Temple was charming, assured, and possessed of a cute childlike smile that audiences gravitated to. Her famous spitcurl was evidently fashioned at the last minute on the set of “Stand Up and Cheer!,” after the girl fell and cut her head. The curl became a signature part of her look. She was only six, but Temple was an overnight movie star. According to a 2018 article in the Atlantic, Temple started with only $150 a week (about $3,600 in 2024 dollars), but six months later, was given a raise to $1,000 a week with a $15,000 bonus for each finished film. She was assigned 19 writers to give her scripts.
After “Cheer!,” naturally Temple and Dunn were reteamed for Harry Lachman’s “Baby Take a Bow,” a film released less than two months after “Stand Up and Cheer!” In December of 1934, Temple starred in David Butler’s “Bright Eyes,” a film that was written specifically for her. That was the film to feature “On the Good Ship Lollipop,” the girl’s signature song. She was officially a national sensation. Fox officially had a “sure thing” that they could rely on to make money throughout the financially bleak 1930s. Temple was just a six-year-old who could sing and dance.
The reason Temple was paid so much was because of her parents’ wise handling of her career. Fox was happy to exploit the image of their new cash-raking moppet, and plastered Temple’s face on advertising materials … without Temple’s or her parents’ consent. The Temples hired a lawyer, sent out hundreds of cease-and-desist letters, and put control of the oncoming Temple fortune directly into their hands. Luckily, Temple’s parents had her best interests at heart.
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