Shirley Temple
No other child star in the history of popular entertainment enjoyed so much fame and renown as Shirley Temple -- by the tender age of six, she was already among the biggest celebrities in the world. Born April 23, 1928 in Santa Monica, California, she began taking dance classes at three, which led to her discovery by Hollywood in 1932; initially, she was tapped for a new series of children's films called "Baby Burlesks," parodies of adult features of the era designed to capitalize on the massive success of Hal Roach's Our Gang shorts. Temple soon enjoyed a number of bit parts in minor features before her breakthrough performance singing "Baby Take a Bow" in the 1934 musical Stand Up and Cheer poised her on the brink of stardom; while her skills as a singer and dancer were already remarkable, her gifts as an actress were ultimately her greatest drawing card, and she connected with audiences on a deeply emotional level rivaled only by a handful of the era's biggest adult performers.
In 1934 alone, Temple made nine features, most notably Little Miss Marker and Bright Eyes, the latter launching her hit song "On the Good Ship Lollipop"; as a result of her success that year -- just her first as a feature actress -- she was even given a special miniature Academy Award. Through it all, Temple remained so poised that rumors swirled that she was not even really a child at all, but a dwarf. As the Depression raged on, her films emerged as compulsory escapist fare for audiences of all ages, and soon she was making upwards of $300,000 annually, with a vast array of dolls, coloring books, clothes, and other products bearing her likeness. As the '30s wore on, Temple's star continued to ascend; each of her films was more profitable than the one that preceded it, and included such hits as 1935's The Littlest Rebel, 1936's Poor Little Rich Girl, and 1937's Heidi. Her pictures also generated a number of hit songs, among them "Animal Crackers in My Soup," "When I Grow Up," "Curly Top," and "Swing Me an Old-Fashioned Love Song."
In 1938, Temple was the year's top box-office draw; however, while a few more hits followed, including 1939's The Little Princess, as the '40s dawned her popularity began to dwindle -- like so many child stars before and after her, her wide audience appeal simply faded as she entered her teens. Temple continued appearing onscreen for the remainder of the decade, each time to diminishing returns; she eventually retired from screen acting at the age of 21. In 1958, she attempted to mount a comeback in television, hosting the short-lived series The Shirley Temple Storybook; 1960's Shirley Temple Show fared no better. After marrying businessman Charles Black, Temple concentrated on family life, also working extensively for charitable concerns; in the late '60s she entered politics, unsuccessfully campaigning for Congress. In 1968, however, she was appointed as a U.S. representative to the United Nations, and from 1974 to 1976 was the U.S. ambassador to Ghana. In 1988, Temple published her autobiography, Child Star; a year later she was named ambassador to Czechoslovakia. She died at her home in Woodside, California on February 10, 2014 at the age of 85.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
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Little Miss Shirley Temple
Film Soundtracks - Released by Universal Digital Enterprises on 10 Dec 1948
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Very Best Of
Vocal Jazz - Released by Stardust on 1 Jan 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At the Movies (Studio)
Soundtracks - Released by Phoenix USA on 1 Apr 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Walt Disney's Dumbo Also The Tootlepipers' Circus
Children - Released by RCA - Legacy on 27 Sep 1968
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
On The Good Ship Lollipop
Children - Released by Ling Music Group on 20 Jul 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Baby Take a Bow (Authentic Recodings from Her Movies 1934 -1938)
Pop - Released by In Memoriam on 1 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Shirley Temple (Vintage Charm)
Pop - Released by Don't stop the music on 21 Apr 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
When I Grow Up (Original Recordings from Her Movies 1934 - 1936)
Pop - Released by Soundtrack on 1 Jan 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shirley Temple Selected Favorites
Pop - Released by Charly Records on 20 Jun 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vintage Children's No. 03 - EP: Oh My Goodness
Film Soundtracks - Released by Vintage Music on 20 Jul 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Vintage Radio Shows
Humour/Spoken Word - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Jun 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Oh, My Goodness!
Jazz - Released by Jasmine Records on 24 Oct 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Anthology: The Definitive Collection (Remastered)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Master Tape Records on 17 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shirley Temple Storybook Collection (Original Television Soundtrack)
Film Soundtracks - Released by Legend Films on 24 Mar 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Our Little Girl
Ambient/New Age - Released by Vantage Music on 27 Sep 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Shirley Temple's Hits (Remastered) (Shirley Temple)
International Pop - Released by Trunk Records on 1 Mar 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Smile of Shirley Temple
Children - Released by Shami Media Group 3 on 1 Apr 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of Shirley Temple
Film Soundtracks - Released by Music Manager on 7 Feb 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shirley Temple and Friends
Pop - Released by Classic Records on 4 Aug 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo