January: Joan travels to various cities in America to promote the film release of “Strait-Jacket.”
January 5: Joan travels from Manhattan, New York to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During her visit, Joan stays at the Pittsburgh Hilton Hotel.
January 7: Joan travels from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Indianapolis, Indiana. During her visit, Joan stays at the Manager Motor Inn.
January 8: Joan is awarded an honorary Hoosier Award by the Indiana Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Association. The award is "in recognition of her distinguished contributions to the arts of the business world and for her great devotion to humanitarian causes."
January 9 (#1): The film “Strait-Jacket” is released nationally in America.
January 9 (#2): Joan travels from Indianapolis, Indiana to Chicago, Illinois. During her visit, Joan stays at the Ambassador East Hotel.
January 12: Joan travels from Chicago, Illinois to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During her visit, Joan stays at the Bellevue Hotel.
January 13: Joan makes a personal appearance at Wanamaker's Department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she is interviewed and signs autographs for fans while promoting "Strait-Jacket."
January 14: Joan travels from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Boston, Massachusetts.
January 15: While in Boston, Massachusetts, Joan gives an interview to "Life" magazine for the article “The Well-Planned Crawford.” The article later appears in the February 21st issue of "Life" magazine. The article gives the details of Joan's list of hotel requirements. Also during Joan's visit in Boston, she has lunch with the Boston movie critics.
January 16: Joan travels from Boston, Massachusetts to Toronto, Canada. During her visit, Joan stays at the Royal Yorke Hotel.
January 18: Joan travels from Toronto, Canada to Manhattan, New York.
February 3: It’s reported that “Strait-Jacket” has so far grossed $4,000,000 domestically, and $7,000,000 worldwide. Moving it ahead of "Cleopatra" on the list that records the top financial film grossers.
Mid-February: Joan vacations in Jamaica.
February 9: Robert Aldrich publicly confirms the production contract and distribution agreement with Twentieth Century Fox in regard to the film "What Ever Happened To Cousin Charlotte?"
February 19: Joan travels from Jamaica to Manhattan, New York.
February 20: Robert Aldrich returns to Los Angeles, California following filming location scouting in Mississippi and Louisiana for "What Ever Happened To Cousin Charlotte?"
February 22: Joan attends the Pepsi-Cola Distributors Association's 15th annual banquet in the Imperial Ballroom at the Americana Hotel in Manhattan, New York.
The banquet is attended by over 1,000 New York state Pepsi-Cola distributors and their families. At one point during the banquet, Joan accompanies comedians Marty Allen and Steve Rossi on stage, where Allen splits his pants while kneeling to bow to Joan.
February 29: Joan attends the dedication ceremony of a new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Corpus Christi, Texas. The ceremony is attended by approximately 3,900 people. Joan is accompanied by Pepsi-Cola president Donald Kendall and Kendall's wife. At the dedication, Joan wears a pink wool suit with matching hat, with a silk blouse and matching gloves. Joan departs the plant dedication at 1:00 PM en route to Manhattan, New York.
March: Joan travels to Nassau in the Bahamas on a Pepsi-Cola business trip.
March: Joan presents musician Lionel Hampton with the "Playboy Jazz" award. After accepting the award, Hampton announces that his band must now drink only Pepsi-Cola.
March: Joan's daughter, Cathy, has surgery to have her wisdom teeth extracted, and stays overnight in the hospital to recover.
Early March: Robert Aldrich meets with Joan in New York regarding preparations for "What Ever Happened To Cousin Charlotte?"
March 6: Joan signs an amended agreement in regard to her December 19, 1963 contract with The Associates & Aldrich Company to appear in the film
"What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?" The terms of this amended contract include the clause that her appearances to promote the film would be without Bette Davis.
March 11: Robert Aldrich announces that he hopes to start filming "What Ever Happened To Cousin Charlotte?" around the first of May. Aldrich says the actress who will play the role of "Charlotte" is still "undecided."
March 12: Robert Aldrich announces "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" as the new title for "What Ever Happened To Cousin Charlotte?"
March 17: It's officially announced that Bette Davis will co-star with Joan in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte." On January 23rd, 1964, Davis had signed an employment contract with Associate & Aldrich to appear in the film "What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte?" This contract was followed by an agreement dated April 6th, 1964 between Davis and The Associates & Aldrich Company that state rehearsals for the film will commence on May 11th, 1964, and that principal photography will commence on May 25th, 1964.
