Judy Garland was a celebrated American actress, singer, and vaudevillian, renowned for her powerful voice and emotional performances. She gained international stardom as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz (1939) and maintained a successful career spanning film, stage, and music. Garland released eight studio albums and had numerous recordings inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. She was the youngest and first female recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Posthumously, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and was recognized as one of the greatest female screen legends by the American Film Institute.
In 1938, Judy Garland was cast as Dorothy Gale in "The Wizard of Oz", a film based on the 1900 children's book by L. Frank Baum.
On June 10, 1922, Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm, was born. She became an American actress, singer, and vaudevillian.
In June 1926, the Gumm family relocated to Lancaster, California, following rumors about her father.
In 1928, The Gumm Sisters enrolled in a dance school run by Ethel Meglin, proprietor of the Meglin Kiddies dance troupe.
In 1929, the Gumm Sisters made their film debut in a short subject called "The Big Revue", performing "That's the Good Old Sunny South".
In 1930, the Gumm Sisters appeared in two Vitaphone shorts: "A Holiday in Storyland" and "The Wedding of Jack and Jill", followed by an appearance in "Bubbles".
By late 1934, the Gumm Sisters had changed their name to the Garland Sisters.
In 1934, The Gumm Sisters performed in Chicago at the Oriental Theater with George Jessel, who encouraged them to choose a more appealing name.
Several stories exist about the origin of the name Garland. One story attributes it to George Jessel after Carole Lombard's character Lily Garland in the film "Twentieth Century" (1934).
In August 1935, The Garland Sisters broke up, when Mary Jane "Suzanne" Garland flew to Reno, Nevada and married musician Lee Kahn.
In September 1935, Louis B. Mayer asked Burton Lane to watch the Garland Sisters. Shortly after, Judy Garland and her father were brought for an audition at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, where she performed "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" and "Eli, Eli", resulting in her signing a contract with MGM.
On November 16, 1935, 13-year-old Judy Garland learned that her father had been hospitalized with meningitis.
In 1935, The Gumm Sisters made their final on-screen appearance in an MGM Technicolor short entitled "La Fiesta de Santa Barbara".
In 1935, at the age of 13, Judy Garland was signed to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM).
In 1936, Judy Garland performed her rendition of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" and was cast opposite Deanna Durbin in the musical short "Every Sunday".
In 1937, Joan E. Dowlin marked the beginning of Judy Garland's "innocent years" in her music career, which lasted until 1945. During this time, Garland's voice was vibrant and her musical expression exuberant.
In 1937, Judy Garland appeared in "Thoroughbreds Don't Cry" with Mickey Rooney.
In 1937, Judy Garland sang "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" to a photograph of Clark Gable in "Broadway Melody of 1938".
In 1937, the original "A Star Is Born" film was released. It was later remade in 1954 starring Judy Garland.
On October 13, 1938, shooting commenced for "The Wizard of Oz".
In 1938, Judy Garland sang "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)" to a photograph of Clark Gable in "Broadway Melody of 1938".
In 1938, Judy Garland was cast in "Love Finds Andy Hardy" as a girl-next-door to Mickey Rooney's character Andy Hardy.
In 1938, Judy Garland, at sixteen, was cast as Dorothy Gale in "The Wizard of Oz".
On March 16, 1939, filming was completed for "The Wizard of Oz".
At the 1939 Academy Awards ceremony, Judy Garland received an Academy Juvenile Award for her performances in 1939, including "The Wizard of Oz" and "Babes in Arms".
In 1939, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney teamed as lead characters in "Babes in Arms".
In 1939, Judy Garland rose to international fame for her role as Dorothy Gale in "The Wizard of Oz".
In 1939, Judy Garland starred in The Wizard of Oz, a film based on the 1900 children's book by L. Frank Baum.
In 1940, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney teamed up in "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante".
In 1940, Judy Garland starred in "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante", "Strike Up the Band", and "Little Nellie Kelly", where she played her first adult role.
