The Other Side of the Rainbow

EARLY SUCCESS

THE END OF MGM

A REFUGE ON STAGE

THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW

A STAR IS BORN

POST-MGM CAREER

HEPATITIS SCARE

MELBOURNE FIASCO

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

THE END OF THE RAINBOW

JUDY’S LEADING MEN

The Other Side of the Rainbow

The decline of Judy Garland’s personal life, behind the cameras.

orn Frances Ethel Gumm, Judy Garland was the name that would be forever immortalized

in American popular culture through music, film, photography, and a cemented handprint.

Though she appeared to live a perfectly glamorous lifestyle in front of the cameras, like many other celebrities, her personal life behind-the-scenes could not fulfill the demands of the studio producers she yearned to please.

This is the story of her many achievements onscreen and the tragedies she faced that the cameras would never be able to capture.

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At age 15, Judy Garland signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. There she spent the next fifteen years of her life appearing in more than two dozen films. It was at MGM where she became a household name.

Her breakthrough role as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz caused her fame to skyrocket. When most questioned whether child stars could transition into adult roles after captivating audiences with their adorable innocence and charming naivete, Judy would only impress them with her first major role as an adult in Little Nellie Kelly. The success of this film further secured her as one of the most important assets at MGM.

One of the most successful films of Judy’s career was Meet me in St. Louis. This film introduced three standard songs — “The Trolley Song,” “The Boy Next Door,” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” — that would become her staples when later performing on-stage.

Judy Garland was a young starlet who had unlimited potential to become an international sensation.

Early Success

1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943

October, Judy signed a contract with MGM at age 15. Her journey to stardom had begun.

She portrayed the famous role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz.

Judy experienced her first of a string of failed romances with Artie Shaw.

In the film Girl Crazy she would once again be reunited with Busby Berkeley, an extraordinarily demanding director who had destroyed her ego before in multiple other film partnerships.

Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry was the first film in which she appeared with Mickey Rooney. This combination proved to be a box office winner. Judy and Mickey would later appear in eight more films together.

Judy received her first accolade in the spring. The Academy honored her with the Academy Juvenile Award for her work in The Wizard of Oz & Babes in Arms.

Her MGM CareerDuring her 15 years with MGM, the studio had transformed her into a national star who would become an American legend. However, near the end of her career at MGM, her life had become a constant physical and emotional rollercoaster. Her success could no longer balance out the troubled personal problems.

Judy weds musician David Rose after a three year relationship. However, the relationship would end up in a divorce in 1944. Due to continuing relationship troubles, she would abort their child the next year.

Judy stars in her first role for MGM in Every Sunday.

After Broadway Melody came out, Judy’s appearance started to be intensely criticized. Even Louis B. Mayer called her his “little hunchback.” Because of this, she was subjected to diet pills - Amphetamines. Thus began her long struggle with drug abuse.

19501943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949

In the film Girl Crazy she would once again be reunited with Busby Berkeley, an extraordinarily demanding director who had destroyed her ego before in multiple other film partnerships.

In the film Meet me in St. Louis, Judy met her second husband Vincente Minnelli. Three of the songs in this musical film would become staples in her onstage performances.

Judy and Vincente’s first child, Liza was born on March 12.

The failure of The Pirate in May started to indicate Judy’s spiral downwards. She began missing filmings (99 our of 135), showing up late, and appearing on set after having taken too many prescription drugs.

After The Pirate, MGM execs were reluctant to cast her in the film Easter Parade with Fred Astaire. But she surprised everyone with her electric performance. It seemed there was a glimpse of the old Judy Garland.

The success of Easter Parade stunned everyone so Judy was cast in The Barkleys of Berkeley. However, she returned to her old routines from The Pirate so for the first time, MGM suspended her in July.

The Harvey Girls introduces an Academy Award-winning song “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe.”

Hollywood Nite Life published three front-page articles of Judy’s drug abuse problem.

