| The Best of Everything: A Joan Crawford Encyclopedia |
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Welcome
to
The
Best of Everything
which
debuted online
March
23, 2004
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To find information:
• Browse one of the main categories to the right of the picture above. • Click on a letter or the index link below to find a particular entry in the Encyclopedia. • Use the handy Google box below to search the entire site by key word. • See the Latest Site Updates and Joan Crawford Events sections below. |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
All original Encyclopedia text, from A to Z, is copyright © 2004 - 2010 by Stephanie Jones
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[last 3 months + August '09 Donald Spoto letter]
9/03/10
FILMS: Added a review by Michael Lia for The Caretakers.
1938: The Shining Hour -- Dancing publicity shot. (Thanks to Matt Treadaway.) Misc. -- Feeding her polo pony.
1939: Ice Follies of 1939 -- Lovely publicity shot. The Women -- Solo publicity shots, one and two. With Norma Shearer and Rosalind Russell, one and two. Tub scene. With designer Adrian. On-set with pup. Misc. -- With Franchot Tone in NYC, celebrating the eve of their divorce, one and two. (Thanks to Susanne for the latter.) With socialite Brenda Frazier. With Cesar Romero. MGM publicity shot.
9/01/10
FILMS: Added a review by Michael Lia for 1934's Chained.
1936: Love on the Run -- Publicity photo by Hurrell. Cute "hayseed" publicity shot. (Thanks to Susanne for the latter.) Gorgeous Hussy -- Rare candid on-set. Cute publicity shot with Robert Taylor. Misc. -- Candid with Franchot Tone. (Thanks to Matt Treadaway.) And candid with Paul Muni and Franchot. (Thanks to Susanne.)
1937: The Last of Mrs. Cheyney -- Publicity shot with Montgomery and Powell. The Bride Wore Red -- Film still. Misc. -- Candid with Barbara Stanwyck.
8/30/10
GEOGRAPHY: Added four new interior shots of Joan's Imperial House, apartment 22-G. And one new large color shot of Imperial House, 22-H. Also added a new exterior photo of the Imperial House to the main Geography page. (Thanks to Bryan Johnson for all.)
FILMS: Reviewer Michael Lia is back! See his new review of Queen Bee.
8/27/10
FANS: Added an extraordinarily well-done photo homage to Joan's '40s period by LA fans Andrew Thiels and Allison Leach.
FILMS: Added a brief review for Humoresque by Carl Parran. And a more in-depth review of I Saw What You Did by Shane Estes.
8/24/10
1934 -- Chained: By the pool. Publicity shots by Hurrell, one and two. Forsaking All Others: The weird "kiddie" picture from the movie. Publicity by Hurrell. Sadie McKee: With Franchot Tone. 1935 -- I Live My Life: Clark Gable visiting Joan on the set. (Thanks to Matt Treadaway.) No More Ladies: With Robert Montgomery. (Thanks to Matt.) 1936 -- Love on the Run: On the set with Clark Gable. Film still with Gable. With Franchot Tone and Gable. Drivin' with Gable and Tone.
8/21/10
PHOTOS: Added 9 new photos. 1932 -- Publicity shot by Hurrell. Letty Lynton: In the famous ruffled dress, shot by Hurrell: one and two. And in the gold dress. (Thanks to Susanne.) Rain: Publicity shots with director Lewis Milestone and Walter Huston, one and two. (Thanks to Susanne for the first one.) Film still with Walter Huston. (Thanks to Steve.) 1933 -- From Dancing Lady, with Clark Gable.
8/20/10
FILMS: Thanks to Shane Estes for his new review of Spring Fever.
PHOTOS: Added 8 new photos. 1925 -- From Sally, Irene, and Mary, with Douglas Gilmore. 1927 -- From Spring Fever, with William Haines. (Shot by Ruth Harriet Louise. This is the photo upon which the True Romances cover was based.) From Winners of the Wilderness, with Tim McCoy. 1928 -- From Four Walls, with Louis Natheaux. From Our Dancing Daughters, with Dorothy Sebastian and Anita Page. 1929 -- From Our Modern Maidens, with Anita Page. 1930 -- Rare shot from the unreleased Great Day! 1931 --
8/17/10
GEOGRAPHY: Visit this realtor's website to read the description and see photos of Joan's Imperial House apartment (22G), which is currently on the market for $5.5 million. I've also added the 6 color photos and the floorplan to this site's Geography page for 22G. (Thanks to Anne D. for the realtor's link.)
EVENTS: The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood will present Possessed ('31) on Sunday, August 22, at 3pm. (Thanks to Omar for the info.)
TIMELINE: Added 11 new entries for Joan's goings-on in the 1960s (and '75). There's new info re her walking out of a party, selling her home, denying Rockefeller marriage rumors, signing up for a London play, filming Trog, commenting on a fashion show, attending a Van Lines convention, and being named "Mother of the Year." (Thanks to Bryan for all.)
