Judy Garland - That’s Entertainment!
Watch our Judy Garland biography Monday 26th December at 6pm.
See more of Judy in our special photo gallery.
Name
Judy Garland (or Frances Ethel Gumm as she was born)
Famous For
Being the singing star who became immortalised for her portrayal of Dorothy in the film classic, “The Wizard of Oz”. Her impassioned singing and acting performances won her legions of fans worldwide as well as status as a gay icon.
Vitals
Judy was born June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was only four foot eleven and half inches tall with brown eyes. Her favourite colour was red and her favourite meal would be steak and kidney pie.
The Men That Got Away
Judy was married no less than 5 times. The orchestra arranger, David Rose, was the first husband – it was reported that Judy had an abortion during this marriage at the insistence of her mother and the MGM Studio. Her second marriage to film director, Vincente Minnelli ended after a suicide attempted by Judy after it is rumour she discovered her husband in bed with another man. Her third marriage, to Sid Luft, ended after thirteen years with Judy claiming he was a physically abusive husband during their divorce case. Wife beating allegations emerged at the end of Garland’s 17-month marriage to actor, Mark Herron. She had been married to her fifth husband, Mickey Deans, for just one hundred days before her death.
Do it Again
Her daughter Liza Minnelli had to refuse an invitation to the fifth wedding but apologised saying, “I can't make it, Mama, but I promise I'll come to your next one”
That’s Entertainment!
She made her stage debut aged two and a half at her father’s Vaudeville theatre singing ‘Jingle Bells’ – so eager to entertain the audience, she literally had to be carried off-stage. This love of stage singing never left Garland and reached its height in 1961 with a recording of her performance at Carnegie Hall. The double LP of the show won five Grammy awards and stayed in the charts for 95 weeks. “Two hours of pow” is how Garland historian, Scott Schechter, described it
We're Off to See the Wizard
Judy was 16 when she landed the part of Dorothy in the film classic, The Wizard of Oz. As the character was meant to be only 11, MGM put Garland on a diet of only chicken soup, appetite suppressants and sleeping pills. Any womanly curves were strapped down with a tight corset. Garland won a special juvenile Oscar for her work on the film.
Over The Rainbow
The song “Over The Rainbow” became synonymous with Judy Garland but in the initial screenings of the movie, the song tested so badly, it was nearly cut from the film. The original title of the song by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg was to have been “Over The Rainbow Is Where I Want To Be”. It has been covered by diverse artists such as Tori Amos, Eva Cassidy, Eric Clapton and even Vincent Price in the film Dr Phibes Rises Again! The American Film Institute recently named it as the greatest movie song of all time.
Zing! Went The Strings of My Heart
Many myths have sprung up about the actors playing the Munchkins – tales of drunken misbehaviour were spun not least by Garland herself on the talk show circuit, but had little basis in fact. The most enduring urban myth is that a munchkin actor, crushed by unrequited love, hanged himself during the filming and his death was captured on camera and is visible in the final print of the movie. Happily this is not true. They used several large birds in the studio to give the set a more natural feel. What is mistakenly thought to be the rope on the film is in fact an emu or a crane spreading its wings.
Stormy Weather
By the 1950s, Garland’s drug use had become a big problem. She was replaced on the film of Annie Get Your Gun, despite having recorded the entire soundtrack album – her pill-popping habit left her falling over on the set. Her addiction to the drug paraldehyde meant that her breath was less than fragrant – when Gene Kelly, her co-star on the movie “Summer Stock”, suggested kissing her was something on an endurance test, she took revenge by refusing to use a breath spray.
I Can’t Give You Anything
The drug taking and career instability led to ever-mounting debts. Often Judy would avoid paying bills and have to sneak out of hotels. One time, it is reported, Garland dressed herself and her children in layer upon layer of clothing so they could leave a hotel without suitcases. Her daughter Liza once said “No matter how broke we were, we always lived like millionaires and with laughter”
After You’ve Gone
Judy died aged 47 in London, England, of an accidental barbiturate overdose. She was $4 million in debt but her funeral was all paid for by Frank Sinatra. Bing Crosby said of Judy: “There wasn’t a thing that gal couldn’t do. Except look after herself”. Ironically, on the very day she died, Kansas was hit by a tornado.
