Product Description
In this highly-acclaimed biography, Shipman tells the whole story of this doomed and deified performer: her days as a child star, the daughter of a gay father; her ascension to teenage stardom; her introduction to drugs by MGM; her years of alcoholism and substance abuse; her relationship with daughter Liza Minelli; and more. Photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Abysmal Editing Makes for Poor Prose
David Shipman is clearly determined to show the seamier side of Judy Garland's life.That she was her own worst enemy is not something that even her most ardent fans can deny, but the nonsense here is downright bewildering.This might have been an interesting read, though it would still need to be taken with a truckload of salt, if it weren't so terribly edited.Whoever worked with Mr. Shipman on editing and proofing this manuscript should never be entrusted with such a task again - nonsensical non-sentences, completely wrong information (Sid Luft lived with Eleanor "Power?"Really?Junior league research would inform one that it was Eleanor "Powell.")Spell-checking isn't enough - it requires word-for-word reading for content and actual skill at editing and proofing.Otherwise a book just becomes a fourth-grader's school report (and one that would get an "F" at that).

Shipman is so focused on Miss Garland's sex life and unpleasant habits that he largely ignores the other side of her persona - she was wickedly funny, often generous, and enormously talented.I've spoken to people who were at the concerts that Shipman trashes, the concerts from her later career, and it seems that they saw entirely different performances from the ones that he describes.

I am not saying that all biographies should focus only on the good.An even-handed biography is the most difficult to write.The temptation to make a saint out of your subject is just as problematic as demonizing her.However, this is not an even-handed book.Of course, it would be extraordinarily difficult to tell if it were because the typographical and editing errors are so egregious as to make it almost unreadable.

I've given "Judy Garland" three stars because I did, in the end, learn a few things that I hadn't known before (though I will be checking them against other sources).Also, despite Shipman's transparent intentions, I think Miss Garland comes out in a fairly positive light.She was naive, sometimes rude, and often temperamental, but she was always a genius when it came to her instrument, and that's something that nobody, not even a badly written book by an author with a chip on his shoulder, can take away from her.

tabloid trash
This is a fat, nasty book.It's thinly-sourced, but chock full of factual errors that are easily recognizable to any real fan (one small e.g., he claims she got distracted by a heckler and flubbed the introduction to "If Love Were All" in the Carnegie Hall concert....but millions of people know that recording by heart and know she didn't flub it). The worst parts are when the author tries to get into Judy's head and comes up with psychotic and nonsensical speculations about her sex life and motivations -- i.e. declaring that she married Minnelli, a "known" homosexual, only so that she could continue to have affairs with other men "guilt-free."It's crazy and disgusting.

Truly a life lived with passion on her own terms.
I LOVED this book.I am working an encyclopedia of great women musicians of the 20th century and in doing research this was one of the first biographies I read and it is the best so far.It dismisses all the flowery wordage biographers like to use to put action into a story and make it more dramatic, it reads like a documentary and I like that.Proof is in the bibliography which is one of the more extensive ones I've seen on Judy.

Shipman's book reads like a documentary, which I love, and yet I often found myself hungry for more.I kept waiting for the next comeback and when it hit I swelled with joy and when she fell again I felt a loss.This book creates a clear chronology of a life lived so we can not only see the downward spiral of a women troubled by drugs and drinking and self-esteem but see the audience who loved her and the people who loved her and hated her through it all.

Furthermore it is written NOT as an expose like some many other books (you know thes ones that sound like the paparazzi wrote it).Mr. Shipman's purpose is not to slander Ms. Garland or dig up shocking "dirt" but to show her as complicated and as human.Some people see her as a saint and do not like it when that image is soiled.

I knew nothing about her other than as "Dorothy" and that she was an alcoholic and bi-sexual.Now I see her as person just like me and I gained a new appreciation for her and how despite her choosing to lie to therapists, to continue taking drugs and drin, she lived the life she wanted the way she wanted.Even when she was broke she refused to live less than a star, even when they said she had to quit the stage for good she didn't, she chose her life and she may have hated some of it but you cannot deny she chose it.Shipman made it clear that even as a child she knew she was going to be a star and she lived her life how she wanted and in front of the public.And for that I think Judy Garland is one the greatest people I've had the pleasure of meeting.