In early 1940, Judy Garland experienced her first serious adult romance with bandleader Artie Shaw and was devastated when he eloped with Lana Turner. In the early 1940s, she began a relationship with musician David Rose.
On July 27, 1941, Judy Garland and David Rose were wed when Judy Garland was only 19 years old.
In 1941, Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney teamed up in "Life Begins for Andy Hardy".
In 1942, Judy Garland starred in "For Me and My Gal" alongside Gene Kelly, marking Kelly's first appearance on screen.
In January 1943, Judy Garland and David Rose agreed to undergo a trial separation.
In 1943, Judy Garland received a "glamor treatment" in "Presenting Lily Mars," wearing grown-up gowns and styling her hair. Also in 1943, she had a second abortion after becoming pregnant during an affair with actor Tyrone Power.
In April 1944, Judy Garland escorted Brigadier General Benjamin O. Davis Sr. to a reception honoring the general at the home of Ira Gershwin. Davis was the first black general and highest-ranking black officer in the U.S. military.
In 1944, Judy Garland and David Rose divorced.
In 1944, Judy Garland starred in the musical film "Meet Me in St. Louis".
On June 15, 1945, Judy Garland married Vincente Minnelli after developing a relationship during the filming of "Meet Me in St. Louis."
In 1945, Joan E. Dowlin marked the end of Judy Garland's "innocent years" in her music career, which began in 1937. During this time, Garland's voice was vibrant and her musical expression exuberant.
In 1945, Judy Garland starred in "The Clock", her first straight dramatic film. The film was critically praised but audiences still expected her to sing.
In early 1945, Judy Garland had a brief affair with actor and film director Orson Welles, who was married to Rita Hayworth at the time. They remained on good terms after the affair ended.
On March 12, 1946, Judy Garland gave birth to her daughter Liza Minnelli with Vincente Minnelli.
In 1946, Judy Garland starred in "The Harvey Girls", introducing the song "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe", and "Till the Clouds Roll By".
In July 1947, during the filming of "The Pirate", Judy Garland suffered a nervous breakdown and attempted suicide by cutting her wrist. She spent two weeks in treatment at the Austen Riggs Center.
In September 1947, Judy Garland joined the Committee for the First Amendment, a group of Hollywood celebrities supporting the Hollywood Ten during the HUAC hearings.
On October 26, 1947, Judy Garland participated in the all-star radio broadcast "Hollywood Fights Back", urging listeners to speak up against the HUAC.
In May 1948, "The Pirate" was released. It was the first film starring Judy Garland since "The Wizard of Oz" that did not make a profit.
On July 18, 1948, Judy Garland was suspended by MGM after missing several shooting days for "The Barkleys of Broadway" due to health issues and was replaced by Ginger Rogers.
In 1948, Judy Garland made a guest appearance in "Words and Music" and partnered with Mickey Rooney for the last time. She returned to MGM in the fall of 1948 to replace June Allyson in the film "In the Good Old Summertime".
On May 10, 1949, Judy Garland was fired from the film "Annie Get Your Gun" due to her behavior and health issues. She was replaced by Betty Hutton.
In 1949, "In the Good Old Summertime", starring Judy Garland and Van Johnson, was released and became a box office success. Her daughter Liza made her film debut at the end of the film.
In the fall of 1949, Judy Garland was cast opposite Gene Kelly in "Summer Stock".
On June 17, 1950, Judy Garland was suspended from "Royal Wedding" after failing to report to the set, and was subsequently replaced by Jane Powell.
In September 1950, after 15 years with the studio, Judy Garland and MGM parted company.
On October 11, 1950, Judy Garland made a guest appearance on Kraft Music Hall, hosted by Bing Crosby, following her second suicide attempt.
In the 1950-1951 season, Judy Garland made eight appearances on The Bing Crosby – Chesterfield Show, reinvigorating her career.
