Mrs. Black; Housewife—Shirley Temple
Amidst world-tottering problems and talk of peace Shirley Temple moved to Washington, D. C., a few months ago.
“And only because my Husband is stationed here with the Navy—specifically, in the Office of Naval Operations in case anybody wants to know.” She added the last part teasingly over her unlisted telephone which is also a party line.
Shirley and her husband, Reserve Officer Lt. Comdr. Charles Black, are definitely not interested in publicity, even in the hot-news capital of the United States. After 20 years of movies, Shirley feels she’s had enough.
“I’m tired of telling interviewers how many pressure cookers I have, and posing for photographers in front of the fireplace reading the funnies,” she says.
Instead, her ardent desire is to play a new role, that of being an unglamorous housewife, and mother to Linda Susan, her three-year-old daughter.
Linda Susan reminds everyone of Shirley when she was a child. Smart and “cute as a button,” she’s quite a conversationalist for her age. Now, there is a rumor that Shirley expects another baby.
Dressed in slacks or plain house cotton, Shirley takes charge of Linda herself, performing all the sundry chores of motherhood. In addition, she cooks for her husband, cleans house, and does the marketing without benefit of a staff of servants.
“Sure, it’s a lot of work,” admits Shirley, “but I love it.”
Equaling her domestic abilities is her natural bent for business. Washington tradesmen are surprised to find Shirley a smart “cooky” when it comes to shopping. She always sees to it that she gets her money’s worth.
“I’m Pennsylvania Dutch! I’m stubbom!” she says about the way she handles her new responsibilities.
Washington’s elite turned out for the reception given Shirley and Charles Black. Even Vice-President and Mrs. Alben Barkley were there.
But curiosity seekers, in a town supposedly conditioned to celebrities, are rampant, especially where Shirley is concerned. When she first came to Washington and put up in a furnished apartment, every newspaper in town heralded her arrival and hundreds of calls poured into the Navy Department. At first the name Black had no more meaning than Smith or Jones to the department clerk who accommodatingly thumbed through records to find the exact whereabouts of this officer. Then, like the sun bursting through the clouds, it dawned on her that this was Shirley Temple’s husband.
Growing weary and listless, her voice on the Navy end of the wire took on a new tenor: “Do you mean Shirley Temple’s husband? I’m sorry! He’s not on active duty. We haven’t the slightest idea where he is.”
The Blacks soon left their Wyoming Avenue apartment, for Shirley wanted more sunshine and picture windows. A real estate office was contacted and Shirley told them exactly what she wanted. She was looking for a modern house, well built with spacious rooms, at least three baths, and situated in open country free of trees.
Mrs. Parsons (center) hostessed the party which proved Shirley’s place in Washington society is secure. (At right) Mrs. John Thomas.
The first house Shirley became interested in was a two-story Cape Cod located outside of Bethesda. The little girl who lived next door was all agog at the prospect of having a glamorous movie star for a neighbor. She planned to be sitting nonchalantly on the steps of the new house when Shirley Temple Black came to inspect it.
“Are you going to buy this house?” she asked Shirley, innocently, at inspection time.
“I don’t think so,” said Shirley. “It’s too small.”
Dejectedly, the girl told some of her teen-age friends about the interview: “It’s plenty big, and it does have four bedrooms,”
The Blacks settled for a rambler in Potomac, Maryland, with a stable thrown in for good measure. Every house in this area boasts a stable and a white fence serving as a corral. Though they have no horses yet, they own two dogs, a boxer and a great dane.
The house cost $48,000, is H-shaped in design, and is situated on four acres of land. There are seven rooms, three baths, no basement, However, the stable loft affords plenty of storage space.
And Shirley has her picture windows—two of them. One is in the study looking onto a flagstone patio in the back of the house; the other faces the front from the living room. Their furniture was shipped to them from California.
Sophistication becomes Mrs. Black. She wore a new hair-do, sleek gown at the American Newspaper Women’s Club party for servicemen.
Potomac might best be described as a fashionable community approximately 15 miles from the White House, inhabited by horse lovers who actually ride to the foxes, and entertain British-style before a horse show. On these estates, the horses graze in the front yards.
Shirley’s neighbors are mostly business people, who spend a great deal of time being sociable. They’ve taken her into their set wholeheartedly, and go out of their way to shelter her from the never-ending ogling. The general opinion of the Blacks is:
“They are the nicest couple . . . and very simple. Nothing pretentious about them. Too bad they can’t be left alone.”
The neighbors’ children, though, are excited over the unusual notoriety lately come to their back yard.
One day, a group of them asked Shirley for autographs. Graciously, she complied and signed: “Mrs. Charles Black.” One disappointed child moaned, “But this isn’t worth anything!”
Recently, a padlock was attached to the gate which leads into Shirley’s driveway. This was done to keep out Sunday visitors who have been known to drive onto the property. Some of them would bring gifts of home-grown apples, while others just tried to catch a glimpse of Shirley. It seems that it will be a while before people forget her legendary past.
Even when she decided to become a member of the Congressional Country Club, which is a short distance from her home, she couldn’t escape the crowds. One afternoon she drove out to the Club with her daughter for a look at the place, and people seemed to materialize out of nowhere to mill about them.
The Blacks’ social life in Washington, where any excuse is good enough for a party, has had plenty of glamor in it.
An elaborate reception was given in honor of the Blacks this summer by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Morgan Parsons. Mr. Parsons is Vice President of the U. S. Steel Corp. Among high ranking guests were the Vice President and Mrs. Alben Barkley, Mrs. Brannan, wife of the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Commerce and Mrs. Charles Sawyer, Dr. John R. Steelman and Mrs. Steelman, Chief of the Economic Stabilization Ageney and Mrs. Eric Johnston, and many other high officials in government and diplomatic circles. Curiosity about Shirley was more restrained here. But, even so, she stole the show from political bigwigs.
Shortly after they moved into their Maryland home, their immediate neighbors, the Sam Bogleys, and the de Francheaux (both in the real estate business) threw a welcoming party for them.
Shirley had such a good time that when Mr. Bogley told her he was planning a trip to the west coast, she wanted to give him a letter of introduction to her mother. When Mr. Bogley gets to Hollywood, Shirley’s mother intends to give him a party.
In the middle of August, Shirley attended another large affair. The American Newspaper Women’s Club entertained service men at the palatial home of H. Grady Gore, which overlooks the Potomac River. Mr. Gore, owner of a fashionable hotel on Massachusetts Avenue, has announced his intention to run against Maryland’s Senator Butler next election.
At this party Shirley’s appearance was more sophisticated than usual. She wore a decolleté gown and her coiffure was tightly dressed off the face. She came out onto the lawn and gaily sat to be photographed with service men.
Perhaps, one day the Blacks will be able to lead a more normal family life as private citizens and constituents of Maryland—at least until Shirley is ready to come out of retirement. Meanwhile, being in the limelight in Washington has its compensations, and Shirley seems to be thriving on it.
THE END
—BY AGNES VACHI
It is a quote. MODERN SCREEN MAGAZINE JANUARY 1952
