Jeanne Crain fan mail and correspondence
Catalogued by Hilton, Louise
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
333 S La Cienega Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
Published January 2023
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: There are several hundred fan letters sent to the actress in the mid-1940s, largely from U.S. servicemen, often requesting
a photograph or autograph. There is also some personal and family correspondence.
Collector:
Crain, Jeanne
Dates: 1931-1946
Dates: 1940-1946
Collection number: 1467
Collection Size:
2 linear ft. of papers
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all
necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing
materials obtained from the library.
Preferred Citation
Jeanne Crain fan mail and correspondence, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Melissa Streeter, 2009
Biography
Jeanne Crain was an American actress active in film from 1943 to 1975. She was nominated for an Academy Award as best actress
for PINKY (1949).
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Correspondence
Indexing terms
Crain, Jeanne
Actresses
Fans (Persons)
folder 1
A miscellaneous
1944--1945
Record ID: 71440261
Scope and Content Note
from organizations asking for donations; letter from W.F. Scranton from the AMPRO Corporation regarding the "All Star War
Bond Rally," May 26, 1945
folder 2
B miscellaneous
1943--1945
Record ID: 71442628
Scope and Content Note
letter from student at Brentwood (Missouri) High School requesting personal item to be auctioned off at War Loan Drive, April
26, 1945; letter from family friend George Brown, January 23, 1944
folder 3
C miscellaneous
Circa 1945--1946
Record ID: 71442696
Scope and Content Note
Christmas card, undated, and a letter from Rory Calhoun in which he writes to "tell you how much I appreciated and enjoyed
your company of last evening," September 17, 1945; invitation to a performance of the Desi Arnaz Orchestra at Ciro's, January
29, 1946
folder 4
Christmas cards
Circa 1938--1943
Record ID: 71442629
Scope and Content Note
Christmas cards primarily addressed to Jeanne's mother Loretta from friends
folder 5
Crain, Jeanne
Circa 1930--1946
Record ID: 71442749
Scope and Content Note
Christmas card from Crain to her mother Loretta [undated, circa 1930s]; letter from Crain to Loretta written while on location
in Reno, Nevada, filming "Margie" (1946), in which she writes, "All day today we reshot the first day's work because Mr. King
[director Henry King] wanted to use the snow. I am glad because it is much prettier. He is so nice. We have talked to him
a lot and have lunch with him nearly every day. I am having a lot of fun in this role - I look very funny but the funnier
the better for the picture," February 4, 1946.
folder 6
E miscellaneous
1939--1939
Record ID: 71442661
Scope and Content Note
letter from Eileen [last name unknown] to Loretta Crain, January 3, 1939
folder 7
F miscellaneous
1944--1945
Record ID: 71442728
Scope and Content Note
Christmas card from Tex Feldman, December 1944; letter from Sheila Friedman, niece of Chester Friedman who was editor of Managers
Roundtable of the Motion Picture Herald, January 11, 1945
folder 8
Family
1931--1945
Record ID: 71442630
Scope and Content Note
addressed primarily to Crain's mother Loretta from various family members
folder 9
Family--Crain, Rita
Circa 1930--1940
Record ID: 71442658
Scope and Content Note
to Loretta Crain from her daughter Rita, written when Rita was a young girl
folder 10
Family--Garvin, Opal and Raymond
1936--1943
Record ID: 71442660
Scope and Content Note
from Opal and Raymond Garvin addressed primarily to Loretta Crain; a Christmas card in which Opal and Raymond write they
"are so happy for your good fortune and can hardly wait for Jeanne's picture to come to town. Did you know there was a newspaper
picture of her recently in the Dallas Times Herald? What a happy surprise that was, to pick up the evening paper and see our
little Jeanne!," December 14, 1943
folder 11
Family--Leavitt, Florence
Circa 1935--1938
Record ID: 71442659
Scope and Content Note
from Crain's aunt Florence to Loretta Crain and Crain's grandmother Anna Carr
folder 12
Family--Ray, Caroline
1939--1940
Record ID: 71442654
folder 13
Family--Rousseau, Marie
1933--1938
Record ID: 71442656
Scope and Content Note
from Crain's aunt Marie Rousseau to Loretta Crain and Crain's grandmother Anna Carr
folder 14
Family--Rousseau, Marie
