The Little Girl Who Fought the Great Depression: Shirley Temple and 1930s America

Last month my book club discussed this book on Shirley Temple and found it full of insights on a range of issues. We selected the book because one of our members had always admired Temple. With one exception, we were born after her years of glory, but had watched her movies on TV or remembered her days as a public official. We all agreed she was amazingly talented. Most astounding was her vital role in Roosevelt’s New Deal as a symbol of hope and new life. With her incredible cuteness and sunny disposition, she was a perfect antidote to the bleakness of the Great Depression. Kasson does an outstanding job linking her persona to the political winds of the 1930s and showing how politicians exploited her. Of course, in today’s climate, Temple’s sexual appeal looms large. Kasson directly addresses the issues associated with her baby face looks, her innocence, and her sunny friendliness. An issue ignored at the time, it seems central today. The book raises all kinds of issues about children in show business, stage parents, and pedophilia. Kasson deserves substantial credit for addressing these issues head on. Another fascinating aspect of Temple’s career carefully analyzed by Kasson is her relationship with her African American costar, Bill Robinson. I have watched Temple’s movies for the dancing, and her duets with Robinson are indeed dynamite. Once you remember the poisonous race relations of the 1930s, it is indeed remarkable that she and Robinson were paired. Overall, the book is wonderfully written, easy to read and filled with insights. I enthusiastically recommend it.

An excellent book. Congratulations, Mr. Kasson.Setting the story of Shirley Temple in the context of the depression was a great idea. For those unfamiliar with the 1930s, this book is a good introduction.I liked it all, but particularly Chapter 3, "Dancing Along the Color Line," in which the author gives a fascinating look at Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and at other African American performers. The footnotes give leads to other books about these great actors and dancers which I intend to read. (One is Rusty E. Frank's "Tap! The Greatest Tap Dance Stars and Their Stories, 1900-1955.)

I really enjoy reading biographies and this one aboaut Shirley Temple was very interesting. Though it is a biography, the author tried to make it a story as well. I remember watching Shirly Temple movies when I was a young girl, so I found this book very interesting. Would like to read a book by her, or about her, as an adult. She seemed to have quite an interesting life.

A lesson for those who believe in "keep SMILING, all will be well!" I know Shirley was a great inspiration for children of her generation, my mother was one of them. Thespian, singer, dancer and member of the band through her school years, also actively involved in the war effort and charities, the young adults of that time wanted to do it all and did. As children of the "fifties" my sister and I were raised by a strong woman who knew how to have fun but taught us responsibilty, dependably and the desire to do our best for our community and ourselves. We loved Shirley Temple and tapped our way through childhood and knew we could accomplish anything we put our minds to. This was carried through to my daughter who also loved Shirley Temple and has become a strong woman. I love the grace Shirley showed her parents even though they were not deserving, this says much for her character. She is one great lady. This book is a great tribute.

The story of Shirley Temple was interrupted by long narratives of what was happening in the world as she was growing up.Lots of readers won’t appreciate all the additional history that had nothing to do with Shirley.

Cultural historian John F. Kasson does an excellent analysis in his book on Shirley Temple and the culture of Hollywood embedded in U.S. history during the 1930s Depression when he compares her career to the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He points out that both had infectious smiles, an uplifting message, emitted warm-hearted encouragement to the American public, and were phenomenally successful. Kasson also parallels less overtly that both overcame tremendous obstacles, constantly were challenged to maintain a positive public image, and set new standards for crossing boundaries. FDR's challenge was physical (polio), Temple's was being a child. No other child in U.S. history was able to maintain center stage in a film featuring mature, talented, savvy male co-stars. The book focuses on Temple, of course, and we learn much more about her family, her role in the Hollywood studio system, the new role of the child as consumer, and the fright of being mobbed by adoring fans. Well-written and highly readable.

I guess I was expecting more about Shirley Temple and less about the history of the great depression and President Roosevelt and politics. I stopped reading after a few chapters.

This essay takes a look back at why we were so enthralled with little Shirley Temple. It's interesting to read about our country during the depression through the movies and Shirley Temple"s popularity. I found the whole parenting debate interesting as well; it's so very different today!

I remember watching Shirley Temple ( showing my age there) as a child on the TV. A recent report awoke my interest in her again and all she did with the rest of her life. I borrowed this book from the library and started reading it but because I read very slowly I thought I should get a copy. Well worth a read if your of this era.

bought for my mum - she loved it

bought for my daughter's readingwithout kindle it's hard to have found this in the middle of the night

excelent

I would love to review this book, But.. it was a gift and I cannot tell you anything just yet about this book. Hopefully soon I will have some information.