Christina Crawford

Lied

The Truth Behind "Mommie Dearest "

Bonus section: The LaLonde Exposé - Exposing Casey LaLonde


A Timeline of Events

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June 11th, 1939: Christina Crawford is born in Los Angeles, California to a 19 year-old, unwed stenographer named Bernice Siglar. Christina's father is a married man with children. Prior to Christina's birth, Joan Crawford had arraigned, through Los Angeles baby broker Alice Hough, to pay for Christina's mother's medical bills in exchange for the adoption of Christina.


May 9th, 1940: Joan officially adopts Christina in Las Vegas, Nevada.


June 1941: Joan adopts a male infant through Los Angeles baby broker Alice Hough. Joan names the infant "Christopher." This child would later become known as the "first Christopher."


November 1941: Following a blackmail attempt against Joan by the biological mother of the "first Christopher," the child is returned

to the biological mother, who later re-places the child up for adoption.


July 21st, 1942: Joan marries actor Phillip Terry following a brief courtship. 


October 15th, 1942: Christopher Crawford is born. (Note: It is believed that Christopher's date of birth may have been changed in order to prevent identification of him by his biological mother following the issues with Joan's adoption of the "first Christopher" in 1941. Upon Joan and Phillip Terry's adoption of Christopher, he is given the name "Phillip Terry Jr." After Joan's divorce from Terry in 1946, she renames him "Christopher Crawford."


December 17th, 1945: Joan publicly announces that she and husband Phillip Terry have separated.


January 13th, 1947: Cathy and Cynthia Crawford are born, the two girls are fraternal twins. Their mother, Theda Cotton, dies seven days following their births. However, Theda had already made arrangements with the Tennessee Children's Home for the two girls to be adopted upon their births.


January 16th, 1947: Joan legally adopts Cathy and Cindy. However, due to the two girls being premature, they remain in the hospital for several weeks after their births.


February 1950: Joan enrolls Christina, age 10, in the Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, California.


September 1950: Joan enrolls Christopher, age 7, in the Chadwick School in Palos Verdes, California.


March 31st, 1951: Christopher runs away from home. After Joan and the authorities search for him, he is found playing with neighborhood children. Christopher told the authorities he ran away because he "couldn't have chocolate sauce on his ice cream."


September 14th, 1951: Christopher runs away from home. He is reported missing at 6:00 pm. He is found later that evening on the Santa Monica pier. He told authorities that he hiked his way to it from Brentwood.


June 1953: Following Christina's arrival home for the summer from the Chadwick School, she and Joan have an altercation which results in Joan's decision to send Christina back to the Chadwick School for the summer. According to Christina, Joan attempted to "kill" her by strangling her during this altercation. Christina's version is directly countered by Joan's secretary, Billie Greene, who was present during the altercation. Click here to read Billie Greene's version of the events.


1954: Joan enrolls her daughters, Cathy and Cindy in the Chadwick school in Palos Verdes, California.


November 1954: Joan removes Christina, Christopher, Cathy and Cindy from the Chadwick School. Christina is enrolled in Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, an all-girl Catholic in Flintridge, California.


May 10th, 1955: Joan marries Alfred N. Steele in Las Vegas, Nevada.


July 8th, 1955: Christopher, age 12, runs away from Mt. Lowe Military Academy in Altadena, California for the third time. He is found several hours later, and tells authorities that he wanted to sign on to a ship as a cabin boy.


July 28th, 1955: Christopher runs away from Mt. Lowe Military Academy in Altadena, California for the forth time. When he is apprehended, he tells authorities that he was homesick and lonely for Joan. At the time, Joan was in Europe on her honeymoon with Alfred Steele.


November 24th, 1955: Christina spends Thanksgiving at home in the Brentwood house with Joan, Alfred Steele and her siblings. According to Christina, this is the first time she meets Alfred Steele.


November 26th, 1955: According to Christina, Joan has all four of the children fitted for new clothes for the family's upcoming trip to Switzerland in December. Additionally, the three girls are fitted for fur coats.