Steve Coats
See more of Judy in our special photo gallery.
Name
Judy Garland (or Frances Ethel Gumm as she was born)
Famous For
Being the singing star who became immortalised for her portrayal of Dorothy in the film classic, “The Wizard of Oz”. Her impassioned singing and acting performances won her legions of fans worldwide as well as status as a gay icon.
Vitals
Judy was born June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was only four foot eleven and half inches tall with brown eyes. Her favourite colour was red and her favourite meal would be steak and kidney pie.
The Men That Got Away
Judy was married no less than 5 times. The orchestra arranger, David Rose, was the first husband – it was reported that Judy had an abortion during this marriage at the insistence of her mother and the MGM Studio. Her second marriage to film director, Vincente Minnelli ended after a suicide attempted by Judy after it is rumour she discovered her husband in bed with another man. Her third marriage, to Sid Luft, ended after thirteen years with Judy claiming he was a physically abusive husband during their divorce case. Wife beating allegations emerged at the end of Garland’s 17-month marriage to actor, Mark Herron. She had been married to her fifth husband, Mickey Deans, for just one hundred days before her death.
Do it Again
Her daughter Liza Minnelli had to refuse an invitation to the fifth wedding but apologised saying, “I can't make it, Mama, but I promise I'll come to your next one”
That’s Entertainment!
She made her stage debut aged two and a half at her father’s Vaudeville theatre singing ‘Jingle Bells’ – so eager to entertain the audience, she literally had to be carried off-stage. This love of stage singing never left Garland and reached its height in 1961 with a recording of her performance at Carnegie Hall. The double LP of the show won five Grammy awards and stayed in the charts for 95 weeks. “Two hours of pow” is how Garland historian, Scott Schechter, described it
We're Off to See the Wizard
Judy was 16 when she landed the part of Dorothy in the film classic, The Wizard of Oz. As the character was meant to be only 11, MGM put Garland on a diet of only chicken soup, appetite suppressants and sleeping pills. Any womanly curves were strapped down with a tight corset. Garland won a special juvenile Oscar for her work on the film.
Over The Rainbow
The song “Over The Rainbow” became synonymous with Judy Garland but in the initial screenings of the movie, the song tested so badly, it was nearly cut from the film. The original title of the song by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg was to have been “Over The Rainbow Is Where I Want To Be”. It has been covered by diverse artists such as Tori Amos, Eva Cassidy, Eric Clapton and even Vincent Price in the film Dr Phibes Rises Again! The American Film Institute recently named it as the greatest movie song of all time.
Zing! Went The Strings of My Heart
Many myths have sprung up about the actors playing the Munchkins – tales of drunken misbehaviour were spun not least by Garland herself on the talk show circuit, but had little basis in fact. The most enduring urban myth is that a munchkin actor, crushed by unrequited love, hanged himself during the filming and his death was captured on camera and is visible in the final print of the movie. Happily this is not true. They used several large birds in the studio to give the set a more natural feel. What is mistakenly thought to be the rope on the film is in fact an emu or a crane spreading its wings.
Stormy Weather
By the 1950s, Garland’s drug use had become a big problem. She was replaced on the film of Annie Get Your Gun, despite having recorded the entire soundtrack album – her pill-popping habit left her falling over on the set. Her addiction to the drug paraldehyde meant that her breath was less than fragrant – when Gene Kelly, her co-star on the movie “Summer Stock”, suggested kissing her was something on an endurance test, she took revenge by refusing to use a breath spray.
I Can’t Give You Anything
The drug taking and career instability led to ever-mounting debts. Often Judy would avoid paying bills and have to sneak out of hotels. One time, it is reported, Garland dressed herself and her children in layer upon layer of clothing so they could leave a hotel without suitcases. Her daughter Liza once said “No matter how broke we were, we always lived like millionaires and with laughter”
After You’ve Gone
Judy died aged 47 in London, England, of an accidental barbiturate overdose. She was $4 million in debt but her funeral was all paid for by Frank Sinatra. Bing Crosby said of Judy: “There wasn’t a thing that gal couldn’t do. Except look after herself”. Ironically, on the very day she died, Kansas was hit by a tornado.
Steve Coats
