Boys used as Shirley Temple Stunt Double

[TaylorJackson]

Growing up I heard that boys were used as stunt doubles for Shirley Temple. Over the years I occasional search for any evidence if this were true. Well, by accident I came across the name Dix Davis who was Shirley’s stunt double for the movies Heidi and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.

https://cinemabooks.wordpress.com/2014/03/08/dix-davis-shirley-temples-stunt-double/
Dix Davis a child actor in his own right stunt doubled for Shirley Temple. He put on a dress and slid down an Alp in “Heidi” as Temple and he crawled out an upper story window as Temple in “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm”. Davis also rode horses in her stead. In his own career he worked regularly in radio’s “Date with Judy”, “One Man’s Family” and “Luxe Radio Theatre”. Davis talks about his life in movies, radio and theatre in “Nostalgia Digest” Spring, 2014 $4.50.

After a quick youtube search, I found what I believe were Dix scenes in both movies. I would guess that he had to wear the same dress and blonde wig and be on standby for when they needed the stunt double. 
 
Heidi – Check around 4:10 – 19:05 – 56:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXjNhRW-P-w - 4:10 = 19:05 - 56:10

Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm - Around 45:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqBnRM9L6Oo

Anyone else have any good stories about boys being used as stunt doubles for Shirley or any other girl actresses?

Taylor

[Angela M...]

Thanks for this post Taylor, I love the Shirley Temple films and Betty's pics. I had seen photo's before of boys doing stunt double work for girls in the 40 and 50's films. Sure would have loved that job. Thanks also for the link to the youtube movies, I watched several of them.