Product Description
She lived at full throttle on stage, screen, and in real life, with highs that made history and lows that finally brought down the curtain at age forty-seven. Judy Garland died over thirty years ago, but no biography has so completely captured her spirit--and demons--until now. From her tumultuous early years as a child performer to her tragic last days, Gerald Clarke reveals the authentic Judy in a biography rich in new detail and unprecedented revelations. Based on hundreds of interviews and drawing on her own unfinished--and unpublished--autobiography, Get Happy presents the real Judy Garland in all her flawed glory.

With the same skill, style, and storytelling flair that made his bestselling Capote a landmark literary biography, Gerald Clarke sorts through the secrets and the scandals, the legends and the lies, to create a portrait of Judy Garland as candid as it is compassionate. Here are her early years, during which her parents sowed the seeds of heartbreak and self-destruction that would plague her for decades...the golden age of Hollywood, brought into sharp focus with cinematic urgency, from the hidden private lives of the movie world's biggest stars to the cold-eyed businessmen who controlled the machine...and a parade of brilliant and gifted men--lovers and artists, impresarios and crooks--who helped her reach so many creative pinnacles yet left her hopeless and alone after each seemingly inevitable fall. Here, then, is Judy Garland in all her magic and despair: the woman, the star, the legend, in a riveting saga of tragedy, resurrection, and genius.Amazon.com Review
Like his renowned Capote, Clarke's Get Happy is an addictively readable bio of an addict genius. We learn that it wasn't just the Hollywood moguls who mangled Judy Garland's soul. Yes, MGM's Louis B. Mayer did paw her teenage breasts, exacerbate her insecurity by calling her "my little hunchback," feed her uppers and downers ("bolts and jolts"), and repel the U.S. drug czar's personal attempt to get her into rehab. But the true villain was Judy's diabolical stage mom, Ethel Gumm, who fed her pills at age 9. Judy's heart belonged to her daddy, a kindly theater owner cursed with pederastic yearnings that evidently got the family run out of various towns, once by a man named Doc Savage. Daddy died young, and Judy kept hooking up with older men, including two probably gay husbands, one of whom cheated on her with her daughter Liza's husband. Her first best girlfriend in Hollywood (and probable lover) turned out to be a studio spy. She knew at least one of her agents, nicknamed Loeb and Leopold, robbed her blind, but since betrayal was everybody's way of life, she just laughed it off--and died dead broke. Judy cheated on Liza's dad (and her own great director) Vincente Minnelli, with still-handsome Orson Welles, who was cheating on Rita Hayworth. "People like me don't grow up easily," Judy once said. Most people in this book deserved to go up in flames, but only nice Margaret Hamilton, playing the Wicked Witch of the West, actually did so in a filming accident. She recovered; Judy didn't. It's fascinating to read about Judy's self-immolating life. But for a jolt of joy afterward, I prescribe the CD Judy at Carnegie Hall. Clarke lets you know what the songs cost, and what they mean. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (85)

garbage
This book is not good at all and much of it is hearsay, this book makes Judy look like a hoe and i hate it, i couldn't even read the whole book because it was so disgusting! please don't buy this book if your a real judy garland fan

Garland Magic
Having only recently become interested in Judy Garland I needed a book to accompany the Garland Films that I was starting to watch. 'Get Happy' is a beatiful, well constructed book, with plenty of photo's to keep the reader more than interested. It gives an honest account of her life, the highs & lows and I honestly did,t want the book to end. The book brings out how really magical Judy was in the face of all her problems.I particularly found Her associations with the 'Rat Pack' of the 1950s very funny indeed, and even though at times she was penniless, her strenght of character and pure singing voice pulled her through. The book will make you laugh and cry and will want to make you explore her films and life further.

not bad--but it could have been better
Despite the fact that it has some very real limitations, Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland by Gerald Clark is not a badly written book. Indeed, Clark is actually an excellent writer and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough even though as a Garland fan I already knew most of what Clark had to say about Judy! I read the book anyway, however, because I thought that I might learn still more about Judy Garland's life--and that would be great as far as I'm concerned. I didn't learn a lot more but I think that newcomers just discovering Judy will learn more than I did, especially if they read this book with one or two other books about Judy.

Gerald Clark understands where Judy Garland "is coming from" and therefore he has "empathy" for her as a psychologist would say. For example, Clark notes that for Judy, she needed deep unconditional love, emotional freedom to do as she pleased, appreciation from directors, colleagues and fans--and a man who would fight for her in order for her to do her best work on screen or on stage. However, Clark's actual writing style is similar to that of a journalist who writes about Judy a little too dispassionately at times--except when he goes off on a tangent for a few pages here and there to tell us stories (true?) of Judy's love life. In addition, there are some black and white photographs usually placed one at a time at the beginning of each chapter.

Clark spends quite a bit of time covering Judy's career and her personal life up to Judy's work with then-husband Sid Luft on "A Star Is Born." After this, however, the pace of the book changes considerably, sometimes with a few years being condensed into just a handful of pages. I would have liked to know more about Judy's relationships with her last two husbands, Mark Herron and Mickey Deans. While Judy's first two marriages are examined in detail, her marriage to Sid Luft could have been more thoroughly covered. I also would have liked to be able to read more than the hardly twelve pages worth of information about Judy's relationship with her fourth husband Mark Herron--a relationship and a marriage that gets little more than roughly twelve pages discussing him and Judy--as Clark also discusses other goings-on in Judy's life! In general, as the book progresses, less and less attention is given to the details of Judy's life; it's as if Gerald Clark doesn't truly want to document those years and that's a shame.

In addition, this Judy Garland biography pays very little attention to Judy's relationships with her children Liza, Lorna and Joe. There is absolutely no examination at all of Judy's relationship as stepmother to John Luft, Sid Luft's son by a former marriage to Lynn Bari. If Gerald Clark wants to tell his readers lots of detail about Judy's love life, he should at least have given equal time to her children!

Overall, this book is probably best for newcomers who want to know about Judy Garland's life with a heavy emphasis on her movie making years and not the subsequent concert years. I wouldn't recommend it for people like myself who already know a good deal about Garland; you'll get too much repetition of what you already know. While Clark does an excellent job of examining Judy's life as a child and as a motion picture actress, the pace of the book gradually becomes faster and faster until years are covered in just four or five pages; and I don't care for that.

Three stars.

Judy Garland review
I'm reading this book now and it's wonderful. I recomend that everyone should read this book. I love it.

DISGUSTING
I am a fan of Judy and received this book as a gift. I began reading it and instantly knew something was amiss. Besides the fact that Clarke is a terrible writer (mixing colloquialisms with formal writing, hard to follow sentences, etc), this book is total tabloid trash structured around sensational "facts" thrown in with nothing to support them.Clarke happily discusses things like Judy's sexuality using words such as "indisputable" and "almost certainly."Oh really, were you there?Clarke talks trash and uses gossip and hearsay as fact.This book is infuriating and disgraceful, and I am so happy Judy is not alive to read it, she would be humiliated.

And to those who have commented that perhaps we are just reacting to the author telling the "truth" of the hard life she lived, it is not the content that bothers me as much. I don't care if Judy was bisexual, loved oral sex, or if her father was gay (both insinuated in the book), it is just disrespectful to write about it and to write about it in such a cheap, disgusting manner. Clarke's writing drips with sleaze and the pursuit not of an accurate portrayal of a human being but a portrayal that will help him sell books and cash in.Disgusting. ... Read more

Product Description
Here, in all her glory and turmoil, is the singer-actress whose performances in films and on concert tours enthralled audiences--a woman whose brazen and tender voice continues to captivate listeners decades after her death at age 47. 52 photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

I Love Judy
I'm biased, but I do know my books a little. I really enjoyed this, and think you should start with this before trying the new one. It was very entertaining and informative; a difficult task of life of someone so complicated and talented.

Great for Judy Garland Fans
This was for my 29 year old Daughter who is head over heals for Judy Garland.
She loves the book and has read some facts she didn't know before.
It's refreshing to see someone of the baby boomer generation so facinated by such an Icon of Stardom.

The best book written about Judy Garland-by far
This is one of the first books written about Judy Garland,and one of the best. No sensationalism,just the facts.It was the first book I read about her, and far better than most others that came out afterwards.Gerold Frank kept is honest and real.No trying to make her look like a drug addled tragic figure,like many books that came out after 1975.He delved into real incidents and made her into a real person with real problems as well asreal triumphs. Reading it feels like voyeurism in her world,real and truthful.Not the sensationalism and lies to make her a tragedy,just to sell more books.A must read for all Judy fans.

A beautiful and fascinating angel like Judy deserves a better memorial
Miss Judy Garland, "Let me tell you, legends are all very well if you've got somebody around who loves you..."

Disclaimer: There are at least 2 different printings of this book, "Judy", by Gerald Frank. I read the original version, in hard cover that was published in 1974 and is a total of 639 pages long. (There is another printing from 1999 in paperback however I cannot tell what the differences are if any besides the picture on the title.) This review is in regards to the original hard cover version, published by Harper and Row.

