Joan Crawford
Lucille Fay LeSueur was born in San Antonio, Texas, on the 23rd of March 1904. Her father Thomas E. LeSueur abandoned the family when she was only ten months old. The young girl grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma, where her stepfather Henry J. Cassin ran a theater called the Ramsey Opera House. She watched vaudeville acts like Anna Pavlova perform on that stage while living under the name Billie. Crawford later claimed she did not know Cassin was not her biological father until her brother told her the truth years later. Her ambition to dance began early but took a violent turn when she cut her foot severely on a broken milk bottle at age six. Three surgeries followed and she spent eighteen months unable to attend school or take dancing lessons. In June 1917, her family moved to Kansas City after Cassin was accused of embezzlement. She attended St. Agnes Academy as a work student who spent more time cooking and cleaning than studying.
Crawford signed a motion-picture contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1925 for seventy-five dollars a week. Her first film role was Lady of the Night in 1925 as a body double for Norma Shearer. Frustrated by small parts, she launched a publicity campaign to become a star. MGM screenwriter Frederica Sagor Maas recalled that no one decided to make Joan Crawford a star because she became a star by deciding to be one. She attended dances at hotels around Hollywood and won competitions performing the Charleston and Black Bottom. The studio renamed her Joan Crawford after a contest called Name the Star in Movie Weekly. Her breakthrough came with Our Dancing Daughters in 1928 which established her as a flapper icon rivaling Clara Bow. A stream of hits followed including Four Walls and The Unknown where she learned acting from Lon Chaney Sr. By the end of the 1920s she rivaled colleagues like Greta Garbo and Norma Shearer in fame.
Sound films changed everything when The Jazz Singer released in 1927. Many silent stars failed to transition but Crawford studied singing with Estelle Liebling to rid herself of her Southwestern accent. Her first all-talking feature Untamed arrived in 1929 and proved successful despite mixed reviews. She made five films in 1931 alone including Dance Fools Dance paired with Clark Gable. Grand Hotel released in April 1932 won the Academy Award for Best Picture and cemented her status among top stars. Yet popularity declined sharply in the late 1930s. On the 3rd of May 1938 an advertisement in the Hollywood Reporter labeled her Box Office Poison alongside names like Mae West and Marlene Dietrich. Harry Brandt president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association claimed high salaries did not reflect ticket sales. Her follow-up film The Shining Hour flopped at the box office even though critics praised it. An absence of nearly two years followed before she staged a comeback.
Alfred Steele became president of Pepsi-Cola by 1954 when Crawford met him at a party. They married at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas on the 10th of May 1955. Following his death on the 19th of April 1959 she was elected to the board of directors as the first female member. In 1966 she estimated traveling over one hundred thousand miles per year for the company. The Pepsi Pally Award recognized employees making significant contributions to sales and she received it in 1963. A bronze bottle shaped like a Pepsi symbolized this honor. She retired from the board upon reaching age sixty-five in 1973. Her tenure transformed her from movie star into corporate executive managing goodwill ambassador duties across the nation.
What Ever Happened To Baby Jane released in 1962 starred Crawford as Blanche Hudson alongside Bette
Davis. The psychological thriller recouped its costs within eleven days of nationwide release. It revived her career after years of declining roles. Strait-Jacket arrived in 1964 followed by Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte which replaced her with Olivia de Havilland due to illness. She cried for nine hours hearing about her replacement while lying in a hospital bed. Trog released in 1970 marked her final big screen performance playing Dr Brockton. She made three television appearances including an episode of The Virginian in 1970. Her career spanned forty-five years and more than eighty motion pictures before retirement.
Christina Crawford published a memoir titled Mommie Dearest on the 2nd of October 1978 alleging emotional and physical abuse. The book became a bestseller and was
adapted into a film starring Faye Dunaway in 1981. Crawford disinherited Christina and Christopher stating no provision would be made for them in her will signed the 28th of October 1976. Both children challenged the will and received fifty-five thousand dollar settlements. Twin daughters Cathy and Cynthia denied the claims calling it fiction during interviews. Vincent Sherman and Helen Hayes stated they witnessed strict discipline but never outright abuse. Christopher claimed he was harnessed at night due to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosed by his family doctor. The estrangement ended all contact between mother and eldest children after her death in May 1977.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where was Joan Crawford born?
Lucille Fay LeSueur was born in San Antonio, Texas on the 23rd of March 1904. Her father Thomas E. LeSueur abandoned the family when she was only ten months old.
How did Joan Crawford get her stage name?
The studio renamed her Joan Crawford after a contest called Name the Star in Movie Weekly. She launched a publicity campaign to become a star by attending dances at hotels around Hollywood and winning competitions performing the Charleston and Black Bottom.
Why was Joan Crawford labeled Box Office Poison?
On the 3rd of May 1938 an advertisement in the Hollywood Reporter labeled her Box Office Poison alongside names like Mae West and Marlene Dietrich. Harry Brandt president of the Independent Theatre Owners Association claimed high salaries did not reflect ticket sales.
What role did Joan Crawford hold at Pepsi-Cola?
Following Alfred Steele death on the 19th of April 1959 she was elected to the board of directors as the first female member. She retired from the board upon reaching age sixty-five in 1973.
When did Christina Crawford publish Mommie Dearest?
Christina Crawford published a memoir titled Mommie Dearest on the 2nd of October 1978 alleging emotional and physical abuse. The book became a bestseller and was adapted into a film starring Faye Dunaway in 1981.