December 8th, 1955: Joan, her four children and Alfred Steele depart Los Angeles, California via train, bound for Manhattan, New York.


December 9th, 1955: Joan, her four children and Alfred Steele stopover in Albuquerque, New Mexico on their way to Manhattan, New York.


December 10th, 1955: Joan, her four children and Alfred Steele stopover in Chicago, Illinois on their way to Manhattan, New York. While in Chicago, the family has lunch at the Pump Room at the Ambassador Hotel.


December 11th, 1955: Joan, her four children and Alfred Steele arrive, via train, in Manhattan, New York. Due to the the limited size of Alfred's apartment on Sutton Place, the family stays at the Hampshire House while in Manhattan. In the evening, the family has dinner at Voisin.


December 12th, 1955: Joan, her children and Alfred Steele have lunch at the 21 Club in Manhattan, New York. In the evening, Joan and Alfred attend the Manhattan premiere of the film "The Rose Tattoo," whereby Joan serves as an usherette.


December 13th, 1955: Joan, her children and Alfred Steele attend a performance of the play "The Lark" at the Longacre Theater in Manhattan New York.


December 14th, 1955: Joan takes her children on a shopping trip to Saks, Bergdoff-Goodman and Mark Cross in Manhattan, New York. In the evening, the family has dinner at the 21 Club.


December 16th, 1955: Joan, her four children and Alfred Steele sail aboard the Queen Mary from Manhattan, New York to Cherbourg, France.


January 15th, 1956: Joan, Christina, Christopher, Cathy, Cindy and Alfred Steele arrive in Manhattan, New York from the Switzerland Christmas trip.


January 27th, 1956: Christina flies from Manhattan, New York to Los Angles, California. She is picked up at the Los Angeles airport by Joan's secretary, Betty Barker.


May 3rd, 1956: According to Christina, she is accepted to attend college at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.


May 31st, 1956: According to Christina, she receives a letter from Joan stating that she will not be allowed to come to the United Kingdom with her while she films "The Story of Esther Costello." Joan explains to Christina in the letter that this is a punishment because Christina defied Joan's wishes, and visited the Chadwick family in February.


June 12th, 1956: Christina graduates from Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. Joan does not attend her graduation ceremony due to wardrobe fittings for her upcoming film, "The Story of Esther Costello," which is scheduled to begin filming in England in August.


Fall 1956: Christina begins college at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. 


June 11th, 1957: Joan and Alfred Steele give Christina a car for her birthday.


August 1957: Christina decides not to return to college at Carnegie Tech.


Circa 1958: According to Christina, she works as a night cashier at Pete’s Tavern at 129 East 18th Street, Manhattan, New York.


May 8th, 1958: Christopher is apprehended by authorities in Greenport, New York after he, and three other boys, went on a joyride with air rifles. The boys shot out streetlights and windows, with one bullet striking a 14 year-old girl in the mouth, clipping her tooth. Christopher is charged with juvenile delinquency, and is released to the care of Dr. Earl Loomis, the child psychologist he had been living with at the time of the incident.


Summer 1958: Christina works as a receptionist at MCA (Music Corporation of America). Joan got Christina the job so that she could make contact within the entertainment world to help her career as an actress. Christina later quits the job, claiming it was only a temporary summer job.


June 27th, 1958: Due to Christopher's involvement in a May 8th air riffle shooting spree with three other boys, he is remand to a private school for delinquent and disturbed children. The action is imposed by children's court judge Franklin T. Voekler at the request of Joan and Alfred Steele.


April 19th, 1959: Alfred Steele dies suddenly of a heart attack in Manhattan, New York. Christina learns of Steele's death while she on a trip with friends in London, England


February 1960: Christopher, age 17, runs away from the Hawthorn, New York institute for disturbed and delinquent children.


September 19th, 1960: Joan is interviewed by reporter Mike Wallace in regard to her relationship with Joan.