MGM was nervous casting Judy in the film Summer Stock. She showed up a few weeks later for filming with a completely slimmed down body. Her performance of “Get Happy” was electrifying.

Close friends Sylvia Sidney and Carleton Alsop installed Judy in their own house to take care of her.

In the film In Good Old Summertime, she delivered an amazing performance of the tune “I Don’t Care.”

Judy spends a few months in the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital for emotional and drug rehabilitation.

In May, she was cast in Annie Get Your Gun. The role of Annie gave her too much anxiety to the point where she lost ninety pounds, her hair was falling out and she was eventually replaced by Betty Hutton.

She received six shock therapy sessions with Dr. Fred Pobirs.

Following the success of Summer Stock, she was cast in Royal Wedding but her old habits returned and she was again replaced, this time by Jane Powell.

Her continuous unprofessional behavior finally led MGM to release her from her contract for good.

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FILM

FINANCES

STAGE

VANITY

TELEVISION

MEDICAL

HEARTBREAK

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Even though Judy appeared as though she was enjoying a successful film career with MGM, behind it all, she was struggling with insecurities about her weight, drug addiction, ongoing financial issues, and relationship problems.

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With successively more mental breakdowns, continuous drug use, and total lack of professionalism, it appeared that Judy Garland was hitting rock bottom and that she could not bounce back. Not even Louis B. Mayer who had supported her through her stint in Peter Bent Brigham Hospital for rehabilitation could help her anymore. MGM was forced to release her contract in November 1950.

The End of MGM

1. The Wizard of Oz 19392. Babes in Arms 19393. Meet Me in St. Louis 19444. Easter Parade 19485. Summer Stock 1950

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5.

JUDY GARLAND? WHERE WILL SHE WIND UP?”

— Hollywood Columnist

“WHAT IS HAPPENING TO

MGM had been a shelter for Judy for the first fifteen years of her career. They had helped bring her to stardom and become a household name. Now, she didn’t know where she would be headed and whether entertainment was even a viable industry for her anymore.

Though she was at a loss because film was the only thing she knew, Judy took this opportunity to visit England. She had wanted to go to England since she was fifteen. The London Palladium had offered her a $70,000 contract for a four week run concert where she was to perform her greatest musical hits. When she arrived, Judy was greeted by waves of adoring fans. They didn’t care about Judy’s appearance or recent fallout with MGM. As long as she still sounded like Judy Garland, they loved her.

She was nervous to step onto the stage again. Judy hadn’t performed in front of a live audience in well over a decade and she was a completely different kind of performer now. But London’s affectionate crowd response encouraged her to step out and do what she did best — sing her heart out.

With all sold-out performances, Judy continued her tour of Great Britain to Dublin, Ireland the summer of 1951. Again, she was met with a crowd who couldn’t get enough of her. She even sang to the adoring fans from outside her dressing room window.

A Refuge On Stage

The success of her London act led her to revive vaudeville entertainment back in New York on the Broadway stage at the newly renovated Palace Theater. Her performance was so captivating it continued to run for a total of 184 performances, a record consecutive run at the theater. She also won a Special Tony Award for her contribution to the revival of vaudevillian entertainment.

The Judy Garland ShowStarting in 1955, Judy starred in several television specials that were essentially televised versions of her live concerts. With the success of these programs, in 1963 CBS offered a series regular contract to Judy for a self-entitled performance television program. The show would consist of songs from her on-stage performances with additional guest stars every episode. The show would garner much attention with her live performance reputation, and with the addition of guest duet opportunities. The Judy Garland Show was a great success and even received an Emmy nomination. However, due to the well-established variety show Bonanza, Judy’s show was canceled after only one season consisting of twenty-six episodes.

BREAKING OUT INTO DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT OUTLETS

WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST DECISIONS SHE EVER MADE.