8/10/10
FILMS: Added a review by reader Gabriel Neilson for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
[My note: Just FYI -- Baby Jane and Trog are the films on this site with the most reader reviews, at 7 each! Next, at 6 each, are Mommie Dearest and Strait-Jacket. At 5 each, Humoresque and Harriet Craig. See the "Quick Guide to Reviews" section of the FILMS page to see who's reviewed what film. And then, please, send in your own review!]
LINKS: Added a link for Sam's New Place, where you can order Joan DVDs (including some hard-to-find) for $20 each.
8/06/10
PHOTOS: Added 11 new photos from 1964's Strait-Jacket, thanks to Bryan Johnson.
At a January '64 promo event for SJ in Harlem (including shots with Dorothy Kilgallen and co-star John Anthony Hayes): one, two, three, four, five, and six. With Pepsi exec and co-star Mitchell Cox on the set. Publicity shots: With ax. Screaming. With Diane Baker.
7/28/10
1961 -- At unknown event one, two, and three. 1962 -- Color candid. 1963 -- At the Academy Awards. Color candids one, two, and three.
7/24/10
1948 -- Publicity shot. (Thanks to Susanne.) 1950 -- Publicity for Damned Don't Cry by Bert Six. (Thanks to Susanne.) On the set of Harriet Craig. Film still from Harriet. 1952 -- On the set of This Woman Is Dangerous. Sudden Fear: Film still in bed with Jack Palance. Film still with hurt foot and cast members. Sudden Fear: On-set with director Miller, one and two. (Thanks to Susanne for both.) At Romanoff's with Judy Garland and Jane Wyman. 1953 -- In glorious color, with Cliquot, on the set of Torch Song. (Thanks to Bryan Johnson.)
7/22/10
BOOKS: Added an excerpt re Joan from Carol Burnett's 2010 autobiography "This Time Together." (Thanks to James Paul Amato.)
1963 -- From The Caretakers, with Polly Bergen. 1965 -- With unknown at airport. 1968 -- With Carol Channing, Helen Hayes, and James Stewart at event honoring Hayes. 1971 -- At the Golden Globes with Cesar Romero.
7/20/10
1962 -- On the October 1 debut of the Tonight Show. In color with Rosalind Russell at a press awards show. 1965 -- Hosting Hollywood Palace, one and two. 1966 -- Receiving her Associate's Degree in Newport, RI.
NEW DVD RELEASE: The Warner Archive released The Gorgeous Hussy on June 15. (Thanks to Shane for the info.)
TV SCHEDULE: Added Joan films on TCM in August, September, and October. (Thanks to Mike O.)
7/15/10
1960 -- A Pepsi swig. 1961 -- Color publicity shot. 1962 -- In color at the April 9 Academy Awards. Baby Jane torture one and two. Color, in limo post an appearance for Portrait of Joan. 1963 -- With Anthony Ryerson. 1964 -- At the World's Fair in Queens, with Goofy, et al. A nightmare from Strait-Jacket. Publicity photos for which the photographer himself should be shot: one, two, and three.
7/13/10
FILMS: Added reader reviews by Shane Estes for This Modern Age and Harriet Craig.
FANS: Thanks to the handsome Santiago for two shots from his fashion editorial "inspired by noir films by Joan Crawford, even the eyebrows and the diva attitude, very Possessed from 1947, very Mildred Pierce from 1945..."
The current parlor of the Grand Hotel of Mackinac Island (Michigan) is decorated by Joan's former designer, Carleton Varney. On display in the parlor are two end tables used by Joan in her last apartment (which was also decorated by Varney). Thanks to Luke Mack for sending along two photos from this Grand Hotel.
TV UPDATE: The IMDb lists Joan as appearing on the Spielberg-directed "The Name of the Game" in January 1971. But according to Joan historian John Epperson in a recent e-mail:
"I watched the whole episode at the Library of Congress recently, on 16 mm film, and her name is not in the credits at the beginning and end, and she's not in the episode. As I slogged through the dull thing, I kept wondering if she might make an unbilled cameo...as a favor to Spielberg, her former director, but she is nowhere to be seen."
I've left the show listing on the TV: 70s page, but have added the above caveat from Epperson to both the '70s and the Main TV pages.
7/02/10
1943: On the set of Above Suspicion. (Thanks to Susanne.) 1956: Publicity photo. (Thanks to Oliver Geiger.) An autograph for a young fan. (Thanks to Steve Morgan.) With husband Al Steele and Peter Finch, after being presented to QEII. (Thanks to Susanne.) 1957: Arguing on the set of Esther Costello. (Thanks to Susanne.) With Anna Magnani in Naples. (Thanks to Susanne.) 1959: At an April interview. (Thanks to Susanne.)
7/01/10
In Memory of Edward D. Guinea (9/24/51 - 6/27/10)
Deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ed Guinea, who passed away June 27, 2010. Ed was a film aficionado, a kind and thoughtful person, and a tireless scholar and devotee of Joan.
Visit his "In Memoriam" page and leave your condolences. Visit his extensive tribute-site to Joan, "All Things Crawford."
On this site, you can read Ed's memories of meeting Joan. And read his reviews of Above Suspicion, Esther Costello, Strait-Jacket, and Trog.