October 1960: The article "The Revolt of Joan Crawford" is published in "Redbook" magazine. Click here to read it.


October 19th, 1960: Christina travels from Manhattan, New York to Los Angeles, California to film a screen test for producer Jerry Wald for a role in the film "Wild In The Country." According to columnist Louella Parsons, Christina began to receive film offers, most notably from Jerry Wald, following the publication of the Redbook article "The Revolt of Joan Crawford's Daughter," which had been published in the magazine earlier in the month. Christina submits to two screen tests, and is hired for a small role in the film. During her visit in Los Angeles, Christina stays in a motel in the Hollywood area.


Late October 1960: Christina is hired for two Jerry Wald-produced films; "Wild In The Country" and "High Heels." The film "High Heels" is slated to star Carol Lynley, however, it is ultimately canceled.


Mid-November 1960: Joan watches a screening of Christina's screen test for "Wild In The Country" in a projection room in Manhattan, New York. Joan calls Christina after viewing it to tell her how proud she is of her performance. Joan talks with Christina for 45 minutes and gives her acting tips.


December 11th, 1960: Parade magazine publishes the article "My Mother, Joan Crawford." The article includes an interview with Joan's daughter, Christina, in which she denounces the claim that she and Joan are "feuding." This article is published approximately two months following the October Redbook article "The Revolt of Joan Crawford's Daughter," in which Christina cites issues she has with Joan.


April 14th, 1961:  Christina, appears on the television show "Here's Hollywood." During her appearance, Christina discusses her plans for her career, and recalls her memories of growing up in Hollywood.


September 10th, 1961: "Family Weekly" magazine publishes the article "My Mother's Discipline Helped Me After All!" The article is written by Peer J. Oppenheimer, as it was told by Joan's daughter, Christina.


Late April 1961: Joan sees Christopher for the last time when he brings his new-born daughter, Janet, to see Joan during her stay in Miami, Florida. Christopher was working as a lifeguard in Miami at the time.


Mid-September 1961: Joan's daughter, Christina, films a guest-starring role on the television show "Dr. Kildare." The episode is filmed on stage 11 on the MGM studio lot.


August 28, 1963: Christopher's third child, Bonnie, is born.


Mid-July 1964: Christina, travels to Los Angeles, California from Chicago, Illinois to visit Joan for one week.


July 22nd, 1964: 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.


Early September 1963: According to Christopher, he contacts Joan to ask her for money for medical care for his newborn daughter, Bonnie, who was born pre-mature. Joan refuses, and Christopher cusses her and calls her names.


July 28th - August 9th, 1964: 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.


May 9th, 1965: Joan visits Christina while is performing in the play "The Hasty Heart" at the Pheasant Run Playhouse in St. Charles, Illinois.


May 11th - 30th, 1965: Joan's daughter, Christina, performs in the play "The Hasty Heart" at the Pheasant Run Playhouse in Chicago, Illinois.


June 1st, 1965: Christina performs as the leading lady in the debut of the play "Sunday In New York" at Sullivan's Little Theatre in Sullivan, Illinois.


June 13th, 1965: Joan's daughter, Christina, appears on the television news show "Face The Nation."


September 6th, 1965: Christina, begins portraying the character "Corie Bratter" in the play "Barefoot In The Park" at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Christina replaces actress Joan Van Ark. Also starring in the play is Myrna Loy.


Late October 1965: Joan daughter, Christina, is fired from the play "Barefoot In The Park," which is being performed at the Blackstone Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Christina's removal is reportedly due to Myrna Loy's inability to work with Christina in the stage production. Actress Geraldine Court replaces Christina in the role of "Corie Bratter." Click here for Myrna Loy's version of working with Christina.


May 16th, 1966: Joan's daughter, Christina, obtains a marriage license in New York City to wed theater director Harvey Medlinsky.


