Judy Garland

Susan King compiles a collection of memories from her son Joey Luft, co-star Margaret O'Brien, plus film and music historians.

When she sings, even when you watch her in the movies or on television, you feel like she’s singing to you personally. Michael Feinstein, the Grammy nominee singer/conductor and founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation, noted that when Garland sang a song, “she lived it. I had one guy walk in [to the Pavilion] and just start singing ‘Over Rainbow’ at the top of his lungs. “My mom was kind of tired and she looked kind of frustrated. I have had people walk in [to the Judy Garland Pavilion], even young people who weren’t remotely alive when she was, start crying. It’s the sentiment of the piece that gets to him-“whatever home is, whatever the thing is that you belong to called home. She was very happy. She was a mother. She was performer. She would play jump rope with us.” But I don’t want to talk about the painful aspects of her life that have been chronicled ad nauseum in various books, movie and documentaries. And there’s even a new perfume — “Judy-A Garland Fragrance by Vincenzo Spinnato” — that will be unveiled at a birthday gala in Los Angeles.

Celebrations include a tower lighting ceremony with daughter Lorna Luft and Rufus Wainwright, a special musical performance and exclusive fragrance sold ...

The journey to the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, the only 360-degree, open-air observatory with views of New York and beyond, orients visitors for their entire New York City experience and covers everything from the building's iconic history to its current place in pop-culture. The Empire State Building will shine in rainbow on June 10, what would have been Judy's 100th birthday. "[My mother] said 'in Hollywood, I have to be Judy Garland, but in New York, I can just be Judy,'" said Lorna Luft, in remarks at the lighting ceremony. We are honored to celebrate this legacy and sentiment through one-of-a-kind experiences for our fans in the heart of New York City." The Empire State Building Observatory's celebration of Judy Garland was joined by The Garland Estate and the Stonewall Gives Back Initiative. NEW YORK, June 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empire State Building (ESB) commenced plans to mark the 100th birthday of Judy Garland in partnership with Judy's family and the Stonewall Gives Back Initiative. Themed celebrations included a tower lighting ceremony and musical performance of "Over the Rainbow" by her daughter Lorna Luft and Grammy-nominated singer Rufus Wainwright; and a limited-edition fragrance sold only at the Empire State Building Observatory.

June 10 marks the 100th birthday of Judy Garland. Anyone who's seen The Wizard of Oz or A Star is Born (1954) is automatically a fan.

Liza Minnelli was born to showbiz power couple Judy Garland and director Vincente Minnelli. At age 3, she appeared in the final shot of her mother’s 1949 “In the Good Old Summertime”; she sang with her mother at the London Palladium in 1964 at age 18, and also appeared on her mother’s TV show, which ran 1963-64. She was more than an hour late for the start of her show and when she appeared without apology or explanation, “She was booed by irate customers, and the stage pelted with cigarette packs. This 1940 musical was a followup to 1939’s successful “Babes in Arms,” which had teamed Berkeley and Garland with Mickey Rooney. That trio reunited for “Band,” which repeated the “Let’s put on a show!” format that inspired endless imitations and spoofs over the years. Her booking at London’s Talk of the Town nitery is at the center of the 2019 film “Judy,” a job that was both exhilarating and traumatizing for the performer. “Surprising to most of the press was the fact that the thousands of mourners were a cross section of every conceivable age and type … Judy Garland seemingly represented something to each of them. Variety’s Abel Green wrote, “It holds everything for the film fan,” and he correctly predicted big box-office: It was the second-highest-earning film of the year, behind “Going My Way,” and MGM’s most popular musical of the 1940s. On May 16, Variety reported that top-level MGM execs met to map future of the film after Garland was suspended. Kid stopped the show.” After her vaudevillian parents realized that Frances was indeed the star of the show, she became a solo act, with her domineering mother controlling her career. That Harold Arlen-Yip Harburg tune became her trademark, and fans are still aghast at the tale of the MGM exec who wanted to cut the song in previews because it slowed down the action. When she died in 1969, at age 47, Variety reported that 22,000 people stood in line, some for more than four hours, to get a glimpse of her at New York services. On June 18, 1967, she completed a week-long stand at Westbury (N.Y.) Music Fair and Variety summed up, “She has become an object of veneration of a kind that will probably not be seen again for a long time. Her life alternated great joy with tales of rehab, personal and professional disasters, but always with a Dorothy Gale optimism that she could smile and overcome it.

Judy Garland is survived by three children: Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft. The Hollywood star died in 1969 at age 47 from a barbiturate overdose.

