Temple Tuesday: Shirley Gets Schooled!

By 1942, Shirley Temple had blossomed into a very pretty teenager. Despite her maturity, she still had to be tutored while filming “Miss Annie Rooney” in order to meet the state educational requirements. How about those roses in the background? I wonder who the admirer was...or what the occasion could be?

In this second shot, Shirley’s veteran stand-in, Mary Lou Isleib, also appears to be hitting the books as well. Do you see Shirley’s coat flung over the chair on the right?



Here’s an onset publicity still from “Miss Annie Rooney” showing Shirley wearing that same coat:



This previously posted shot is of Shirley learning choreography from the legendary Nick Castle (avec cigarette!). Her costar, Dickie Moore, is at right (sans cigarette!). Even though he had a dance double later in the movie, he attempted a few steps in the scene where the two meet.



See more teenage Shirley 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.

Temple Tuesday: On Fifth Avenue

Shirley Temple’s 20th Century-Fox swan song, “Young People” was definitely a lesser effort that did not fare so well at the box office. Still, it is an enjoyable watch and yielded one of my favorite Temple tunes, “On Fifth Avenue.” After a montage of musical clips from her past, the stage curtain is pulled aside to introduce us to teen Shirley. The hair is darker, the baby fat is gone, but the charm and star quality still remain. Dancing with Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood, who portray her screen parents, the trio are decked out in top hats and tuxes. The publicity machine made much about this Mack Gordon/Harry Warren song and dance number. From the Hollywood Reporter, March 9, 1940:

Start of ‘People’ Held; Rehearsals Go Next Wk.
Starting date on 20th’s “The Young People,” Shirley Temple starrer, was set back yesterday from March 14 to around April 1. Change is to put more musical numbers in the production. Shirley Temple, Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood start dance routine rehearsals next week under supervision of Nick Castle and Geneva Sawyer.



One month later Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky wrote this for the New York post, April 2, 1940:

Shirley Temple, Jack Oakie and Charlotte Greenwood were in the music hall at 20th Century-Fox rehearsing a song and dance number, “Fifth Avenue,” for the picture “Young People.” The music of the song is by Harry Warren and the lyric by Mack Gordon. I stood there and listened to Shirley, Jack and Charlotte sing:

Every Joe, every Jane,
Walks along that dreamer’s lane, on Fifth Avenue,
Pricing rings, pretty things,
That they can’t afford to buy.
But they smile, they don’t care,
For everyone’s a millionaire,
When you’re strolling on Fifth Avenue.

These were the snatches of the lyric that I caught. “Okay,” said Dance Directors Nick Castle and Geneva Sawyer, “take an intermission for a while.” I talked to Jack Oakie. I hadn’t written an interview with him in years. “What are you doing in this picture?” I asked.

“I’m playing Shirley Temple’s father,” he said.

My, how the years roll by. “The last time I interviewed you, Jack, you were carrying the football for Paramount.”



Hedda Hopper entered the gabfest on Tuesday April 16, 1940, gushing about Shirley’s upcoming flick:

“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. There’s Jack, whose comeback does my heart good to see. I hope he gets wise to himself and sticks to swell supporting roles. Jack’s a great feature comic, and they go on forever. 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.
**



Oakie’s weight even made the news, April 17, 1940:

A MUCH LIGHTER JACK OAKIE WILL BE IN “YOUNG PEOPLE”

Although Jack Oakie is grateful to Dance Director Nick Castle and Geneva Sawyer for working 13 pounds of avoir-dupois off his midriff during three weeks of strenuous rehearsals for the seven numbers in “The Young People” the Wardrobe Department feels decidedly otherwise about the matter.

Because every one of Oakie’s 15 costume changes for the film have to be made over, thanks to the weight he has already lost and what he expects to lose before the numbers actually are shot. Oakie’s weight is down to 177 pounds now, just 20 more than his all-time low, reached in 1938 after a strenuous diet.

April 26, 1940:

Production Resumed On ‘Young People’

Actual production of “Young People” was resumed this week at 20th Century-Fox, following a two-week interval for rehearsal of the opening dance number “Fifth Avenue.” Originally, the number was scheduled to be shot a week ago, but several days’ illness of Shirley Temple, held up rehearsals. Thus far there have ben three days of shooting covering two opening numbers of the film in which Charlotte Greenwood and Jack Oakie appear without Shirley. Tunes for the seven numbers in the film were written by Mack Gordon and Harry Revel. Dance Directors Nick Castle and Geneva Sawyer designed the dance numbers.

The number even gets a low-key reprise at the end of the film.



Does she rival Fred Astaire in this number? As much as it pains me, I would have to say she’s a very distant number two. However, the number is more than pleasant and the tune will stay with you (happily!) long after you first hear it. Film historian and author Jeanine Basinger summed it up best when she said that Shirley gives the appearance of a “best pupil at the local dance recital.” Had she been given the opportunity and continued coaching, there’s no doubt that Shirley could have become an incredible dancer after seeing the potential of her early years.

See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.

Temple Tuesday: Comeback Shirley

For Temple Tuesday I have a medley of photos related to not one but TWO comebacks Shirley experienced in the early 1940s. The first photo shows Shirley at age three and was re-published to coincide with her first "comeback" in 1941. Here's the accompanying publicity blurb:

THE QUEEN RETURNS!…After an absence of a year and a half from the screen, Shirley Temple is returning to the scenes of her former triumphs. The little golden-haired girl who danced her way into the hearts of millions is now older and taller. Her golden curls have turned brunette; her voice is stinger and more precise than before. Her first picture is "The Girl on the Hill" which she is making for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. With her in the picture are Herbert Marshall, Laraine Day, Gail Patrick, and Felix Bressart. Harold S. Bucket directed, George Haight, produced.

3. WHEN SHIRLEY WAS THREE her mother started giving her dancing lessons. After three lessons she was offered a screen test by a film talent scout.

This photo shows Shirley as "Kathleen" (which is what "The Girl on the Hill" was retitled for release) in a dream sequence.



Shirley was able to keep all of her outfits (part of her contract at Fox, too). This particular outfit got re-used at a 1948 costume party she attended with first husband John Agar.



Almost 70 years later the very same outfit hit the auction block, looking minty fresh. Shirley knew how to take care of her clothes!



The auction also included the shoes and fan. What a deal!



A shot of the auction itself before it landed in the hands of Nick The Vintage Costume Collector:



After "Kathleen" did tepid box office, Shirley took some more time off before returning to the screen in "Miss Annie Rooney." Here she is on set with choreographer Nick Castle and costar Dickie Moore. Castle was a very popular choreographer, with a number of well known films to his credit: Judy Garland's "Summer Stock," Fred Astaire's "Royal Wedding," and "State Fair" with Ann-Margret.



The scene Shirley was rehearsing for is shown here in this vintage 1942 lobby card:



See more Shirley Temple photos at my main website.<