CBC Archives

You must sign in to leave a comment on this clip.

Shirley Temple rings in Canada's Victory Loan

Broadcast Date: Oct. 21, 1944

At a special ceremony on Parliament Hill, honorary hostess Shirley Temple and Prime Minister W.L. Mackenzie King drum up support for the 7th annual Victory Loan campaign during the Second World War. Canadians have gathered in Ottawa for the ceremony to honour soldiers and raise money for the continued war effort. Sixteen-year-old Temple gives a typically playful, but earnest speech expressing her appreciation of those soldiers "who fought for freedom and for all you hold dear."

Shirley Temple rings in Canada's Victory Loan

• Victory loans were developed during the First World War, to help finance Canada's military efforts. Canadians were encouraged to purchase Victory Bonds, War Savings Certificates and War Savings Stamps. Colourful, catchy posters and big ceremonies were popular modes of drawing interest and publicity.

• The first domestic war loan was raised in November of 1915, but the term "Victory Loan" wasn't used until the fourth campaign, in 1917. The first Victory Loan collected $398 million.

• Shirley Temple was born in 1928. She was discovered at the age of three. By the time she was seven, she was a singing and dancing success on the big screen. Between 1930 and 1950, Temple starred in roughly a movie per year. After leaving Hollywood, at 21, Temple had a second successful career with the United Nations.

• During the Second World War, there were nine Victory Loans. Their cash sales totalled almost $12 billion, half the money from corporations and the other half from civilians.

Shirley Temple rings in Canada's Victory Loan

Medium: Radio

Program: CBC Radio News Special

Broadcast Date: Oct. 21, 1944

Host: Don Pringle

Duration: 6:14

Photo: Library and Archives Canada / C-029451

Last updated:
May 29, 2009