Now the other reviews are quiet troubling as they seem to have missed the point of the book, stopped reading when he brought out the "dirt", or didn't read it at all, and more likely just don't want their saintly image of Ms. Garland tainted.That and they have no qualms with what Shipman says of everyone else in Ms. Garland's life but when he point out her flaws all hell breaks loose. I say in order to love a life you have to live it good and bad and this book helped me do that without glossing over anything.

Now, here are some quotes from other reviews that are wrong:

Austin Brown wrote, "One reviewer states this book to be "The truth"! Ha! Hey, how about actually reading other books written on Judy Garland, (as I have), and you will see the error of your convictions. This piece of filth has so many entirely erroneous facts!"

Okay what facts are erroneous and how do you know those other books are correct who are their sources and did you check their bibliographies?Shipman has an extensive bibliography that you could research to check his facts or is that too much work?When you make a claim you must support it.


"She was given medications by her mother before she could talk, to wake up, to sleep, whatever she felt they needed to "get these girls moving.

Again cite your source.If this is coming from Ms. Garland herself then we can't be sure it's true at all since she hated her mother and towards the end her memory was getting mixed up, due to drug and drinking, as Shipman makes very clear.Also if this is true Shipman would have wrote about it considering all the other "dirt" he digs up, he doesn't seem to miss anything.So I assume he left it out because there were not facts to support it.

"This book even asserts Judy was bisexual!"

Yes, she was.So?And how do know she wasn't?

"Contray to manys' beliefs, Judy did not commit suicide, or intentionally overdose on sleeping pills. She had said herself in life that sometimes it was hard to remember what pills she had taken when, and would on occasion accidently overdose, which is what happened on the night/morning she died."

Shipman never said she committed suicide.Here is what he wrote, "When Deans went to find her, the bathroom door was locked.He climbed in through the bathroom window. She was sitting on the lavatory. Rigor Mortis had already set in." (pg. 507)


JkHay wrote, "He wants to imply it is her selfishness and jealousy of her daughter, (how stupid can you get, Shipman). Anyone really understanding the enormous heart of Judy Garland knows she didn't want to draw attention away from her daughter's debut, which of course she would have been unable to avoid, and suffered for her daughter's sake..."

Actually Shipman stated wrote, "...it was only sometime later that Garland explained the reason she avoided the first night was that she feared her presence there might distract the audience" (pg. 441)We don't know if this is true AND he never gives a reason WHY he thinks she deliberately missed the performance but she did deliberately miss it by going to the Bahamas with Sid Luft and the children, whatever the reason.

"When before an interview with Jacqueline Suzanne before the making of 'Valley of the Dolls' she insists Suzanne proceed her, he again wants to say it was to draw attention to herself... unless you want to just concentrate on Shipman's good reviews and ignore is absolutely stupid interpretations of her motives."

Okay that makes no sense but Shipman wrote, "It was because she was so desperate for money that she had accepted a role in what she would later call a "dirty picture"... Garland had no illusions about the project." (pg. 489)


Aidan V. Grant "gethappy" wrote, "The facts are wrong - at the end he states "At 46...Judy Garland was dead"

Actually Shipman wrote, "At the age of forty-seven, and $4 million in debt, Judy Garland was dead." (pg. 508)And if that is all he got wrong...

"Why is it so hard to believe that Judy had some happy times in her life and was loved off-screen as well as on. Over 200 people have said that Judy was the kindest and funniest woman, is that so hard to believe? June Allyson said "I get so mad when people say unkind things about Judy. Judy was one of the warmest, most loyal, one of the funniest ladies I have ever known". Gee you can learn more about Judy in that one sentence than you can in this book and others like it."