May 20th, 1966: Christina marries theater director, Harvey Medlinsky. Joan acts as matron of honor during the ceremony. The ceremony is performed by New York Supreme Court Justice Irwin E. Davidson in New York's Criminal Courts building. At the service, Pepsi-Cola executive Herbert L. Barnet gives Christina away to the groom. Following the service, Joan hosts a wedding party at the 21 Club. Christina and Medlinsky later Honeymoon for ten days on Cape Cod.


June 30th, 1966: Christina appears on the Connecticut-based radio show "Point of View," hosted by Ethel Kweskin. On the program, Christina promotes her play "The Midnight Ride of Alvin Blum," which debuts July 4th at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut.


July 4th - 9th, 1966: Christina performs in the play "The Midnight Ride of Alvin Blum" at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut.


October 10th, 1966: Christina appears on Virginia Graham's television talk show "Girl Talk." On the show, Christina discusses being an adopted child of a famous mother. Also appearing on the episode is actress Lynn Redgrave and Kris Nelson, the wife of singer Ricky Nelson.


July 1st, 1967: Christina appears in the play "Barefoot In The Park" with actor Tab Hunter at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts.


July 26th, 1967: Christina accompanies Joan on a trip to Petersburg, Virginia, where Joan is schedule to dedicate a new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant on July 29th.


July 27th, 1967: Christina accompanies Joan to a a buffet dinner held in the home of Petersburg's Pepsi-Cola plant vice-president Norman Sisisky. Afterword, Christina accompanies Joan to a screening of "Berserk" at the Walnut Mall theater in Petersburg.


July 28th, 1967: Christina accompanies Joan to visit the American House in Petersburg, Virginia, and also visit patients at Fort Lee's Kenner Army Hospital.


July 29th, 1967: Joan and Christina attend the dedication ceremony of the new Pepsi-Cola bottling plant in Petersburg, Virginia. Over 2,800 people attend the ceremony.


November 1967: Joan and daughter Christina film a cameo appearance on the deck of the Queen Mary for the documentary film "This Was The Mary." The film is to celebrate the ocean liner's final voyage after being retired from service.


Late November 1967: Christina attends a small dinner hosted by Joan at Voisin in Manhattan, New York. The dinner is to celebrate the engagement of Joan's daughter Cathy to Navy officer Jerome LaLonde.


December 20th, 1967: Joan and Christina appear on Merle Pollis' radio show on WJAS in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at 7:05 pm.


Mid-August (Week of August 21): Joan visits Christina at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut during a production of "Barefoot In the Park," which stars Christina and Joan Bennett.


March 28th, 1968: Christina attends Joan's Brandeis University induction dinner at the Americana Hotel in Manhattan, New York.


Late April 1968: Christina is hired for the role of "Joan Kane" on the CBS daytime soap opera "The Secret Storm."


Early July 1968: Joan and Christina have dinner Columbia Pictures president Leo Jaffe, Jaffe's wife and Frances Spingold.


September 1st, 1968: Joan and daughter Christina appears on Jerry Lewis' annual Labor Day Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon.


September 18th, 1968: Joan, Cathy and Christina film an appearance together on the television talk show "The Mike Douglas Show."


October 1968: Christina, divorces her husband, theater director Harvey Medlinsky.


October 8th, 1968: Joan, Cathy and Christina's appearance on "The Mike Douglas Show" is aired. "Gypsy" Rose Lee co-hosts the episode with Douglas.


October 15th, 1968: Christina, becomes ill after waking in the morning, and she calls Joan. Joan sends a doctor and her secretary, Betty Barker, to Christina's apartment. The attending doctor calls an ambulance and has Christina transported to New York's University Hospital. Shortly thereafter, Christina undergoes an emergency surgery at University Hospital to remove an ovarian tumor.


October 16th, 1968: Joan is asked by producer Gloria Monty to substitute for her daughter on the CBS television soap-opera "The Secret Storm." Joan states that she'll take no pay for her appearance, saying; "I'll do it for nothing, but I'm afraid they'll have to give me scale. I'll pay my hairdresser with my scale."


