“I am at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for my Picture WHY SHOULD I CRY”

 

April 6, 1953

LOTS going on in this letter.  Per Joan, Grandma adds ‘joy to’ Joan’s day ;), she’s at the studio working on the movie WHY Should I Cry (see next paragraph) at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, then going to Paramount to work on LISBON, then to Republic for her western (Johnny Guitar) – so doubt she is very busy but finds the time to correspond with her fans.  Amazing!

About WHY SHOULD I CRY – renamed TORCH SONG, and based on the 1949 novel of the same name by I.A.R. (Ida Alexa Ross) Wylie, an Australian-British-American novelist, screenwriter, short story writer, and poet who was honored by the journalistic and literary establishments of her time, and was known around the world.  

Some Torch Song Trivia:

• This was Joan’s first movie back at MGM after a ten year absence.
• The film marks the first of two times Maidie Norman played Joan Crawford’s maid. The second time was nine years later in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 
• Joan Crawford was given complete freedom, without guidance or supervision, to develop her own make-up, hair and costumes for the film.

Mary, Joseph, Irwin – Brooklyn, 1953

Irwin, on leave from the Marines, spent the last week helping Joe (and Mary) prepare for a VERY BUSY Easter Sunday on Coney Island. On this day, the Jolly Roger has seen some record sales – this Easter Sunday was no different.  It was estimated that over 500,000 people flocked to Coney Island while over in Manhattan, the Police Department estimated over 1.25 million turned out for their annual Easter parade.

Mary, although at the Jolly Roger to help out, is basically focusing her time on recruiting Brooklyn mothers to join her in her efforts to support the Red Cross, sorting and recording Red Cross Membership cards, assembling pledge blanks, “I Gave’ Stickers, receipts and brochures that Mary and 56 other volunteers will use to create 15,000 kits which the Red Cross Community Appeal volunteers will use in their door-to-door solicitations.  

In addition, Mary and another team of volunteers joined the Red Cross Production Service team to sew and distribute Red Cross flags that are flown at schools, buildings, offices, banks, department stores and other various sites.  Once that mission was complete, the Production Team prepared additional material to be used in booths at these same locations.  

And that’s not it!  This large-scale seasonal effort not only included the creation and distribution for campaign activities, these dedicated volunteers produced (in 1952) over 1.5 million surgical dressings, >21,000 garments, operating room linens and sweaters, and also distributed 1,500 magazines and 14,000 garments and comfort items to 29 hospitals and institutions.

Simply AMAZING work from some AMAZING volunteers!

World Events in 1953

• Joseph Stalin dies (March 5). Georgi Malenkov becomes Soviet Premier; Lavrenti Beria, Minister of Interior; Vyacheslav Molotov, Foreign Minister (March 6). Background: Rulers of Russia since 1533
• East Berliners rise against Communist rule; quelled by tanks (June 17).
• Korean armistice signed (July 27).
• Moscow announces explosion of hydrogen bomb (Aug. 20). Background: nuclear weapons
• Tito becomes president of Yugoslavia.

US Events in 1953

• Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower inaugurated President of United States (Jan. 20).
• Julius and Ethel Rosenberg executed in Sing Sing prison (June 19).
• Alleged Communist Charlie Chaplin leaves U.S. for good. Justice Dept. warns him any attempt to reenter the country will be challenged.

Sports in 1953

World Series
NY Yankees d. Brooklyn Dodgers (4-2)
NBA Championship
Minneapolis Lakers d. New York (4-1)
Stanley Cup
Montreal d. Boston (4-1)
Wimbledon
Women: Maureen Connolly d. D. Hart (8-6 7-5)
Men: Vic Seixas d. K. Nielsen (9-7 6-3 6-4)
Kentucky Derby Champion
Dark Star
NCAA Basketball Championship
Indiana d. Kansas (69-68)
NCAA Football Champions
Maryland (10-1-0)

Other Events
The first issue of TV Guide magazine hits the newsstands on April 3 in 10 cities with a circulation of 1,560,000.
To counteract the threat of television, Hollywood thinks big and develops wide-screen processes such as CinemaScope, first seen in The Robe.
Loretta Young abandons Hollywood for her stylish debut on the small screen.
Lucille Ball gives birth to Desi Arnaz, Jr. on same day the fictional Little Ricky is born on I Love Lucy.
Playboy magazine hits newsstands. A nude Marilyn Monroe graces the cover.
Movies
The Robe, From Here to Eternity, Shane, Roman Holiday
Books
James Baldwin, Go Tell It on the Mountain
Saul Bellow, The Adventures of Augie March
William Burroughs, Junkie
Randall Jarrell, Poetry and the Age
Henry Miller, Plexus
Alain Robbe-Grillet, The Erasers
Jean Stafford, Children are Bored on Sunday

 

 

“In a few days I am leaving for Texas for a testimonial dinner.”

