Speaking of Joan Crawford...I was talking to a woman recently, in her 70's I believe, who told me she used to write to lots of famous people when she was ten or so and ask for a picture or an autograph. She brought out a manila envelope holding a 5x7 photograph inscribed to her and saying, "Hello to you from Joan Crawford." She believes it was from 1951 or 1952.
In the photo, Joan has her hands up around her forehead (sort of like looking through binoculars, but no binoculars) and has a huge diamond ring on her finger, and looking wide-eyed and very dramatic.
The envelope was sent to this woman where she lived, at that time, in New Jersey. The return address is 426 North Bristol Avenue, Los Angeles 49, Calif. The postmark is July 24, but the year is blurred and not readable, it almost looks like 1997, but 1952 does look very plausible, which is what she thought.
Joan's residence (for 26 years) at 426 N. Bristol Ave. in Brentwood:
1930:
1944:
Joan’s Oscar for Mildred Pierce at home:
Joan, dressed, at her pool:
A few years ago when Mildred Pierce was screened at the Academy (AMPAS), Ann Blyth (Veda) was present and told a story of going to Joan Crawford’s house to meet her before filming (I believe Ann was only 16 at the time) and she was told to go around back to the pool where Joan Crawford greeted her stark naked.
All photos from this site where many more interiors and exteriors can be found:
http://www.legendaryjoancrawford.com/brentwoodhome.html