Shipman has that quote in his book too.And that statement doesn't tell you anything other than the personal opinion of June Allyson who may or may not have said it with honesty.So many people said things in public that they didn't really feel to save the reputation of fellow stars.Many people hated her because she never paid her debts, she wouldn't come to work on time or at all some days, and sometimes she refused to perform on stage even under contract.Still, many people loved her as well (even those who hated her) and the book shows that very well.It shows the complexity of the public's relationship with her and her relationship with Hollywood and other celebrities.

FULL OF LIES.
What is it going to take for biographers and also readers to get the idea that in Judy Garland's private life, the truth was less sensational than what has been written her by David Shipman.

Why is it so hard to believe that Judy had some happy times in her life and was loved off-screen as well as on. Over 200 people have said that Judy was the kindest and funniest woman, is that so hard to believe?. June Allyson said "I get so mad when people say unkind things about Judy. Judy was one of the warmest, most loyal, one of the funniest ladies I have ever known". Gee you can learn more about Judy in that one sentence than you can in this book and others like it (Torme, Clarke). If people think this is the truth, they have been misinformed. I got more info on one page in Tony Curtis' autobiography then I did here.

Read "Judy" by Gerold Frank, it is one of the best Judy bios ever.

Love her and hate her
To those people who claim that Shipman does indeed hate Judy need to take a closer look. His book is rich in documentation that supports his research. Furthermore, you can telll he was a devoted fan that can still be objective regarding her talent and her misgivings and faults. We have to remember the duress that Judy endured, the people who abandoned her when she most needed help, the promises of the studios to give her time off to replenish her energy and the monstrous effect of Louis B. Mayer. No wonder Liza has problems of her own. She was affected first hand. This review is fair to the artist without tarnishing her talent and accessibility to the public, as well as her warmth. A great read! ... Read more

Product Description
Three paper dolls of Miss Garland—as teenager, adult, and older woman—and 30 gorgeous costumes highlighting memorable career.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

It's JUDY!
Turn on your CD of Judy at Carnegie Hall and play with Judy Garland through her major career achievements. There are 30 wonderful costumes, and the likeness to Judy is amazing.

Tom Tierney obviously devoted himself to producing a magnificent tribute to Judy's career. If you're a fan, you know that you have to have these Judy Garland Paper Dolls for your collection.

Judy Garland
You don't have to be a Judy Garland fan to enjoy these paper dolls.The likenesses on all three dolls are superb.The last doll showing Miss Garland towards the end of her career captures the passion she expressed when performing.
Costumes from most of Judy Garland's famous films are included.Tom Tierney's drawings of the costumes from "The Wizard of Oz" (with her friends in the background), "Meet Me in St.Louis" and "The Pirate" were my favorites.

Garland is GRAND!!
TOM TIERNEYS PAPER DOLLS OF JUDY ARE BEAUTIFUL.THE COSTUMES ARE DETAILED IF NOT ALL HER BEST.tHE WIZARD OF OZ DRAWING CONTAINS A LESSER BACKGROUND ADDITION OF HER OZ COHORTS THAT ISN'T AS WELL DRAWN AS THE COSTUME WHICH IS THE BOOKS ONLY FLAW.EACH DOLL WELL REPRESENTS EACH STAGE OF HER CAREER.IT IS A GEM FOR CELEBRITY COLLECTORS LIKE I AM TO FIND A LINE OF CELEBRITY DOLLS LIKE TIERNEY HAS DONE.HE IS A GIFTED ARTIST

A great, FUN, collectible for any Garland fan!
These are really great and so much fun! There are costumes from each of her movies (including Every Sunday) included. They are vividly colored and match the actual costumes to a "T" Truly a great collectible. Buy two because you'll want to keep one nice and play with the other. :o) ... Read more

Product Description
SHEET MUSIC WITH PHOTOGRAPH OF JUDY GARLAND ON COVER IN BLUE BACKGROUND. FROM MGM'S "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS" ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (11)

Interesting Bio.
A most interesting posthumous bio of a little known actor of the '50s, '60s,..and his experiences and impressions of the Hollywood of that era.