March 23 (#1): Joan dines at the 21 Club restaurant in Manhattan, New York for her birthday. During her birthday dinner, Joan is presented with a special portrait of
"The Dragon Lady" cartoon, which was physically modeled after Joan' appearance in the film "The Bride Wore Red," by cartoonist/artist Milton Caniff.
March 23 (#2): Joseph Cotten signs to co-star with Joan and Bette Davis in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
March 25: Agnes Moorehead signs to co-star with Joan and Bette Davis in "Hush...Hush. Sweet Charlotte."
April: Joan negotiates with producer Arthur Hoffe in regard to starring in his film "Strange Story" with Ann-Margret.
April 4: Joan travels to Los Angeles, California. to begin preparations for the film "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
April 6: Joan reports to the Twentieth Century Fox lot for wardrobe tests and fittings for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
Mid-April: Joan travels from Los Angeles to San Francisco, California.
April 14: Joan travels from San Francisco, California to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Pepsi-Cola sales convention, and to host the Kaiser Cookout competition.
April 15: Joan attends a party given in her honor by Mr. and Mrs. Edwin K. Hastings. The party is held on the Executive Lanai of the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
April 18: Joan attends the Kaiser Cookout competition held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Joan announces the winner at an awards banquet on April 20th.
April 20: Joan attends the Kaiser Cookout competition awards ceremony, and announces the winner and runner ups of the contest. The ceremony is held at 6:30 pm in the Hilton Hawaiian Village Long House.
April 22: Joan attends the premiere opening of the "It's A Small World" ride at the New York World's Fair.
April 25: Joan attends the dedication ceremony for the new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Tupelo, Mississippi.
April 26: Joan attends the dedication ceremony of the new Beaman Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Nashville, Tennessee. The plant's open house for the public is from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm.
Late April: Joan returns home to Manhattan, New York for a few days before traveling to Los Angeles, California.
Late April: Joan arrives in Los Angeles, California for a three-day stay in order to meet with Robert Aldrich in regard to "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte," and Columbia Pictures executives in regard to "Strange Story."
May: Columbia Pictures considers financially backing both the production and release of the film "Strange Story," with Joan in the film's lead role.
May 1: Columnist Dorothy Kilgallen reports that film producer Ross Hunter is interested in casting Joan and Rock Hudson in a film adaption of Thomas Wolfe's novel "The Web and The Rock."
May 4: Joan accepts an invitation from ex husband Franchot Tone to attend the premiere of his new play "The Dirty Old Man" at the Theatre de Lys in Manhattan, New York.
May 5: Mary Astor signs to co-star with Joan in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte." Barbara Stanwyck was the top contender for the role of "Jewel Mayhew" prior to Astor signing. In an April 17th telegram Bette Davis sent to General Artists Corporation, Davis objected to the consideration of Stanwyck for the role, saying "an actress of the stature of Stanwyck as Jewel is an insult to both Crawford and me. Like old home week with the old girls from the Warner lot."
May 6 (#1): Joan attends the 1964 Pepsi-Cola stockholder's meeting in Wilmington, Delaware. At the meeting, Joan's salary and travel expenses are criticisrd by the company's stockholders. Executive Herbert L. Barnet defends Joan, stating she is "underpaid."
May 6 (#2): Joan hosts a benefit concert at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, New York. Musician Lionel Hampton performs at the concert, which is to benefit the Wiltwyck School for Boys in New York.
May 14 (#1): Joan sends a telegram to Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor on the set of William Castle‘s film “The Night Walker” to wish them as much luck as she had with “Strait-Jacket.”
May 14 (#2): Joan, Bette Davis and Robert Aldrich hold a press conference to discuss "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
May 18: The cast of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" meets for the first day of rehearsals on the Twentieth Century Fox sound stage.
May 22-23: Bette Davis does not attend wardrobe tests for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" after receiving notice of a lawsuit against her by Paramount Pictures. The lawsuit is in regard to Davis' refusal to complete filming of her film "Where Love Has Gone," with a request to the court that Davis not be allowed to render her services to any other film production company until her contractual obligation to Paramount is fulfilled.