This book is just way too long. And that's never a problem if there is a story to be told. But the author apparently is under the impression that if he keeps going in circles, rehashing the same story over and over again he has something considerable to articulate. There're also glaring omissions in the book. And, even though this was published 5 years later, there was barely a peep about Judy's untimely death. (Why?)

Another point of contention is that the author didn't seem to have a lot of respect, admiration or even sympathy for Judy. Every single thing she did was wrong. For example any number of her many suicide attempts were done because Judy was "unstable and in need of attention." Frankly, I found that very sexist and rather patronizing because I'm sure if the subject were a man no one would have dismissed him. Suffice it to say, the book ultimately read like a kindergarten babysitter's report to a concerned parent; repeatedly "scolding" and "admonishing" this "bad little girl," Judy.

The author also downplayed everything that everyone in Judy's life did to her. When one of her husbands smacked poor Judy around, that was her fault. When her mother threw her into show business at the age of 2 for no other reason than to be rich and famous that was the fault of Judy's. When the studio got her hooked on pills that was Judy's fault. There was also no mention of the very well-documented (way before the '70s) circumstances surrounding Judy's father who was a known child predator. And when Judy's third husband couldn't support her this was all of a sudden Judy's fault...I could go on and on. My point is that I'm sure Judy wasn't a saint, but I am just as sure that she also was a human being with a heart and a soul and a mind.

"Judy" did not communicate who the woman really was. Instead, it painted Judy into this caricature, and not one single color was used from that perpetual rainbow that Judy was always trying to find. Instead these were the worst of times, times 10. Grossly exaggerated when it made Judy look abominable, and cleaned up when it suited the author's "story" and made the interview subjects look like the shining victors.

Mr. Frank kept going out of his way to discuss money. Why did it matter how much Judy was making or how much money she needed or how much money she owed the government? I really think writing like this totally makes the book sound dated and rather old and tired and completely overdone and boring. It is a complete and utter anomaly to hear any reputable modern journalist discuss the salaries of any of hers or his subjects.

Although I enjoyed most of the pictures (I don't know anyone who doesn't like looking at Judy), it's a shame that none of these were candid or even rare photos. Even 35 years ago when this was published they were all seen prior. Maybe I'm expecting too much, but when I read a 600+++ page book about the most influential, talented and successful female performer in all of American popular culture I expect something a little uncommon and momentous (just like Judy).

And that brings me to my final objection. If the book were 400 pages shorter I would have given it at least 1 or 2 more stars. 600 pages (of redundant and old chronicles) is totally obnoxious. There was not one single exclusive story, interview or even quote that was attributed to this book. The problem was that it was also incredibly obvious for all of the reasons that I have already stated that Mr. Frank went out of his way to appease his interviewees. Apparently, rather than tell Judy's truthful story he felt it was more important to "get it all down" from whomever wished to open their mouths and let whatever they chose spill out onto Mr. Frank's notepad. Mr. Frank interviewed many people, but he had a very poor editor who did not know how to weave these stories together which in turn transformed it into a bowl of Hungarian goulash. Everything was thrown into this mess. Like an old and tired transvestite muddling through on her ninth life, this book had a little bit of everything, but not enough of anything that counted.

Leaves out some stuff and plays it "safe" but still excellent - long, but excellent
This is an "early" review since I haven't finished this very long book yet, but I will say that I don't like very long books (I find them daunting and time-consuming) but this one is good and holds your interest despite its detail and depth.However, I know that it leaves out certain parts already about her early life.For example, various sources (such as Marcella Rabwin, who is featured in the book prominently, and a family friend of Garland for many years) said on the E! True Hollywood Story TV program, that Judy and her sisters, mother, and father left Grand Rapids because Judy's father, Frank, had an affair with "a young man" and in those days that was "scandalous" and they "had to" move away.This story is nowhere in the book.This book also supposedly had the cooperation and the blessing of Liza and Lorna (not sure about Joe), Judy's children, so you know that despite the book's detail and depth, it's going to be "safe" with nothing too controversial that the children didn't want published.That's too bad, because for a biography to be truly inspirational (let alone just plain "accurate"), you have to include the skeletons in the closet (sorry for the pun, there, Frank).I haven't read Gerald Clarke's "Get Happy", which might include more scandalous stories.It's funny how there are 2 major Judy biographies that are very very long with authors named "Gerald"; easy to confuse the two, as I did at first.What a remarkable life; what a remarkable book. I still recommend book this highly, for Judy fans and also because I recommend biographies in general as a way for people to put their troubles in perspective, to gain inspiration from people we all "know", and as a parable to learn what to do, and not to do, to be happy in life.This would also be a great "primer" for young people to understand the history of Hollywood, or if you want a case study of a great American if you're patriotic, a great woman if you're a feminist, an unfortunate addict if you have an interest in drug and alcohol abuse issues, and a great musician/actress if you're an artist. ... Read more

Product Description
In a career that spanned five decades and encompassed stardom in every medium, Judy Garland's professional achievements remain unsurpassed. Now her timeless joy comes alive in JUDY GARLAND: A PORTRAIT IN ART & ANECDOTE. Hundreds of rare and previously unpublished photographs, studio memorabilia, and personal mementos from the family archives, along with scores of anecdotes drawn from interviews with her professional colleagues, friends, family, and Judy herself, showcase her on- and off-stage "talent to amuse." Decade by decade, her incomparable accomplishments on stage, film, television, radio, and recordings are lovingly illustrated and remembered by those who knew her best. Often funny, sometimes poignant, but always fascinating, this book singularly conveys the happiness that Garland's own great and buoyantly emotional performances have brought to hundreds of millions of admirers. Anyone who ever enjoyed a Garland song will revel in this glowing, lavishly illustrated tribute. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (40)

A magnificent look at the performer and wonderful woman behind it
This is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book about the life and career of "Miss Showbusiness" Judy Garland. This was the first real book on Judy I read and what an excellent way to begin. I had vagually known that the many stories about Judy were disgusting lies. Now John Fricke (after his other great book) now puts Judy in her proper place, I wanted to get to know the woman better and this book did better than that. I actually felt that I was there with Judy, experencing her warmth, joy and laughter with her in her personal life and watching her perform on the sets of films, live in concert and on her tv series. I actually got to know Judy from this book and I loved her.

Stories about Judy are often innaccurate but this book (and a few others) are the real deal. Most biographers like to think that Judy was a tragic figure and her life was a hopeless ride to despair and degredation.

But this book changed all that, Fricke brilliantly captures Judy Garland as her friends, family and co-workers knew her, as a bright, intelligent, witty human being and also a affectionate, kind and caring lady who happened to be one of the most talented performers to grace this earth.

Well done, Mr. Fricke and thank you.

Picture galore!
As a relatively new fan to Judy, I bought this book mainly due to the positive reviews here on Amazon, and Amazon writers never fail. This book is truly fantastic. With more rare pictures than you can shake a stick at, most of them at better-than-good quality, too. These pictures, complete to extensive captions and quotes by the people who knew Judy, span her entire lifetime. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and indeed these pictures speak more plainly to the reader than even the most comprehensive biography. Judy Garland was a phenomenal talent, and what a pleasure to have such a wonderful book devoted to this true star.

Great Photos
This book gave me a refreshing and rare look at Judy Garland's life through pictures.The most interesting ones were of her behind the scenes, with family or rehearsing.These are ones of her behind the scenes laughing and dancing with people like Gene Kelly.So any fan of the classic musicals would enjoy these photos.
You get to be a witness to what an extraordinary person she was not only on the screen, but off, and in person.There are great quotes from people who knew her, all of them saying how she really was unique and a one-of-a-kind class act.She did have a hard life but I like the way this book doesn't seem to focus on that at all.The focal point of this book is to show the great points of her life that fans will enjoy seeing and that's good enough for me.
It's great to see her in her prime and with some of the top stars of the day.It shows the excitement in Hollywood and their lives in that era, and how she was in the very midst of all of it.
Any Judy Garland fan, really anyone, will enjoy this look at Judy Garland's life through photos.It really is a book that makes you want to look at it over and over again.

Five stars for one of our brightest and loneliest stars
She's reviving her career, she's in London with a troubled marriage that's fodder for the tabloids...no, we're not speaking of Liza Minnelli, mega-talented daughter of "Dorothy Gale from Kansas," but of "Baby Gumm," Frances Gumm, who you might have heard of as Judy Garland.

In a memorable scene from the 2001 miniseries "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," a frustrated Garland, played to perfection by Judy Davis, shouts into the phone, "Yes, I've heard how difficult it is to work with Judy Garland. Do you know how difficult it is to be Judy Garland? I've been trying to be Judy Garland all my life!" In the foreword to Judy Garland: A Tribute In Art And Anecdote, Garland's daughter Lorna Luft echoes this sentiment in as loving a tribute to her mother as the miniseries, based on Luft's own published memoir, and as reverent yet observant as John Fricke's stunning, definitive, human, glowing, not-in-the-least-fawning encomium on Garland's life.You'll love the posters, photographic portrait of entertainment history, drawings, and "home movie" photos of the private Garland.Garland's children, flawed and loving, gave her added complexity as a working mom heroine. To quote the title of one of her movies, "I Could Go On Singing." In Fricke's book, she does just that.