In the spring of 1950, principal photography for "Summer Stock" was completed. Judy Garland insisted on performing the song "Get Happy", which was the last segment of the film to be shot. The movie was released in the fall of 1950.
In October 1951, Judy Garland's engagement at the Palace Theatre in Manhattan broke all previous records for the theater and was called "one of the greatest personal triumphs in show business history".
In 1951, Judy Garland embarked on a four-month concert tour of Britain and Ireland, playing to sold-out audiences. The performances centered on songs by Al Jolson.
On June 8, 1952, Judy Garland married Sidney Luft, her tour manager and producer, in Hollister, California.
On November 21, 1952, Judy Garland gave birth to her daughter Lorna Luft with Sidney Luft.
On March 17, 1954, principal photography wrapped on "A Star Is Born". The "Born in a Trunk" medley was filmed as a showcase for Judy Garland and inserted over the director's objections.
On September 29, 1954, a TV special was filmed in Hollywood at the Pantages Theatre premiere of "A Star Is Born".
In 1954, Judy Garland appeared with James Mason in the Warner Bros. film "A Star Is Born", a remake of the 1937 film.
In 1954, Judy Garland experienced a film resurgence with a critically acclaimed performance in "A Star Is Born".
In 1954, Judy Garland was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in "A Star Is Born". She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the role.
On March 29, 1955, Judy Garland gave birth to her son Joey Luft.
In 1956, Judy Garland had only one additional special broadcast, which was a live concert edition of General Electric Theater before disagreements between the Lufts and CBS arose over the format of upcoming specials.
In November 1959, Judy Garland was hospitalized after being diagnosed with acute hepatitis.
In January 1960, Judy Garland was released from the hospital after being treated for acute hepatitis. Doctors told her that she had five years or less to live and that she would likely never sing again, leading to a period of relief followed by recovery and a return to the stage.
In 1960, Judy Garland signed a contract with Random House to write her autobiography, titled "The Judy Garland Story", in collaboration with Fred F. Finklehoffe. She received a US$35,000 advance, but the autobiography was never completed.
On April 23, 1961, Judy Garland performed at Carnegie Hall, an event considered by many as "the greatest night in show business history". The album "Judy at Carnegie Hall" was certified gold, charted for 95 weeks, and won four Grammy Awards.
By the time of her performance at Carnegie Hall in 1961, Julia Molony of the Irish Independent observed that Judy Garland's voice, though still rich with emotion, had begun to "creak with the weight of years of disappointment and hard-living".
In 1961, Judy Garland and CBS settled their contract disputes, leading to a new round of specials.
In 1961, Judy Garland explained, "A really great reception makes me feel like I have a great big warm heating pad all over me ... I truly have a great love for an audience and I used to want to prove it to them by giving them blood. But I have a funny new thing now, a real determination to make people enjoy the show."
In 1961, Judy Garland starred in "Judgment at Nuremberg", for which she received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1961, Judy Garland won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for her live album "Judy at Carnegie Hall". Also in 1961, Garland starred in Judgment at Nuremberg.
In early 1961, Judy Garland signed and sealed her last will, which included generous bequests. However, due to her estate's debt, these bequests could not be fulfilled.
On February 25, 1962, "The Judy Garland Show" aired, featuring Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin as guests. Following the special's success, CBS offered Garland a $24 million deal for a weekly television series of the same name.
In 1962, Judy Garland starred in the animated feature "Gay Purr-ee".
On August 28, 1963, Judy Garland participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, advocating for the civil and economic rights of African Americans.
On September 16, 1963, Judy Garland, along with her daughter Liza Minnelli and others, held a press conference to protest the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.
On September 29, 1963, Judy Garland's weekly series, "The Judy Garland Show", debuted. Despite critical acclaim, the show was canceled in 1964 after only one season due to various factors, including competition with "Bonanza" on NBC.
From 1963 to 1964, Judy Garland hosted her own Emmy-nominated television series, "The Judy Garland Show".
