Origins of the Shirley Temple “mocktail”

“Shirley Temple Black, who as the most popular child movie star of all time lifted a filmgoing nation’s spirits during the Depression and then grew up to be a diplomat, has died. She was 85,” as the Los Angeles Times is reporting.

“Black died late Monday at her home in Woodside, Calif., according to publicist Cheryl J. Kagan. No cause was given.

“From 1935 through 1938, the curly-haired moppet billed as Shirley Temple was the top box-office draw in the nation.

“She saved what became 20th Century Fox studios from bankruptcy and made more than 40 movies before she turned 12.

“President Franklin D. Roosevelt marveled how splendid it was ‘that for just 15 cents, an American can go to a movie and look at the smiling face of a baby and forget his troubles,’ according to an American Film Institute history.

“Although the 1930s origins of the non-alcoholic Shirley Temple cocktail have been debated, Temple told The Times in 1985 that the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood had named the drink after her.”

The Brown Derby’s claim-to-fame also is the “Cobb salad,” named after its restaurateur, Robert Cobb.

Here’s a recipe for the Shirley Temple:

3 ounces lemon-lime soda
3 ounces ginger ale
Dash grenadine
Maraschino cherry for garnish

Preparation:
Pour the lemon-lime soda and ginger ale into a collins glass with ice cubes.
Add a dash of grenadine.
Stir.
Garnish with a cherry.