1938--1946
Record ID: 71442657
Scope and Content Note
from Crain's aunt Marie Rousseau to Loretta Crain and to Crain's grandmother Anna Carr; letter in which Marie writes "I think
Jean is surely having thrilling days & experiences. I hope she has her chance in the movies. I pray that she will have that
chance. But all this modeling isn't any thing to sneeze at. [...] Someday, Jean will sign a rich contract," October 31, 1942
folder 15
Fan clubs
Circa 1945--1945
Record ID: 71442663
Scope and Content Note
letters from Helen M. Heil, president of the Shining Stars Fan Club (Coytesville, NJ), requesting permission to list Crain
as an honorary member in the Club's journal's charter issue and requesting an autographed photograph of Jeanne, undated
folder 16
Fan mail
1945--1946
Record ID: 71442666
Scope and Content Note
, including birthday cards and letters requesting autographed pictures of Crain; letter from a fan named Mary Trifoglio asking
where she could "obtain an outfit like the one you have on in the color photo of Modern Screen for the month of May" and asking
"what you use to keep your hair so beautiful," April 23, 1945; several letters requesting information on Crain's wardrobe
in "State Fair" (1945), including a letter from Terry Lamorte, in which she writes she saw the film and "what made it look
much nicer and colorful was your dresses. I live in New York, but haven't seen anything as nice as the ones you wore in that
picture, so I'm asking you if they have a store in Hollywood that sells these dresses, or if they have patterns for them,"
September 13, 1945, and a letter from Muriel Reisig asking Crain "if you could tell me if there is a place where the kind
of dresses you wore in "State Fair" are for sale? It would be a great thrill for me to get even one dress like you had on.
It would be greatly appreciated both by my husband and myself," October 24, 1945
folder 17
Fan mail--Military
1943--1944
Record ID: 71442669
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letters
from high school classmates of Crain's; letter from Pfc. Robert F. Habig to Crain's father asking for permission to write
to her because she's "the kind of a girl a fellow wants to write to. She's nice - pretty - but most of all - AMERICAN. She
means home!!," December 13, 1944; Christmas cards from December 1944
folder 18
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442670
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
from a Catholic sailor named Fred C. Schetz, in which he writes, "I couldn't help but notice the Hollywood scuttebutt (Navy
word for gossip) about your engagement to Paul Brooks. I realize that's [sic] it's really none of my business, but I would
like to know if it's true. Besides, I would really hate to see a girl like you ruin her life, as many stars do, by marrying
someone especially a non-Catholic and not being able to make a go of it," January 15, 1945; letter from Pfc. Don E. Allred
requesting pictures of both Crain and her sister Rita, in which he writes he read in a fan magazine that "you thought your
sister was prettier than you.......Welllllll......this we gotta see....," January 18, 1945; letter from British sailor named
Willy Dighton asking for a letter and photograph and a personal item, "(if only a handkerchief) so we could figuratively speaking
fly your colours. Secondly if you are looking for a husband sometime in the distant future you could do no better than take
a P.T. boy. We can cook, sew, knit, scrub or do anything for that matter. (I hope you realize this is a skylark.)," April
5, 1945; V-mail letter from three soldiers who write they have not yet seen any of Crain's movies, but have seen photographs
of her, and "we have found in you the composite of all our hopes and dreams, the ideal American woman, and though this falls
far short of that Academy Award which you no doubt hope some day to achieve, we would like you to know that you have helped
to make our difficult lot a bit easier," April 19, 1945; letter from five Marines who write they have "voted you (overwhelmingly
and unanimously) 'the type, shape, and personality we hope to find after the war is over.' We hope this will please you enough
to give us a picture of yourself. Anything will do, but just in case you happen to have one posed in a swim-suit....," April
26, 1945
folder 19
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442680
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; birthday
