Website: The Judy Garland Museum
Website: The Judy Garland Showcase
The world fell in love with Judy Garland the moment they met her in her first major role in "The Wizard of Oz". Oh, we knew her from her other movies, but in "Wizard" she became an angel since about the Rainbow and her desire to go home.
Judy was born in 1922 as Frances Gumm. She took the stage for the first time at age 2 1/2 when she performed a song at a show in front of a grocery store. She performed with her two older sisters, but eventually made a name for herself when she was signed to MGM Studios in 1935. She made several movies with Mickey Rooney and became one of the most famous teenagers in the world.
In 1998 Judy's daughter, Lorna Luft, wrote a memoir about growing up with her famous mother and sister. It's a good book, focusing on both positive and negative aspects of her childhood. She doesn't glamorize her mother, but instead seeks to explain the events of their lives as honestly as possible.
Judy was a part of the Hollywood Machine that made stars just as easily as it discarded them. Judy was pushed to the limits and by the time "Wizard of Oz" was filmed she was already dependent on drugs to maintain the arduous schedule that was required of her. She continued to make movies, including "Strike Up the Band", "Easter Parade", and and "For Me and My Gal", all the while struggling with her pill-dependency and growing alcoholism.
Judy's personal life was tumultuous, to say the least. While struggling to maintain the life of a star, she was also struggling to be a wife. By 1945, at the age of 23, she was on her second marriage to film director Vincente Minnelli, which gave Judy her first child, daughter Liza Minnelli. Judy took part in several war-effort shows to raise money and sell bonds for the war, and at the same time took time off from making movies.
By 1949 she separated from Minnelli and after the divorce was final, married Sid Luft in 1951. She had already been fired from MGM Studios for being perpetually late or not showing up at all for work. But she turned her life around with Luft, and had a second daughter, Lorna. Luft helped Judy set up several live concerts, which were a huge success and kept Judy on top. In 1954 she completed the film "A Star is Born", a performance which earned her a Best Actress nomination.
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