Interesting look at Hollywood by an actor who never achieved the fame he seemed to yearn for
I enjoyed reading this book, but its connection with Judy Garland can be misleading. John Carlyle does a good job in describing his friendship and deepening relationship with her. However, it's only a small part of the book. Just be aware that if you are a Garland fan, it's worth reading, even if you only read the parts about her.

However, I did enjoy learning about his own experiences as a young actor and the people he knew. Hollywood told from another perspective (the one who never made it big) was interesting.

The biography gets a bit bogged down when he describes his European trips, but he has a nice, friendly style of writing. He doesn't gossip too much, and he protects the names of those he probably could have mentioned.

I would have liked more photos. It only had one in the book and two on the dust jacket. I know the book was published after his death, but I would imagine his friends who edited his manuscript could have gotten access to more photos.

I would like to have seen his cut scenes from the 1954 A Star is Born; too bad none seem to have survived the years.

Great Reading
I really enjoyed this book.I liked John Carlyle immediately into the first pages.I thought he was very honest about his life. He certainly had a more interesting life than most, particularly that it had a Hollywood twist.He sure never had any good roles or parts that I could see, but he never tried that hard to me. I wish he had told more and in more detail about his homosexual conquests if you would call them that-but as has been said previously, he was gentlemanly in his writings. Sometimes you weren't sure exactly what he was saying so you have to decide for yourself and he sure uses some big words (at least for me). But I enjoyed the local flavor of which locales I am all familiar with and I was right there with him in all his travels far and wide. I was very disappointed that there weren't more photos. I guess he never kept any. I REALLY would have liked to see photos from his youth up to the last days. That was real disappointing. But I think this book is going to be a keeper on my bookshelves, and that is saying a lot-because most are given to the library afterwards.In a postscript of my own, you can see his gravesite at .He's in good company there.

entertaining
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. John Carlyle lived a fascinating life. Although the info here about Judy Garland included no big surprises
for me, I enjoyed reading about her by somebody who was there for both the good and the bad times covered here.

Light Reading
John Carlyle was a lifelong "wannabe" in Hollywood.He was hopelessly smitten with Judy Garland from his youth, and only a bit less smitten with Joan Fontane.Eventually he apparently became close to Judy for a relatively short time.And he knew lots of people in the Hollywood scene of the 50's, 60's and 70's.But his memoir about these actors, producers, directors and agents is flawed by fuzzy writing and perhaps fuzzy memory.People in his circle DID drink a lot and do lots of drugs in those days.Light reading for anybody inerested in the movie industry of the last half of the 20th Century. ... Read more

Product Description
The story of Judy Garland's paternal ancestry in Tennessee, beginning in 1793 with Norton Gum. The book tells of pioneers and Indians, ministers and slave owners who built a great country only to see it destroyed in the Civil War. First hand research from descendants and previously unknown materials reveal a fascintation story through the childhood of Garland's grandparents in 1870. Fifty photos including maps and rare family photos. 4 family trees. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating take on Garland's family history
Read this book on a rainy weekend recently--Couldn't put it down.Traces Judy Garland's family roots in Tennessee from the 1700's to the late 1800's.The AMERICAN icon's roots stem from a background of adventure and struggle--giving context to her love of the music from the, 'old south'--Highly recommended.

"Extraordinary!"
Garland and Oz historian, John Fricke says,

"An extraordinary amalgam of fascinating reading, both for the Judy Garland scholar and for any scholar or layman anywhere who revels in genealogy and American history. The back stories, anecdotes, and detail about the nineteenth century are endlessly captivating. And in many places, the Civil War material -- drawn from legitimate letters, newsprint, and city, town, village, and county records of the time -- reads like an elaboration and expansion of "Gone with the Wind." Great stuff!"
... Read more