May 25: Joan attends wardrobe fittings and testing on the Twentieth Century Fox lot in preparation for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
May 27: Bette Davis attends wardrobe testing for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" on the Twentieth Century Fox lot.
May 29: Bette Davis attends wardrobe testing for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" on the Twentieth Century Fox lot.
May 30: The "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" production crew of 70 travels, via a private plane, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for location filming. Joan travels alone, via a commercial airline, and arrives on June 2nd.
June 1: Filming begins on "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" on location in Darrow, Louisiana at the Houmas House plantation.
June 2: Joan arrives in Louisiana to begin filming "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte." Upon her arrival, Joan begins hair and wardrobe tests on location at the Houmas House Plantation.
June 3 (#1): Joan begins her first day of filming for the film "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
June 3 (#2): Joan and Bette Davis attend a reception in their honor by Louisiana Governor John J. McKeithen at the governor's mansion. Governor McKeithen had previously become ill with the mumps, and is unable to attend the reception.
June 4: Joan and Bette Davis pose for publicity photos at the Houmas House Plantation. The photographs are taken by photographer Flip Schulke for "Life" magazine. However, following Joan's later removal from the film, the photographs are never published for the film's publicity.
June 5: Joan films her scenes with Mary Astor for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
June 10-12: Joan films her location scenes with Bette Davis, the first being the arrival of Joan's character to the mansion.
June 10 to early August: Filming with Bette Davis on "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" is endangered when Paramount Pictures files a petition in a Californian court to legally restrain Davis from offering her services to any other film. The injunction petition is in conjunction with a May 21st lawsuit Paramount Pictures filed against Davis seeking $7,000.00 in damages. The lawsuit contends that Davis had broken a prior contractual filming agreement by refusing to report back to Paramount Pictures to film an added scene of her character "going mad" in a 90 second scene for Paramount's "Where Love As Gone." Bette Davis refused to film the additional scene on the grounds that it is inconsistent with the character and that 90 seconds isn't enough time to effectively portray a woman going mad.
Twentieth Century Fox attorneys, Gerald G. Kelly and Frank H. Ferguson, appeared before Judge Macklin Fleming to request the injunction against Davis be deferred until her completion of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte," asserting that Twentieth Century Fox would lose $500,000 if Davis was prevented from completing "Sweet Charlotte."
On June 10th, Superior Court Judge Macklin Fleming grants Paramount Picture's petition for an injunction to prevent Davis from further filming on "Charlotte" until she completes the 90-second scene for "Where Love Has Gone." However, Judge Fleming grants a legal stay of the order until June 16th to allow Davis' attorney, Morris Levine, time to seek a legal writ from the District Court of Appeals. On June 16th, the injunction is given another legal stay until June 22nd. On June 29th, Davis' attorney asks the District Court of Appeals to set aside the prior injunction against Davis. To read a legal brief regarding Paramount Pictures' lawsuit petition against Davis, click here.
June 12: Last day of location filming in Louisiana for "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
June 13: The cast and crew of "Sweet Charlotte" return to Los Angeles, California. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, Joan checks herself into Cedars of Lebanon Hospital with what her doctor calls an "upper respiratory virus infection." A hospital spokesman says her condition is good, but will remain under treatment for a few days.
June 15: Joan's stand-in, E.M. Jones, is used in her place during filming of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
June 15: The mayor of Los Angeles names June 15th "Joan Crawford-Bette Davis Day" in Hollywood in honor of them filming “Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte.“ Aware of the sensitivity both actresses have regarding billing, two signs are made. One reading “Joan Crawford/Bette Davis Day” and the other reading “Bette Davis/Joan Crawford Day.”
June 16 - 19: Filming on "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" is shot around Joan while she is in the hospital. On June 19, Robert Aldrich is told Joan has a bad case of dysentery and an excessively high white blood cell count.
June 21: Due to her illness, Joan cancels her previously scheduled appearance at the opening day of the American Grocers five-day convention in Miami, Florida. The convention was originally going to begin with a report presented by Joan that detailed the influence of the teenage market.
June 25: Joan tells Robert Aldrich her script ideas for her character, "Miriam." Joan feels that her character needs more background information for the audience, such as a flashback scene of her as a young woman. Joan also feels that her character should have more gentlemen suitors, at least two more. Joan also suggests a "southern ball" at Charlotte's mansion welcoming her character back to town.
