How Judy Garland Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

How the contributions of Judy Garland continue to shape the world today.

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.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Legacy & Impact

1937: Original Film of A Star Is Born

In 1937, the original "A Star Is Born" film was released. It was later remade in 1954 starring Judy Garland.

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1961: Judy Garland's will

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.

1965: Judy Garland's response to large gay following

In 1965, when asked about having a large gay following, Judy Garland replied, "I could care less. I sing to people!"

1969: Garland's death

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.

1969: New York Times obit

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.

1978: Rainbow

In 1978, Andrea McArdle portrayed Judy Garland in the television movie "Rainbow".

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1978: Auction of personal items

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.

1989: Judy Garland postage stamp

In 1989, Judy Garland was honored on a U.S. postage stamp as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz.

1992: Dubbed the greatest American entertainer

In 1992, Gerald Clarke of Architectural Digest dubbed Judy Garland "probably the greatest American entertainer of the twentieth century".

1992: "Happy Phantom"

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.

1996: "Not the Red Baron"

In 1996, Tori Amos refers to Judy Garland as "Judy G" in her song "Not the Red Baron".

1997: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

In 1997, Judy Garland was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

June 1998: Garland compared to pop stars

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."

1998: Carnegie Hall tribute concert

In 1998, Carnegie Hall hosted a two-concert tribute to Judy Garland, promoted as "a tribute to the world's greatest entertainer".

1998: The Boy from Oz

In 1998, Judy Garland was a character in the musical "The Boy from Oz", portrayed by Chrissy Amphlett in the original Australian production.

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1999: Garland identified as a "chameleon"

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.

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1999: Ranked by AFI

In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Judy Garland as the eighth-greatest female screen legend of classic Hollywood cinema.

2001: Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows

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".

2003: The Boy from Oz on Broadway

In 2003, Isabel Keating portrayed Judy Garland in "The Boy from Oz" on Broadway.

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2005: End of the Rainbow

In 2005, "End of the Rainbow" featured Caroline O'Connor as Judy Garland and Paul Goddard as Garland's pianist.

2006: The Property Known as Garland

In 2006, Adrienne Barbeau played Judy Garland in "The Property Known as Garland".

2006: Judy Garland postage stamp

In 2006, Judy Garland was honored on a U.S. postage stamp as Vicki Lester from A Star Is Born.

2006: Release of "The Definitive Collection – Judy Garland"

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.

2010: The Judy Monologues

In 2010, "The Judy Monologues" initially featured male actors reciting Judy Garland's words before it was revamped as a one-woman show.

2010: Distinct quality

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.

2012: Judy Garland as an Icon

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."

2015: "Judy Garland" single

In 2015, Judy Garland is the titular subject of Frog's "Judy Garland" single.

2015: Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door

In 2015, Sigrid Thornton portrayed Judy Garland in the television miniseries "Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door".

January 2017: Re-interment at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

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.

2019: Judy

In 2019, Renée Zellweger portrayed Judy Garland in the biopic "Judy" and won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

June 10, 2022: Release of "Judy — A Garland Fragrance"

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.

2023: A Star is Born First Release Grosses Over $54 million

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.