Product Description
Judy Garland lived, loved and died entirely in the pubic eye. The authors describe the star, who, despite her troubled personal life, captivated audiences the world over. The volume focuses on images chronicling her extensive movie career. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Buyer Beware
The authors conclude that Garland's untimely death - in fact it wasn't untimely at all since everyone expected her to die given what a wreck she had become - was her best career move.This is sheer blasphemy.If anything is clear, it is that Judy Garland had nothing but talent and not just, as the lyric goes and the authors point up, "a talent to amuse," but a great big stunning talent that hypnotised anyone who paid attention.It is not only nonsense but debasing to imply that a tragic and early death is a reason why anyone would still watch Garland movies, or listen to Garland songs.The fanatics, described by these authors in such detail to the point where you would believe they were Garland's only fans, are a small minority.Most of us love the songs, the sound and the thrill of her talent, not the creepiness of her demise or even the so-called tragedy of her yearnings to be "over the rainbow."If there was anything boring about Garland it was that oft-repeated why-oh-why-can't-I line, which even she admitted had worn very thin, having told Liza that sympathy was her "business" as an explanation for why she receive so many get-well cards all the time.If one listens to the Carnegie Hall album, it's not because she pulled herself up once again, but because the actual product is so alluringly good in the first place.

When there are such glorious testaments about Judy Garland from a long list of legendary personalities including Gene Kelly, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, the authors dig deep in the barrel to drag out a nasty slap from the likes of Moire Shearer (Who?Right, I had to look her up, long-forgotten if she was ever remembered in the first place) blasting Garland's worth into hell.At least the quote from Anita Loos (Again, another unfamiliar name except to those who take note of screenwriters from the 40s and 50s) was wry and amusing, "she was so boring about her life," she says.Well, we can all imagine that to be true, especially in hindsight and in view of the current familiarity with addicted and neurotic people.But boy could she sing.And act.And dance.

Given their lack of appreciation and understanding of the subject, why did these two authors write this biography?Buyers beware.

A person is not a human-doing.
I didn't have a problem with this book; in fact, I enjoyed it.It was a little deflated because it was not filled with all the normal tripe you read about Judy Garland's personal life.It's not easy to syphon-off the personal from the professional in Judy's life.This book made that attempt, and I'm okay with it.Sometimes the lite-touch is sufficient.We don't need to know about how many times Judy dunked her head in a toilet.I think, if Judy had lived to talk about her days in rehab, or what have you, she would have preferred to be remembered as someone who gave her everything to the fans.And she would have told the tripe-writers to buzz-off.I think Judy would choose this book to represent herself, uh-huh!At the end of her life, she was fed-up with hype.I think this book offers a simple, uncomplicated profile of an extremely intense life in the eye of the public.By the end of her life, when she was putting in phone calls to President Kennedy for validation and approval, it must have occurred to her that the personal is political.She experienced this downfall with her TV show, and was somber.

This collection is more focused on her long-time career, with excellent, clear photos, outlining the years of her performances, movies and concert projects.So from that angle, it could be anti-climatic.But I found it to be a light, entertaining read that left no heaviness.Something you could sit and drink your coffee with.It's a fun book for the serious collector.

Poorly Written Garbage!
This is a terribly written book! The inaccuracies have already been addressed by others, so I won't repeat them.Suffice to say the inaccuracies became so numberous, I stopped reading at page 38.Did the writers even bother to research anything?Was the editor asleep? Nice pictures, but don't bother buying this turkey.

A vicious piece of garbage
Obviously the authors are ripping off Judy's name for the money. What other excuse can there be for writing this piece of crap? At first I was happy to see another Judy book hit the market - especially one with such lovely photos.But after I started to read it, I was horrified. As I browsed through the text, I got sick. I am shamed to even admit I have this book in my collection. What a vicious piece of garbage! And these authors have the nerve to say they love Judy...

