| ::Biography:: The magic of Judy Garland begun in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, June 10, 1922. She was named after her father (Francis "Frank" Gumm) and mother (Ethel Milne). She was the third of three girls: Mary Jane (nicknamed Susie) was born in 1915, and Dorothy Virginia (nicknamed Jimmie) was born in 1917. Frances was nicknamed "Baby", and was known as Baby Gumm. Judy took her first step on the path that was to rocket her to worldwide fame and fortune at the tender age of 2½, when she made her stage debut singing Jingle Bells and it was said she didn't leave the stage until she was carried off. . The sisters became a trio shortly after Baby's debut. They were billed as The Gumm Sisters, and appeared at theatres and social functions in and around Grand Rapids. In 1926 the Gumm family moved to Lancaster, California where Frank bought the local theatre. The girls were soon taking dancing and acting lessons at various schools in the Los Angeles area. Ethel was the girls' agent and manager, and began finding bookings for the girls in theatres, nightclubs and on radio. Within a few short years, the girls had a following of fans in the Southern California area, and were appearing regularly on local radio shows. |
| When the Gumm Sisters where introduced to the audience, there were some quiet laughter, George Jessel a well known comedian of the era suggested to the girls that they change their name to Garland. Frances took the name Judy some time later. In 1935, Susie married, breaking up the act. Ethel began pushing Judy toward a movie career, arranging for auditions at nearly every studio in Hollywood. In September 1935, thirteen-year-old Judy auditioned for MGM, and was signed immediately. She sang "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", accompanied by Roger Edens (of the MGM music department) at the piano. Judy was said to be the only person ever contracted at MGM without a screen test and her contract officially started on October 1, 1935. Her Father had died a short time after. Judy's career would continue to climb, the cost was her health. Starting with The Wizard of Oz, in 1939 MGM prescribed drugs for Judy to take to keep her awake and then again to put her to sleep. Even though Judy faced a lot of pressure to perform perfectly, you could never see it in anything she did. She was as professional as they come and more were. Judy had boundless energy and a lovable laugh, a laugh so infectious and beautiful. Even more overlooked was her sense of humour, she had natural comic timing and a sense of fun. Her eyes projected such sincerity and a beauty that could never be equalled, as they were so expressive, although many feel she was not beautiful. |
| Judy was in a total of 43 films. Five of these were short subjects she appeared in prior to signing with MGM. At MGM, she was in a total of 31 movies, 27 of which were full-length, feature films. As she started to loose energy. Judy was finally released from MGM in 1950. Judy performed on many radio shows during her career and did so right after she left MGM. Then came a new era for Judy, she began to do concert tours and made a big comeback at the Palace Theatre and even more legendary was her performance at Carnegie Hall. There were many comebacks, yet the drugs overcame her strength. In 1954 she returned to movies under contract with Warner Brothers to produce A Star is born her personal masterpiece of film work. During the remainder of the 1950s, she recorded albums for Capitol Records and continued her concert touring, with many very successful tours in the US, England and Europe. She also appeared in several Television Specials. Judy Garland died of an accidental drug overdose, on June 22, 1969, less than two weeks after her 47th birthday, when she was found dead in her bathroom by her latest husband, Mickey Deans. As more than 22,000 people paid their respects at her final appearance at Campbell's Funeral Chapel in New York on June 27, 1969. She was laid to rest at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York. Ms. Garland was married five times; First husband was to David Rose on 28 July 1941. Judy filed for divorce from David Rose 7 June, 1944. Then in 15 June 1945 Judy married second husband Director Vincente Minnelli, 12 March 1946 Judy gave birth to her first child Liza Minnelli. They were later divorced in 1951.On 8 June 1952 Judy married third husband Sid Luft. On 21 November 1952 - Lorna Luft born (Judy's second daughter) 29 March 1955 - Joey Luft born (Judy's son). On 28 September 1962 Judy filed for divorce from Sid Luft. On 14 November 1965 Judy married fourth husband Mark Herron (they separated within 6 months). On 15 March 1969 Judy married fifth husband Mickey Deans. Judy Garland was a lonely woman desperately searching out love and affection, emotions she only discovered in her millions of fans. She kept going by pills and the pressure of those eager to abuse and exploit her. She was driven to breaking point, but the magic of the sensational Judy Garland still survives today. |