Oh, My Goodness!

In the 1930s two very talented young ladies helped save two of Hollywood's major film companies from the threat of bankruptcy. Universal Pictures were having a bad time when they took a gamble on Deanna Durbin in 1936 but after the success of her first film, "Three Smart Girls", never looked back. A little earlier, Fox Films were also bouncing around 'in the red' when a cute little girl arrived at their front door. The year was 1934 and the new arrival was Shirley Temple. Unlike Miss Durbin, who had appeared in only one short film before Universal signed her, Miss Temple, just five years old and already on the way to becoming a seasoned veteran, was very familiar with the intricacies of movie-making - she was credited with a whole fistful of short subjects. To Charles Lamont of Educational Film Corporation must go the credit for giving the screen one of its most endearing and enduring acts. His visit to Mrs. Meglin's Dance Studio, where Shirley was a pupil, was where it all began.