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KurtNYC

(14,549 posts)

35. Her smile was a bulwark against the Great Depression. She almost always played an orphan

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2014, 12:00 PM

Feb 2014

and "Shirley" was the 2nd most popular name for baby girls in 1935 and 1936. Depression era audiences made a strong emotional connection with the resilient and plucky characters she played on screen and some, it would seem from the naming, wanted to make Shirley a part of their family.

One of my favorite relatives was named after Shirley Temple and the loss of Shirley Temple brings back that loss for me.

In some of the darkest days of the Great Depression, Americans looked to Shirley Temple. Her on-screen character often had nothing more than a sunny outlook and and a smile.

Thank you Shirley Temple. You gave us a smile and something to believe in when we needed it most.

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Highlight:

Hollywood star Shirley Temple dies [View all] muriel_volestrangler Feb 2014 OP

thanks for posting eShirl Feb 2014 #1

nice biography - 2006 SAG Life Achievement Award lapfog_1 Feb 2014 #2

She charmed & cheered America and the world during the Great Depression Divernan Feb 2014 #3

A firm favorite ever since I was a kid dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #4

Wonderful! stopwastingmymoney Feb 2014 #31

Am I the only one who thought she was deceased before now? dixiegrrrrl Feb 2014 #5

No, you're not. LuvNewcastle Feb 2014 #7

as that generation leaves us, the 30's do tend to fade more into the distant past. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2014 #20

Oh noooo!!! BumRushDaShow Feb 2014 #6

She was US Ambassador to both Ghana and Czechoslovakia. longship Feb 2014 #8

Somehow this got missed, while her movie star fame prevailed. Weird on a political blog. Scuba Feb 2014 #19

Evidently, she was a different kind of Republican. Aristus Feb 2014 #33

She ran for congress as a conservative challenger to anti-war Republican Pete McCloskey. alp227 Feb 2014 #41

I've stated a couple of times today that she TBF Feb 2014 #55

During the Great Depression she gave hope Ichingcarpenter Feb 2014 #9

RIP davidpdx Feb 2014 #10

Never too late Paulie Feb 2014 #11

Youtube should have a bunch of them Renew Deal Feb 2014 #21

Oh, I'm sure I'd have no problem finding them davidpdx Feb 2014 #22

I remember being devastated when I was 6, and my dad told me she was a grown up. ScreamingMeemie Feb 2014 #12

That is really touching. dipsydoodle Feb 2014 #13

Suddenly, I'm hearing "On the Good Ship Lollipop"...RIP. Historic NY Feb 2014 #14

She meant the world to my mom. Such an awesome talent. Auggie Feb 2014 #15

She was the same age as Mickey Mouse Kablooie Feb 2014 #16

Haven't heard much about him in years, hows he doing? Still alive do you think? marble falls Feb 2014 #24

He's alive. Beacool Feb 2014 #28

Success just never seemed to spoil him. marble falls Feb 2014 #59

I had to reread the message again. Beacool Feb 2014 #62

Now that's funny! marble falls Feb 2014 #63

He never seems to age. Great plastic surgeons out there. Kablooie Feb 2014 #36

Sorry to spoil it for you.... Scruffy Rumbler Feb 2014 #42

Oh jeez, another icon demolished. Next you'll tell me Goofy shat himself to avoid the draft. marble falls Feb 2014 #58

Naw.... Scruffy Rumbler Feb 2014 #61

My daughter loves her drink Capt. Obvious Feb 2014 #17

May she rest in peace Gothmog Feb 2014 #18

RIP and thank you for your wonderful gifts... magical thyme Feb 2014 #23

Even Donald Duck wanted an autograph jakeXT Feb 2014 #25

RIP ...and thanks for the rare honorable government service. L0oniX Feb 2014 #26

I loved her as a kid. cyberswede Feb 2014 #27

She's now traveling on that 'Good Ship, Lollipop'. RIP, cutie. sinkingfeeling Feb 2014 #29

Sad news. Beacool Feb 2014 #30

Rest in peace warrior1 Feb 2014 #32

Rest in peace. hrmjustin Feb 2014 #34

Her smile was a bulwark against the Great Depression. She almost always played an orphan KurtNYC Feb 2014 #35

That was very nicely put. Beacool Feb 2014 #47

Oh no! SoapBox Feb 2014 #37

RIP, little colonel! shanti Feb 2014 #38

Loved watching her movies with my Mom growing up BuelahWitch Feb 2014 #39

I was going to completely ignore these threads TBF Feb 2014 #40

Ahhhh so the Simpsons' "Little Vicky" character was closer to the truth than I had realized: Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2014 #49

lol...thanks... Blue_Tires Feb 2014 #57

And let's not forget the first interracial couple to dance in the movies. mahatmakanejeeves Feb 2014 #43

Yes, that's correct. Beacool Feb 2014 #50

black people have always been allowed to take care of and entertain white kids JI7 Feb 2014 #64

I am the second generation fan.... AnneD Feb 2014 #44

Sure, most republicans are. TBF Feb 2014 #45

I grew up in an age when.... AnneD Feb 2014 #48

Nixon and Ford would be called RINO's today KinMd Feb 2014 #66

A wonderful human being The Second Stone Feb 2014 #46

"A wonderful human being and a great Republican" TBF Feb 2014 #56

there was a time The Second Stone Feb 2014 #67

Shirley was a great actress and dancer - TBF Feb 2014 #68

R.I.P. jsr Feb 2014 #51

Best child actor in the history of cinema. RIP. nt NoGOPZone Feb 2014 #52

She was very, very big aint_no_life_nowhere Feb 2014 #53

A big, big star...RIP joeybee12 Feb 2014 #54

Shirley Temple Black: 10 political facts Tx4obama Feb 2014 #60

She was a republican philosslayer Feb 2014 #65