Jane Withers Obit Fact Check

[Tag]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:30am

BWW please delete:
"Withers made her Broadway debut in 1971 in the musical comedy Sure, Sure, Shirley, which also brought Shirley Temple out of retirement."
from Jane Withers' obit.
That isn't true.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:38am

What part of that statement isn't true? (I'm not saying you're wrong, as I certainly have no idea. Asking them to delete it just on your say so is a bit odd.

[Tag]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:42am

The show didn't exist and they both never appeared on Broadway.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:44am

Tag said: "BWW please delete:
"Withers made her Broadway debut in 1971 in the musical comedy Sure, Sure, Shirley, which also brought Shirley Templeout of retirement."
from Jane Withers' obit.
That isn't true."

Per a 1971 NYT review/article, this is indeed true and yes… much to many’s surprise, Shirley Temple Black did take a break from her government duties to take part in this production. 

https://www.nytimes.com/1971/02/28/archives/sure-sure-shirley-next-sure-sure-shirley.html

[Tag]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:46am

It's a parody article.

[yfs]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:48am

The article is a parody. No author credits, no theater listed, and a declaration that "75% of the audience" collapsed after Shirley's big number because the performance was a benefit for diabetics. It was tweaking the then-current craze for nostalgia. Not listed on IBDB or anywhere else. It was never meant to be taken seriously. 

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/9/21 at 10:55am

Whoopsie. I lightly scanned the article. It’s listed on Withers’ Wikipedia page which is why many (including BWW) are including it on her obituary unaware that NYT article/review was a joke. IBDB does not list the show nor Jane Withers so that’s that right there.