cards and letters; letter from the crew of the U.S.S. LCI(L), in which they write she is "the best looking girl in the town
of beautiful girls. We have been racking our brain for some way of expressing our feelings for you. Probably you have never
heard of a 'mid-watch,' but it is the worst thing that can happen to a poor sailor. So you can be sure it is the supreme honor
when we decided without even voting that you are girl we'd most like to stand a mid-watch with," May 9, 1945; letter from
sailors from U.S.S. Oswald, in which they request a picture and let her know she has been voted the "Pin-Up Girl" of their
radio shack because "it seems that you possess the qualities which are outstanding to us, such as: YOUTH, FIGURE, GRACE, PERSONALITY
PLUS AND GLAMOR. We have also voted you the girl "We'd like most to stand a watch with." The letter has the following postscript:
"P.S. Send the officers one too. -The Censor," May 12, 1945; V-mail letter from Cpl. Jerry Rosen in which he writes that the
men of his unit "have voted you their 'Pin-Up Girl for Victory over Japan Day.' All of us would appreciate it very much if
you would send us a large photograph to post on our bulletin board until the day of victory comes," May 12 1945
folder 20
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442682
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; birthday
cards and letters; letter from Pfc. Jack Taylor in which he writes "we [...] named our machine gun Jeanne," May 13, 1945
folder 21
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442684
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
addressed to Crain's sister Rita but written to Crain from Pfc. Stephen G. Fanala, May 28, 1945, with a song he wrote for
her entitled "I Fell in Love with Her Picture"; letter and photograph from two Marines, Alfred F. Eswards and Joseph L. LaSlavic,
in which they write they "are only to [sic] happy to know that we are keeping your morale up. Sorry that we haven't much time
to write, but at the present time we are primping for a local tour of the theater. Should you ever be out this way we will
be only to [sic] happy to give you a choice seat at the front." The letter is signed "Your Pin-ups," May 31, 1945
folder 22
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442688
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
from Sgt. John A. Osterhoudt requesting a photograph of "you to brighten up our barracks and help bring our thoughts back
to the girls we left behind so many months ago," June 24, 1945; letter from a group of sailors who voted her "our favorite
and the girl 'We had rather have on a life raft in the middle of the Pacific,'" June 30, 1945; letter from Pfc. Max Triger,
in which he writes "You would be amazed at how much a movie means to a GI way out here..if the air raids don't interfere we
see an entire picture in one night and we go back to our tents feeling lonely, sad, gay, or reeking from nostalgia," June
30, 1945
folder 23
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442729
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
from a sailor named Glenn Mortimer in which he requests a photograph and writes "Texans are a proud people, and to admit that
the prettiest girls (or at least one of them) are grown in California is a real concession. To have such an admission pass
unrecognized would be quite a blow," July 15, 1945; letter from a sailor named Stanley Lemoine requesting a photograph in
which he promises "not to 'bark' at it. (Maybe a little 'woof' now and then.)[...]please consider the picture situation (pin-up)
and the war will be shortened by at least 6 months," July 17, 1945; letter from a group of sailors writing that they have
"voted you the 'Girl we would like most to be forced down with in the jungles,'" July 24, 1945
folder 24
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442730
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
from two sailors, Don Sharpe and Kenneth Struth, in which they write "Now that we have seen you in 'color,' we say Technicolor
is here to stay," August 7, 1945; V-mail letter from a group of soldiers who write that they decided to "take a vote as to
the type of girls we would like to come home to. You have been chosen as the dream of dreams for our homecoming," August 20,
1945; letter from a sailor and former classmate named Donald A. Hartman in which he writes, "We had a few classes together.
