:

Doris got to meet Shirley between tapings, and was greatly impressed. She would have been on the show herself if she could have been there Monday, but she did see the tapings of other shows. Her comment on the whole thing was, “It all happened so fast I couldn’t think!” Also, she says the Monday and Friday shows may be repeated during the summer, so watch your TV schedules. Esther sent a daily commentary on the show, which I don’t think I have room for this month, but I’ll give you some comments from different members: “She certainly is a beautiful woman…She was absolutely charming…Enjoyed every minute of it…Wasn’t Shirley wonderful! I could have watched her for weeks…She is so charming; I think even prettier and younger-looking than on the Dick Cavett show…She remains the same sweet, beautiful person she has always been…She looked relaxed and happy…She’s been just great!! She’s worn some of the most beautiful long dresses - it was also good to hear her sing again (Dreams Are Made for Children)…she looks so cute.” And to finish off the quotes, here is one from Esther in praise of her husband Gordon: “Just to show what a fine husband I have - he ate dinner half an hour late every night last week and we went up to the lake an hour later on Friday so I could see all Shirley’s shows!!”

Sounds like a keeper to me! Most interesting part of the newsletter to me was this:

One of Shirley’s favorite movie costumes was the fuschia one from “The Little Colonel.” It was stolen and never found.

Stolen? Who would dare steal from our gal Shirley? Or was it stolen from the Fox lot after filming was completed? If stolen ruby slippers can be found by the FBI, why not Shirley’s favorite pink satin “Colonel” ensemble? Let the search begin!

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Not So Welcome at The Academy

Part of Melissa’s (aka The Colonel) visit to LA included a trip to the recently opened Academy Museum in Los Angeles on Wilshire Boulevard, housed in what was originally the May Company building. Melissa channels Judy Garland back in the day as she walked in front of the (former) department store:



The addition to the historic building has the boring but currently trendy industrial chic look:



The inside of the building is just as cold and off-putting, which really makes the life-sized Uncle Oscar statue stand out like a sore thumb. I’m waiting for the day when somebody gets offended by the sculpt and it has to change.



The first order of business was to get to the Shirley Temple Education Studio, which just so happened to be closed.



In case you’re wondering what $5 million dollars from Shirley’s family purchased, here’s an inside peek:



The Museum has a treasure trove of some of Shirley’s most iconic costumes, the desk used in her Fox Studio Bungalow, and memorabilia related to her close friendship/working relationship with dancer/choreographer Bill Robinson. And therein lies the real reason why Shirley is kept on the down-low. Because Robinson portrayed a servant to a plantation family in two of Shirley’s movies (both set in the Civil War), inside sources have revealed that the Museum is afraid of backlash if they put too much of Shirley’s history on display. More on that in another post. Moving on to the other main reason for the visit: the Ruby Slippers.



These are the Ruby Slippers that belonged to Kent Warner, the man who discovered all of the pairs created for “The Wizard of Oz” when MGM was selling off its historic props and costumes in their 1970 auction. Warner picked the best pair to keep for himself. From the display text:

This pair is believed to be the one seen in all close-up shots, as when Dorothy clicks her heels together three times and says, “There’s no place like home.”



You can see #7 Judy Garland handwritten inside the shoe:



They are just incredible to see in person.



[W]hite silk pumps from the Innes Shoe Company of Pasadena and Hollywood were dyed red by the MGM costume department, covered in silk georgette, and hand-embellished with approximately 2,300 sequins each. A red leather bow covered in red rhinestones, bugle beads, and costume jewels was then affixed to each slipper. MGM seamstress Aurora Dueñas was on hand throughout filming to restore loose beads and sequins.



In the detailed shot, it would appear that rather than leather the beads for the bow were affixed to a cloth backing, as you can see the pattern of the fabric below the crystals and bugle beads.









Melissa captured me attempting to shoot the famed slippers without catching the reflection of the glass display. Not an easy task.



The Cowardly Lion’s mane was also on display:



…and the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat. Extra lights were necessary to make Margaret Hamilton’s Witch’s costume register on Technicolor film. Adrian also designed this costume, made of black wool surrounded by a flowing silk scarf:



Here is the concept art by William Tuttle for the Wicked Witch, based on Jack Dawn’s makeup design:



…and the Tin Man. For this one, Dawn and Tuttle stayed faithful to the original book illustrations by W.W. Denslow.



