Eighty-one years ago today in 1935, Shirley Temple’s “Bright Eyes” was the featured film at the Laurel Theatre on Main Street.

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Bright Eyes is an American comedy drama film directed by David Butler. The screenplay by William Conselman is based on a story by David Butler and Edwin Burke, and focuses on the relationship between bachelor aviator James “Loop” Merritt (James Dunn) and his orphaned godchild, Shirley Blake (Shirley Temple). Merritt becomes involved in a custody battle for her with a rich, elderly gentleman. The film featured only one musical number, “On the Good Ship Lollipop.”

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Bright Eyes was the first film to be written and developed specifically for Temple, and the first in which her name was raised above the title. In February 1935, she received a special Academy Award for her 1934 contributions to film, particularly Little Miss Marker and Bright Eyes. (Wikipedia)