have just bought the book
I ordered this book from the store and am getting it tomorrow (tuesday 6th jan 04). I am now very dissapointed that i ordered this book because after reading everyones reviews i feel i have wasted money on it and i havent even read it yet.
when i go to collect this book and i am going to order the lorna luft book that everyone keeps recommending.
I was very much looking forward to reading this book but now i dont think i can be bothered.
i loved judy garland dearly. i am only 16 and think she was such a wonderful actress and one of the best singers i think i have ever seen. I would like to apologise to everyone that the writers of this book are british (atleast i think they are... thats what someone said) and would also like to point out that not all brits are like that and many of us love judy garland as much as all other fans.
may you rest in piece judy! ... Read more

Product Description
A stunt double never gets over his crush on Judy Garland. A man spots a sign on the side of the road--and it changes his lfe. A musician discovers a beautiful doll who makes him a star...and more. A middle-aged man decides to help a desperate young woman...and wonders if the good guy ever can win. A girl wishes for an air force fighter for her birthday and discovers what true love can do. These are only some of the stories Michael A. Kechula delivers in this collection of romantic stories by the master of short fiction.Kechula has sold hundreds of stories to dozens of magazines and story collections around the world. I NEVER KISSED JUDY GARLAND is the Kechula's first collection focussing on romance and relationships, both gone right and gone horribly wrong. Each story has its own little zing, that frisson of awareness that reminds us of a larger truth. Many have happy endings, but be warned, not all romance works out as we planned.Prepare to be charmed by I NEVER KISSED JUDY GARLAND. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantastic Story
A touching memoir; A story of a young girl and her beloved Dorothy traveling the road of life together from their meeting during the author's first viewing as a little girl of The Wizard of Oz onto school, dance classes and girlhood dreams to now, a woman and her soulful relationship with a legend is intimate and personal and as odd as it sounds, this books finds a way to charm and convince the reader that it is perfectly acceptable to "hold a candle to a star" ... Read more

Product Description
Note: Also available in HARDCOVER from Amazon.com

“I’ve had a very happy life...really, I have!” - Judy Garland

Unfortunately, from the many projects produced about Judy, you wouldnever know it.

While a number of biographies have been published detailing Judy’slife, most all have concentrated on her later years and have providedan inaccurate and distorted image of the star, her life and hercareer. In fact, previous Judy Garland biographies are far moreinteresting for the information that they leave out, rather than forthat which they put in! No one can deny the very real sadness andstruggle that Judy faced at distinct points in her life, yet that samelife was also full of much joy and happiness. Judy Garland, The GoldenYears captures that joy and happiness and stands in sharp contrast toboth past and present Garland works in a variety of ways:

• Provides an honest, factual account of Judy’s early life and MGMcareer that is loving, sensitive, respectful and appropriate for allreaders.

• Features a foreword and a chapter written by Margaret O’Brien,beloved child star who starred with Judy in Meet Me in St. Louis. Thisis the one and only Judy book to which she has ever personallycontributed.

•Includes family photos, documents, letters and diaries dating from1727, as well as a detailed family history and family tree. There arealso first time contributions from family members who have nevercontributed to any Judy project before.

• Includes a complete MGM filmography, a DECCA discography, a filmmusic history, a detailed recap of Judy’s radio appearances throughthis period, an early publicity photo section, a headlines section, aswell as separate chapters on The Wizard of Oz and Meet Me inSt. Louis.

• Is illustrated with over 600 new, original, most previouslyunpublished, photos from Judy’s life that show the light in her eyes,the dazzle in her smile and the joy in her being. • Containsunique, original collectibles including personal documents and lettersas well as vintage posters, novelties, advertising and othermemorabilia.

Whether you first met Judy Garland as Andy Hardy's sidekick whilesitting through a Saturday matinee, fell in love with her at the 1904St. Louis World's Fair or traveled down the yellow brick road with herwhile sitting in front of your family's television set, Judy Garland,The Golden Years will provide you with the story of the real JudyGarland, a woman who was good and kind, honest and sincere, who was adevoted daughter, sister, wife, friend and mother, who did the bestshe could in all situations, who, time and time again, would not allowherself to be defeated, who picked herself up and started over, wholoved her children more than anything else and always tried to do thebest by and for them and who, most of all, will always be rememberedfor bringing joy to millions of people the world over.

