Joan Crawford And Her Shoes
When Joan Crawford’s adopted daughter Christina Crawford wrote her 1978 poison pen biography “Mommie Dearest” about her Hollywood superstar mother, many people found the account to be unbelievable.
It is still debated today how much of Christina’s biography really occurred. There are others who knew Joan Crawford personally and did not find Christina’s allegations to be extraordinary. We’ll never know for sure, but take this to heart, Joan Crawford was known to be controlling and manipulative in advancing her career.
I will say Joan Crawford was a good actress. But that is where it ends for me.
In this publicity photograph dated June 23, 1954, Crawford shows off one of her 500 pairs of shoes meticulously arranged in her shoe closet.
I’m sure there were others in the golden years of Hollywood that had a bigger collection of shoes. But my question is – would you show them off to the press and the public? Strange woman.
Not really understanding the questioning or criticism as to why Crawford showed off her shoe collection. Is this not from a “Vanity Fair” article?? A FASHION mag??? I’m certain “they” guided the direction of this coverage. And why should she hide her shoes?? Are they a dirty secret??!!?? Those shoes represent work for a lot of people: food on the table – shelter! Shoes don’t fall out the sky! It takes people to make them!
It is not from a Vanity Fair article. It is a news-press photo from June 23, 1954.
Maybe you are looking at Crawford the wrong way. Try to picture it like this…
A woman who abuses her children, shows off a closet with over 500 pairs of shoes according to the caption. This is not something to be proud of or show to the public. Most people at the time owned or could afford one or two pair of shoes.
The shoes Crawford purchased are not from Florsheim or some regular consumer brand factory. They are almost certainly custom made high-end shoes.
Your statement that shoes represent work is an evasive correlation which carries little weight when you consider all the bizarre behavior Crawford exhibited throughout her life. Yes, she lived the life of a movie star presenting herself to the public as a glamorous idol which she was.
Some things, at certain times should be kept on the Q-T. W.C. Fields didn’t let the press photograph his vast liquor collection.