"There was a romance with Vincente Minelli," she said. And I never forgot her." " And from their romance came Liza Minnelli. So, of course, the film held wonderful memories for Judy. Vincente was a very kind director who was easy to work with. "One of the biggest misconceptions about my mama was that she didn’t provide me with a happy childhood," Minnelli said. "When I call on her, she’s there," said the star. "As a teenager, I became her best friend and confidante. Martin later said he went home and wrote a more hopeful version of the song that was used in the film. I consider myself very lucky and am incredibly grateful to be her daughter." "And she must have channeled her thoughts to Vince as well, as he created the right fragrance for her. Humor was her secret weapon." "Actually, Lorna came up with the idea for creating a fragrance to honor my mom on what would have been her 100th birthday," Minnelli, 76, explained. She would have been thrilled."

JUDY GARLAND would have been 100 today. Still most famous for The Wizard of Oz, the tragic star's life was filled with heartache and pain and she defiantly ...

They resented feeling upstaged by her, froze her out behind the scenes and crowded her out whenever they danced up the Yellow Brick Road until the director had to intervene. She had her big-screen break at 14 in 1936’s Pigskin Parade, swiftly followed by a star-making turn in 1937's The Broadway Melody of 1938. That’s the way we got mixed up." All of this had painful echoes of her shocking childhood, her ongoing appalling treatment by the studios and then the behaviour of her three iconic co-stars. Garland said Ethel was a "stage mother – a mean one. A $20,000 advance was paid and many hours of tapes were recorded.

Judy Garland's centennial birthday celebration and fragrance reveal will take place at The Ebell of Los Angeles on June 10, 2022, a costume and memorabilia ...

In fact, when I stood on the same stage where Ms. Garland was discovered, I had goosebumps.” Regarding the event, Spinnato says, “We want guests attending this gala to enjoy many Judy Garland experiences throughout the night – experiences reminiscent of her past, modern present and future legacy.” The Garland estate tapped Spinnato to develop the fragrance. Her pictorial history, "Larchmont" for Arcadia Press is available at Chevalier's Books. Spinnato told us he started with Ma Griffe perfume, worn by Garland, as a base. In January Entertainment Tonight featured Spinnato with Garland’s daughters Lorna Luft and Liza Minnelli discussing the creation of the fragrance. The Ebell was selected as the site because Garland was discovered there, performing with her sisters, by MGM producer George Sidney.

Judy Garland is embroiled in a tug-of-war with husband Sidney Luft for custody of their children, Lorna and Joey. Crippled by debt, the showbiz legend ...

JUNE 10 2022 would have been actress and Hollywood legend Judy Garland's 100th birthday. The star died tragically at the age of 47 back in 1969 with the ...

Symptoms of acute kidney failure typically include: When this happens, dangerous levels of waste then accumulate causing the body’s chemicals to become unbalanced. Being admitted to hospital with acute hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver in 1959, Garland’s intoxication with a variety of drugs had caused permanent damage to her body. There are several different types of hepatitis ranging from A-E and another known as alcohol hepatitis. It is reported that she was given “pep pills” in order to suppress her appetite as a youngster and sleeping pills at night. But along with celebrating her birthday, fans of the musical icon are remembered of her health struggles in real life.

Enjoy Debbie Wileman in “Happy 100th Birthday Judy Garland!” on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, at the Catalina Jazz Club.

Titled “I’m Still Here,” the album features many of Garland’s classics as well as contemporary hits. Enjoy Debbie Wileman in “Happy 100th Birthday Judy Garland!” on Friday, June 10, and Saturday, June 11, at the Catalina Jazz Club. Wileman will launch her debut album and tour at the concerts.

The legendary performer often highlighted underappreciated musicals on The Judy Garland Show. By Margaret Hall. June 10, 2022.

No Strings, which was the only Broadway musical to feature both music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers, had opened the season before The Judy Garland Show premiered, and was still running when this performance aired. After all, Garland herself had a stage mother who was cut from the same cloth. (Which of today's late night hosts would you like to see write a musical?) What we know today as the American Songbook is filled to the brim with songs from the musical theater, and Garland's career was built on recording many of these standards (and in some cases, turning them into standards herself). Garland was fond of celebrating underappreciated musicals alongside the classics, and these ten clips feature songs from musicals that just might become your new favorite. The snub was the turning point in her time at MGM; her contract was cancelled shortly after.

Judy Garland (center) was still Frances Ethel Gumm when she posed with sisters Dorothy Gumm and Mary Jane Gumm, aka The Gumm Sisters, for this 1926 portrait.

The adoration of fans meant everything to Judy Garland, pictured here entertaining civilian employees at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during a war bond drive in Philadelphia in 1944. Keep reading to see her look in the movie… A smiling Judy Garland cuddled Terry, the 6-year-old cairn terrier who played Toto in "The Wizard of Oz," on the 1939 film's set. Here the young actress is seen in a costume test photo for the movie. Her version was so incredible that she was asked to perform the song in the film "Broadway Melody of 1938." Adolescent Judy Garland, in a romper and headscarf, showed off her handstand skills in this photo taken in August 1936. The adoration of fans meant everything to Judy Garland, pictured here entertaining civilian employees at the Philadelphia Navy Yard during a war bond drive in Philadelphia in 1944. Keep reading to see her look in the movie… A smiling Judy Garland cuddled Terry, the 6-year-old cairn terrier who played Toto in "The Wizard of Oz," on the 1939 film's set. Here the young actress is seen in a costume test photo for the movie. Her version was so incredible that she was asked to perform the song in the film "Broadway Melody of 1938." Adolescent Judy Garland, in a romper and headscarf, showed off her handstand skills in this photo taken in August 1936.

