June,2022 is the hundredth anniversary of Judy Garland’s birth.
Judy’s career is a wealth of wonderful performances, in musicals, comedies, dramas. She could do it all.
And of course she sang so many memorable songs. My favourites include “The Man That Got Away”, “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows”, “Better Luck Next Time”, “Gotta Have Me Go With You”.
A STAR IS BORN
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS
THE WIZARD OF OZ
And here’s Judy in action.
GIRL CRAZY 1943
With Mickey Rooney,WORDS AND MUSIC
The following photos are from the excellent Judy Garland website , thejudyroom.com
It’s 1937, I’LL TAKE ROMANCE with Grace Moore and Melvyn Douglas is on screen. And Judy,aged 15, is appearing in person. Would love to know what she did on stage back then.
The Astor Theatre on the left has IN OLD CHICAGO.
Coming in August,2022 from Sepia Records:
TRACK LIST:
Further to comments from Greg and Bob, I found this photo of Judy with Edith Piaf and Ginger Rogers . Judy, Ginger plus Sonia Henie and Faye Emerson were attending Piaf’s opening at the Versailles night club in New York in Sept. 1950.
Also in attendance that night were Robert Montgomery,Yvonne de Carlo, Dan Dailey.
( details from judygarlandnews.com)
Edith Piaf, Judy, Ginger Rogers
Vienna's Classic Hollywood
It’s actually February 1938.
More here https://judygarlandnews.com/2019/02/10/on-this-day-in-judy-garlands-life-and-career-february-10/
Thanks so much, Bob. Judy promoting Everybody Sing.
Loved your tribute to Judy, Vienna. My favorite film of hers will always be The Wizard of Oz. I also enjoy seeing her in the Andy Hardy movies, and Meet Me in St. Louis.
Thanks, Karen. Wizard of Oz is brilliant.
There can never be enough tributes to the lady I hope still called the world’s greatest entertainer. As great as her MGM years were, due perhaps partly to her illnesses and erratic behavior I find people often don’t know just how extraordinary an artist she became in her post-Carnegie Hall (1961) career. Admittedly she was “rehearsing” such greatness for at least a decade before, with her many stage tours (one of which you mention here and I look forward to the Sepia record!).
Still, many assume her later career to be one of dissipated vocal quality. What they don’t realize is that the depth of artistry she achieved in those years not only counter-balanced such concerns but in fact overwhelmed them in unparalleled greatness. NUMEROUS performances on her tv show ’63-4 and even Palladium concert (11/’64) more than testify to this even more soaring talent than that achieved in her youth.
I said “even” her recorded Palladium concert, as she sang “over” vocal chords so badly damaged shortly before it, she’d been told she would never sing again. Instead she gave a more timeless quality to songs than they’ve ever before or since known – and her performance of “What Now, My Love?” that night must still rank as the greatest ever given of it.
Well said, Greg. Such a powerful voice from that small figure. She never gave up. Still seems a shame she didn’t do more films in the 50s after that unforgettable performance in
Star Is Born. Seeing her on stage must have been amazing.
Thanks Vienna, mentioning the French “What Now, My Love?” caused me to reflect that Judy may have partly been doing it in honor of Piaf, who died the year before.
Also enjoyed your “I Could Go on Singing” entry, speaking of the Palladium!
So many parallels in their lives.Both small in stature, both died at 47 and both with incredible voices. I dont know if they knew each other.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/french-song-stylist-edith-piaf-is-congratulated-by-four-news-photo/515363498
Thanks Bob. Great photo
Thanks, Bob and Vienna! I hadn’t known they knew each other either! It makes sense because when people are that talented, they also tend to be far more generous to other great talents than many lesser mortals tend to be.