One of the pinafores worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy, designed by Adrian, with a non-original blouse:



This is labeled as the sepia pinafore worn by Garland’s stand-in, Bobbie Koshay, paired with a blouse worn by Garland in unused footage directed by Richard Thorpe:



I recall the first time I saw a Judy Garland Dorothy costume was on the Freedom Train which toured the country in 1975-1976, with a cargo of precious treasures that spanned 200 years. Based on the Freedom Train website, I would have seen the dress somewhere between September 12-15, 1976. I remember my disappointment when it turned out to be a dress not used in the footage from the final film, but rather from the scenes under the direction of Richard Thorpe who was quickly fired. Here’s a shot of the Freedom Train dress from when it was sold by Heritage Auctions in 2013:



Back to the Academy. An early wardrobe test for “Oz,” with Garland wearing a blond wig and an unused version of the pinafore/blouse:



This oil can, used by the Tin Man, was presented to Jack Haley at the completion of filming:



Jack Martin Smith’s concept art for the Emerald City, as envisioned by art director Cedric Gibbons:



A life mask of actress Grace Kelly:



Oscars on display:



This one is a wow; the original backdrop painting of Mount Rushmore for the Alfred Hitchcock film “North by Northwest.” Even though it has been trimmed down over the years, the size (approximately two stories high) is still impressive.



Melissa had arranged for a special Oscars Experience program that requires an additional charge; it was not working when we showed up at our designated time so she was refunded. Below is the restaurant/cafe inside the museum:



Overall, I would say this museum is a huge disappointment. So much space, so little to see. Because of the treatment of Shirley Temple’s legacy, I will not be in a hurry to return.

See more Academy Museum photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Tra La La La

In 1940, Shirley Temple made “Young People,” her last movie for 20th Century-Fox under the contract that reaped the movie studio millions. The final number in the film is a catchy tune called, “Tra-La-La-La,” with lyrics by Mack Gordon and music by Harry Warren. It was one of the first two songs composed for the movie according to Variety’s March 9, 1940 post. Nick Castle and Geneva Sawyer staged the dances for the film, including this one which featured Temple’s costars, Charlotte Greenwood and Jack Oakie.

Hedda Hopper attempted to drum up some enthusiasm for this lackluster project in her Hollywood column from April 15, 1940:

“The Young People” set is full of human interest these days. Of course, Shirley Temple is always human interest—and especially since she plays the adopted child of Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood.…On the sidelines is the only dance directing team in the business. They are Geneva Sawyer and Nick Castle—a heck of a cute pair. Geneva’s more quiet than Nick—never takes her eyes off Shirley when she’s working. She’s as attentive as Mrs. Temple. Nick is all over the place, will talk about Shirley at the drop of a hat. I was ready to listen, so he went on. “She’s colossal—the greatest little trouper I ever saw. I’m telling you this kid—what’s her name?—” Even though he’s worked with her for months, he still calls her “What’s-her-name”. He thinks too fast to remember names. “Why, she does an Astaire in this picture that’s better than the master himself.” When I asked Nick if she jumps over chairs and tables, he snapped, “No! Just over Oakie and Greenwood.” So, if anyone thinks Shirley hasn’t learned her business A to Izzard, you should have seen her directing the still man how to make pictures of her routine, and I’ll be darned if he didn’t take her advice.

The truth of the matter was that the Temple family was tired of Fox, and Fox was just as tired of them, especially since 12-year old Shirley’s box office receipts had begun to dip. While it was solid entertainment, “Young People” was not of the caliber of Shirley’s previous films. Still, “Tra-La-La-La” remains one of my favorite musical numbers from a Temple film. Shirley’s voice and dancing have matured, even if the song and Castle’s choreography do not push their limits. The cute little jumper that Shirley wears was designed by Gwen Wakeling, who did most of Shirley’s wardrobe at Fox.



Wanna’ see what that dress looks like today?



Thanks to Melissa (aka “The Colonel”), you can see it in all its detailed glory.



This was one of the items originally sold at the “Love, Shirley Temple” auction back in 2015. Shirley also wore it for publicity shots, including this one taken at Universal Studios with their resident superstar, Deanna Durbin.



But back to the jumper…and the beautiful embroidery:



That’s Temple sweat you can see on the blouse; you can be sure she put her all into that number!



AND her name on the label!



Button detailing:



The construction featured a combination of buttons and hook and eye closures:





And finally a puffed sleeve detail:



I hope you enjoyed this inside look at Shirley’s final Fox film costume. MANY thanks to Melissa for generously allowing us to have a peak at this treasured piece from her private collection.



How fitting that the last shot of today’s post shows Shirley singing that final note from “Tra-La-La-La”:



See more Shirley Temple “Young People” photos at my main website.