CRAWFORD JOAN: (1905-1977) American actress, Academy Award winner. A brief T.L.S., Joan Steele (a rare form of her signature), one page, 8vo, n.p., 14^th May 1955, to Fred Johnson. Crawford writes, in full, 'Thank you for your sweet wire. We are the happiest people alive. Forgive this abrupt ending, but I'm packing for our honeymoon'. Together with a second T.L.S., Joan, one page, slim 4to, Los Angeles, California, 31^st March 1956, to Fred Johnson. Crawford thanks her correspondent for his interesting letter and apologises for the late answer ('my husband and I were on a four months' trip to Europe and Jamaica, and I just returned last week') continuing to remark 'I'm so glad you liked "Queen Bee". We loved making it. You seemed to understand what I was trying to express in the character of "Eva", and it made me very happy that you wrote about it in detail…..Incidentally, we saw many plays while in New York, and one of my favourites was "My Fair Lady" - it was divine and flawless'. Both letters with some age toning to the lower edges and other slight stains including two tape stains to the head of each. G, 2

 

Crawford married on four occasions, the last time in 1955 to Alfred Steele (1900-1959) American soft drink businessman who became the CEO of the Pepsi-Cola company in 1949. Crawford herself served on the board of directors of the company following her husband's death from 1959-73.