Judy! Judy! Judy! Part Two
May, 1950 - Judy makes what she later calls "one of the really classic mistakes of my life", and agrees to cancel an eight-month vacation to replace pregnant June Allyson in Royal Wedding. The studio's monitoring her every move.
June 17, 1950 - Three weeks into Royal Wedding, Judy misses a one-hour Saturday rehearsal. She gets a telegram from MGM telling her she's suspended. Judy's so upset she has to be sedated.
June 19, 1950 - Only two days after her suspension, offers are pouring in from TV and Broadway, but Judy doesn't care. She locks herself in the bathroom and cuts her throat with a broken water glass. Her injury is actually pretty minor - all she needs is a Band-Aid to cover the scratch - but the press goes to town. "JUDY GARLAND SLASHES THROAT AFTER FILM ROW," screams the Los Angeles Times.
September 28, 1950 - After 15 years and 28 films, Judy and MGM part ways. Both sides agree to end her contract for good.
March 29, 1951 - Judy and Vincente divorce. Judy is already dating Sid Luft, a former test pilot, sometimes movie producer, and all-around tough guy.
April, 1951 - May, 1952 - A star is re-born! Judy's back to what she loves best - performing live. She sells out a four-week run at London's Palladium, gives 184 performances at New York's Palace, which has been refurbished just for her, and sells out another four weeks at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles. She never fails to whip audiences into a screaming, crying, flower-flinging frenzy.
June 8, 1952 -Judy marries Sid in a small ceremony at a friend's house.
November 21, 1952 - Judy's second daughter, Lorna Luft, is born.
January 5, 1953 - Judy's 59-year-old estranged mother, Ethel, is on her way to her job as a clerk at Douglas Aircraft and collapses in the parking lot. She dies of a heart attack. A distraught Judy slashes her wrists.
March, 1954 - Determined to stop taking pills on her own, Judy dangerously quits cold turkey. She spends more than 12 hours shaking, screaming, sweating, and passing out, but she's successful.
August, 1954 - Judy and Sid have an argument about going on vacation. The pills come back.
September 29, 1954 - A Star is Born premieres at the Pentages Theatre in Los Angeles to rave reviews.
In part three: Judy endures even more ups and downs, including two Oscar nominations, a nearly fatal health
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