In 1963, George Jessel was a guest on Judy Garland's television show, where he shared conflicting stories about the origin of the name Garland.
In 1963, Judy Garland had a six-month affair with actor Glenn Ford while doing her television show. The relationship ended when Ford realized Garland wanted to marry him.
In 1963, Judy Garland starred in "A Child Is Waiting" with Burt Lancaster and "I Could Go On Singing" with Dirk Bogarde, which was her final film.
In 1963, Judy Garland sued Sidney Luft for divorce, citing mental cruelty and alleging physical abuse.
In November 1964, following the cancellation of her television series, Judy Garland returned to the London Palladium performing with her daughter Liza Minnelli. The concert was broadcast on British television.
From 1963 to 1964, Judy Garland hosted her own Emmy-nominated television series, "The Judy Garland Show".
In 1964, Judy Garland's tour of Australia ended badly after a performance in Melbourne where she was booed and heckled by the audience, leading her to flee the stage.
In 1964, The Judy Garland Show was canceled after only one season and 26 episodes, despite receiving critical praise and four Emmy Award nominations.
In 1964, while on tour, Judy Garland identified "Over the Rainbow" as her favorite of all the songs she had ever recorded, to which Trussel observed that "Her career would remain inextricably linked".
On May 19, 1965, Judy Garland's divorce from Sidney Luft became final.
On November 14, 1965, Judy Garland legally married Mark Herron, after an initial ceremony of questionable legality.
In 1965, when asked about having a large gay following, Judy Garland replied, "I could care less. I sing to people!"
By the fall of 1966, Judy Garland had parted ways with agents Freddie Fields and David Begelman, whose mismanagement and embezzlement of her earnings resulted in significant debts to the IRS and personal creditors.
In February 1967, Judy Garland was cast as Helen Lawson in "Valley of the Dolls" by 20th Century Fox, though she was later dismissed from the film.
In July 1967, Judy Garland made one of her last U.S. appearances at New York's Palace Theatre, performing with her children Lorna and Joey Luft. She earned a significant sum from her share of the profits, but federal tax agents seized most of her earnings on closing night.
In March 1969, Judy Garland made her last concert appearance in Copenhagen. Also in March 1969, after her divorce from Mark Herron, she married Mickey Deans in London.
On June 22, 1969, Judy Garland died at the age of 47.
On June 27, 1969, James Mason gave a eulogy at Judy Garland's funeral, which was an Episcopal service. The public and press were barred from the service, and she was interred at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
By the time of her death in 1969, Judy Garland had appeared in more than 35 films and had been called one of the greats of entertainment.
In 1969, Judy Garland died from an accidental barbiturate overdose at age 47.
In 1969, The New York Times obituarist noted that Judy Garland brought her well-publicized emotional breakdowns, career collapses, and comebacks on stage during later performances.
In 1978, Andrea McArdle portrayed Judy Garland in the television movie "Rainbow".
In 1978, Sidney Luft, Judy Garland's ex-husband, with the support of their children Lorna and Joey, auctioned off almost 500 of Garland's personal items. The auction raised US$250,000 for her heirs.
In 1989, Judy Garland was honored on a U.S. postage stamp as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.
In 1992, Gerald Clarke of Architectural Digest dubbed Judy Garland "probably the greatest American entertainer of the twentieth century".
In 1992, Judy Garland is referenced in the Tori Amos song "Happy Phantom", in which Garland is imagined to be taking Buddha by the hand.
In 1996, Tori Amos refers to Judy Garland as "Judy G" in her song "Not the Red Baron".
In 1997, Judy Garland was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In June 1998, Camille Paglia wrote in The New York Times that "Garland was a personality on the grand scale who makes our current crop of pop stars look lightweight and evanescent."
In 1998, Carnegie Hall hosted a two-concert tribute to Judy Garland, promoted as "a tribute to the world's greatest entertainer".
In 1998, Judy Garland was a character in the musical "The Boy from Oz", portrayed by Chrissy Amphlett in the original Australian production.