It's a funny thing, but the only classes I flunked was [sic] the ones that we had. I wonder why," August 29, 1945
folder 25
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442731
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
from a sailor named Donald Olix in which he writes "To show you just how much the boys like your acting the other night one
of your movies was shown [and] it was pouring down rain, the captain asked if we wanted to stop the movies till after the
rain stoped [sic], well the crew wouldn't hear of it so the movie continued. Well you can see Miss Crane [sic] just how the
boys feel about you," September 22, 1945; letter from a sailor named Tector D. Cason in which he writes he has pictures of
many female celebrities, including Betty Grable and June Haver, but that Crain is "by far the most beautiful in the group.
(Woof) [...] You would be suprised [sic] at the amount of morale lifting your picture does to a fellow this far from home,
especially when he has just received a 'Dear John letter' from a girl he loved very much," September 27, 1945; letter from
the crew of U.S.S. Canberra, requesting a photograph because "we, the 10 lonely ensigns of the junior officer bunkroom aboard
Uncle Sam's USS Canberra, have voted you our little pin-up girl, 'the girl for whom we would most like to fire a 21-gun salute,"
October 4, 1945; letter from a Marine named E.A. Meyer, including a poem in which he writes "She's a girl that [sic] I'd think
of when far away / Yes, wherever I might roam / She's the girl that [sic] I've always wanted to have / Waiting for me back
home / But like the pie on the ledge that's just too high / To me she's just that way / For she'll always be very close to
me / Although she's far away," October 23, 1945
folder 26
Fan mail--Military
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442732
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letters
from former classmates of Crain's; letter from a sailor named Arthur Abrams in which he writes "when you sang 'It Might As
Well Be Spring' [in 'State Fair,' 1946] these buddies of mine, swooned louder and longer than any woman ever did about F.
[Frank] Sinatra," December 25, 1945
folder 27
Fan mail--Military
1946--1946
Record ID: 71442733
Scope and Content Note
primarily from members of the United States Armed Forces, the majority of which request autographed pictures of Crain; letter
from a sailor named William ("Bill") Barksdale in which he writes that he learned of Crain's marriage to "the radio manufacturer,
and believe me you had better hide him when we come back. All kidding aside, we do hope you have a happy marriage [...] We
all fell in love with you because you are the picture of what we think is the prettiest American girl & nothing is better,"
January 16, 1946; letter from the "Quarter Club," a group from the Naval Air Corps, who are "awaiting a lusty, busty picture
of the most beautiful woman in the world - our love - you! [...] [W]e would very much appreciate a large, torrid picture of
you," January 16, 1946
folder 28
G miscellaneous
1943--1943
Record ID: 71442739
Scope and Content Note
Christmas card from Mr. and Mrs. Burris Grimwood, December 14, 1943
folder 29
H miscellaneous
1943--1944
Record ID: 71442740
Scope and Content Note
letter from Cliff Henderson with the postscript "Just picked up a new Coronet with Jeanne on the cover - lovely," March 22,
1943; Christmas card from Shirley and Gordon Hunsaker to "Snow White" [Crain], December 24, 1944
folder 30
J miscellaneous
1944--1944
Record ID: 71442741
Scope and Content Note
Christmas card from Georges [Jomier], December 19, 1944
folder 31
K miscellaneous
1945--1946
Record ID: 71442742
Scope and Content Note
letter from Red Kann of Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., regarding the annual Motion Picture Herald "Stars of Tomorrow" ballot,
September 5, 1945
folder 32
L miscellaneous
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442743
Scope and Content Note
invitation to family member Lewis Leavitt's graduation ceremony from St. Louis University School of Medicine, June 14, 1945
folder 33
Miscellaneous
Circa 1930--1945
Record ID: 71442768
Scope and Content Note
Campbell's Book Store (Westwood Village, Los Angeles) catalog; sheet music for songs including "Silver Threads Among the Gold,"
Roll Along Prairie Moon," and "Rose Marie"; article entitled "The Francs Go Fast in Gay Paree" from The Stars and Stripes
