7 Little-Known Facts About the Legendary Shirley Temple

Shirley Temple was immensely talented and won audiences over with her charm, singing, and adorable curls. Although she stopped performing at age 22, she continued to make waves, becoming an accomplished diplomat. Here are seven essential facts you should know about the legendary Shirley Temple:

1. She was considered for “The Wizard of Oz”

Of course, that starring role went to Judy Garland. There are numerous rumors about why she didn’t get the part. It may have been her singing limitations or studio politics.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

2. She brought breast cancer to national attention

In 1972, breast cancer wasn’t discussed at a national level. Women’s options for treatment were often dictated by their doctors, without their input. They would go in for a biopsy, and if preliminary results were positive for cancer, doctors would perform a radical mastectomy without consulting the patient, which involves removing the breast and underlying muscles of the chest wall. This one-step process was “easier” for doctors, but left women devastated.

When Temple found a lump in her breast, she opted for a biopsy (and only a biopsy), which she had to fight for. When she learned it was positive for cancer, she fought for a simple mastectomy, which only removes breast tissue and is the standard for treatment today.

Temple then shared her experience, holding a news conference from her hospital bed to educate other women and writing about her experience for McCall’s. Her approach was so radical that she was scolded by the American Cancer Society, but she paved the way for better cancer treatment for people with breast cancer and de-stigmatized cancer in general.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

3. She is the youngest person to ever receive an Academy Award

She received a special juvenile Academy Award at age six. According to reports, she thanked the presenter for the award and turned and asked her mother, “Mommy, can I go home now?”

4. She was incredibly popular

With today’s multiplexes and numerous streaming options, it’s hard to imagine someone dominating the silver screen the way Temple did. According to The New York Times, she starred in 23 movies during the Depression years, making her the most popular movie star in America. Clark Gable was a distant second.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

5. She didn’t like the drink named after her

According to the LA Times, she found the drink too sweet for her tastes. She also resisted attempts by soda manufacturers to market sodas based on the famous drink, as she didn’t like the idea of a cocktail (even a non-alcoholic one) for kids. If you’re not familiar with it, a “Shirley Temple” is a mix of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda with grenadine or cherry flavoring.

6. She was a conservative Republican and an accomplished diplomat

Temple ran for Congress in 1967 on a conservative, pro-Vietnam War platform, losing to a more moderate candidate. She was appointed to the U.S. delegation to the United Nations General Assembly and was later appointed as ambassador to Ghana, which outraged some career diplomats. According to The New York Times, she succeeded in that post, and in others that followed, surpassing everyone’s expectations.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

7. Her mom shaved a year off her age

Then, as now, youth ruled Hollywood. After Temple only made $700 for two years of work, her mom shaved a year off her 5 1/2-year-old’s age. At her 12th birthday party, she was shocked to find out she was actually 13.

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10+ Little-Known Facts About Hollywood Actors from the Golden Age

Back in the Golden Era of Hollywood, actors weren’t under nearly as much scrutiny as they are today. Sure, there were some tabloids and paparazzi around, but not to the degree they are today and certainly without nearly the surveillance capabilities that today’s snoops have.

That means that actors back then actually had secrets they could keep… until now.

#1. Lana Turner’s daughter Cheryl was a murderer.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She stabbed Turner’s abusive boyfriend to death when she was just 14.

#2. Katharine Hepburn did accept second billing once.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She agreed to be the maid of honor at Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier’s wedding.

#3. Greta Garbo was Hitler’s favorite actress.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

He used to invite her to visit Germany, but the feeling wasn’t mutual – she used to tell people that if she had met him, she would have killed him and gotten away with it.

#4. There were rumors that Shirley Temple was a dwarf.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

People believed there was no way a child could be that talented, and the Vatican even sent someone to investigate.

#5. Lucille Ball was told to give up acting.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Her coaches said she wasn’t talented enough to make it.

#6. Rock Hudson had affairs with both of his Giant co-stars.

The rumor was that Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson had a bet to see who could sleep with James Dean first, and apparently Rock won. —bravetyper

Image Credit: Warner Bros.

The bi-sexual actor had flings with both Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean.

#7. Elizabeth Taylor once saved someone’s life.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

You already knew she was a badass, but she saved Montgomery Clift’s life after he smashed his face during a car accident. He was choking on his teeth and she pulled them out while they waited for the ambulance.

#8. The boy who voiced Peter Pan died penniless and alone.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Bobby Driscoll died unclaimed and unidentified in an abandoned apartment building at the age of 31.

#9. Hedy Lamarr invented the precursor to Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She helped develop a radio guidance system for torpedoes at the beginning of WWII.

#10. Rita Moreno knew how to make Marlon Brando jealous.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She dated Elvis. As one does.

#11. Joan Crawford became a recluse at the end of her life.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Why? She was afraid of unflattering photos surfacing like they had once before.

#12. James Dean did a PSA urging young people not to drive recklessly.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

A month later, he died in a car accident.

#13. Audrey Hepburn lived through the German invasion of Holland during WII.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

She survived by eating tulip bulbs.

I’ll never look at their pictures the same!

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