In 1999, Peter Lennon of The Guardian identified Judy Garland as a "chameleon" due to her ability to alternate between comedic, musical, and dramatic roles, citing "The Wizard of Oz", "The Clock", "A Star is Born", and "I Could Go On Singing" as examples.
In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Judy Garland as the eighth-greatest female screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema.
In 2001, Tammy Blanchard (young Judy) and Judy Davis (older Judy) portrayed Judy Garland in the television miniseries "Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows".
In 2003, Isabel Keating portrayed Judy Garland in "The Boy from Oz" on Broadway.
In 2005, "End of the Rainbow" featured Caroline O'Connor as Judy Garland and Paul Goddard as Garland's pianist.
In 2006, Adrienne Barbeau played Judy Garland in "The Property Known as Garland".
In 2006, Judy Garland was honored on a U.S. postage stamp as Vicki Lester from A Star Is Born.
In 2006, Ron O'Brien produced the tribute album "The Definitive Collection – Judy Garland", highlighting the singer's natural phrasing, elegant delivery, mature pathos, and powerful dramatic dynamics.
In 2010, "The Judy Monologues" initially featured male actors reciting Judy Garland's words before it was revamped as a one-woman show.
In 2010, Joan E. Dowlin of The Huffington Post concluded that Judy Garland possessed a distinct "it" quality characterized by charisma, musical talent, natural acting ability, and good looks.
In 2012, Strassler described Judy Garland as "more than an icon... Like Charlie Chaplin and Lucille Ball, she created a template that the powers that be have forever been trying, with varied levels of success, to replicate."
In 2015, Judy Garland is the titular subject of Frog's "Judy Garland" single.
In 2015, Sigrid Thornton portrayed Judy Garland in the television miniseries "Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door".
In January 2017, Judy Garland's remains were disinterred from Ferncliff Cemetery and re-interred at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, at the request of her children.
In 2019, Renée Zellweger portrayed Judy Garland in the biopic "Judy" and won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
On June 10, 2022, the centennial of her birth, Judy Garland was honored with a perfume named after her entitled "Judy — A Garland Fragrance" created by Vincenzo Spinnato.
In 1939, "The Wizard of Oz" had estimated promotion costs of $4 million (equivalent to $69 million in 2023).
In 1939, The Wizard of Oz had a final cost of more than $2 million (equivalent to $34 million in 2023).
In 1954, A Star is Born was released and it grossed over $6 million which is equivalent to $54 million in 2023, but the film did not make back its cost and ended up losing money.
In 2023, the equivalent value of Judy Garland's estate upon her death in 1969, which was US$40,000, is US$250,000.
Lucille Ball was a highly influential American actress comedian producer...
CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...
California is the most populous US state located on the...
Christmas is an annual festival celebrated on December th commemorating...
Frank Sinatra a highly acclaimed American singer and actor remains...
Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada and...
14 minutes ago Florida GOP Tax Cut Feud Threatens State Funding and Impacts Homeowners, Economy
14 minutes ago Tyler Soderstrom's Homer Powers Athletics to Victory Over White Sox, 3-1
15 minutes ago PJ Haggerty, Top College Scorer, Enters Transfer Portal: A Blow to Memphis Basketball
1 hour ago Ugarte's Team Prepares for Crucial Europa League Quarter-Finals: Preview and Live Stream.
1 hour ago Lazio vs. Bodo Glimt: Baroni's Formation, Lazzari's Words, and Knutsen's Bold Statement.
1 hour ago Jake Fraley crushes grand slam against former team, the Mariners, in Reds' victory.
Doug Ford is a Canadian politician and businessman currently serving...
The Real ID Act of is a US federal law...
Justin Trudeau served as the rd Prime Minister of Canada...
Donald John Trump is an American politician media personality and...
Bernard Bernie Sanders is a prominent American politician currently serving...
Michael Jordan also known as MJ is a celebrated American...