#27: The Harsh Treatment of Young Stars in Early Cinema

Old Hollywood was no fairy tale for child actors, who endured strict discipline with little protection. Studios imposed harsh punishments to keep them in line, including the infamous “black box,” where young stars were forced to sit on a block of ice until they complied.

Even Shirley Temple, the era’s most beloved child star, wasn’t spared from these cruel tactics. Despite the severity, Temple later reflected that the experience didn’t leave lasting psychological scars. However, the very existence of such punishments reveals the brutal reality behind the industry’s most innocent faces.