What more could anyone ask from a life - and a definite happy one at that ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Fabulous work
A nice look at a great woman. Thank you. I've already read it twice.

I am a BIG Judy Garland fan
I have read every Judy Garland bio out there. This is one of the top ones to read. Very well-done. Kudos.

A worthwhile study
Judy Garland has, of course, been greatly overdone, but this author manages to present the actress and singer in an entirely new light. It is an interesting, enjoyable read. There are many new things presented and many new facts and many new pictures. There is none of the sensantionalistic stupidty that marks other Judy Garland books.

One of the BEST
This is squarely a terrific book on Judy Garland. I have been trying to get it for a while and finally succeeded. It was worth the wait. It is really, really good. It has more information than you could imagine. More photos, facts and lots of interesting material. Get it fast. You will love it.

Judy, Judy, Judy
I am always excited to see a new Judy item on the market; nice to see that people are still interested, as Judy Garland was the greatest entertainer. When I originally bought this book from Amazon.com, I was excited to also hear from Margaret O'brien. What a dear! However, the book jumps around too much....dates, movies, blurry photos are all out of context.It left me with no beginning, no middle and no end. Sadly to say, I was disappointed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not Bad for a Kid
As a teacher of English, I'm familiar with the way college age students write. Al DiOrio created this tribute to Judy when he was exactly that age. It's warm-hearted, uncritical and -- from what I've read in any number of works on Judy since her death -- a little book that she definitely would have loved. It would be interesting to know what the author is doing now, almost 30 years after this title was published. ... Read more

Product Description
"The Judy Garland Show," which aired Sunday nights at nine on CBS twenty-six times between June 1963 and March 1964, was the last glimmer of a fading star.As Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz Judy Garland had charmed the world, singing and dancing down a golden path to fame; now she was middle-aged and wracked with personal problems, habitually late for rehearsals, often not showing up at all.When she made what proved to be her final appearance on Stage 43 in Television City (dressed, rather ironically, as a clown), one stagehand, assessing her thin and haggard figure, sighed "no more yellow-brick road."

In The Other Side of the Rainbow--now reissued with a new preface--Mel Torme takes us on a Hollywood roller-coaster ride through the triumphs and disasters of this short-lived show, at the same time revealing a personal side of Judy Garland rarely glimpsed.While she was notoriously hard to work with, and her affection for "the Blue Lady" (Blue Nun leibfraumilch), vodka, and pills was well-known even at this time, Torme shows that Judy was still capable of breathtaking performances, that she could still earn the sobriquet "High Priestess of the entertainment world."

Torme signed on to "The Judy Garland Show" as its musical director, writing special tunes, putting together medleys, at times even coaching Judy from an off-camera position.He was there from the start, survived an almost total purge of show staff, and left just before the final telecast.Consequently, we see it all from center stage:Mickey Rooney saving a virtually unrehearsed early show from failure, Lena Horne storming over Judy's lack of professionalism, Cary Grant refusing to do his oft-imitated "JU-dy, JU-dy, JU-dy" (insisting he had never said it), daughter Liza Minelli singing a duet with her beaming mother, and Judy herself, alone on the set, belting out a powerfully moving rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" only weeks after the assassination of JFK.(Her desire to do a special program dedicated to Kennedy's memory was nixed by CBS: this was her unexpected and defiant response.)Behind the scenes we witness Judy at her best (Torme remembers of feeling "chills of delight" as Garland sang "Mama's Gone, Goodbye" during their first session together), her funniest (telling dirty stories to the production crew), and her worst, drunk and hysterical, waking her colleagues with early morning telephone calls.Known as The Dawn Patrol, Torme and others would leave their beds and rush to Garland's Brentwood home to offer whatever assistance they could.