Gushy
When I picked up this book at the library, the librarian said to me, "You've got the heaviest book in the library."

I replied, "It may be heavy in weight, but it won't be heavy reading." And indeed it was not. The only reason to look at this book is for the pictures, many of which I've not seen elsewhere.

The text, however, is gush, gush, gush. The author repeats himself ad nauseum and quotes only people who haven't a single word to say against the great, the fabulous, the one and only legend! It gets tiresome. Yes, Judy Garland was a great talent, but how many times do we have to hear it? ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (14)

A Pleasant Surprise
I came to this book not expecting much, having overdosed on Judy bios and not being particularly fond of memoirs, but I like it, I really like it.For the Garland fan (which I am) the book says its okay to be a little obsessed with her (okay, totally obsessed).For those wondering what its all about, Susan gives insight into what it is that draws us to Judy and what its like to be a fan.The book, like Judy's life, is funny and sad at the very same time.Garland fans will see at least glimpses of themselves and all will enjoy the story of two lives hopelessly intertwined.

Surprised!
I buy everything Judy, but wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised. Judy fans like me can't get enough. I identify, like others, with Judy, and think in some ways that my life is like hers, although I know that is a big stretch. The author did a great job and I liked it a lot.

no need to click my heels
Each time I put down this book I am okay with all of my emotions, "because they are mine." Obsession is glorified andbeauty is beauty. Although I have only heard Judy Garland's voice through cds, I feel as if am closer to hearing her live after reading this book. The character describing Judy is as interesting as Judy Garland herself. Humility and humbleness are embraced. Read this book.

for every Judy fan, no matter how ardent
Susie Boyt's book articulates the respect and admiration millions feel for perhaps the most talented performer in American history.Told in dual biography mode a la Julie and Julia, it's worth reading twice or even three times.Definitely a book to purchase, not to borrow, if you are--to any extent-- a fan or follower of Judyism.

Judy as Spiritual Therapist
Susie Boyt's memoir/tribute to Judy Garland contains a vital insight into why some of us hardcore fans cling to Judy with religious fervor.Her raw portrayal of emotionality acts as guidance to how we should live our lives; feelings first whether good or bad.For those of us (and we are legion) who were told to hide, deny or dismiss our feelings, Judy's unabashed artistic expression of emotion is powerfully liberating.

Susie is also an excellent writer; her prose compelling, her vision expansive.But I found the book lacking focus and that it often meandered.Why did she interview Liza Minnelli?It wasn't to learn about Judy as she couldn't even ask Liza a single question about her mother.Was it to grapple with her own issues of celebrity?And whenever she discussed her own life as it related to obsession with Judy, she completely lost me and I started skipping those sections.Still, for the championing of Judy as the premiere artist of emotionality, I'm glad Susie wrote this charming memoir. ... Read more

Product Description
The world has yet to see another star like Judy Garland--a movie, television and singing icon. This biography recounts every significant day of her astounding career in show business, from her first appearance on stage when she was two years old, to her misunderstood final years. A trove of rare Judy material, the book includes concert set lists, testimonials from friends and critics, transcripts of radio and television performances, selections from interviews and press conferences, rare photographs, and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

may not be everyone's cup of tea
Everybody has the right to their opinion, but I liked this and I am glad I bought it.I thought it was interesting, but without pictures it could have been a bit dull.I decided to look up what she was working on the day I was born.Let's just say Easter Parade went up another couple of notches for me.

Rejoice: Schechter has chronicled Judy and Liza for the Ages
Schechter has done for Judy and Liza what Koeschel has done for Wolfgang. It's all here: the mood, the method, the magnificence, in two encyclopedic texts that detail the lives and good works of two of the most fascinating and talented women of our time and all the ages--the Fantastic Garland and her equally incredible Daughter Liza Minnelli. Schechter has not only written two great books, he has done the world a terrific service in collecting some of their TV appearances on DVDs that have given a permanent showcase to material that otherwise might have been gone and forgotten forever, to the great loss of us all. Colorful, informative, and fascinating, these two books on Judy and Liza, as well as the DVDs that constitute exhibits A-Z, should provide fans and would be admirers alike with endless pleasure and information, as they make an incalculably important and significant archival contribution to our heritage. Not to be missed.Martin Kantor, MD. Author of My Guy: A Gay Man's Guide to a Lasting Relationship and Together Forever: The Gay Man's Guide to Lifelong Love

Incredibly detailed
Scott Schechter has done a fantastic job of exhaustively researching Judy Garland; so many details here. Overall, one finishes this impressive "encyclopedia" and wonders how one who was supposedly so "unreliable" accomplished so much in such a short lifespan. A definite must-have for Garland fans.

A Gold Mine of Data
This book is a must-have for Judy fans.That's a given.
But be careful about a quick dismissive flip through the pages.This is, among other great things, a key reference book for collectors.
If you want to know about a particular song Judy sang and whether a recording exists, the Song Index in this book will lead you to the answer.
If you want to know if a particular radio show or concert was recorded, this book will tell you where to find it or will confirm that it exists in private collections.
If you want to know when and where Judy sang with Vic Damone, for instance, this book will lead you to the time, the place and provide info. on available recordings.
A keepsake volume and handy reference tool for the very serious Judy collector.

A Loving and Brilliant Tribute
Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend will take you on an amazing journey through an incredible life of one of our most treasured legends.Mr. Schechter accomplishes what no biography has before -- a complete and yet loving history that fans and music historians will both treasure for generations to come. ... Read more

Product Description
A compilation of songs from her movies and concert appearances. 23 motion pictures are represented by 68 songs. Also includes BandW photographs from the films, film credits and a complete filmography and discography. Songs include: After You've Gone * Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home * Be a Clown * The Boy Next Door * But Not for Me * Come Rain or Come Shine * Do I Love You * Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * Hello Blue Bird * I Got Rhythm * I'm Just Wild About Harry * Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis * Over the Rainbow * Singin' in the Rain * That's Entertainment * When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You) * and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Enjoyable!
This really is a very special keepsake if you are a fan of Judy Garland, and a fairly advanced pianist.The only things I was somewhat dissatisfied with were, one, it did not include any songs from Easter Parade, and two, several of the songs had verses before the chorus which were different from the actual song (such as "For Me and My Gal"), or had no verse at all when it would have been a nice addition (such as "Embraceable You").
However, as I said the book should be a very enjoyable part of any piano library, and I am glad I bought it.

In the WRONG KEYS.
I love the history and the pictures in this book about Judy, but I wanted it for practical purposes.The authors of the book could have taken a day or two to transpose these songs into Judy's keys, but instead EVERYONE who buys the book has to do that themselves.Think of all the duplicate hours of transcription.

I bought this book so I would NOT have to pay someone to transcribe these songs.Now I may have to pay someone to transpose them.I am very disappointed.

Best source for Judy's music
From all the research I have done on Judy, I have found this to be the most comprehensive source for sheet music of her songs. Unfortunately, the songs are not printed in the keys in which Judy sang them. The music requires transposing for practical use. It is also missing some obvious favorites (for example, there are no tunes from "Easter Parade," one of her more successful films), however its the best of what is out there currently. You will greatly enjoy the pictures, which also include ones from her non-musical roles.

A wonderful, comprehensive collection of Garland standards!
A must for any Garland fan or lover of wonderful piano music.Great arrangements accompanied by nice photos. ... Read more

Product Description
The first complete visual record of Judy Garland celebrates Garland's accomplishments as an actress and singer and presents more than five hundred photographs revealing behind-the-scenes glimpses. National ad/promo. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Great Judy Garland Book by John Fricke!!!
i LOVE this book!!! it is a great Judy Garland biography full of wonderful information and glorious pictures of Judy!!!

World's Best Biographer!!!
John Fricke is the most knowledgeable person there is on all things Judy Garland!!! A+++++ he is a human database of facts on Garland and OZ!!!

One of my favorite books
John Fricke has written a celebration of Judy, with fun photos and inspirational montages of who Judy was, and how she changed with the years.Judy had an indomnitable spirit, it was her soul that was weighted down with bad karmic connections and stigmas she always fought to transcend.Some clues about this were the decision Judy's mother had to make about Judy's birth; and how the doctor intervened.So I think John Fricke captures this dynamic in this book, where is it possible to witness how a spirit survived in a material world.

Brilliant
This is a marvellous book, John Fricke writes of Judy Garland's career in great detail while also dispelling the old myths of tempermental and mean spirited behaviour that other Garland biographers presented as fact.