JUDY WAS ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON HER TALENT, PRESENCE, AND

PERSONALITY IN ORDER TO SOLIDIFY HER STATUS AS ONE OF

THE MOST VERSATILE PERFORMERS OF HER TIME.

BREAKING OUT INTO DIFFERENT ENTERTAINMENT OUTLETS

WAS ONE OF THE SMARTEST DECISIONS SHE EVER MADE.

JUDY WAS ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON HER TALENT, PRESENCE, AND

PERSONALITY IN ORDER TO SOLIDIFY HER STATUS AS ONE OF

THE MOST VERSATILE PERFORMERS OF HER TIME.

A Star is BornIn 1954, Judy starred in the remake of the 1937 musical film A Star is Born. Her performance received much praise and it seemed she had made a strong comeback to the big screen. The success of this film was not only important for her personally as an actress, but also financially. Judy and her then husband, Sid Luft, were deep in financial troubles from back taxes and this movie would supposedly pull them out of debt.

At the world premiere, the film received critical and popular acclaim. However, before the general release, the film was edited down so the theaters could show it five or six times a day as opposed to three or four due to its length. These edits caused a great deal of uproar from critics. The film ended up losing money and was unable to bring Judy the financial stability that she was expecting.

Though the film was not a financial success, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in the 27th Academy Awards. She was a huge favorite expected to take the win. The night of the Awards, Judy was still recovering in the hospital from the birth of her son, Joseph Luft. Camera crews appeared in the hospital ready to film and televise her off-site acceptance speech. However, the award was won by Grace Kelly for her performance in The Country Girl.

“JUST ABOUT THE GREATEST ONE-WOMAN SHOW IN MODERN MOVIE HISTORY”

“JUST ABOUT THE GREATEST ONE-WOMAN — TIME MagazineSHOW IN MODERN MOVIE HISTORY”

1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960

Post-MGM CareerJudy Garland’s life can be divided into two different segments — MGM and post-MGM. Her experiences at MGM were limited to the filming studio, but after MGM released her contract, she was finally able to take her talent and tour around the world with it through concerts and television performances. But with all the fame, also came the daily physical strain. For that, Judy would continue to turn to her little bottle of pills and alcohol.

After being let go from MGM Studios, Judy took an offer by the London Palladium to perform an on-stage concert of her greatest musical hits.

After six years of marriage and one child, Judy divorced Vincente Minnelli. He wanted her to stop taking prescription drugs, but her dependence on them eventually tore their relationship apart.

The success of her Palladium concerts led to a vaudeville entertainment revival on Broadway.

She received a Special Tony Award for her revival of vaudeville. Her run at The Palace Theater broke the record for longest consecutive run with 184 performances.

She married Sid Luft in June and their daughter Lorna Luft was born in November.

A Star is Born garners much critical acclaim and gave Judy an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Her son Joseph Luft was born on the night of the 27th Academy Awards.

CBS offers Judy a contract for $100,000 to perform a television version of her act at The Palace Theater.

Judy loses the Academy Award to Grace Kelly.

Towards the end of the year, while performing in Las Vegas, she engaged in a shouting match with some unruly patrons and departed the stage, forfeiting $100,000 contract.

Three months later, she disputed at a Brooklyn theater over not receiving payment.

In November, due to complications with acute Hepatitis, Judy was rushed to the hospital and stayed for two months. She was told she would only have about five years to live and would never be well enough to perform again.

July, Judy performed in three major opera houses in three major cities in the US.

Judy made a miraculous full recovery from the Hepatitis and was able to perform again. Her first stop was back to London.$

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In November, due to complications with acute Hepatitis, Judy was rushed to the hospital and stayed for two months. She was told she would only have about five years to live and would never be well enough to perform again.

July, Judy performed in three major opera houses in three major cities in the US.

Judy made a miraculous full recovery from the Hepatitis and was able to perform again. Her first stop was back to London.

One of her most famous concerts was at Carnegie Hall where she finally received the validation she had needed all these years. It was proof that Judy had changed from her old habits.

