Fun with Joan Puzzles

The Films of Joan Crawford

Fun with Joan Puzzles

Below are puzzles to test your Joan know-how, challenge your brain, and have fun with. It should keep you in the swim, in fact, about all things Joan Crawford! Whether finding the symmetrical design to the Crawfordgram or the two Joan drawings that are exactly alike, these brain teasers are All About Joan! Don’t ask what Joan would do – you know. She’d roll up her sleeves and give each a go, as she always did in life! Remember those three maxims James “Daddy” Wood of St. Stephens College gave our gal (and which that apt pupil never forgot): 1. Never stop a job until it’s finished; 2. make laughter merriest when problems are deepest; and 3. attempt impossible jobs that promise growth as opposed to those easily accomplished. Joan would do six impossible things before breakfast! What time is it? These can be your first! – D. Nowak

CRAWFORDGRAM I

by Donna Nowak

There is a complete Joan-related message hidden in the square below. It can be found by drawing a continuous pencil line through the correct letters, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally (backwards or forwards). The pencil lines, when done correctly, will give a symmetrical design. No letter may be used more than once. Start at the ● and finish at the ♦. This “Crawfordgram” is based on the 1930’s Liberty Magazine “Yardleygrams” by Herbert O. Yardley. Enjoy! (Please note all punctuation has been eliminated! C for Crawford, C for Challenge!)

●V

♦A

Only a movie star of Joan's caliber can take off a bathing cap and have perfectly coiffed hair!

CRAWFORD CRISS CROSS

by Donna Nowak

Using only the letters below, fill the diagram with Joan-related words.

A A A A A A B B C C C D D E E E E E E E

F G H H I L L L L N O R R R Y Y Y

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LETTY LYNTON LOOKALIKE

by Donna Nowak

Only two of these “Letty Lynton” covers are identical. Can you find the twin Lettys?

ONE

THREE

FIVE

TWO

FOUR

SIX

Crawfordgrams...isn't that quaint?

CRAWFORDGRAM II

by Donna Nowak

There is a complete Joan-related message hidden in the square below. Same instructions as above -- it can be found by drawing a continuous pencil line through the correct letters, vertically, horizontally, or diagonally (backwards or forwards). The pencil lines, when done correctly, will give a symmetrical design. No letter may be used more than once and all letters in this case are used. Start at the ● and finish at the ♦. This “Crawfordgram” is based on the 1930’s Liberty Magazine “Yardleygrams” by Herbert O. Yardley. Enjoy! (Please note all punctuation has been eliminated! C for Crawford, C for Challenge!)

E

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Let the games begin!

JOAN LOGIC PROBLEM

by Donna Nowak

Bootsie and four of her friends were members of the Joan Crawford Fan Club. They each had a favorite Joan film, a favorite Joan film character, and a favorite male lead in a Joan Crawford film. Surprisingly, everyone’s was different. Determine each person’s full name, favorite Joan film, favorite Joan character and favorite male lead.

1. Gilda didn’t like Crystal Allen and Bootsie didn’t like Robert Montgomery. Ms. Rivers liked John Wayne, but didn’t like Lane Bellamy.

2. The girl who loved Lane Bellamy also liked The Bride Wore Red. Bootsie admitted that Humoresque was her favorite and Bette also said that she wasn’t fond of A Woman’s Face.

3. The one who loved The Bride Wore Red wasn’t Judy Forbes or Lana. Lana’s favorite wasn’t A Woman’s Face. The one who loved Clark Gable also liked Letty Lynton.

4. Each of the five girls are represented by the following: Bootsie Drew, The Women, Sadie Thompson, Jeff Chandler, and Gilda.

5. Lana didn’t like The Damned Don’t Cry or Sadie Thompson. Ms. Whitehead loved Mildred Pierce but neither she nor Judy liked Clark Gable.

6. Ms. Kenyon loved Robert Montgomery. The one who loved Crystal Allen didn’t like A Woman’s Face but the one who liked A Woman’s Face liked Franchot Tone.

First Name

Last Name

Movie

Role

Leading Man

Bootsie

Gilda

Lana

Judy

Bette

Last Names: Forbes; Rivers; Whitehead; Drew; Kenyon

Films: A Woman’s Face; Humoresque; The Damned Don’t Cry; The Bride Wore Red; The Women

Characters: Mildred Pierce; Sadie Thompson; Crystal Allen; Letty Lynton; Lane Bellamy

Leading Men: Clark Gable; Franchot Tone; John Wayne; Robert Montgomery; Jeff Chandler

Tips for Solving: Make a large grid with all the variables listed except for last names (first names, movie titles; characters, and leading men) on the left and above this vertically have a connecting grid with last names, movie titles, characters and leading men. Have boxes beneath in grid format so you can check off information. For instance, when you learn that one girl doesn’t like a certain leading man, she can get a dash in her box under that leading man’s name for “no” or if you discover that one girl likes a specific Joan movie, she can have an x in the corresponding box for “yes.” Ultimately, by process of elimination and some brain work, you will be able to solve the puzzle and write the information in the box above. It’s tricky, so don’t give up easily!

Golly, that was fun! Hope you got an invigorating workout, darlings!

Click here for answers - but only when you've given it every last brain cell!