When Bette Davis is told of Joan's script requests, she criticizes them and demands there to be no script revisions for the character of "Miriam."
June 26: Joan is released from Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. Joan is re-admitted two days later.
June 28: Joan is re-admitted to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital.
June 30: Joan's condition develops into pneumonia. (Source: "Bette & Joan: The Divine Feud") Robert Aldrich announces production on "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" will shut-down on July 2 for Joan to recover from her illness.
Mid-July (#1): Joan is released from Cedars of Lebanon Hospital.
Mid-July (#2): Joan's daughter, Christina, travels to Los Angeles, California from Chicago, Illinois to visit Joan for one week.
July 20: Joan reports to the Twentieth Century Fox lot for wardrobe re-fittings for "Sweet Charlotte" due to her weight loss from her illness. Joan also meets with Robert Aldrich to review new script revisions for her character.
July 22: Joan's daughter, Christina, is interviewed at 12:30 pm on the Chicago, Illinois AM radio show "Sig's Show." Joining Christina on the show is her "Sundays In New York" play co-star Johnny Desmond.
July 21-24: Joan leaves the set of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" at around noon each day.
July 25 -26: Robert Aldrich hires a private investigator to surveillance Joan at her Fountain Avenue apartment, however no activity of interest is reported.
July 27: Joan reports to the set of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte," however, leaves at 12:55 pm.
Robert Aldrich and 20th Century Fox executives meet regarding Joan's minimal work performance. Joan's attorney, Leonard Rosen, is informed that if Joan doesn't work longer days that the film could be canceled, or Joan could be replaced.
July 28: To Robert Aldrich's satisfaction, Joan works a total of 5 1/2 hours on the set of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
July 28 - August 9: Joan's daughter, Christina, replaces actress Kathy Nolan in the play "Sunday In New York" at the Pheasant Run Playhouse in Chicago, Illinois. The play's promotional advertisements indicate that Christina is Joan Crawford's daughter.
July 29: Joan reports to the set of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" and films several scenes, including the "staircase murder scene" with Agnes Moorehead. Shortly thereafter, Joan informs director Robert Aldrich that she has over exerted herself and needs to leave the set early to rest. Aldrich closes down the film's production until August 3rd.
July 31: Joan consents to a medical examination by the production's insurance doctor. The doctor reports that Joan has a temperature of 99.2, her white blood cell count is a little over 11,000 and says that while Joan does have symptoms of a cold, that it's nothing serious enough that would prevent her from working on the set full-time.
August 1: Joan is admitted back into Cedars of Lebanon Hospital.
August 4: Production shuts down indefinitely on "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
August 5: Robert Aldrich begins actively seeking replacements for Joan in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
August 8: Joan reports to the press that her doctors have advised her that she will have to rest for a month to fully recover from her recent illness, which is described as a "respiratory virus infection."
August 10: In a press release, Joan says she expects that she will be replaced in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte;" saying "I've read where Loretta Young might replace me. I think she would be wonderful in the part."
August 19: Joan's friend and co-biographer, Jane Kesner Ardmore, visits her at Cedar of Lebanon hospital.
August 20: Robert Aldrich travels to Switzerland to talk, in person, with actress Olivia de Havilland regarding her replacing Joan in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
August 21-22: Robert Aldrich discusses the role of "Miriam Deering" with Olivia de Havilland. After lengthy discussions, de Havilland agrees to the role.
August 22: Joan's twin daughters, Cathy and Cindy, return home from summer school.
August 24: It's reported that Olivia de Havilland has replaced Joan in "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte." Joan is informed via the press of her official replacement and later tells reporters that she cried for nine straight hours after learning the news; saying "I'm used to people looking me in the eye, not this indirect treatment."
August 27: Joan is released from Cedars of Lebanon Hospital.
September 3: A case of Pepsi is delivered on the set of "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" to refill a Pepsi-Cola machine Joan had installed while still in the production. On September 4th, the Pepsi machine is removed. On September 8th, Robert Aldrich orders a Coke-Cola machine to be installed on the set.
September 10: Joan meets with Frances Spingold at Spingold’s home to discuss an upcoming National Sponsoring Committee dinner. The meeting results in a 30% sale of the 50-table goal the event's committee had set.
