George Temple

Shirley Temple, the iconic child star, might never have been born if it wasn’t for the quick action of a Fairview boy a century ago. In the 1890s, a young boy at the time, George Temple — Shirley Temple’s father — had fallen into a brimming rain barrel and couldn’t get out, he nearly drowned. Charles Asmus, a friend of his, pulled George out of the barrel, saving his life. It became a local legend in Fairview, until it became fact when George Temple confirmed it in a letter to the Fairview Area Historical Society in 1976. The rain barrel was nearby at Asmus’ home, now the Sturgeon House headquarters of the Fairview Area Historical Society, at 4302 Avonia Road.

George Francis Temple was born in Fairview on May 21, 1888, to Francis Temple, a doctor, and Cynthia Yaeger Temple. Dr. Temple was devoted to his patients, but long hours, house calls, and inclement weather soon took their toll. He died of pneumonia in June of 1896 when he was only 39. After his death, Cynthia moved the family to Mercer, Pennsylvania. In 1900 the family moved to Erie, Pennsylvania, but the Temples did not stay long in Erie. George’s older sister, Grace, contracted tuberculosis while in Erie, and in 1903, the family moved to Los Angeles.

After graduating high school, George’s begun his career as a bank clerk. When he was 21 George met Gertrude Amelia Krieger, who was 16-years-old at the time, they were married in 1910. Their first child, John Stanley Temple (Jack) was born in January 1915. Their second son, George Francis Temple Jr. (Sonny) was born in January 1919. George did not serve in World War I, but many men at the bank where he worked did, which allowed him to advance to an accountant. In 1925 the family moved from Los Angeles to Santa Monica after George accepted the position of bookkeeper for California Bank.

The Temples’ only daughter, Shirley Jane, was born on April 23, 1928. Family and friends agreed that Shirley resembled her father in appearance and personality; both were friendly, fun-loving, and somewhat bossy. When Gertrude tried to convince him to send Shirley to dancing lessons, George, both politically and financially conservative, initially believed that it was a wasteful extravagance. But he changed his mind when he realized that his daughter possessed a remarkable talent.

Charles Lamont noticed Shirley in her dancing class and cast her in two of his short film series, Baby Burlesks and Frolics of Youth, and her career slowly began to take off. Unlike many stage parents who live off their children, George kept his job at the bank, even as Shirley became the highest-grossing movie star in the country. George and Gertrude also saved the bulk of Shirley’s earnings, even before laws were passed requiring parents of child stars to do so. George was determined to give his daughter the most normal upbringing possible given the extraordinary circumstances. Shirley and George were very close, which helped her to act opposite many of her film fathers. They remained close as Shirley grew up, and she cooked for and spoon-fed her father in his old age. George died on September 30, 1980, in San Mateo, California.

Sturgeon House, 4302 Avonia Road, Fairview Township (1905)

Contract signed. George Temple and his daughter, Shirley at Fox studio (Summer 1934)

George Temple with his daughter Shirley, on their first vacation to Hawaii in 1935.

Shirley Temple with her father, George Temple at Brown Derby Restaurant, Hollywood (1945)