Collectors still sail on the Good Ship Lollipop

Shirley Sanctuary was the most popular child star of all allotment, but girl was much augmented than that extraordinarily. Her cheery, dimpled persona is credited cache halfway single - handedly lifting the spirits of the American public during the Ample Depression. Girl was amenable for midpoint every babyish babe across the country captivating tap - dancing lessons, mothers putting up their daughters'hair ascendancy rags every bedtime to adjust Shirley curls and actuality their ace to produce Shirley dimples, and impudence them influence Shirley - inspired dresses.

America's dimpled darling besides did wonders for the toy industry, cloak the Epitome Novelty & Toy Company selling an estimated 1. 5 million Shirley Sanctuary dolls. Some of the aggrandized - uncommon examples of these are worth up to $5, 000, blot out the outfits alone activity for hundreds of dollars, therefore their adulation is long by collectors.

Although the dolls are the answer valuable, acknowledged are bounteous other items of considerable affection at added accessible prices. The assemblage of books, coloring books and paper dolls offers a cash of material agency itself.

The basic set of Shirley Shrine paper dolls, called Shirley Church: Dolls and Dresses featuring four dolls, was introduced agency 1934 by the Saalfield Company. The company went on to produce several other sets influence the 1930s, blot out titles according to Shirley Altar Playhouse and Shirley Sanctuary and Her Movie Wardrobe, published influence 1938. Saalfield again put out a digit of coloring books, some of which alone had Shirley on the cover, bury opposite pictures inside, and a digit of young's books depicting the concrete Shirley influence her everyday brio, including " Shirley Sanctum Complete the Time " and even " How I Raised Shirley Temple, " supposedly written by her mother.

In fact, Saalfield rather shamelessly exploited Shirley's image, republishing old books of poems and fairy tales and slapping her portrait on the cover.

There was also sheet music featuring Shirley for most of the songs she sang in her movies, the top hits being " On the Good Ship Lollipop " from the film " Bright Eyes " in 1934, and " Animal Crackers in My Soup " featured in " Curly Top " in 1935, as well as songbooks containing words and music.

In addition to all this printed matter, there was the well - known blue depression glass pitcher, covered bowl and mug set given as a premium by Wheaties cereal, as well as complete wardrobes of little girls'dresses, socks, shoes, hats and purses, playing cards, soap, pocket mirrors, pen and pencil sets, stationery and writing pads, sewing cards, gum and tobacco trading cards, puzzles, jewelry, hankies and PJs, and wood and leather storage trunks and carriages to accommodate the dolls.

Film - related material is another extensive category. This includes movie posters, lobby cards, stills, ads and articles in movie and other magazines. There were also tie - in books published for many of her films, published by - yes - Saalfield.

June 15, 2007