 

 

 

October 18, 1952

This is the seventh (and last) piece of correspondence from Joan in 1952.  What’s interesting here is the ‘testimonial dinner’ she mentions – it occurred in Ft, Worth where she was honored by her home state of Texas.

And Joan, best known for over eighty film roles in the course of an acting career spanning more than four decades, was also a philanthropist with a connection to Brandeis University (MA). The Joan Crawford Awards collection held at the Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department contains twenty-four awards from theatre, community, and business groups, given to Crawford between 1948 and 1965. The collection was donated to Brandeis in three gifts during Crawford’s lifetime (1966, 1968, and 1973).

Joan’s launch into the business world came when she married Alfred Steele, chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola Corporation, in 1955. She served on the board of the company and worked as a publicity executive. Even after Steele’s death, in 1959, Crawford continued to travel and promote the company, well into the 1970s.   And some of this travel for Pepsi is mentioned in upcoming letters to be posted in this blog.

In the 1960s, Joan went to Brandeis in support of the arts program. The Joan Crawford Dance Studio was dedicated within the Spingold Theater Arts Center in 1965, to foster dance education at the university. The awards in this collection were put on display in the studio. In the late 1960s, she was elected as a Brandeis University Fellow. A letter of invitation to her induction dinner states that Joan was elected as a Brandeis Fellow “given her interest, time and service to a host of civic and philanthropic causes which has endeared her to a large public that goes well beyond the pale of the entertainment industry.”

The awards in the collection range from a bronzed shoe with a plaque declaring it to be “The First Tap Shoe to Feel the Touch of ‘Our Dancing Lady’” to the 1964 Honorary Hoosier Award, “in recognition of her distinguished contributions to the arts and the business world and for her great devotion to humanitarian causes.”  Joan was also honored as the first USO Woman of the Year, in 1965, for her accomplishments as an actress, executive, and humanitarian; her medal was presented by the New York City USO Committee. Other awards include a testimonial presented to her by the Carbonated Beverage Syrup and Allied Trades Division of the United Jewish Appeal of Greater New York on May 18, 1960, describing Joan as “an almost legendary figure in the motion picture world.”

The United Jewish Appeal also presented Joan with a Hebrew-English Bible in 1959. She received the first Golden Shutter Award on January 31, 1955, presented at Universal-International Studios by the Los Angeles Press Photographers Association; the award named Joan as “the ideal photographic subject, perfectly developed and always in focus.” In 1954, she was named Fur Fashion Woman of the Year by the Master Furriers Guild of America “in recognition of her contribution to fashions in furs.” Of greatest note, perhaps, is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Certificate of Nomination for Best Actress, for Sudden Fear, in 1952. This was Crawford’s third Academy Award nomination. She received the honor once, for her role in the 1946 Mildred Pierce.

 

“Happy Birthday Mary”

January 31, 1952

No words here…the telegram says it all!

“…I would be delighted to have you come to the set and see me…”

July 31, 1950

If you are following this blog, (which I hope you are!) you will see that it’s been about three years since Joan wrote to my grandmother.   Now, I can not claim that to truly be the case as I can possibly be missing some letters. Regardless, it’s at a point in the correspondence that a.) my grandmother is being bold and asking to meet (actually, I think it’s grandpa making the moves) and b.) Joan is now offering!  And coming in a few short blogs – you will see that grandma actually did meet Joan in California on a  Warner Brothers studio set of what could have been the final days of filming for Goodbye,  My Fancy – and prior to the filming of This Women is Dangerous (released in 1952)  But as I said, more on that in a few blogs.

Now and at this time in 1950, Irwin is now a young man of 18 trying to figure out just what to do next.  Brooklyn College is an option but the Korean War, which just stared within the last 40 days, is pressing on his heart.  His friends want to fight – but Irwin is not a fighter.   Never was – and that held true until his passing due to a severe case of long-term, undetected, pancreatitis at the early age of 68 in 2000. But regardless whether Irwin was a fighter or not – Mary would be devastated if her only child enlisted.  That would never be the case.

Brooklyn in the 1950’s was in midst of some dramatic changes. The cities industrial energies began to wane.  Manufacturers began to move to cheaper locations in other cities, and the ports became less active as large container ships, requiring deep harbors, began to dominate the shipping trade.  The easy availability and affordability of government-sponsored housing loans spurred the middle classes to leave their old neighborhoods for the suburbs. Hundreds of thousands middle class residents abandoned Brooklyn for Queens, Long Island’s Nassau  County, Staten Island, and New Jersey.  Whole Jewish communities fled their old neighborhoods and moved to Flatbush, Borough Park, Eastern Parkway, and Brighton Beach.  Many Italian families moved to Bensonhurt and Gravesend.