Impressed with her many TV performances, CBS decided to offer her a series contract that would involve her songs along with guess star duets.

Judy finally divorced Sid Luft after a long abusive relationship.

The Judy Garland Show was canceled after only one season because it could not compete with a rival TV channel’s variety show, Bonanza.

Melbourne fans were unimpressed when Judy showed up an hour late to her own concert in a barbiturate stupor.

After trouble in Melbourne, Judy was trapped in a typhoon in Hong Kong and became so delirious, she tried to commit suicide with sleeping pills.

Judy had once again entered into a relationship, but it ended just as quickly as it began. Mark Herron, a gay actor, used Judy to move his career.

Judy was cast in The Valley of the Dolls as a character who was actually based on her own life, but was once again replaced due to unprofessional behavior on set.

Judy once again returned to the Palace Theater to perform.

Her last concert was in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In June, Judy accidentally overdosed on sleeping pills and was found dead in her bathroom.

She found out that one of her business partners was stealing money from her for years.

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Hepatitis ScareIn November of 1959, Judy looked swollen from head to toe. This was not like another cycle of her weight shifting. She was sent to the hospital for further examination. She suffered from acute hepatitis which was only exacerbated by her continuous drug and alcohol abuse. This caused severely swollen limbs and memory loss. Judy spent the next two months in the hospital while they drained her liver of all the fluid.

During the hospitalization, her doctor expressed that Judy would only have approximately five years to live and that she definitely could not perform or sing on stage ever again. This actually came as a relief to her. She could finally rid herself of the pressures of performing and really focus on her family life.

However, performing was in her blood. After several months of staying at home, she actually made a full recovery and started to have an itch to perform again.

Melbourne FiascoOne of the most infamous of Judy’s concerts was her performance in Melbourne, 1964. Before boarding the plane in Sydney, customs had confiscated all of the daily prescription drugs she needed to take just to survive a regular day. Nervous about not being able to perform in Melbourne, she contacted a local Chinese abortionist who brought over a fresh supply. Due to the unfamiliar dosage, Judy overdosed and arrived an hour late in a complete stupor and could only stand to perform for twenty minutes. Impatient fans and media immediately dismissed her as a rude American entertainer, much like many of her contemporaries.

The local tabloids reflected these negative views in their vicious articles condemning her unprofessional behavior as a disrespect to their country. The next day, over two hundred angry people showed up to the Melbourne airport to wish her ill with choruses of jeers.

Despite the Australian debacle, she continued to enjoy four more years of successful sold-out concerts. Judy Garland had reached a celebrity status where occasional negative reviews could not deter audiences from her concerts.

“WE’RE GOING HOME AND YOU SHOULD TOO.”

“WE’RE GOING HOME AND

“WE’RE GOING HOME AND YOU SHOULD TOO.”

“WE’RE GOING HOME AND

— An angry fan at the Melbourne concert

Awards & Recognition

ACADEMY AWARDS

HONORED

Academy Juvenile Award

Babes in Arms The Wizard of Oz

NOMINATED

Best Actress

A Star is Born

NOMINATED

Best Supporting Actress

Judgement at Nuremberg

1940

1955

1962

GOLDEN GLOBES

WON

Best Actress — Motion Picture Musical or Comedy

A Star is Born

NOMINATED

Best Supporting Actress — Motion Picture

Judgement at Nuremberg

HONORED

Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award

Lifetime Achievement

1955

1962

1962

EMMY AWARDS

NOMINATED

Best Female Singer

NOMINATED

Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program

The Judy Garland Show (special)

NOMINATED

Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program

The Judy Garland Show

1956

1962

1964

TONY AWARDS

HONORED

Special Award for Contribution to the revival of Vaudeville

1952

GRAMMY AWARDS

WON

Album of the Year

Judy at Carnegie Hall

WON

Female Solo Vocal Performance

Judy at Carnegie Hall

WON

Best Album Cover

Judy at Carnegie Hall

1962

1962

1962

NOMINATED

Best Album Notes

25th Anniversary: Retrospective

1966

NOMINATED

Best Album Notes

Judy. London. 1969.