Here is Judy in all of her glory as the great entertainer she always was (and still is) and as mentioned earlier blows away the myths that have plagued Judy for so long, it shows Judy's effort to rise above problems and give her all, wether it is when she is performing or showing her love to her friends, co-workers and her children.

Buy this book now with another John Fricke title on Judy, 'A Portrait of art and Anecdote'. Forget people like Gerald Clarke and his innaccurate look at Judy's life and Mel Torme for his self-serving and also innaccurate look at the legend. Buy this book but quick.

THE BOOK HAS NO PEERS
I bought it during Christmas in 1992... And u know what; It`s the definitive book on Judy!!!It really is an open love-letter 2 the Great 1 From 1 Of Her Fans....At times u might say that John Fricke is glorifying Judy - but I don`t mind... It`s the kind of book u would want if u were on a desert island(with the CD`s "Judy at Carnegie Hall", "The London Sessions" and the "25th Retrospective"(compiled by Fricke) and the films "The Wizard Of Oz", "Meet Me in St. Louis", "The Pirate", "Easter Parade", "In the Good Old Summertime", "Summer Stock", "A Star is Born"(just 4 the musical scenes) and "I Could Go On Singing" - her BEST dramatic performance!! And The DVD collection of her 1963-64 TV-series...

Come 2 think of it... With THIS book and her music and films... I THINK I wouldn`t have noticed the palms, animals and ocean surrounding me on that island hehehehe ... Read more

Product Description
This unique biography of the superstar born Frances Ethel Gumm in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is based on talks with people who actually knew her from the 90-something woman in Grand Rapids who used to babysit the star to the producers, nightclub owners, musicians and friends who experienced all the problems Judy had, as well as her great successes. We hear how she was shunned by local people when she made her only visit back to her birthplace by people who considered her a Jezebel;how her father was shunted out of town because he was gay; and how she was overworked while making The Wizard of Oz. The man who established the first Judy Garland fan club tells how he reluctantly walked out of one of her performances because she was so bad. Stevie Phillips, the 'carer' imposed by Judy's agents describes her as a 'train wreck' and the son of the man who employed her at New York's biggest night club describes how she let him down and failed to appear for shows. In Hollywood, we see that the son of the doctor who was her father's friend went to MGM asking them to cancel a contract because the work pressure was too hard.But then we also hear how she was sacked from Annie Get Your Gun and went through the MGM corridors in war paint and carrying her tomahawk 'looking for someone to scalp' as TV-producer George Slaughter put it. This is a bitter-sweet story: sad and funny and very human. Don't look for star names in this book they are not there. These are personal stories from the sort of people few biographers have bothered to talk to, but who provide the best and the truest tales. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book!
I think this book is wonderful. It has all the movies Judy Garland was in and what people who worked with her think about her. There is alot of pictures to go with the movie. Over all this is a great book!

Great Book!
I thought this book had great pictures! It showed all the movies she hadbeen in and some of the people she worked with told what they thought abouther. It even tells about her t.v. show and tours she went on. Judy garlandin AMAZING! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Judy Garland and the Hoodoo Costume
I read this book when I was ten years old, and have always remembered enjoying it. I have been looking for a copy for my grand girls to read. Although the book is old and yellowed, there are a couple of good reads left for them. Yes, it is a mystery.

Of Interest To Garland Collectors
For many decades Whitman Books was the leading publisher of novels for children and pre-teens, and during the 1940s the company offered a number of such novels featuring famous film stars as the leading character.The most popular of these novels featured juvenile actress Jane Withers, about whom at least three such books were written, but others featuredteenagers Anne Rutherford and Bonita Granville and such glamour queens as Betty Grable, Ginger Rogers, and Ann Sheridan.

Like most other books in the genre, JUDY GARLAND AND THE HOODOO COSTUME was credited to author Kathryn Heisenfelt, and it is very typical of the series.Judy Garland is making a winter visit to a northern city, where she has agreed to deliver a Christmas gift for a friend.The gift is delivered to a costume rental company, where Judy notices a beautiful white gown that seems out of keeping with the other costumes--and the owner is deeply disturbed when Judy points it out.As a favor to the owner, Judy agrees to deliver the dress to its rightful owner... and quickly finds herself embroiled in a mystery that may include kidnapping.

The novel is clearly written with an audience of pre-teen girlsin mind, and overall it reads rather like a Nancy Drew mystery.Heisenfelt is careful to reference Garland's stardom only indirectly; although she has furs and jewelry, Judy takes the bus and uses payphones, her only concern a passing effort to avoid public recognition.In a general sense, the portrait offered is akin to the "girl next door" image cultivated by such films as GIRL CRAZY and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS--which is rather amusing when one considers that the book was published in 1945, by which time Garland was on her second marriage and was already notorious for erratic backstage behavior.

The book is unlikely to appeal to modern pre-teens; today its real interest will be for those who collect material associated with Judy Garland.Although the book has been long out of print, it remains widely available through various retailers, and Garland fans will find it an amusing if very slight addition to their collection.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Great read!
This work has all the necessities of a great book!While a tad juvenile for mature readers, it is a great "fun" read.Buy it, read it to, and with, your children! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF A REAL BEAUTY
SO MANY WONDERFUL PHOTOGRAPHS OF A REAL BEAUTY; MANY FROM THE YOUNGER DAYS. A TALENT AND A KNOCKOUT-WHO WOULDN'T HAVE WANTED TO BE JUDY GARLAND BACK IN THE DAY! SO MANY OF THESE PHOTOS COULD BE FRAMED. THIS BOOK IS JUST AMAZING AND YOU WILL LOOK AT IT AND SAY "OH!" 5 STARS! A++++++

An intimate, respectfully honest look at Judy's life
Basil Nestor describes this book as "an unabashed celebration of the wonder of Judy Garland," and indeed that is exactly what Judy: A Life in Pictures is: a celebration of a remarkable woman and unsurpassed entertainer.The biography of Judy is told most tellingly in pictures ranging from a shot of two-year-old Francis Ethel "Baby" Gumm to a wearied, prematurely old Garland hovering on the brink of her premature death.The pictures, all 125+ included here in this over-sized book, offer a great deal of personal insight into the life of this lady who was larger than the life she suffered through.Some would scoff at the likelihood of a superstar such as Judy Garland being constantly unhappy, but anyone who knows the gist of her life's story knows that troubles forever haunted her.The movie studios treated her badly and got her started on drugs because they thought she was fat, she saw only ugliness in the mirror whereas many fans adored her for who she was; I myself see the young Judy Garland as a striking beauty that put the likes of Lana Turner to shame.These pictures clearly show the toll taken upon Judy by her continuing drug problems, unhappy if not disastrous relationships, constant self-doubt, economic straits, and overall depression, yet they also capture moments of true magic when the real Judy Garland floated to the surface and made everyone around her love her.The later pictures of Judy are sometimes heartbreaking to see, particularly those of her final year as she basically wasted away, but these pictures show Judy as she really was.

The pictures are accompanied by a short biography of Judy's life and career, and this makes for an excellent introduction to this most complicated and talented of performers.Her entertainment exploits are documented lovingly, and her failures and tragedies described with great respect.You will find none of the hurtful innuendoes other authors spitefully insert in their own economically-motivated hatchet jobs of Judy, yet Nestor does not portray her as an innocent angel by any means, acknowledging the fact that many of her troubles in life were a result of her own actions.Thus, what you get here is a short, respectfully honest peek into the life of the greatest female entertainer the world has ever known, with a sizable number of intimate pictures telling the story more keenly than the words accompanying them.This is a book sure to delight any fan of Judy Garland.

Charming additon to any collection
This book is very well put together, combining some excellent pictures and interesting and ACCURATE text. You'll see Judy at two years old in a white ruffled dress all ready to sing onstage, the original "DorothyGale" look, some lovely photos leading you through Judy's flourishingyears at MGM, her life as a wife and mother, ready to embark on the concertcircuit, and finally, the last years of this beloved legend. The picturesare beautifully subtle and never too revealing, always candid and mostlynostalgic. The text is never incriminating or bitter against its subject.It is, and I quote it, "an unabashed celebration of the wonder of JudyGarland", and is a charming addition to any Garland collection.

A WONDERFUL BOOK!!
This book was beautiful.I was awed with the wonderful collection of famous and not-so-famous photos.If you're a fan of Judy this book is for you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Has the Energy and Dynamic of the Lady Herself
As other readers have stated, this is the very best of all of the biographies of Judy Garland.The others do not come close, from Gerald Clarke's vulgar and superficial "Get Happy" to Gerald Frank's overwritten "Judy."All of John Fricke's books are in a class by themselves and I don't include them in this catagory.Reading the Finch book you will feel the surges of energy and pleasure you would feel at a Garland concert or watching "The Man that Got Away" in "A Star Is Born."It is beautfully written, graphically superb with a whole range of wonderful photos and you come away from it with a real grasp of the life and talent of this enduring star whose greatness will never be equaled.