And, here the Sokol’s stayed – in Brooklyn.  Joe working diligently at the Jolly Roger 7 days a week.  And although business was good most days, the competition was fierce – and it came from the original Nathan’s where not only were the hot dogs served, they had the most incredible thick ripple cut french fries.  Something Irwin had often, much to Joe’s dismay.  Irwin helped at the Jolly Roger as much as possible, but not often enough to Joe’s or Mary’s liking.  He was somewhat of a wanderlust – still deciding what he wanted to do in the future.  Where he wandered most often though was to the beaches of Coney Island or Brighton Beach – hanging out with ‘the guys’ and checking out ‘the girls.’  And of course, eating at Nathan’s.

Irwin also loved the rides at Coney Island.  He knew most, if not all, of the ride operators and he basically had a free pass due to the Jolly Roger’s location.  The rides and the activities on Coney Island, for the time, were magical.  Steeplechase Park, the big slide, the barrels, the human pool table, and the Roller Coasters – The Cyclone, The Thunderbolt, the Bobsled – , the Wonder Wheel, etc, etc., were enough to keep a young man occupied for days.  And he loved it – all of it.  Too much to Joe and Mary’s liking – but he was their only child – slightly spoiled, mischievous, but oh so dedicated to his parents like many children of his day.  And within Brooklyn of the 1950’s there were virtually no divorces and few one-parent families.  There were no drugs or drug problems but life was hard for many people – but the families stayed in tact.

And Mary (or I’ve said before, I think it’s Joe doing the ‘asking’ for Mary) has convinced Joe to make a trip to California – but they have no plans.  Mary is well aware that Joan spends much of her time filming on the west coast and although times are tough, they are committed to meet Mary’s favorite movie star.   And all Mary has to do is call CR. 67071 to find Joan’s whereabouts.  And this number, CR. 67071, which I believe was Joan’s NY apartment number and not the studio’s number, was the ticket.   Well, not the only one, Mary and Joe now needed train tickets – and I am certain their budget could not afford such a trip.   But, in a few short blog posts you will see evidence that they made the trip – hopping on the 20th Century Limited train from New York Central Railroad to Chicago, and from there the Los Angeles Limited train for the 45 hour trip.

And there are some interesting tidbits about the 20th Century Limited train – for one, the term “Getting the red carpet treatment” started with this luxurious train.  Passengers walked to and from the train on plush crimson colored carpet which was specially designed for the train and rolled out in both NY and Chicago.  And since many of you are movie fans, the train scenes that took place from NY to Chicago in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” was the 20th Century Limited.

So what was going on in 1950?

• Sino-Soviet friendship treaty signed
• Communist Chinese forces invade Tibet
• British atomic physicist Klaus Fuchs is convicted of spying for the Soviet Union
  
• Phonevision – the first pay-per-view service, becomes available
• Guys and Dolls debuts at the 46th Street Theatre
• Charles Schulz introduces the world to the Peanuts comic strip
• The first Xerox machine is produced
• The first self-service elevator is installed by Otis Elevator in Dallas
• The first successful kidney transplant is performed at Loyola University by Dr. Richard Lawler
• (Jan 17) Brink’s robbery in Boston – almost $3 million stolen
• (Jan 31) Truman orders development of hydrogen bomb
• (May 9) Robert Schuman proposes Schuman Plan to pool European coal and steel
• (June 25)  Korean War begins when North Korean Communist forces invade South Korea
• (Sep 22)  Col. David C. Schilling (USAF) makes the first nonstop transatlantic flight in 10 hours and 1 minute
• (Nov 1)  Assassination attempt on President Truman by Puerto Rican nationalists
• Era of McCarthyism begins
• World Series:  NY Yankees d. Philadelphia Phillies (4-0)
• NBA Championship: Minnesota Lakers d. Syracuse (4-2)
• Stanley Cup:  Detroit d. NY Rangers (4-3)
• Wimbledon:  Women – Louise Brough d. M. duPont (6-1, 3-6,  6-1), Men -Budge Patty d. F. Sedgman (6-1. 8-10, 6-2, 6-3)
• Kentucky Derby:  Middleground
• NCAA Championship:  CCNY d. Bradley (71-68)
• NCAA Football Champions:  Oklahoma (10-1-0)
• World Cup:  Uruguay d. Brazil (2-1)
• Oscar, Best Picture: All the King’s Men
• Other movies that year included:  Sunset Boulevard, All about Eve, Born Yesterday, The Third man

Books:

Paul Bowles, The Delicate Prey
Ray Bradbury, The Martian Chronicles
Ernest Hemingway, Across the River and Into the Trees
Mary McCarthy, Cast a Cold Eye
Isaac Bashevis Singer, The Family Moskat
Wallace Stevens, The Auroras of Autumn
Lionel Trilling, The Liberal Imagination