October 20th, 1968: Joan tapes her appearances for four episodes of the CBS soap opera "The Secret Storm." Director Gloria Monty believed Joan was drunk during the taping, citing that Joan was continuously drinking vodka throughout the day, slurring her speech and missing her cues. However, it should also be noted that Joan was recovering from the flu, which caused her to cancel several public appearance during the prior week. Joan's recent illness, along with any medication she was proscribed, could have contributed to her inebriation during the show's taping.


November 28th, 1968: Joan and Christina spend Thanksgiving with Cathy and Jerome LaLonde.


January 4th, 1969: Christina, substitutes for Joan as the presenter of the 1968 Fashion Reporters Award - New York (aka The FRANY Award). The award is sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, and is presented to Chicago fashion editor/columnist Peg Zwecker for the second consecutive year. Zwecker is presented the award during a black tie dinner at the Hotel Pierre during the 52nd National Press Week of the New York Couture in Chicago, Illinois.


March 13th, 1969: Christina, appears on Virginia Graham's talk show show "Girl Talk." Also appearing on the episode is actress Constance Ford.


May 9th, 1969: Joan's daughter, Christina, appears as a contestant on the television game show "Play Cards."


1970: Christina moves from Manhattan, New York to Los Angeles, California.


October 28th, 1970: Christina guest stars on the television show "Medical Center," in the episode "My Name Is Jenny."


Circa 1971: Christina meets David Koontz (a commercial producer) in Los Angeles, California when she is hired for a Chevrolet commercial.


February 1971: Christina and Joan see each other for the last time during Joan's trip to Los Angeles, California to attend the Golden Globe Awards ceremony. 


December 1971: According to Christina, she films her scenes for the television show "The Sixth Sense," with the final day of filming taking place on December 24th.


December 25, 1971: According to Christina, she speaks to Joan Crawford for the final time during an unpleasant telephone conversation that ended with Joan hanging up the telephone on Christina because she is bereding Joan.


January 16th, 1972: Christina, guest stars on an episode of the television show "The Sixth Sense," in the episode "I Do Not Belong To The Human World." This is to be Christina's final acting performance.


Fall 1973: According to Christina, she sends Joan a letter bereding her actions, and the two women's lack of a relationship during Christina's adult years.


Circa 1975: Christina graduates from University of Southern California with a Master’s Degree in communication. Christina is hired by Getty Oil Company.


February 14th, 1976: Christina marries her second husband, David Koontz.


October 28th, 1976: Joan Crawford signs her final Last Will & Testament. Click here to read it.


May 1977: According to Christina, she quits her job with Getty Oil and applies for unemployment benefits. Christina's unemployment claim is disputed by the unemployment office.


May 10th, 1977: Joan Crawford passes away in Manhattan, New York.


May 17th, 1977: Joan Crawford's Last Will & Testament is read. Christina and Christopher Crawford discover they are disinherited.


June/July 1977: According to Christina, she begins writing "Mommie Dearest" as a personal journal, which consists of 20 pages.


August 1977: According to Christina, she gives her 20-page "Mommie Dearest" journal to a friend, who then gives it to their literary agent to read. The literary agent contacts Christina expressing interest in publishing the journal as a memoir, and asks Christina to complete 100 pages by the first week in September.


September 1977: According to Christina, she completes the first draft of "Mommie Dearest" and mails the manuscript to her literary agent in Manhattan, New York.


October 1977: According to Christina, she is contacted via telephone by her literary agent in Manhattan, New York with an offer from William Morrow & Co. for "a lot of money" to publish her manuscript of "Mommie Dearest."


October 24th, 1977 (#1): According to Christina, she has a two-hour meeting with her literary agent, a book editor and the president of William Morrow in the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan, New York. The meeting is regarding the sale of her "Mommie Dearest" manuscript. According to Christina, she was told the manuscript needed "work," and that she was receptive to "revisions" and "changes." A deadline of April 25th, 1978 is scheduled for Christina's completed manuscript with revisions.


