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"Always be
a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of
somebody else." -Judy Garland
A superstar
in every sense of the word, MGM musical icon Judy Garland began life as
Francis Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota where her ex-Vaudevillian
parent Frank and Ethel ran a local theatre. Legend has it that at age
two, Baby Francis wandered onto the stage during a Christmas show and gave
an impromptu performance of "Jingle Bells" that brought down the house.
Several years later the family moved to Lancaster, CA. Francis and her two
older sisters, Susie and Jimmie, became the performing trio, The Gumm
Sisters, singing and dancing in various social locales in the Southern
California area.
She changed
her name to Judy Garland at the suggestion of comedian George Jessel who she
appeared with at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair. The following year,
13-year-old year Judy landed her first MGM contract, appearing in such films
as BROADWAY MELODY OF 1938 and LOVE FIND ANDY HARDY. In 1939, MGM's
inability to obtain Shirley Temple became Judy's big break when she won the
lead in THE WIZARD OF OZ (winning a Special Oscar for her performance).
She co-starred opposite her dear friend and fellow MGM box-office draw,
Mickey Rooney, in a string of successful musicals including BABES IN ARMS,
STRIKE UP THE BAND and BABES ON BROADWAY.
As an adult,
some of her best known musical films include MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, THE
HARVEY GIRLS, SUMMER STOCK and the classic remake of A STAR IS BORN
(considered a shoo-in to win an Oscar for STAR, she nonetheless lost to
Grace Kelly in THE COUNTRY GIRL). A supporting role in the drama
JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG brought her a second Oscar nomination and a second
loss.
After medical
and other problems caused a termination of her MGM contract, she turned to
the concert stage where in 1951 she broke box office records with her
one-woman show at the Palace Theatre on Broadway. She starred in the
1963/64 variety TV series THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW. Her children, Liza
Minnelli and Lorna and Joe Luft, were Mama's frequent co-stars.
She continue
to perform throughout the United States and Europe until her death at the
age 47 in 1969. But her legacy lives on. |
