August 2008

Dear Casey,

I sat transfixed when I first saw the pictures of the Joan Crawford doll. I almost wept with joy. At last, the celebrity doll I have yearned for. Thank you so much for all your effort in bringing it to us, and also particularly in restoring Joan to her rightful position. As soon as I was able to peel myself away from the pictures on the screen, I celebrated by re-watching "Sadie McKee". She has long been one of my two favourite actresses. I never tire of her work and look forward to seeing more films available. "Johnny Guitar", "Autumn Leaves","Esther Costello", more of the early MGM films, maybe even some of her more well known silents? I was fortunate enough to see "Rain" on the big screen and it just blew me away.
Kudos to you for all your work in giving her back to us. She was so admired and respected by her peers. I am looking forward to Charlotte Chandlers book.

With deepest respect and heartfelt thanks to you (and Neil for the site!)

Colin
Sydney, Australia



August 2008

Dear Colin,

Thanks for the great letter and welcome!

I couldn't be happier with the Robert Tonner Doll Company for creating such an incredible likeness of my grandmother. Their amazingly talented design team sculpted her face from photos provided by Neil Maciejewski and created fashion designs pulled right from the 1930's. The Joan doll collection is very sophisticated and just plain beautiful!

The collection appears to be a hit with both Joan fans and doll collectors in general. I look forward to working with Robert Tonner to bring more designs to the public. Also, order the dolls while you can! Tonner's collections are limited editions that become instant collector's items!

I also love my grandmother in Sadie McKee, Johnny Guitar and Rain.

With the success of the two previously released Warner Bros. box sets, more are sure to come! With six decades of film, television and radio appearances, there is still so much more material to release.

Thanks for the wonderful letter and please do write again!

Best,
Casey

August 2008

Casey,

Did you know that Christina directly blamed your parents for the Last Will issue? The following is from the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times Nov. 19, 1977

Joan Crawford Children Sue to Invalidate Will

NEW YORK -Joan Crawford's mind was "distorted by intense pain or clouded by alcohol" when she signed her will, according to two adopted children who were left out.
Miss Crawford died last May 10 at 69. In the will she signed on Oct. 18, 1976, she provided for trust funds of $77,500 each for two adopted daughters, Cathy LaLonde and Cynthia Jordan, and left the rest of her $2 million estate to charities, chief among them the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills.

The other two adopted children, Christina Koontz of Tarzana and Christopher Crawford of Greenport, N.Y., filed suit Thursday in New York state Supreme Court asking that a jury trial be held and that the will not be admitted to probate.
If the will were not admitted to probate, Miss Crawford would be deemed to have died without a will, and the estate would be divided equally among the four children.

Mrs. Koontz and Crawford charged that their mother suffered from "an acute and advanced cancerous condition" at the time the will was signed, a condition they said was aggravated by the fact that Miss Crawford was a Christian Scientist and took no medication and was not under a physician's care.

In addition, the complaint contended that Miss Crawford had been "a very heavy and habitual consumer of alcohol" and had not left her Manhattan apartment for two years before she died.

Mrs. LaLonde and her husband, Jerome, the complaint charged, "took deliberate advantage of decedent's seclusion and weakened and distorted mental and physical condition to insinuate themselves" into Miss Crawford's favor.

Robbie
San Diego



August 2008

Hi Robbie,

Thanks for the letter!

I have read several news accounts of my Aunt Christina's attempt to subvert the truth shortly after my grandmother passed away in 1977. The November 19, 1977 LA Times story shows just how nasty Christina became after Joan excluded her and Christopher from the will and any proceeds from her estate. I guess it WAS all about the money for Christina!

News accounts from that time period shortly after Joan's death are intriguing, because on one side you have her friends and organizations in Hollywood praising her for her decades of service and work in the industry, then you have Christina and Christopher blaming their mother for all the ills of the world.

If Christina's tales of abuse were true, why would Christina want to have anything to do with the proceeds from Joan's estate? A question I am sure will never be answered!

Thanks for the letter and please write again!

Best,
Casey

August 2008

Hi Casey,

I was wondering if you were aware of a radio program called "ICONS RADIO" One of the hosts is the Steven Bogart son of the late Humphrey Bogart. I was wondering if they would be interested in interviewing you about your grandmother (Joan Crawford). They take friends, family etc.. from late stars and interview them about their connection etc.. the link is: www.iconsradio.com

I never knew about this program till real recently. I hope to that others fans of the late classic hollywood stars would come to know about this radio show. You can listen to old interviews via the internet right from the website. Anyhow just was wondering and thought it would be wonderful if you could go on their and talk about Joan. I wish you the best in life and again thank you for your time.

Love,

Paula Rizner
Bloomington, Illinois



August 2008

Dear Paula,

Thanks for the letter and welcome to the website!

I am familiar with the ICONS RADIO program hosted by Humphrey Bogart's son Steven. I have listened on occasion and was asked to join them as a guest. I just haven't done so yet. I always find it interesting to discuss my grandmother's life and career, especially with someone like Steve Bogart who has real interest in classic Hollywood and film history.

On a related note, I was disappointed to find that MODA Publishing, a subsidiary to ICONS RADIO, had published only one copy of the classic Hollywood focused fan magazine ICONS. I know many people, including myself, who subscribed to ICONS only to have the magazine fold after only one issue. Very disappointing indeed, given the topic and proposed content.