September 29: Joan meets with producer/director William Castle to sign her contract for "I Saw What You Did." Joan provides Castle with medical documents to exhibit that she has fully recovered from the illness that prevented her from completing "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte."
October: Joan takes a short vacation to Jamaica. While there, Cary Grant invites Joan to a cast and crew screening of “Father Goose.” Joan accepts Grant's invitation and supplies the screening with Pepsi-Cola.
October 5: Joan serves as general chairman at a dinner at the Americana Hotel in New York honoring Columbia Pictures executive Leo Jaffe on his induction as a fellow of Brandeis University. The dinner is attended by over 700 guests.
October 6 (#1): Joan attends a preview of the "Women in Politics" exhibit at the Pepsi-Cola gallery on the ground floor of the company's headquarters on Park Avenue in Manhattan, New York. The exhibit is attended by 300 guests, and was prepared by Barnard College in commemoration of its 75th anniversary.
October 6 (#2): The final draft of the film "I Saw What You Did" is completed.
Mid-October: John Ireland is signs to play opposite Joan in the film "I Saw What You Did."
Mid-October: Joan has dinner at Forum of 12 Cesar's in Manhattan, New York.
October 16: Joan attends the commemorative banquet in honor of the dedication of a new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Beaumont, Texas. During her visit, Joan resides at the Ridgewood Hotel.
October 17: Joan opens the "Red Poll Angus Show" at the South Texas State Fair. Following her appearance at the fair, Joan attends the dedication ceremony of a new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Beaumont, Texas. 16,000 people attend the ceremony and tour the new bottling plant.
October 20: Joan presents Van Johnson with a huge cake marking his 30 years in show business. Johnson is in Manhattan, New York performing in "Latin Quarter."
October 21: Joan attends the premiere of "My Fair Lady" at the Criterion Theater in New York. She is accompanied by Pepsi-Cola executive Herbert L. Barnet and friend, Frances Spingold.
October 27: Sheila and Gordon MacRae hosts a farewell cocktail party in honor of Joan at Billy Reed's Little Club restaurant in Manhattan, New York as a "bon voyage" before Joan's upcoming trip to Los Angeles, California to film "I Saw What You Did."
October 31: Joan attends the dedication ceremony of a new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Raleigh, North Carolina. While in North Carolina, Joan appears on “The Jim Burns Show."
November 3-6: Joan films her scenes on the Universal lot for the film "I Saw What You Did."
November 6: Joan hosts a party on the set of the film "I Saw What You Did" for her two teenage co-stars, Andi Garret and Sara Lane.
November 10: Joan travels to Chicago, Illinois to attend the Pepsi-Cola bottler's convention. Joan stays in Chicago until November 14th.
November 12: Joan speaks at the Chicago Bank Women's annual dinner at the Continental Plaza Hotel. During the dinner Joan is asked what was her most difficult film role. She replies "That came in "Mildred Pierce," because I was a waitress and had to serve Cokes."
While in Chicago, Joan also attends Passavant Memorial Hospital's "Christmas Bazaar" bake sale.
November 14: Joan travels to Los Angeles, California from Chicago, Illinois.
November 19: Joan spends the Thanksgiving holiday with friends Sherrill and Dorothy Corwin in Palm Springs, California.
November 25: Joan reports to the Universal lot to pose for publicity stills for the film "I Saw What You Did."
November 26: William Castle hosts a "Meet Joan Crawford" cocktail party on the Universal lot. Among the party's guests are; Cesar Romero, Angie Dickinson, writer Robert Bloch, Andi Garrett, Sara Lane, Leif Erikson and film score composer Van Alexander.
November 28: Joan travels home to Manhattan, New York.
December 9: Joan attends the annual USO "Gold Metal Awards Dinner" at the Astor Hotel in Manhattan, New York. Among the attending guests are; former president Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bob Hope, John Daly and singer Eddie Fisher.
December 13: Joan appears as a mystery contestant on the television game show "What's My Line?" Joan's appearance was previously recorded at the CBS Studio, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York.
December 16: Joan, Ann Southern and Arlene Frances testifies in a Federal fraud case in Springfield, Illinois. The case involves a man named Harold A. Meyer claiming to perspective buyers that Joan was the president of the company he represented.
December 25: Joan spends Christmas with her daughters Cathy and Cindy, who are home from school for the holiday.