Magazine, June 17, 1945
folder 34
M miscellaneous
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442744
Scope and Content Note
letter from Canadian Minister of Finance thanking Crain on "behalf of the Canadian Government" for her "generous contribution"
to the "All Star Bond Rally," May 1, 1945
folder 35
O miscellaneous
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442745
Scope and Content Note
letter from a classmate of Crain's cousin Dick Rousseau named Phyllis Owen requesting a photograph, and in which she writes
"I bet you really had fun making it [State Fair] with Dana Andrews. Huba, huba [sic]. The group of girls that I go around
with enjoy seeing you in the movies and they all agree with me about the pretty clothes you wore in 'State Fair,'" November
22, 1945
folder 36
P miscellaneous
1944--1945
Record ID: 71442746
Scope and Content Note
Christmas card from Margaret and Bill Pereira, December 23, 1944
folder 37
Photograph requests
Circa 1944--1945
Record ID: 71442755
Scope and Content Note
requests for photographs of Crain; empty envelopes addressed to Crain
folder 38
R miscellaneous
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442747
Scope and Content Note
letter from Dolores Reilly offering to work as a secretary to handle Crain's fan mail and in which she writes: "Prior to January
1943, I was employed as Secretary by one of Paramount's popular feminine stars. Since then I have been, and am now, employed
by Miss Betty Grable. I feel, therefore, that I am qualified to handle, with efficiency and good judgment, large volumes of
fan mail, business or social , etc. I am especially interested in FAN MAIL from members of our Armed Forces to whom, like
yourself, I feel deeply indebted and of whom I am justly proud," February 22, 1945
folder 39
S miscellaneous
1944--1946
Record ID: 71442748
Scope and Content Note
letter from Jim Abbot of Sigma Chi Fraternity at Cornell University inviting Crain to the Annual House Party during the Spring
Day Festivities, describing the various campus events, with the postscript, "I'm not really as drippy as all this, and, in
a nutshell, I want a date with you for Spring Day," April 30, 1945; letter from Paula Miller Strasberg (Lee Strasberg's wife),
March 6, 1945; letters from old classmates of Crain's
folder 40
T miscellaneous
1945--1945
Record ID: 71442750
Scope and Content Note
letter from Marian Rhea of the Publicity Department at Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, June 8, 1945
folder 41
U miscellaneous
1944--1945
Record ID: 71442751
Scope and Content Note
letter from Mary Ann Pearson of the sophomore class at Ursuline Academy (Springfield, Illinois), requesting a personal item
from Crain to be auctioned off as part of a "war bond and stamp drive," December 5, 1944
folder 42
Unidentified
Circa 1945--1945
Record ID: 71442752
Scope and Content Note
letter from Larry [last name unknown] to Crain, June 15, 1945; handwritten note about a Sunday meeting with Marcella Knopf
at a house in Bel Air, undated
folder 43
V miscellaneous
1945--1946
Record ID: 71442753
Scope and Content Note
two letters from Ens. Arthur J. [Joe] Vaughan to Crain, in which he writes "Glad to hear you are again going on location.
Oregon is a pretty state and you should like it where you're going. [...] I wish I could be going with you - I'd like to have
a change of scenery not to mention spending some wonderful evenings together," signed, "Forever, Joe," May 10, 1945, and "No
kidding how I'd like to take you all over the world [...] Be a good girl and remember I love you," signed "Forever, Joe,"
May 14, 1945; letter from Sister M. Mercedes of the Vincentian Sisters of Charity (Perrysville, Pennsylvania) requesting a
donation to the charity, January 10, 1946
folder 44
W miscellaneous
Circa 1943--1945
Record ID: 71442754
Scope and Content Note
telegram from Ted R. Gamble, National Director, War Finance Division of the U.S. Treasury Department, thanking Crain for her
participation in the "All Star Bond Rally" which he describes as "one of the finest bond selling subjects ever produced and
which was made more potent and sincere because of your cooperation," April 7, 1945; invitation from Cobina Wright Sr., to
a wedding at Falcon Lair (Rudolph Valentino's house) in Beverly Hills, August 26, [year unknown]; Christmas card from Sonia
Wolfson, December 15, 1944