According to Christina, after leaving the meeting regarding the revisions and changes to the "Mommie Dearest" manuscript at the Plaza Hotel, she travels to her attorney's office, where she reads and signs her legal Objection To Probate Joan's will. After signing the legal documents, Christina claims she left the attorney's office and was suddenly "overtaken by a sensation of panic" after she boarded a bus. Then, after getting off the bus prematurely, she was "feeling like a crazy person."


October 24th, 1977 (#2): Christina and Christopher file legal Objections To Probate Joan's will. Click here to read Christina's objection.


February 9th-10th, 1978: Christina undergoes a two-day long under-oath legal deposition in regard to her legal Objection To Probate Joan's will. The main subject discussion of the deposition is Christina's relationship and experiences with her mother, Joan Crawford. 


March 20th, 1978: The deposition of Christopher Crawford regarding his Objection To Probate Joan Crawford's will  is scheduled on this date. However, Christopher Crawford does not appear at the scheduled time. Nor do his attorneys. No prior notice was given that Christopher would not attend the deposition. Later in the day, Christopher's attorney file a motion to the court for a protective order to prevent deposing

Christopher in regard to his October 24th, 1977 Objection To Probate the will of Joan Crawford.


April 7th, 1978: A hearing is held regarding Christopher Crawford's attorney's motion for a protection order to prevent Christopher from being deposed regarding his October 24th, 1977 Objection To Probate the will of Joan Crawford.


May 9th, 1978: Christina submits a court-ordered sworn Bill of Particulars, which is an explanation of her October 24th, 1977 Objection To Probate Joan's will. Click here to read it.


May 1978: It is reported in the news that Christina will received $750,000 for the paperback rights to "Mommie Dearest," and $300,000 for the film rights. In addition, Christina is to receive $250,000 for writing the film's screenplay.


May-June 1978: Christina and Christopher Crawford's attorney propose settlement options to the Joan Crawford estate in regard to their

October 24th, 1977 Objections To Probate the will of Joan Crawford.


May 18th, 1978: Christina and Christopher Crawford attempt to alter their original Objections To Probate the will of Joan Crawford. Through

their attorney, Christina and Christopher claim that Joan Crawford suffered from monomania, which preceded her prior wills dating back to

1964 that excluded them as beneficiaries. The original Objections To Probate contended Joan was not of sound mind and was influenced by undue influence by Jerome and Cathy LaLonde when she signed her final will dated October 28th, 1976.


July 1978: According to Christina, Paramount Pictures threatens to sue her for breach of contract regarding the film rights to "Mommie Dearest."


July 12th, 1978: A hearing is held regarding Joan Crawford's estate's motion for Christina Crawford to appear before for a second deposition

in regard to Christina's October 24th, 1978 Objection To Probate.


July 19th, 1978: Following a hearing, Christina Crawford is court-ordered to appear for a second deposition in regard to her October 24th, 1977 Objection To Probate the will of Joan Crawford. The deposition is scheduled to take place on August 17th, and August 18th, 1978.

The date is later changed to August 31st and September 1st, 1978. 


August 31st, 1978: On this date, Christina is scheduled to appear for a second deposition regarding her October 24th, 1977 Objection To Probate Joan's will. The deposition is schedule to begin at 10:00 am at the law offices of Joan's estate attorneys. It is scheduled to take place over the course of two days; August 31st and September 1st. Christina does not appear at the deposition.


At 10:30 am, Christina's attorney telephones Joan's estate attorneys to inform them that Christina would not be attended the scheduled deposition because she had "suddenly" become "violently ill," and that she would be seeking medical attention. Later, Christina's attorney states Christina's sudden illness was "chest pains." When Joan's estate attorney asks if Christina would be attending the deposition on September 1st, Christina's attorney states that she would not be attending the deposition. Shortly thereafter, Christina boards an airplane, and flies from Manhattan, New York to Los Angeles, California.


September 4th, 1978: An article entitled "Mommie Dearest" is published in "New York" magazine. The article is written by Christina, and contains excerpts from her manuscript of "Mommie Dearest."


