Audrey: Deardra was the name of a movie. Joan Crawford^* was in a movie named Deidra. I was pregnant with Dede and I went to the Palace Theatre by myself and saw the movie. I liked the sound of Deardra Dell. It sounded good. It rhymed. I spelled Deardra the way it sounded. Dierdra, the book, was the life story of a girl.**

(Heather: Yes, Deardra was also the name of a book. I’ve tried to find the book, but there are so many numerous ways to spell Deardra–Deidra, Deirdra, Deidre etc–that I have not been able to find it.)

* The name of the  movie with Joan Crawford was “Hollywood Canteen” (1944)

** A book titled “Deirdre” by George Steel was published in 1904.

Conversations, Married Life with Seven Children 1944, Deardra Dell, Hollywood Canteen, Joan Crawford