Positive Thoughts
Not much of a review, but just a reflection here that I came upon this link on this Saturday night and was glad to see that interest and recall in "Rainbow" is still out there.I bought this book in paperback in 1975 -- I think for about $3.95 -- so it's interesting to see "collector" editions on sale out there for upwards of $50 now!Such are things..But anyway, my old copy needed to get dumped after a few decades -- the pages just came apart from my constant re-reading and browsing.

It was a great book.As alluded by previous posters, Mr. Finch tackles the subject with obvious interest, admiration, respect and affection.In his approach, I think he nicely underlines and represents what summed up Judy -- a sensitivity, a perceptiveness, a sincerity of opinions and statements worn on the sleeve as well as in the heart.For its time, this book even in paperback was unbelievable for the already mentioned droves of sometimes seldomly anymore seen photographs from Judy's life, publicity stills, movies, rehearsals, and the rest -- not kept to certain sections or mid-book, but scattered through almost every other page.

I agree that the book contains what at that time seemed to be a lot of lingering legends from the Garland mythology -- but it's packed with details and Mr. Finch gives accounts of Judy's life, actions and accomplishments served with a sort of psychological reflection on them that makes his book go the extra mile that some documentaries, tabloid approaches, and other tell-alls out there on Judy ever fail to succeed at.

fine look at the life and times of the immortal Judy Garland
The Stormy Life Of Judy Garland by Christopher Finch is quite a page turner! The book is well written--in fact, this book is so well written that you just can't put it down. Finch manages to pull his readers into the story of Judy Garland's life with power and skill. Even those of us who are not diehard Garland fans will want to read this book from front to back practically without stopping.

The book is filled with facts, anecdotes, stories from Judy's contemporaries, and great and black and white photos of Judy. We also get numerous photos of Judy with her immediate family members. The photos of Judy onstage both during her years at MGM and during her concert years are stupendous.

One thing that a diehard Garland fan may not care for is that this book does not try to water down or whitewash Garland's personal and professional problems. Although great care is taken to tell vividly of her countless triumphs, there is equal care given to her failures and her human idiosyncrasies.

However, after all is said and done, you still come away with the impression that Judy Garland was truly a wonderfully talented living legend; I would have loved to see her perform in public based on what I read in Finch's book. Finch does love Judy Garland; but he tries to be as honest as he knows how to tell the whole story--good, not so good, and in-between.

This book may be out of print but do not make the mistake of thinking that this means the book is devoid of insight. Finch writes with remarkably good insight into what made Judy Garland a huge success as well as what brought her down on certain occasions. Judy Garland fans would do well to get this book and read this fascinating account of the life and times of the immortal Judy Garland.

"I'm Dorothy!" - Judy Garland
This book was first published in the early -70's right after Judy's death.I was 14 years old when I picked it up.And yes, it was a little too raw for me at the time.There was something dark in the feel of the book, something I couldn't allow myself to look into until 30 years later, at the age of 44.Then, I felt I was ready.Christopher Finch is not just writing about Judy, he's writing about an era of performance when you consider Judy made albums through the 1930's, '40's, '50's and '60's.

He paints a vivid picture of her family background, the tension between Judy's parents and her slow-build to overnight fame.With that comes a descriptive view of the relationship Judy had with her mother, and you find that the girl was never nurtured, but found ways to nurture herself through food.Because Judy was pushed around like a dumb animal until it was time to sing, she overcompensated by sneaking around.And thus, she fell into the trap that lying establishes.(Judy had a large following of gay male fans, who had some emotional identity with her repression and neediness.This becomes a pattern in her relationships with men, throughout her life.) For although her tendency to lie and sneak allowed her some privacy, it became a form of mania and self-destructiveness that was, for the most part, covert.It was very convenient for all those around her!Judy learned to keep herself in-check at an early age, never doing anything that might threaten someone else's comfort level (it would be bad publicity).Of course, as Mark Twain used to say "you can't pray a lie."

Polarized throughout her 20's, Judy kept operating under the belief that someone, preferably a man, would reach out and save her from herself.She was attracted to men she felt safe with, many whom were gay or bisexual.That's how it had always worked out for her mother...A man would always be there on the basis of need.This book offers a great collection of photos and an absorbing, educational read.You can glean much about the trends at MGM, the Mickey and Judy days, and what it was that made America so much "fun" during war time.This book gives some clues as to the relationship Louis B. Mayer had with the government, you see, because he was rich.Judy operated under that weight as well, and became the archetypal Hollywood gal-pal.Her ability to try different approaches to dramatic film, her overlooked comedic timing, her relationship with her own children and her concert tours are all adequately covered in such a way that makes this great reading.Again, Finch was writing at the time when the term bipolar was not known or used.He could not give that aspect of Judy's condition the justice that's needed.What he does do is describe the trends in her family history, and with the suicides of her two sisters who were also "performers".On that note, he braves new frontiers most writers would not attempt at the time.I believe he touches a little on the riot at Stonewall, and it's connection to Judy's funeral.Contrasting photos to how she looked in her final days, to the beginning days in Vaudville.I feel women should read this book, just to think about how far we have come.Judy was old enough to be my grandmother, and my grandmothers emulated and loved her.My mother rocked us to all Judy's songs.I have two large 10 X 12 editions of this book, and have handed out several of the smaller copies to friends.

Mean-spirited.....
After reading the glowing reviews of the 4 other people here, I could not wait to get hold of this book.

Well......the photos are terrific.But there is something very mean-spirited and melodramatic about the way the author presents Judy Garland's life.I can't quite put my finger on it.......you'll have to read it yourself to get a feel for his attitude.I'm really in the minority in my opinion on this one, but I felt I should balance the opinions of a great percentage of readers who consider this the best biography of Judy Garland.I get the feeling the author did not really like his subject.He treats her like some kind of bizarre creature.If she was difficult, to a certain extent, her demanding life and out-size talent made her so.Read it yourself, and make your own decision, however! ... Read more

Product Description
Hollywood in the 1920s - where stars were created, glamorised and lionised, and where child-star Francis Gumm took her first step on the path that was to rocket her to world-wide fame and fortune. The beginning of the legend of Judy Garland. In this searching biography that legend is examined and stripped of its glittering veneer.Revealed is a lonely woman desperately searching out love and affection, emotions she only discovered in the adulation of her millions of fans. Kept going by pills and the pressure of those eager to abuse and exploit her, she was driven to breaking point, but still the magic lingered on. A story of dreams and nightmares, marriages and divorces, financial crises and her tragic early death, the sensational Garland legend still survives today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A super- sympathetic biographyof one of the greatest stars of all
This is a detailed and highly readable biography. Edwards is very sympathetic to Judy Garland and she makes her out to be a victim. She is first of all a victim of her frustrated, ambitious stage- mother who cared more for her daughter's show- business success than she did for her family. Garland is too shown to be the victim of Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer, of the big studio's regimentation, and exploitation. Here the monster figure is Louis B. Mayer. Later Judy is portrayed as victim of second husband Vincente Minelli ( father of her first daughter, Liza) and third- husband Sid Luft( father of Lorna and Joey Luft). Luft served as her manager for ten years and had an off- again, on - again relationship with her for years after this. Garland's path to self- destruction through use of drugs and alcohol is a major theme of the work. Edwards' claim is that this began in her days at Metro, and also had to do with the dieting she had to do to stay in shape.
While this book is filled with the woes and sufferings of Garland it also filled with the story of her great vitality and tremendous achievements. She was of course one of the great superstars of American entertainment. She remains today a 'classic ' figure in American culture. 'Somewhere over the Rainbow ' is the ever- hopeful anthem of a whole culture.
Edwards tells of the years at Metro co-starring with her friend Mickey Rooney in the Hardy films, of the breakthrough of 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' of her eventually losing her place there. The great second career afterwards as a performer, her incredible performances at Palladium and at the 'Palace' are written about with breathtaking skill and drama. Also she tells the story of her second truly great film ' A Star is Born'.
One especially moving set of stories has to do with Garland's connecting with and caring for orphan children. She as Edwards makes clear suffered from abandonment and loneliness in childhood and so had special feeling for these children.
Edwards too writes in a good way about what Judy Garland came to mean for her audiences. They saw themselves in her brokenness , in her desparate struggle just to keep going. The sympathy love her audiences gave her was something special. And she most often did not disappoint them. She sang with everything she had.
With all this Edwards does not really go into what it must have meant to live with someone like Garland. She does indicate that Lorna Luft often was mother to her mother. But she does not give us a sense really of how trying, difficult, demanding, impossible a person on drugs and alcohol can be.
This said she does bring out the loving and caring sides of Garland, and above all her unquestionedgreatness as actress and singer.

Judy Garland: Not Just the Eternal Victim
Judy, Judy, Judy, the entertainer extraordinaire,greatly loved: movie star and stage performer.In this book, Anne Edwards suggests, think Judy, think "Eternal Victim."But that was the view held in the 70's, shortly after Garland's death: it may not be the most useful to us.

