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early years
Shirley emple was born on the 23rd of april in 1928 in Santa Monica, California. She is from a English, German, and Dutch decent. She is the only girl out of two brothers. Her mother enrolled her in Melin's Dance School in L.A. because she was very talented in singing, dancing and acting. -
early years
In January she was signed by Educational Pictures on a talent search at the dance school. She was in a series called Baby Burlesks and also in another series called Frolics of Youth. She modeled for breakfast cereals and other products. She starred in heer first film in 1932 and in 1933 to Universal, Paramount, and Warner Bros. -
Fox Films
She was signed o Fox Films after Educational Pictures declared bankrupt. Stand up and Cheer was her breakthrough film in April 1934. Within months she was the symbol for family entertainment. She was now being paid $1,250 a week and her mother $150 to coach and do her hair. -
Fox Films
Bright Eyes ws the first film made to show off her talents and her name was above the title. Her song "On the Good Ship Lollipop" sold 500,000 sheet music copies. The film showed the Shirley can portray many characters. February 1935, she became the first child star to receive a mini Juvenile Oscar and added her feet and hand prints to the forecourt at Grauman's Chinese Theatre. -
1935-1937
Shirley starred in The Little Colonel, Our Little Girl, Curly Top, and The Little Rebel in 1935. In 1936 Captain January, Poor Little RIch Girl and Stowaway were released. On October 1937 Shirley was accused for being too nublie for a 9 year and was called a "complete totsy" by a british critic named Graham Greene. Her last film in 1937 was Heidi. -
1938-1940
In 1938 Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, Little Miss Broadway, and Just Around the Corner were released. Just Around the Corner did not do so hot in ticket sales. The following year, Zanuck thought a children's novel would be good for Shirley, so it was then called A Little Princess. The Little Princess was her first technicolor film. Her acting was at its peak so she was convinced to move from a child star to teenage actress. -
Last films and rretirement
MGM signed Shirley for her comeack for the Andy Hardy series but was quickly changed to the musical Babes on Broadway. Her only film for Metro in 1941 was Kathleen but it was not a succes and her contract was canceled. Miss Annie Rooney for Untied Artists in 1942 was not successful either. She retired almost two years later. -
Marriages and Children
At 15 Shirley met John Agar, an Arm Air Coprs sergeant, physical training instructor, and a member of a Chicago meat-packing family. She later then married him at age 17 on September 19, 1945. They had one daughter together named Linda Susan on January 30, 1948. They later divorced on December 5, 1950. -
Last Films and retirement
David O. Selznick signed her to a 4 year personal contract. She was in two war time hits: Since You Went Away and I'll Be Seeing You. Selznick later lost interest in Shirley's career. She went to other studios and starred in Kiss and Tell, The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, and Fort Apache. She later audtioned for a role in Peter Pan but lost in and announced her offical retirement on December 16, 1950. -
Marriages and Children
Shirley met Charles Alden Black, a WW2 United States Navy intelligence officer. They later then married in Del Monte, California on December 16,1950. They moved ti Washington, D.C. when Charles was recalled to a Navy outbreak in the Korean War. Shirley had a son, Charles Alden Black Jr., in Washington, D.C. on April 28, 1952. Their daughter Lori Black was born on April 9, 1954. Shirley and Charles remianed married for 54 years until his death, August 4, 2005, from a bone marrow disease. -
Life After Hollywood
She was diagnosed with breast cancer. The tumor was removed. She later announced it to the world via radio, television, and a magazine February 1973. September 11, 2002, a life-size bronze statue of the child Shirley was on the Fox Studio lot. March 14, 1935 Shirley left her footprints and handprints at the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. February 8, 1960, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her work.