Shirley Gordon (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Gordon
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| Born | December 29, 1921 Geneva, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | February 22, 2008 (aged 86) Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Pen name | Shirl Gordon |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | East Aurora High School |
| Alma mater | Pasadena City College |
| Period | 1943–1989 |
| Genre | radio, television, children's books |
Shirley Gordon was an American writer who created stories for radio, television, and children's books. She wrote many popular shows and heartwarming books for young readers.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Shirley Gordon was born on December 29, 1921, in Geneva, Illinois. Her father, Russell Gordon, was a police officer. She grew up in Aurora, Illinois, and finished high school at East Aurora High School in 1938.
Starting Her Writing Career
Shirley Gordon began her career working for Radio Life magazine. She was an assistant editor there and also wrote articles. Later, she worked as a publicist for CBS Radio, helping to promote their shows.
Writing for Radio and TV
Shirley Gordon wrote during a special time called the "Golden Age of Radio." This was when radio shows were very popular. She wrote scripts for exciting radio dramas like Suspense and The Whistler.
Later, she moved on to television. She wrote episodes for many famous TV shows from the 1950s to the 1970s. Sometimes she was known as "Shirl Gordon." Some of the shows she wrote for include Bewitched, The Courtship of Eddie's Father, and My Three Sons. She wrote a lot of episodes, 49 in total, for The Bob Cummings Show.
Writing Children's Books
Shirley Gordon also loved writing for children. She published eight books for young readers in the 1970s and 1980s. Six of these were picture books, which have lots of illustrations, and two were chapter books, which are longer stories.
Some of her picture books include:
- The Green Hornet Lunchbox (1970)
- Grandma Zoo (1978)
- The Boy Who Wanted a Family (1980)
- Me and the Bad Guys (1980)
Four of her books told stories about a girl named Susan and her friend, Crystal. These "Crystal" books were all illustrated by Edward Frascino.
- Crystal Is the New Girl (1976)
- Crystal Is My Friend (1978)
- Happy Birthday, Crystal (1981)
- Crystal's Christmas Carol (1989)
Personal Life
Shirley Gordon had one son, David Russell Gordon, whom she adopted. Two of her books, The Boy Who Wanted a Family and Me and the Bad Guys, were inspired by her son's own experiences.
Shirley Gordon enjoyed spending time with her friends. She and a group of friends, including actress Barbra Fuller, would meet every Saturday. They would take walks around Hollywood and share stories about their lives in the 1940s and 1950s.
Shirley Gordon passed away on February 22, 2008, in Glendale, California.
