Little Miss Octogenarian - April 23, 2008

Shirley Temple wasn't the first child star. (That honor goes to Master Betty, who played major Shakespearean roles in early 19th century London.)  Nor was she the first child to achieve popularity in the movies. Jackie Coogan, Baby Peggy, and the Our Gang kids were hits on the silver screen before Shirley was even born -- eighty years ago today, on April 23, 1928.  But there was something about the red-haired moppet who tap-danced like an old pro that caught the public's imagination in a way that no actor had achieved before -- or since. Her infectious optimism made her the number one box-office attraction from 1935-38. Like many other child stars, Temple's film career faded as she hit her teens. Despite fine performances in Since You Went Away and The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, her acting career was basically over at 21. Her real life was just beginning, though. She became active in Republican politics, serving as U.S. Ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia, and serving on boards for major corporations and international organizations. Perhaps her most important contribution, though, was being the first celebrity to reveal she had breast cancer -- a condition that, unsurprisingly, she conquered with the same energy and enthusiasm that made her a one-girl cure for the Great Depression. Suggested Sites... Shirley Temple.com - her official site, with facts and figures about her life and her careers on and off the screen. Shirley Temple Dolls - Shirley dolls, videos, and other collectibles. Shirley Temple Recipe - how many other six-year-olds get drinks named after them? Wikipedia: Shirley Temple - biography of the most famous kid in the world. YouTube: Shirley Temple - the best way to appreciate Shirley is to watch her.