Thanks for the letter and please write again!

Best,
Casey

August 2008

Casey,

No question sir, I just want you to know as a kid growing up your grandmother was one of my idols and as a woman now in my 50's i still love to watch her old movies and i still think she was one of the greatest actress's in her time!!!

Victoria Poore
Louisiana



August 2008

Dear Victoria,

Thank you for the letter and welcome to the website!

I love receiving letters like yours! Hearing that you are lifelong fan brings joy to my heart.

I always find it amazing that my grandmother has had such an impact on fans like you over the years.

Thanks again and please write back with any questions you may have!

Best,
Casey

August 2008

Casey,

I have been a Joan Crawford fan for many years. I have to say that I am glad to see that a member of her family has finally spoken up for her after all of these years.
I was wondering if anyone would have the backbone to speak out on her behalf. I saw the fine documentary that was done about her life entitled "Joan Crawford, The ultimate movie
star". It was the first public statement that disputed the awful "Mommie Dearest" stigma. It was refreshing to see some of the old Hollywood guard come to her defense.

Her lifetime of work is often overlooked but it seems recently she has undergone a renaissance with the help of Turner Classic Movies. They always do a tribute around the time of her birthday in March. I want to commend you on restoring her good name and helping many to discover her talents for the first time.

By the way, one of my favorite Joan Crawford movies is "A Womans Face." She should have been nominated for that performance as well as for "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?"

David Swails
Cleveland, Ohio



August 2008

Dear David,

Thank you for the letter and welcome!

Thank you also for the kind and supportive words. Although my mother Cathy did do some press shortly after the publication of "Mommie Dearest," no real organized defense was ever offered. It has become my focus to help restore my grandmother's image and reputation. With the help of fans like you, it makes my job even easier!

Although I did also enjoy the TCM documentary Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Star, it still gave Christina carte blanche to continue her decades long tirade against her dead mother. I was very pleased that my Aunt Cindy made a wonderful appearance on the program, consistently stating that Joan was a loving mother that provided everything the children ever needed and created a warm household. It was refreshing after so many years of Christina being the only member of the family to speak on Joan's life and career.

I too love "A Woman's Face." Joan's performance was definitely Oscar worthy, as was at least an Oscar nomination warranted for Baby Jane. If Bette Davis received a nod for Jane, so did my grandmother deserve one!

Thanks for the letter and please do write again!

Best,
Casey

August 2008

Casey,

I never knew until today, reading this website that "Mommie Dearest" was not actually true. Would you consider making a movie telling the real story of your mother's life, including the relationship between herself and Bette Davis? I would love to watch it!! I'm sure that I am not alone in that.

Rachel Hall
Nowata, Oklahoma



August 2008

Dear Rachel,

Thank you for the letter and welcome to the website!

I can't for legal reasons come out and plainly agree with you that "Mommie Dearest" was just a bunch of lies. I will state, however, that my mother and Aunt Cindy, although eight years younger than Christina, never experienced the kind of abuse Christina purports to have occurred in the household. They have nothing but loving memories of their mother, Joan Crawford.

One aspect that has bothered me since I was a child and growing up through the "Mommie Dearest" aftermath is that Christina didn't have the guts to publish the book while my grandmother was still alive. I call that cowardice. If she experienced abuse like she claims in the book, why not publish the book while Joan was still alive? Bette Davis' daughter B.D. Hyman published her similar tell-all memoir while Bette was still alive. Bette was able then to counter B.D.'s claims and move on. Joan never had the opportunity to defend herself.

As for the rest of your letter, why hell yes I would love to have a film made accurately portraying my grandmother's life! I would suggest a TV mini-series mostly because my grandmother's career spanned from the 1920's to 1970's, and she had some very dramatic moments in her life from early childhood to just before her death. The film / miniseries could be a wonderful antidote to the past thirty plus years of Christina's side of the story.

Now, choosing an actress to portray my grandmother . . .

Thanks for the letter and please do write again!

Best,
Casey

August 2008

Hi Casey:

You probably get this question a lot: What do you think Christina Crawford's motivation was to write "Mommie Dearest"? Her perspectives seem so different from those of you and other relatives and friends.

I'm a 39 y.o. high school counselor who's been a fan of your grandmother's for many years. With new DVD releases, I'm seeing some of her movies for the first time. I really appreciate your taking the time to accept questions.


Mike Harrison
Greensboro, NC



August 2008

Dear Mike,

Thank you for the letter and welcome!

Kudos to you for working public education! Stressful yet rewarding!

Hmm, the main motivation for Christina's publication of "Mommie Dearest" and involvement of turning parts of her book into a movie? MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.

As the Emcee from Cabaret says so succinctly, "Money makes the world go round."

And perhaps a bit of revenge against my grandmother for excluding her and Christopher from the will and proceeds of the estate. And just maybe, Christina actually believes what she wrote was true and decided to take out her perceived anger against her mother in book form.

Yes, with the recent Warner Bros. box sets and other DVD releases, more of my grandmother's films have finally been presented again to the public. Turner Classic Movies is another one of my favorites, as they do a wonderful job in showing not only my grandmother's films, but all of classic Hollywood.

Thanks for the letter and please write again!

Best,
Casey