Former Child Star Shirley Temple Black has Died

Former child star Shirley Temple has died at the age of 85.    Her agent says she died Monday night at her home near San Francisco, surrounded by her family and caregivers.

Shirley Temple starred in  numerous 1930's films, spreading optimism in a country trying to survive the Great Depression.

She started dancing at age 2 and acting at 3. By the time she was 5, Shirley Temple was a star. In 1934, she was awarded a special miniature Oscar for her outstanding contribution to the silver screen.

Shirley Temple led the box office for three straight years. A drink was named after her. Children copied her curls. The Shirley Temple doll is a collector's item.

But as she grew older, her popularity waned.  At 17, Shirley Temple married John Agar, but the marriage didn't last.

Her second marriage, to San Francisco businessman Charles Black, drew her into  the world of politics. She served as a U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia.

Her survivors include three children, a granddaughter and two great-granddaughters.

I loved that little girl.  I wanted to be her, that didn’t work out, so later I decided to give birth to a little girl so she could be the Black Shirley Temple.

That didn’t work out either, I had boys.   I tried to turn them into stars but they were having none of it.  I even tried to bring my nieces and nephews into the theatrical fold but they too rejected my efforts to turn them into stars.

So I just bought the Shirley Temple collection of movies and enjoyed Shirley Temple Movie nights, and thought about what could have been.

Thank You Shirley Temple for making me Smile!