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The California abode where the golden-curled sweetheart of Old Hollywood tied the knot is on the market in Monterey.
The property at 150 Littlefield Road, a meticulously-preserved 1940 California adobe ranch tucked into the leafy Aguajito Oaks neighborhood, is priced at $2.45 million — and has a resume straight out of a movie.
The home is referenced in “Child Star: An Autobiography” as the setting where Shirley Temple, the most famous child actress in American history, exchanged vows with her second husband, Charles Alden Black.
David O’Neil of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.
Temple married John Agar in 1945, when she was just 17 and still transitioning out of her child-star persona. Agar, an aspiring actor, was suddenly thrust into the spotlight alongside one of the most recognizable faces in the world. The marriage, widely covered at the time, was positioned as a fairy-tale continuation of Temple’s wholesome image.
It didn’t last.
By 1949, the couple divorced, with reports at the time pointing to strain around Agar’s drinking and the pressures of fame. The split marked a turning point for Temple not just personally, but publicly. For the first time, her life narrative diverged from the carefully managed optimism that had defined her early career.
In 1950, she married Black, a decorated Navy intelligence officer businessman whose father had been the chairman of the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The two had three children and remained married until his death in 2005, an enduring partnership that spanned her transition from actress to diplomat, including her later roles as the US ambassador to Czechoslovakia.
This listed house belonged to Black’s parents, and ended up as a wedding venue out of convenience: Temple and Black wanted to tie the knot before he shipped out on a deployment, and she struggled to find a local church that would host a divorcee’s wedding. It remained in the Black family through the early 1970s.
The dwelling’s adobe construction includes thick earthen walls that have been keeping interiors cool since before air conditioning was standard. Paired with a classic tile roof and original hardwood floors, a woodburning fireplace anchors the spacious living room.
Multiple rooms open directly onto inviting porches and a beautifully enclosed garden, creating a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. High ceilings, open beam detailing and a wet bar round out the character-rich interior. The home also includes a formal dining room, a separate family room, and a primary suite with a sunken garden tub and a walk-in closet.
The asking price of $2.45 million represents a notable jump from the $1.81 million the property sold for in May 2022, itself a leap from the $1.29 million it was listed for that same spring. The current sellers purchased the residence from a family who had owned it since 1977, meaning this property has only sold a few times in nearly a century.
The surrounding area only strengthens the appeal. Monterey blends small-town charm with global recognition, thanks to destinations like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the region’s literary past. It’s also within easy reach of Pebble Beach golf courses and the storybook streets of Carmel.
Shirley Temple, who died in 2014, was known for her radiant smile, her tap-dancing, and her preternatural ability to make audiences fall in love with her. The house she chose for one of the most intimate days of her life has much the same effect.
English (US)