September 6th, 1978: Through written correspondence regarding the September 4th "New York" magazine article, Christina's attorney states to Joan's estate attorney that Christina "assumed that this [Objection To Probate] trial would have been completed prior to its publication."


September 19th, 1978: This date is schedule for the trial for Christina and Christopher's Objections To Probate the will of Joan Crawford.


October 1978: Christina's memoir, "Mommie Dearest," is published by William Morrow.


October 12th, 1978: The second attempt for the estate of Joan Crawford to depose Christopher regarding his Objection To Probate

the will of Joan Crawford. Initially, Christopher's deposition was scheduled for March 20th, 1978, however, Christopher failed to appear, with

his attorney filing a motion on March 20th requesting a protective order to prevent the estate from deposing Christopher in regard to his

October 24th, 1977 Objection To Probate the will of Joan Crawford.


October 23rd-24th, 1978: Christina undergoes a second two-day long, under-oath, legal deposition in regard to her legal Objection

To Probate Joan's will. The main subject discussion of the deposition is Christina's relationship and experiences with Joan.


Late October 1978: Christina begins a 10-city book tour for “Mommie Dearest.” The cities include: Manhattan, New York; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Boston, Massachusetts; Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago, Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Los Angeles, California; San Francisco, California and San Diego, California.


June 11th, 1981: Christina's attorney sends a letter to Cathy LaLonde threatening legal actions if LaLonde publicly denounces Christina's allegations against Joan. 


October 30th, 1978: Christina appears on “The Today Show” with Jane Paula to discuss her book “Mommie Dearest.” This is Christina’s first television appearance for the book.


Late 1978: Christina and her husband, David Koontz, purchase a new house in Los Angeles, California. They move into the house in January 1979.


January 1979: Christina continues her promotional work for “Mommie Dearest” with another 10-city promotional tour through the south and southwest. Making stops in Atlanta, Georgia.


February 1979: Christina and her husband, David Koontz, travel to Europe to promote “Mommie Dearest.” The tour includes: London, England; Edinburgh, Scotland and Dublin, Ireland;


June 1981: Christina and her husband, David Koontz, travel to St. Maarten in the Caribbean for 4 days for her birthday.


June 11th, 1981: Christina's attorney sends a letter to Cathy LaLonde threatening legal actions if LaLonde publicly denounces Christina's allegations against Joan. 


August 3rd, 1981: Christina suffers a stroke at her Tarzana home following an exercise workout and sauna session at her local gym.

Christina is transported by ambulance from her home to the Tarzana Medical Center. After several days in the hospital, it is discovered that Christina’s condition is due to an embolism that is located in the left carotid artery near the base of the brain. It is determined that Christina will need to undergo an intercranial bypass, and is transported by ambulance to Cedars Sinai hospital. However, upon starting the bypass the procedure, the doctor decides it is too dangerous for the procedure to take place.


Late August 1981: Christina is released from Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California.


September 18th, 1981: The film "Mommie Dearest" is released nationally in America. The film is heavily criticized by critics and denounced by Christina Crawford.


December 1st, 1981: Christina Crawford appears on "A.M. Chicago" in Chicago, Illinois.


December 7th, 1981: Christina Crawford appears on the NBC television show "The Today Show" with Jane Pauley to promote her novel "Black Widow," and her recent stroke.


December 9th, 1981: Christina Crawford appears on the late-night television talk show "Tomorrow Coast To Coast" with host Tom Snyder.


December 11th, 1981: Christina Crawford promotes her new novel "Black Widow" on Connie Martinson's show on Theta cable channel 12 in Los Angeles, California.


December 18th, 1981: Christina Crawford appears on the show "Hour Magazine" with host Gary Collins.


January 29th, 1982: Christina Crawford appears on the television talk show "Charlie Rose Show."


August 18th, 1982: Christina Crawford appears on the NBC show "The Today Show" with Jane Pauley.