Today, we bid a fond farewell to Shirley Temple Black, actress and diplomat, who passed away last night at her Peninsula home. She was 85.
Shirley Temple is generally considered the most famous child star ever. In dozens of films during the 1930s, she lifted moviegoers’ spirits and touched their hearts with her upbeat persona and infectious dimpled smile. Some of her songs, such as “Good Ship Lollipop,” were hummed or whistled by people everywhere. In the depths of the Depression, it was a great tonic for fans not only in America but around the world.
She was reminded of her global fame much later in life when she served as U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia under President George H. W. Bush. She arrived in Prague to be greeted by members of a Shirley Temple fan club, dating back to her acting days. She had previously served as Ambassador to Ghana under President Nixon and U.S. Chief of Protocol under President Ford.
We celebrate her for all these accomplishments in her life, but in our corner of the world, we especially remember her role as the celebrity chosen to introduce the first PCC streetcars to Los Angeles in 1937, as shown in the newspaper photo, which comes from our Facebook group. Her role is recognized onboard Muni’s PCC No. 1052, painted in tribute to Los Angeles Railways.
We’re going to start thinking of No. 1052 as the Good Ship Lollipop from now on.
