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The Gumm Sisters
Frances Ethel Gumm was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on June 10, 1922. Her parents, Francis and Ethel, were vaudeville performers that had bought a theatre in Lancaster, California after Frances, nicknamed "Baby," had made a debut in their Grand Rapids theatre during a Christmas program ("Garland Found Dead"). Conjoined with her two older sisters to be The Gumm Sisters, the trio made their film debut in a Meglin/Associated Films short subject called The Big Revue. -
The Wizard of Oz
Having adopting her mother's maiden name and choosing Judy for its more peppy sound, Judy Garland appeared as Dorothy in the film The Wizard of Oz (Johnson). In this motion picture, Garland sang the tune that becaome her trademark "Over the Rainbow," a pusuit for happiness that seemed unattainable to her as her life progressed ("Garland Found Dead"). The image on the left is a pomotional photograph for the film, called a lobby card (Metro-Goldwyn-Maher). Garland emergred from Oz as a superstar. -
Meet Me In Saint Louis
Garland appeared as Esther Smith in this mid-1940's movie musical that later became a classic and ranks highly among the top movie musicals ever created and produced (Johnson). Under the musical and directing guidance of Vincent Minnelli, Garland's career flourished as she was exceptionally praised for her performance of "The Trolley Song." For her adult role in this film Garland's appearance was drastically changed to make her appear more grown-up with a nose alteration and thinner brows. -
A Star Is Born
After a significant hiatus from the camera to do live performances, Garland returned to the screen with an impressive performance in the movie musical "A Star is Born" ("Garland Found Dead"). But her unpredicatable work habits due to illness and marital problems caused the production to take months longer than originally planned. Her most celebrated song in the flim was "The Man That Got Away," a second trademark. The promotional image shows Garland with a dramatic boyish cut (A Star is Born). -
Defending Her Audience
In this clip, Garland is interviewed by an American newspaper columnist based out of Chicago and known as Irv Kupcinet or Kup (Bell). Toward the end of the audience, Kup brings up an article of criticism in Time stating that Garland attracts many homosexuals to her audience. After some humorous banter, Garland states that she does not mind this fact and that she refuses to let her audience be mistreated by the press (Bell). Garland appears very aged and fatigued in this interview. -
Garland's Death
Only a day after her death, a lengthy article is published in The New York Times commemorating the life and performances of Judy Garland. The artilce states that although an autopsy was let to be taken, Judy had not taken her own life ("Garland Found Dead"). The articles discusses how Garland suffered greatly from her frequent illnesses with hepatitis and drugs prescribed to either "tranquilize or invigorate her" dependent upon her stress level ("Garland Found Dead"). Garland passed at age 47.