The legendary performer often highlighted underappreciated musicals on The Judy Garland Show. By Margaret Hall. June 10, 2022. Judy Garland at Falkoner ...

No Strings, which was the only Broadway musical to feature both music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers, had opened the season before The Judy Garland Show premiered, and was still running when this performance aired. After all, Garland herself had a stage mother who was cut from the same cloth. (Which of today's late night hosts would you like to see write a musical?) What we know today as the American Songbook is filled to the brim with songs from the musical theater, and Garland's career was built on recording many of these standards (and in some cases, turning them into standards herself). Garland was fond of celebrating underappreciated musicals alongside the classics, and these ten clips feature songs from musicals that just might become your new favorite. The snub was the turning point in her time at MGM; her contract was cancelled shortly after.

Jennifer Grimm will be performing in association with the official Judy Garland Museum at her 100th Birthday Celebration in Grand Rapids Friday.

But if you don't partake of this titaness's work — and she stands up there in American art and entertainment with Miles Davis, Orson Welles and William Faulkner ...

To mark what would have been Judy Garland's 100th birthday, we take a look back at the sparkling career of a gay icon.

It’s fair to say that Judy had her fair share of hardship, but on her 100th birthday, let’s not forget how much joy she brought to the world throughout her illustrious career. In Judy, LGBTQ+ people also saw an icon filled with extraordinary talent – she wasn’t just somebody who struggled, she was a person who had the capability to reduce a concert hall full of people to tears. That year, she had a breakdown, and her tendency to turn up late to film sets led to her being fired from a number of high-profile projects. Producers behind the scenes were so sure Judy would take home the gong that they sent a camera crew to her hospital room so she could give an acceptance speech live – she had just given birth to her son Joey Luft. Queer people naturally gravitated towards her – just like them, she was an outsider, somebody who had been abused and cast aside. Judy went on to marry the film’s director, and she gave birth to Liza Minnelli in 1946. After The Wizard of Oz, Judy became a bankable actor for MGM, and she went on to star in numerous big hits that won audiences over in their droves. She would go on to die from an overdose of that drug at the age of 47. It’s impossible to discuss her life without discussing the issues she had with drugs, but it also feels somehow crass to reduce her to the pain that dogged her throughout her life. It would also be unjust to ignore the challenges because so many of them were caused by the studio she worked for. The film, directed by Vincente Minnelli – who would go on to be Judy’s second husband – tells the story of the Smith family. It wasn’t until I was a university student, lonely and homesick, that I discovered Meet Me In St Louis.

In adulthood, she'd garner Oscar nominations and Grammy wins, and shine in performances alongside other contemporary greats, like Fred Astaire and Sammy Davis, ...

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Judy Garland, who would have turned 100 on Friday (June 10), had both historic wins and perplexing losses at awards shows.

Garland had four other songs on the list – “The Man That Got Away” (No. 11) from A Star Is Born, “The Trolley Song” (No. 26) and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (No. 76),” both from Meet Me in St. Louis, and “Get Happy” (No. 61), from Summer Stock. Gene Kelly was the only other performer with five songs on the list. Five more Garland recordings have since also been voted into the Hall – “(Dear Mr. Gable) You Made Me Love You,” “For Me and My Gal” (a collab with Gene Kelly), Judy at Carnegie Hall and the soundtracks to Meet Me in St. Louis and The Wizard of Oz. “Over the Rainbow” topped AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs, a list of the top 100 songs in American film in the 20th century The list was created by a panel of jurors selected by AFI, who voted from a list of 400 nominated songs. And is also representative of the fact that her legacy of unique exceptionalism and inclusivity and generosity of spirit, it transcends any one artistic achievement.” Gene Kelly also had three films on the list, though not all of his were in the top 10. Garland and Barbra Streisand, who was a guest star on the show, were both nominated for outstanding performance in a variety or musical program or series. In a perfect world, the legendary performer and the future legend would have tied for the award. (Dinah Shore sang the song at the Oscars.) This was the second song that Garland introduced in a film to win the Oscar. She was the first woman to introduce two Oscar-winning songs. “The last year has been such a wonderful year for me and I have so many people to thank.” Received a third Emmy nod for her weekly series, also titled The Judy Garland Show, which had a troubled, six-month run in 1963-64. In her absence, Rosemary Clooney sang “The Man That Got Away.” … Miss Garland, you were certainly among the heroes who unite and define us, and this is certainly for you.”

Must-see Judy Garland films if you really want to know who she was and how her private life touched her performances.