This biography is an oldie but a goodie.Edwards, who was English, was a London neighbor of Judy's: she treats Judy with respect, affection, and sympathy.She's decent; discreet about some sad episodes of Judy's life about which we don't really need to know; she takes Judy's word on things.Almost all the books written about Judy up until Edwards' focused on Judy's use of booze and drugs, her scandals.Edwards was the first to try to convey the complexity of the woman, the heart and soul of this great talent.If you want a better, later, more complete chronicle of Judy's career, you might want to read John Fricke's "Judy Garland, Art and Anecdote."But Edwards' book stands on its own; it captures the warmth, the essence of this remarkable performer. Edwards has written several show business biographies, of Katherine Hepburn and Vivien Leigh, among others.She may not rake all the dirt that's to be found, but she's consistently compassionate, interviews many people, and writes smoothly and well.

So, Judy Garland,born Frances Gumm, sang "Jingle Bells" on the vaudeville stage at two 1/2 years old, and was greeted rapturously.She was supporting her family by the time she was four.She wasn't born a beautiful child, but she was born with a great big beautiful voice.She was born to Ethel, who would be a strong candidate for worst stage mother ever.Her father, Francis, was a weak and charming Irishman: later Judy was to bring up suppressed memories of finding him engaged in homosexual activities.

At the age of twelve, an overweight, not very pretty Judy sang "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" to the terrifying Louis B. (LB) Mayer, tyrant of the powerhouse film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.He signed her, but didn't quite know what to do with her until he decided to try pairing her with the equally young Mickey Rooney.Starting with "Love Finds Andy Hardy," she made a string of popular depression-era movies with Rooney, who was paid better than ten times her salary. (LB, Judy's mother Ethel, and Judy's tame agent seemed to keep setting her salary very low, during all the years Judy was making a fortune for them.)

Edwards states that young Judy was 5'2"; Judy's fans say she was 4'9".Thinking she should weigh no more than 98 pounds, the studio put her on a starvation diet, including drugs.Soon they would discover that the easiest way to enable her to work the long hard hours they demanded was to put her on more drugs, uppers and downers, to wake and to sleep. She was to struggle all her life with weight, and drug issues; ballooning to 150 pounds, then shrinking to frightening frailty.Over the years, she would require quite a few expensive hospitalizations for her physical, mental and emotional problems: LB hated to pay for them, and she paid for many herself.The studio would eventually find the drug addiction they'd created inconvenient: it interfered with their movie-making.They suspended her several times, removed her from several movies, and finally fired her.Garland, unfortunately, was to find her drug addictions a lifelong burden that probably stole quite a few years from her life: she died at 47 years of age in 1969 (she was born in 1922).

LB was reputed to be attracted to very young girls, as were Charlie Chaplin and Errol Flynn.Mayer was also known to find young girls he had, Pygmalian-like, molded, particularly alluring.There was persistent "below stars" gossip, among those who generally knew, that he made himself more than just Judy's boss before she was 15.

All her life, Judy continued to support her family: she thought she should.When she finally got herself a better agent, the famed Leland Hayward, and a better salary, Ethel just took more.She made bad investments with Judy's money, neglected to pay her daughter's income taxes, married William Gilmore, and housed and supported him, too, on Judy's money.

Garland's greatest early triumph, still widely viewed and loved, was surely "The Wizard of Oz."When she made this, she was already 16, and had a woman's body; the studio's wardrobers bound her breasts so she could play the pre-pubescent "Dorothy."At one point, Judy nearly lost her immortal song "Somewhere over the Rainbow," but in the end it stayed in, made unforgettable by the palpable, wistfulyearning with which the young Judy sang it.It made Judy a star.

The studio kept her busy, so she was schooled on the set, during breaks.She was allowed to finish up at Hollywood High.She was eagerly looking forward to her graduation: she'd even bought the dress.She was told by studio publicity that it was not to be.She was required to go on a promotional tour for her latest movie with Mickey.Orders from LB.

The star went on to make "Babes in Arms," "Strike Up the Band," "Babes on Broadway," "Girl Crazy, " and others with Rooney, making the studio pots of money.She had her first adult romance with handsome young Tyrone Power.LB broke that one up.She eloped at age 19 with David Rose, a well-known musician, formerly married to comedienne Martha Raye, setting the template for a lifelong pattern of marrying impetuously, men who were, or might have been, gay; men who she hoped would love and protect her, but, who, generally, ended up taking the studio's side, and/or living off her earnings.

After making "Babes on Broadway" she found herself pregnant.The studio insisted she get an abortion, so that she could go right into the Busby Berkeley-directed "For Me and My Gal" immediately.That was the end of her marriage to Rose.

Now, mind you, none of these musicals, so delightful to sit through, were easy for this frail, drug-addicted girl to make.They required heavy singing and dancing for a 98-pound weakling.But she agreed to make "Meet Me in St. Louis," another great triumph, directed by young Vincente Minnelli.She had talked the studio into hiring young unknown Gene Kelly for "For Me and My Gal."He would appear with her in the Minnelli-directed "The Pirate," and four more movies.She also talked the studio into allowing her to make a rare non-musical( though directed by Minnelli), "The Clock," co-starring Robert Walker.By accident or design, the plot of this picture seems to echo her habit of marrying in haste... She made the memorable "Easter Parade,"and its great song "A Couple of Swells," with Fred Astaire in 1948: it took a lot out of her.

The studio, and her coworkers, were growing increasingly intolerant of Judy's drug problems, and she was beginning to be suspended.She married Minnelli, hoping he, too might protect her, but he too was a studio man, and worked her as hard as anyone had.Another marriage gone.At least she walked away from that one with her daughter Liza Minnelli, who was to be a great comfort and protector to her, and cared for her as well as anyone could have.

When MGM dropped her, she was still to make fine movies: Stanley Kubrick's "Judgment at Nurenberg," for United Artists.And her last masterpiece, the George Cukor directed "A Star is Born," costarring James Mason, for Warner Brothers.However, she was substantially to support herself, and everyone else, with her legendary stage appearances, her night club work, and her radio/television work.She played London's Palladium, and Talk of The Town; New York's Palace Theater, Metropolitan Opera House, and Carnegie Hall, the Curran in San Francisco.She worked frequently in Europe, audiences there were as loyal to her as they were here.Stillthere were continuing tax difficulties, and her health was never to be good again.She married hustling Sid Luft, who was also to work her hard, and live off her earnings, but at least he fathered Lorna and Joe.He got her a brief-lived tv show; at the time it didn't seem a good fit, but in retrospect it has come to be considered a repository of masterly performances, not only hers, but also of her outstanding guests, Lena Horne, Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, Ethel Merman, Count Basie.Sid Luft is now generally credited with making her great stage appearances, the Palladium and Carnegie Hall, and these tv shows, widely and continuously available to her many fans.

When, later in life, she met Marilyn Monroe, she had the greatest sympathy for her, recognizing her as another woman who'd paid too much for Hollywood stardom and who was probably to pay still more.She had odd relationships with very gay 50's crooner Johnnie Ray, and the talented Australian entertainer Peter Allen.Allen, who later died of AIDS, is frequently mentioned as having been a protege of Judy'sbefore he married her daughter Liza.Judy is considered to have had a great eye for talent.In addition to recognizing Gene Kelly and Peter Allen, she, and Liza between them, found Streisand, who remains grateful.

Garland was also known to have had a great sense of humor: check her appearances on Jack Paar, Merv Griffin, and Mike Douglas.In 2002, Ann Miller, Lorna Luft, Margaret O'Brien and Mickey Rooney appeared on the Larry King Show to talk about how funny Judy could be.

Married five times in all, Garland died rather young, worn out from work, drugs and unaddressed health problems.Were she living today, when we recognize her addictions as serious health issues and try to ameliorate them, she might be living still, aged 84.But, until almost the very end of her life, she was capable of pulling herself together to give those legendary stage appearances, such as theCarnegie Hall in 1961.

Was she an "Eternal Victim?"Anne Edwards seemed to think so.And you can usefully say that the destructive actions and machinations of her mother, and Judy's childhood in the harsh studio system of MGM, produced a person who simply did not know how to defend herself, aside from working as hard as she could.Her untreated addictions, and other health problems weakened her.But Judy always dealt with her life with humor, always enjoyed live performance and the love of the audience that it brought her.So maybe we should remember her as a great star who gave of her best.

good but....
I thought this book was very good. I'm not entirely sure however what to think of the book.
After reading this I was VERY upset and cried several times because of what was said. It isn't the authors fault and her comments because they were fine, it was just what happened to Judy in life.
I don't think the book tells the whole truth because (for e.g.) Anne Edwards says that L.B.Mayer treated Judy literally like rubbish. Throwing her around wherever the hell he pleased BUT in Lorna Luft's Me and My shadows Lorna says that Judy loved Mayer dearly and never once complained about him and that he loved her.
I don't know who to believe but I am leaning towards Lorna's version.
Although this book doesn't have all the facts it is clear to see that Anne Edwards did do a lot of research before writing this but maybe didn't talk to all the right people.
Anne seems to be a fan of Judys and I do recommend this book to anyone who loves Judy as much as me.
Anne seems genuine with her love to Judy and so it isn't like Sheridan Morley with his book Over The Rainbow.
May you rest in piece Miss Judy Garland!

