Some facts about Miss Joan....

A new month means a new classic movie goddess..and for September it is the legendary Joan Crawford. While I have enjoyed several of Joan's films over the years, especially The Women, she has never really been a huge favorite of mine. Until recently that is. She has moved into my top 50 classic actresses of all time and my friend Jessica,who happens to be my guest this month, absolutely adores her. So expect all kinds of Joan Crawford goodness this month. Beginning with some facts and trivia about her, provided by IMDB.

Born: March 23, 1905, San Antonio, Texas
Birth name: Lucille Fay LaSueur
Died May 10th, 1977, New York City (heart attack)

Height: 5'5"

Entered Stephens College, a posh university for women in Columbia, Missouri in 1922, however she left before her first academic year was over as she felt she was not academically prepared for university.

Worked as an elevator operator at Harzfeld's Department Store in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

Each time Crawford married, she changed the name of her Brentwood estate and installed all new toilet seats.

Interred at Ferncliff Cemetery, Hartsdale, New York, USA.

Was asked to take over Carole Lombard's role in They All Kissed The Bride (1942) after Lombard died in a air crash returning from a war bond tour. Crawford then donated all of her salary to the Red Cross, who found Lombard's body, and promptly fired her agent for taking his usual 10%.

She was so dedicated to her fans that she always personally responded to her fan mail by typing them responses on blue paper and autographing it. A great deal of her spare time and weekends were spent doing this.

She had a cleanliness obsession. She used to wash her hands every ten minutes and follow guests around her house wiping everything they touched, especially doorknobs and pieces from her china set. She would never smoke a cigarette unless she opened the pack herself, and would never use another cigarette out of that pack if someone else had touched it.

Her cleanliness obsession lead her to prefer showers to tubs, as she abhorred sitting in her own bathwater.

"Joan Arden" was chosen as the young star's screen name after a write-in contest was held in the pages of "Movie Weekly" magazine, but a bit player came forward and said she was already using it. Mrs. Marie M. Tisdale, a crippled woman living in Albany, New York, won $500 for submitting the runner-up name "Joan Crawford".

She disliked her 'new' name and initially encouraged others to pronounce it Jo-Anne Crawford. In private, she liked to be referred to as Billie.

Because Joan was bullied and shunned at Stephens College by the other students due to her poor homelife, she answered every single piece of fanmail she received in her lifetime except those from former classmates at Stephens.

She was voted the 47th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

My Movie Dreams: A new series

Some of my friends know that my dreams can be very cinematic. As I usually tell them all about them. And they are some doozies. Usually placing me in certain scenes from certain movies or with certain actors/actresses. I thought I would start sharing some of those with all of my followers. And I can remember most of the dreams like they were yesterday. So here is dream #1.

It begins with me chasing some bad guy at night through this crowded mall. I am a cop. And my partner is Robert De Niro. Yes..Robert De Niro. So we're chasing this guy all over the place with our guns drawn and wearing our badges around our necks on chains. Look pretty cool might I add. We're closing in on him when we run into my aunt at the food courtyard. And she starts talking to me. Monty, where have you been? Have you seen your momma lately? Who are you seeing now? Just grilling me with all these questions and De Niro jumps in and says "Excuse us ma'am, but this is police business and we're in pursuit of a known felon. We need to get going." Sounding all cop like. Then my aunt comes back with "Now hold on there Bobby...I know your momma taught you better manners than that."

My mouth hit the floor and I said "This is Mr. De Niro. You don't call him Bobby. What's wrong with you?"
She came back at me "Quiet Monty..grown folks are talking here".

And then the dream kind of fades out. Lasted only for a few minutes but I thought it was pretty cool. Expect many more of my cinematic dreams to follow here on my blog. Thanks for listening!

At The Beach: DIANA RIGG

Diana trying to sort out what umbrella to take to the beach

At The Beach: JOHN STEED AND EMMA PEEL

Don't ask why Steed and Peel have a bear throw rug at the beach..it was the 60's..nuff said!

Summer Lovin'- TOBY WING

Toby looking very tropical

At The Beach: MITZI GAYNOR

I know the ocean is in the background but Mitzi is too damn distracting to notice it..

31 Stars in 31 Days: Day 30 - ROMY SCHNEIDER

Ahhh, Romy, Romy, Romy. The Austrian born beauty has quickly become one of my favorite classic film actresses. She currently sits at number three on my all time favorite actresses list. Behind only Carole Lombard and Irene Dunne. Heady company there. Me and my best friend Irene Palfy constantly talk about her all the time. I have only seen a few of her films but what I have seen I have loved. But since I haven't seen enough of her films I won't be listing my favorite film or role of hers. I need to see more. And right now the only film I own of hers is Good Neighbor Sam (1964) with Jack Lemmon, which I absolutely love. So I will be watching that this evening once I get home.

The enchanting Romy

Today's film: GOOD NEIGHBOR SAM (1964) - A wonderful comedy from the 60's which casts Romy as a recent divorcee who must ask her married neighbor Jack Lemmon to pretend to be her husband to land a big time inheritance. From the first time we see Romy, she is amazing. And her chemistry with Mr. Lemmon is great. Can't wait to watch it again.

Rating: **** out of ***** stars

ALL GOOD THINGS in SEPTEMBER

After a busy summer of blogging, September will be a little more slower paced. I will still be blogging but I don't have any major events planned...no tourneys, no festivals, etc. Just regular, everyday stuff. The classic movie goddess for the month will be none other than Joan Crawford. And that will lead to my guest for the month...Jessica Ellen Rowe from Australia who is the biggest Joan Crawford fan I know. So how's that for synergy. I will post some reviews of some of my favorite Joan films and well as the usual facts and photos regarding the goddess of the month. Also hope to write the 1947 edition of the Monties, my version of the Oscars. And then anything else that might catch my fancy. So please stop by from time to time to take up some classic movie ambiance.

Summer Lovin' - GRACE KELLY

Simply Grace

Summer Loving' - JANE WYMAN and RONALD REAGAN

Former husband and wife Ron and Jane coming out of the pool