Joan was originally a Flapper and legendary champion Charleston dancer. Winning an amateur dance contest in 1923 led to chorus work in Chicago, Detroit and New York. On New Year's Day of 1925 she left for Hollywood with her first bit role playing a showgirl in 'Pretty Ladies' (1925) and in time would become a major movie star for Hollywood as well as win and Academy Award for her role in 'Mildred Pierce' in 1945.
Later she would be Fred Astaire's first movie dance partner in "Our Dancing Daughters" in 1929 which was also the start of her movie fame. Crawford became a major star among the Hollywood Film makers.