The Myth of Judy Garland
Like several other biographers (most recently Gerald Clarke), Anne Edwards makes the mistake of taking Garland herself as the ultimate authority on her own life--and since Garland never let the truth get in the way of a good story and frequently recast the facts in order to justify her excesses, this is a very serious mistake indeed.

Even so, the book is written in a very readable, slightly romanticized style, and while you have to take it with a whole shaker of salt it does a very good job of presenting Garland as she herself wished to be perceived--and in that sense Garland fans will find it quite interesting.But for a serious biography of Garland, I recommend Christopher Finch's RAINBOW and Gerald Frank's JUDY.

well...
I thinkthat Anne Edwards is a very good author, i have read her bookds on judy, vivien leigh, shirlet temple etc. I think that there is a bit ofhero- worship going on in her Judy book though. I dont see it as terriblyaccurate, but its quite a good read so if you want to get it,. But if youwabnt a detailed account of her life i would recomend grold franks book. ... Read more

Product Description
Rainbow: A Star-Studded Tribute to Judy Garland is a diverse collection of more than forty years of journalism. Filled with rare interviews, feature stories, reviews and production notes, this unique celebration takes us "over the rainbow" and straight to the heart of a Hollywood star, an enduring icon, and a timeless legend...* Michael Musto of The Village Voice analyzes the three stages of "Judy, Judy, Judy" in an illuminating foreword * MGM's press release and production notes offer a behind-the-scenes look at The Wizard of Oz * Liza Minnelli talks about her mother in an exclusive interview * Bosley Crowder, drama critic for The New York Times, contemplates Judy's dramatic comebacks * Art Buchwald interviews Judy as a temporary expatriate in Paris * Shana Alexander goes backstage with Judy for a 1961 Life magazine feature * William Goldman, Oscar-winning screenwriter, dramatizes Judy's closing night at the Palace * Lorna Luft chats candidly about her famous mother and sister * Ralph J. Gleason, co-founder of Rolling Stone, critiques the diva in concert-and the psychology of her fans * Richard Dyer, noted film historian, explores the powerful bond between Judy Garland and gay men * and much more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Raised on Judy! How did Rick McKay KNOW?!
This book is worth the price just for the chapter, "Raised on Judy, or What Chance Did a Boy Have." I have never seen Judy written about (and I have read a LOT) which such humor and compassion - especially what it was like growing up as a kid in the mid west during her years as a fading icon. Rick McKay's chapter is mah-velous. The rest of the book is quite good and a real Garlandophile's treat, but the McKay chapter could have been my life - or many of my friends' lives as well. It is a crime that this book is out of print. I would give it for Xmas every year!

Raised on Judy! How did Rick McKay KNOW?!
This book is worth the price just for the chapter, "Raised on Judy, or What Chance Did a Boy Have." I have never seen Judy written about (and I have read a LOT) which such humor and compassion - especially what it was like growing up as a kid in the mid west during her years as a fading icon. Rick McKay's chapter is mah-velous. The rest of the book is quite good and a real Garlandophile's treat, but the McKay chapter could have been my life - or many of my friends' lives as well. It is a crime that this book is out of print. I would give it for Xmas every year!

Another Garland Book With a Slightly Different Angle
Rainbow: A Star-Studded Tribute to Judy Garland is a collection mostly consisting of magazine articles from the 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s, and afterwards. There are a few other things, like MGM production notes for TheWizard of Oz, but it's almost all magazine excerpts, and it's interestingfinding out just what the public's perception of her was, both before andafter her death. Just don't go in looking for a deep character study.

it was an ok book
i liked the way other people had comments in there.but one thing is did they have to put the part were they think she is gay.and when they had the other people writting a story about her you sorta heard the same thingover.if anyone wants to talk just go ahead and e mail me

A fun read!
A book filled with interviews rom over the many years of her career, recollections and stories of the great Judy Garland. A truly enjoyable read! ... Read more

Product Description
Judy Garland was one of the greatest performers of the 20th century, whose fame and popularity have long outlasted her early death in 1969 at the age of only 47. Forever associated with the role of Dorothy in the film The Wizard of Oz and the song she sang in it, 'Somewhere over the Rainbow', the demands first of her ambitious mother and then the studio bosses effectively robbed her of a normal childhood whilst at the same time forcing her to maintain her 'girl next door' image and a punishing work schedule with near-starvation diets and amphetamines, resulting in a dependence on drugs and alcohol which finally ended her career and her life, when she died of a drug overdose in a flat in Chelsea.This new illustrated biography gives the full story of her treatment at the hands of the studios, and how widespread critical success and the devotion of her many fans failed to keep the demons in her soul at bay.One of the greatest female stars of all time, and the best-remembered singing star of Hollywood's Golden Era of musical film, nearly 40 years after her death her recordings are still available and any fragments of memorabilia are instantly collectable, proving her enduring appeal. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

One of the Worst Judy Garland Bios Since the 60's
Therehas been a resurgence of popularity regarding Judy over the last decade and along with that comes a plethora of movies CDs books etc. as any Judy Garland aficionado knows there just isn't a lot left to say about Judy that hasn't been said yet. Unless you're Paul Donnelley .... and have a tendency to make things up.

This book is full of inaccuracies, errors and right out falsehoods. ... Read more

Product Description
Judy Garland is a true Hollywood icon. A legend. Her remarkable 45-year career in show business began at the age of two, when she performed on stage as the diminutive member of the singing trio the Gumm Sisters. By the age of thirteen, she was under contract to MGM, and her extraordinary fifteen-year association with the studio provided moviegoers with memorable performances in classic motion pictures such as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Easter Parade. In the late 1930s, merchandise bearing her name and likeness began to fill department store shelves throughout the country. With over five hundred illustrations, this book explores all areas of the Garland merchandising phenomenon. It provides readers with a nostalgic, photographic reference guide to the vast array of collectibles, plus a biography exploring Judy's early childhood and rise to stardom, and a complete motion picture chronology, discography, home video library, and portrait gallery. This unique volume delivers a comprehensive identification and price guide for collectors of movie posters, movie memorabilia, Wizard of Oz collectibles, dolls, records, and sheet music. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Collecting on the one and only Judy
I liked this!A few things, a very few things, I have, but I like seeing what could be out there. It's a big 'could' but I still think this is a fun book to have.

A Good Judy Garland Reference Book!
The Judy Garland Collector's Guide is a great book, especially for people who are just starting to collect Garland items.It has photographs of agood range of items from those that the beginner can easily obtain, toitems such as original movie costumes, posters, and autographs for the moreserious collector. This book, in my opinion, is better described as areference guide rather than a price guide. If you are looking for exactprices for items, you won't find them here.Prices are set up in groups(Ex: $25 - $65).A few items do not have prices at all.Still, it isfilled with both color and black & white photographs of memorabiliasuch as Wizard of Oz items, a wristwatch, writing tablets, sheet music,lobby cards, and includes a nice portrait gallery.I would recommend it toany Judy Garland or movie memorabilia collector! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The Difficulties of Loving a Legend
John Meyer writes about the two months that he spent as Judy Garland's manager, lover, friend and supporter.Being in love with Judy Garland is not an easy thing - ask any of her five husbands.She was demanding, mercurial, insecure and terrified of abandonment.Meyer, as so many others before him, fell in love with the Legend, and woke up with the woman.

Judy does not come off well here but, it must be said, neither does Meyer.The back of the book indicates that his version of their story is devoid of self-pity.I must disagree.He had it within his power to walk away at any time, but he stayed, and now whines about it.He doesn't understand how anyone could not love her, but complains about her (admittedly infuriating) habits incessantly.

Meyer's claim to fame is the fact that he wrote two fairly forgettable songs that Judy sang near the end of her life "I'd Like to Hate Myself in the Morning" and "It's All For You."He now has this book, and a website devoted to the two months that he and Judy spent together.There's an unfortunate whiff of opportunism here, I'm afraid.

Heartbreaker review
The only problem I had with this book was actually believeing some of the stories that this author shares about his experience with Judy Garland, some of it comes off as Tabloid in nature while at other moments it is very heartfelt and affectionate.

Sad but yes, true
I finally bought a copy of this book - and it is disturbing to read.Judy Garland's body and brain were shorting out from the excess of pills (speed) and alcohol she was consuming in 1968 - but she was still trying to live life to the fullest: experiencing new things, seeing new places, meeting new people.The pills scrambled her thoughts and made her act irrational at times - but she still went on!Meyer gives us a first hand account of this period of Judy's life: it is sad, happy, shocking, and quite interesting.I remember seeing Judy on TV during this period of time: Mike Douglas Show, then Merv Griffin, Johnny Carson.She seemed to be getting worse and worse.I remember thinking: What is going on with Judy?She seems confused.Now I know what was going on - thanks to this book.In closing - let me say this - even at her worst (Merv's appearance was quite something, as I remember) - I loved Judy - what a brilliant talent! - I wish she was still with us.

