Shirley Temple: A Pictorial History of the World's Greatest Child Star [Hardcover]

Rita Dubas (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Shirley Temple was a phenomenon, a child star whose talent and personality earned her a permanent place in Hollywood history. The extraordinary six-year-old entertainer struck a chord with audiences all over the globe. Her career sparked a marketing sensation, spurring the production of anything and everything bearing her image-from dolls to tin whistles-in all corners of the globe, both authorized and unauthorized. Despite the decades-long interest in everything Temple, never before has there been a lavishly illustrated art book examining the phenomenon that was Shirley Temple as a child star in the 1930s. Many of the rare and unusual Shirley Temple collectibles have never been featured in print. Along with an informal, concise history of the childhood career of Ms. Temple (featuring film stills, many never-before-seen photographs, and personal snapshots of Shirley as well as several taken by her), this book is a visual treat befitting the magic of the most famous child star of all time, as well as the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Calling Shirley Temple "the world's greatest child star" rather understates what she was. Dubas' prefatory profile, which neither digs up any dirt nor gushes (except by citing others' effusions), gradually reveals the truth. The great 1930s child performer was the positive apotheosis of childhood: precociously talented but unself-consciously childish, appropriately assertive and appropriately deferential, self-assured but not conceited, and, of course, healthy and pretty. She was less a star than a miracle. Certainly the worldwide moviegoing public responded to her near miraculously, attending her four yearly feature films in droves and buying millions of dolls, toys, clothes, photo albums, and magazines bearing her likeness or name. Most of the book consists of lavish, crowded displays of this merchandise and its attendant publicity, in color whenever possible. The last two sections illustrate, respectively, little Shirley's public appearances for good causes and big events, and some of her would-be competitors and winners of look-alike contests. There has never been another Shirley Temple, and Dubas' presentation helps us appreciate why. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Applause Books (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557836728
• ISBN-13: 978-1557836724
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #636,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS A GREAT PHOTO FILLED BOOK OF LITTLE SHIRLEY!!, November 10, 2006

By 

Adorem - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shirley Temple: A Pictorial History of the World's Greatest Child Star (Hardcover)

This book is fantastic!! Little Shirley rules this book and she is on all pages and there are LOTS of photos that you have never seen of her before!!! This book starts off as Shirley is born till she leaves Fox at age 12. this is a FANTASTICAL BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The photos are so beautiful and what makes them come to life so wonderfully is the glossy like paper. This is a nice sized book and there are many FULL SIZE photos which are knockouts!! It truly is amazing just how many photos were taken of little Shirley, its so mind boggling!!

There is a section of collectible Shirley items such as dolls, books, magazines , and other nick nacks.

But what is the best about this book of course is the page after page after page after page of beautiful photos of little Shirley!!

Theres also, near the end of the book, a listing of her films, in order as she made them. There is also a listing of all her Fox Movietone Newsreels and what she does in each of them.

This book is a MUST OWN for anyone who is a big fan of little Shirley!!

ENJOY!!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Shirley Photo Book, November 1, 2006

By 

Dave "Davelandweb" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Shirley Temple: A Pictorial History of the World's Greatest Child Star (Hardcover)

Hands down, Rita Dubas' book is the best photo book ever done on Shirley, the Child Star. Almost every photo is a rare one. On top of that, the design is impeccable as well. Rita has outdone herself. Forget the other Shirley books; this is the one to have.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, November 1, 2006

By 

LBWheels457 (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shirley Temple: A Pictorial History of the World's Greatest Child Star (Hardcover)

The first thing that caught my eye from this book ar the amazing pictures of this little beauty! From the pictures we know and love her for to the lesser seen pictures, this book has it all. It takes some of her most memerable moments in film and puts them all in one spot. The book tells the story of Shirley's young life in film and the hardships that she faced off camera. In addition to the many many pictures of Shirley, we also get to see the many ads, toys, and newspapers articles that featured Shirley. The singing and dancing sensation captured our hearts for years and this book is a wonderful way of remembering her.