1971

NOMINATED

Best Historical Album

Judy: Complete Decca Masters

1995

HONORED

Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Lifetime Achievement

1999

GRAMMY HALL OF FAME RECORDINGS

INDUCTED

Grammy Hall of Fame

INDUCTED

Grammy Hall of Fame

“(Dear Mr. Gable) You Made Me Love You”

INDUCTED

Grammy Hall of Fame

Judy at Carnegie Hall

1981

1998

1998

INDUCTED

Grammy Hall of Fame

Meet Me in St. Louis — Soundtrack

2005

INDUCTED

Grammy Hall of Fame

The Wizard of Oz — Musical and Dramatic Selections Recorded Directly from the Soundtrack of MGM’s Technicolor Film

2006

INDUCTED

Grammy Hall of Fame

2010

“Over the Rainbow”

“(Dear Mr. Gable) You Made Me

“For Me and My Gal”

Judy had created a legend for herself and she was continuously trying to reignite the Judy she had once been. However, her demise would only come too soon to rediscover herself.

After enjoying four more years of successful sold-out concerts, on June 22, 1969, her then husband Mickey Deans found her immobile body in the bathroom. It was later confirmed she had died from an accidental sleeping pill overdose. The autopsy showed there was no drug residue in the stomach lining which indicated that the drug was ingested over a long period of time, rather than in one dose.

The End of the Rainbow

LOUIS B. MAYERMGM Producer

FRED ASTAIRECo-star:

Easter Parade (1948) The Barkleys of Broadway (1949),

Royal Wedding (1951)

1940

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50s

1960

s19

30s

JUNE

1922

JUNE

1969

MICKEY ROONEYCo-star:

Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry (1937)Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938)

Babes in Arms (1939)Babes on Broadway (1941)Strike Up the Band (1940)

Andy hardy Meets Debutante (1940)Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)

Girl Crazy (1943)Words & Music (1948)

BUSBY BERKELEYDirector:

Babes in My Arms (1939)Strike Up the Band (1940)

Babes on Broadway (1941)For Me & My Gal (1942)

Girl Crazy (1943)

GENE KELLYCo-star:

For Me & My Gal (1942)Thousands Cheer (1943)

The Pirate (1948)Summer Stock (1950)

DAVID ROSE1941–1944

VINCENT MINNELLI1946–1951

SID LUFT1951–1963

MARK HERRON1965–1966

MICKEY DEANS1969–

BOBBY COLEPiano Player

JOHN CARLYLEActor

ANDRE PHILLIPEFrench Actor & Singer

GLENN FORDActor

FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW

JACKIE COOPER

BILLY HALLOP

BUDDY PEPPER

TYRONE POWER

JOE MANKIEWICZ

ARTIE SHAW

“A WOMAN IS INCOMPLETE WHEN SHE’S NOT IN LOVE.”

Judy’s Leading Men

HUSBANDS

FLINGS & CRUSHES

FILM COLLEAGUES

After her father’s death, Judy constantly searched for validation and affection from other men. At a young age, she experienced much physical affection, and in her later years, she would go through several marriages and have multiple affairs. Obtaining both love and lust would become an endless search for the rest of her life. Judy also sought approval from her co-stars and producers, many with whom she would form lasting friendships.

- JUDY GARLAND

ReferencesClarke, Gerald. Get Happy. New York: Dell Publishing, 2000. Print.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judy_Garland

And, of course, Google Images.

This biography was designed by Jess Yeung in Steinberg 213 at the Sam Fox School of Visual Arts & Design for Visual Information Design. The typefaces used in this book were Adobe Caslon Pro, Trade Gothic, and Wisdom Script.