Hard to believe Meyer
I am one of those fans that understand that Judy had her good days and bad days and accept the good as well as the bad about my favorite person.This book was nothing but a way for John Meyer to say that he "screwed" (to put it lightly) Judy in a hospital bed.It's a shame that people feel that they need to make up stories to make them look better and even make money off of it.The book is only interesting if you're into reading explicit details about sex between two people but who knows if it even happened.Other books about Judy do not even mention that she had a relationship with this man.Anyway, read it if you want but take it with a HUGE grain of salt.

FAN MEETS -BEDS-and (ALMOST) WEDS a STAR
I have read every book written about the amazing Judy Garland. I happen to love this book. (For Garland fans who idolize Judy and feel she could do no wrong, this is not the book for you.) This book is the story of a 30-something struggling songwriter, living with his parents who makes a living playing show tunes in local New York piano bar. He also composes music, writes lyrics and has a pet project, a script for his play called "The Draft Dodger."New York is filled with thousands of hopefuls just like him.What makes his story extraordinary is how he graduated from stuggling hopeful to (minor)celebrity in less than two months simply because of a chance meeting with Judy Garland. In the fall of 1968, Judy Garland was at her lowest point: she had no money, she was heavily in debt to the IRS for back taxes, she couldn't get a booking because her music arrangments were being held until she paid money she owed, her dependence on prescription drugs was worsening, her former husbands, lovers, and even her children had abandoned her because of her erratic behavior created by the drugs, and her health was declining.One of the fans/hangers-on who surrounded Judy during this period was going to plan a new show with new songs so Judy could work again, and decided John Meyer might have some suitable material. On the night he met Judy, Meyer was so enthralled with her that they snuck out of the fan's home (while the fan was in the shower) had dinner together and spent the night together at Meyer's parents home. ... This is a fascinating story, written in a diary style format, which indeed gives the impression of reading someone's private diary. I have spoken with Garland fans who knew Judy, Meyer and Deans during this period of time and was told that Meyer's story is quite accurate. Most telling through all of this is that Judy, although at her lowest point, was telling funny stories, laughing and enjoying herself despite such adverse conditions. This is a book you won't easily forget! As a footnote, Meyer later dated singer Margaret Whiting (who knew Judy) and she made positive comments regarding their relationship. ... Read more

Product Description
A profile of the legendary performer during the run of her successful television program discusses her battle with substance abuse and includes previously unpublished photographs. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent
An absolutely fascinating book detailing all that happened in front of and behind the CBS cameras of the ill-fated Judy Garland Show.Also, every episode of the show is examined in detail, and the author takes a straight-down-the-middle approach to the book's subject matter.

A Fearsome Portrait of Incredible Mismanagement
The Judy Garland Show consisted of twenty-six shows that aired in the CBS Sunday night line up in the 1963-1964 season.The network considered it an immediate and expensive failure and the series was canceled as soon as contractual obligation allowed.Isolated exceptions aside, the series was neither syndicated nor re-run and, with the exception of various "art" screenings it seemed to vanish completely.

Nonetheless, The Judy Garland remains one of the single most discussed and written-about series in broadcast history.Garland biographies aside, it is inevitably touched upon--and often focused upon--in histories of broadcast television, where it is usually held up as an example of how even the greatest talents, biggest budgets, and best intentions can be exploded by mismanagement, network politics, and in some instances pure spite.

Two major publications have focused on the series.The first was the 1970 OVER THE RAINBOW WITH JUDY GARLAND ON THE DAWN PATROL by Mel Torme, the respected singer-songwriter-composer, who contracted to write and arrange special musical material and make three guest appearances during the first season.Torme places blame for the series' failure squarely upon the shoulders of Garland herself, painting a frightening portrait of a greatly talented but extremely unstable and often vicious star self-destructing through booze and pills and determined to drag all those around her down with her.Although denounced as grossly inaccurate by many associated with the series, it was for many years generally accepted as authoritative.

The second was 1990's RAINBOW'S END by Coyne Steven Sanders.Amassed from meticulous research and seventy-five interviews with individuals directly involved in the series, it explodes DAWN PATROL with the force of an atomic bomb.Sanders freely acknowledges that Garland was a tempestuous individual with profound chemical dependencies--but his interview subjects note that, far from being difficult, she actually withstood a great deal more unpleasantness from others than she actually caused herself.

What ultimately emerges is a story of Garland's mismanagement, first at the hands of agents Begelman and Fields, then at the hands of such employees as Mel Torme, but ultimately and most destructively at the hands of CBS executives James Aubrey and Hunt Stromberg--each with their own self-serving agendas and all determined to drain The Judy Garland Show to further them.It is also a story of great talents and opportunities simply thrown away.

With the advent of DVD, The Judy Garland Show at last began to reach a wide audience, and the actual product bears out Sanders' contentions.At its best, it was extraordinary, offering not only Garland very near the peak of her vocal talents, but a host of great performers that read like a Who's Who of 1960s show business--June Allyson, Tony Bennett, Vic Damone, Bobbin Darrin, Lena Horne, Ethel Merman, Peggy Lee, Jane Powell, and Barbra Streisand, to name but the most obvious, most of whom Sanders interviews to great effect.But the program was "fiddled to death" by constant CBS reformatting, too often saddled with inept writing and insipid guest stars booked on studio demand, and ultimately unable to establish any consistent formula acceptable to both Garland and CBS.

According to Sanders, Garland did indeed spiral out of control toward the end of the series--but given the madhouse into which she was thrown it is amazing that she did not run screaming down the street at the very beginning.And, as Sanders so astutely points out, she has had the last laugh after all.Few series television programs of the early 1960s, including those that bested The Judy Garland show in ratings, have survived in the public memory.But The Judy Garland Show, for all its flaws and faults, seems to become more greatly respected with each passing year.

After reading Sander's meticulously documented assessment of The Judy Garland Show, you'll never again look at broadcast television with quite the same eye.Very strongly recommended, not only for Garland fans, but for any one with an interest in the medium.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

A must read for any Garland fan
This book, which accompanies the box set (Vol 1) of Judy's TV series, is an invaluable resource for any serious Judy Garland fan.The writing is clear and concise, the approach is objective (but with great empathy for Judy), and the research conducted by the author is impressive. Until this book was written, the only documented history of this landmark TV show was the book written by Mel Torme, which was mean-spirited and by no means a balanced account of what really went on.Congratulations and much gratitude to Mr. Sanders for a very memorable read.

Judy Garland in the Dream Factory
Coyne Steven Sanders is, undeniably, _under_ the rainbow with this treatment of Ms.Judy Garland. In a good sense.First, one must respond to the treatment here of Micky Rooney, without whom we would still probablybe responding to Ms.Garland in the same way.In the birth of the cliche,there is a moment when the idea itself is not a cliche but is instead anarchetype. In this way cliches are to be honored as original ideas sofitting to such a large number of {events} that they become, through nofault of their own, a cliche.Sadly, this treatment of Micky Rooney inrelation to Ms. Garland does not recognize the fact that Mr.Rooney was acliche _from the beginning_.He personified the cliche by occupying onefrom the moment he embarked on his character--the same wide-eyed,over-eager, lifelessly hyperbolic grating dunce he dusted off every timethe cameras were stupid enough to have him within their frame. If onlySteven Sanders would have bitten into this none-too-tender tendril of thegas that was Micky Rooney!Instead, it is waived away like a bad odor thatthe reader imagined should have dissipated 5 minutes earlier.By failingto contextualize Ms. Garland within this necessary border, Coyne StevenSanders renders a full quarter of this book into a wide pie of plums andpits; into a full line of outergarments best suited for intemperate climes.Three cheers for Coyne!Because, after all, this author is able to, inthis book, show us why we should all, as I do, love Judy Garland with eachbreath we take.I love her.Yes.I love this book, and I love JudyGarland.

THIS ONE SHOWS THE REAL 'JUDY'!!!!
Over the years I have read every book about JUDY and excluding the 'book' written by Mel Torme' many have been decent. But, not until this book has the talent, the class, the POWER that was JUDY GARLAND been properlyconveyed!The book is informative about what went on in front of and behindthe scenes of THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW. But also, it shows how at certainpoints JUDY wanted certain things done a certain way for a specificreason!!! Case in point, her singing 'THE BATTLE HYMM OF THE REPUBLIC'. Sheknew why it had to be done, she knew how it had to be done, and she knewthat it had to be done!!!! AND SHE DID IT!!!! And what 'we' see on videoduring that performance is what JUDY was, is, and always will be!!! Aperformer who should have been left to do what she did-SING!And readingthis book, you'll see why she is what she is, and how she got what willalways be hers! LEGEND!!!! ... Read more