ONE MILLION HITS since
the site debuted
Thanks to everyone who has visited and/or contributed over the past 6 years! And thanks most especially to Joan for being so interesting and more-than-a-million-hit-worthy!
Yours in Joan, Stephanie Jones (site creator)
6/22/10
LETTERS: (Thanks to Susanne for all.) 1952 to fan Gary Pepper. 1963 to Mrs. Julien Savignac, with details about Joan's apartment flooding (and typed on the rare "Mrs. Alfred Nu Steele" stationery). 1973 to "Jess," with thanks for the flowers and "spring cheer." 1975 to "Jess," with thanks for his photo of the very alert-looking "Dolly, Pee Wee, Cindy, Blackie and Sam."
PHOTOS: Added 3 photos from 1938: A tinted clocking-in photo from Mannequin (thanks to Bryan Johnson) and an on-set Mannequin candid (thanks to Susanne). Plus a Shining Hour publicity shot, with Robert Young (thanks to Susanne).
6/17/10
FILMS: Thanks to Shane Estes for sending in his reviews of Reunion in France and They All Kissed the Bride. (Have your own opinion of a Joan film? Please send it in, too!)
6/15/10
6/13/10
1967 -- From "Man from UNCLE" and from an unknown event. (Thanks to Bryan Johnson.) 1968 -- Screen shot from Joan's guest appearance on "Secret Storm." (Thanks to Mateja.) Color candid from the Seattle Seafair parade. (Thanks to Bryan.) Large B/W shot and color candid in limo. (Thanks to Bryan.) 1969 -- From "Night Gallery." (Thanks to Bryan.)
6/11/10
PHOTOS: Added 5 new photos. (Thanks to Bryan for all.) 1970 -- From "The Virginian"; from "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour"; and from the Golden Globes, with John Wayne. 1971 -- From Joan's LA Pepsi press conference: one and two.
6/06/10
PHOTOS: Added 8 new photos. (Thanks to Bryan Johnson for all of the below, except the first one.) 1943 -- Publicity shot for Above Suspicion, with Fred MacMurray. 1944 -- At home, ironing and bathing baby Christopher. 1959 -- Color shot by Eve Arnold. 1962 -- Baby Jane shots: with tray, in bed, in chair, on set with director Aldrich.
6/04/10
Grand Hotel -- With John Barrymore. (Thanks to Susanne.) Letty Lynton -- In famous ruffles while hanging off a tree. With Robert Montgomery. With Nils Asther. Rain -- Shot by John Miehle. MISC -- By Hurrell, one and two.
6/02/10
PHOTOS: 1941 -- Cast publicity shots for When Ladies Meet, one and two. (Thanks to Susanne for the second one.) 1945 -- Publicity shot from Mildred Pierce. (Thanks to Gustavo.)
CONTRACT: See a signed page of Joan's 1965 contract for the "Hollywood Palace" TV show. (Added info from the contract to the "Salaries" entry on the "S" encyclopedia page; the 1965 section of the Timeline page; and the show's entry on the TV:60s page.)
NOTE: The below letter from author Donald Spoto was initially posted in August 2009; I wanted to keep the info here on the "Updates" page longer than usual because (1) Spoto's letter was so nice; and (2) It's a reminder that there's a 2010 Joan book to look forward to! Dear Stephanie Jones, As my publisher can confirm, I am under contract to William Morrow and Co. to write my 26th published book--a full-scale biography of Joan Crawford. Because you are one of the most important people in America regarding all things Crawford, I write to you first--as a courtesy--to tell you about the project. We expect the book to appear late next year. [My note: It will be released November 2, 2010.] My own interest in the life and work of Joan Crawford dates back to the summer of 1952, when, as an eleven-year-old schoolboy in the suburbs of New York, I saw SUDDEN FEAR and was moved (not to say frankly scared). I was a bold kid, and in those days I thought nothing of writing to Walt Disney, Loretta Young and Joan Crawford. So I posted a letter to Miss Crawford and received a handwritten reply--I don't think she had too many letters from moviegoers my age. That was the start. As you may know, I have published biographies of Alfred Hitchcock, Laurence Olivier, Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, Tennessee Williams, Audrey Hepburn, Ingrid Bergman and, among so many others (to appear this autumn), my great friend Grace Kelly, who wrote the Foreword to my first book in 1976. I intend to make my life of Joan Crawford a worthy successor to those volumes. I've been deeply impressed by the Website you've created, and I turn to it often to confirm facts and to read your incisive comments on her life and films. I don't live in the USA any longer--I'm a resident of Denmark--but I hope we can meet in person some day, so I can detail the fine points of my admiration for your dedication and scholarship. If you have a moment, please do acknowledge that you received this--sometimes gremlins get into the Internet and things go madly astray. In collegial friendship, Donald Spoto |
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If
your city, group, or self is presenting a Joan Crawford-related
event in the
LATEST AND UPCOMING RELEASES
April 6, 2010. Above Suspicion, No More Ladies, Paid, Susan and God, and This Modern Age on DVD.
April 15, 2010. The Caretakers on DVD.
June 15, 2010. The Gorgeous Hussy on DVD.
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