Brimming with anecdotes, illustrated with rare photographs of Judy on the television stage, and informed by the insights of a fellow performer who saw it all, The Other Side of the Rainbow offers a rare and compassionate look at one of America's most beloved and misunderstood entertainment icons. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Mel's the best.
I had read "It Wasn't All Velvet" and wished there was more written by Mel.So I was very pleased to find this little gem.It is an easy read, and quite revealing.As a matter of fact, if you are a Judy Garland fan, you might want to read something else.

Jealousy is an evil force.
Gosh, I just think Mel Torme had such tremendous jealousy, he was so frustrated by Judy there was nothing he could do but wring his drumsticks and write this book.

I'm sure Judy saw him as someone she could trod over? squish like a toad?

Indeed, Torme's entire approach to the writing is toad-like, while needing that association and recongition from a LEGEND.(Now who is this guy?)Well, maybe if Judy had slept with him, he could have bemoaned that too.

Fascinating subject matter...
Supremely interesting book if you're a fan of Judy Garland and wish to know more about her acclaimed television series and simultaneous tragic mistreatment at the hands of CBS studio execs. No surprises in the book with regards to revelations regarding Judy Garland's addictions and at-times unprofessional behavior, traits well-documented by countless other sources.What was surprising, however, was the apparent extent to which Mr. Torme had bitter feelings towards Ms. Garland."Catty" remarks (meOOOOW...pfft pfft!!) litter the pages, and Torme seems to absolutely revel in relaying some of the cruel, and at times crude comments he overheard directed towards his boss (Judy in fact owned the rights to her show). No gentleman, here. Torme also often comes off a bit full of himself. Two examples (out of many): at one point he sulks over Frank Sinatra's "insufficient" praise of his singing ability after Sinatra and Garland attend one of his nightclub performances; another time, when Judy asks him if he agreed with her that Jack Jones was the greatest male jazz singer, he decided to "play it cute" and place his hand over his heart and answer "Well, now that you ask, no, I don't"...this right after he manages to inform the reader that Jack Jones had stated in print AND on television (my emphasis) that Mel Torme was his favorite "jazz-oriented" male singer. Wow!!!!Finally, Torme's writing style tends towards the "cute" and he strives too too too hard to be hip, making extended reading sessions unbearable; for that reason this book is best read a chapter at a time. Interesting aside; this book first came out in 1970, the year after Judy Garland's death. That fact alone speaks volumes about the man.

Keep Your Salt Shaker Handy
Mel Torme's THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW WITH JUDY GARLAND ON THE DAWN PATROL was the first book about Garland to appear after her death, and it paints a portait of an out-of-control star struggling to endure the rigors of a television series that debuted with tremendous fanfare and then degenerated into chaos and total failure.Garland's family, friends, associates, many of those who actually worked on the television series, and later biographers have been extremely, extremely critical of this book, denouncing it as one-sided, self-serving, and mean-spirited.

In light of several later biographies and at least one unbiased and exhaustively researched book on the CBS series itself, those accusations would seem to be true--but the main thing that undermines Torme's description of both Judy Garland and her CBS series is the current availability of the series itself, which has been released to the home market in VHS and DVD.There is little doubt that Garland was tempestuous, drug-ridden, and often difficult to work with during this period--but the actual series itself shows little of undisciplined chaos Torme describes; some moments are weak, some moments are strong, and some moments are awe-inspiring, but all in all the actual series is surprisingly innovative when seen during the context of its era.It is also worth mentioning that many of Garland's most acclaimed recording releases have been drawn from her performances for this particular series.

That said, this does not change the fact that THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW is an interesting read.Torme is clearly angry about the whole thing (he eventually sued Garland's production company, and the book includes transcripts of Garland's depositions during the suit), and he adopts a snide tone that makes the work intriguing--and no doubt his account is accurate in the sense that it conveys the situation as he himself saw it.But to say it lacks any degree of balance would be the understatement of the century: Garland emerges as a has-been harridan and Torme inevitably comes up smelling like a rose.

As one person who worked on Garland's television series later remarked, "as a historian Mel Torme is a great singer."Because of the complete lack of balance and the self-serving and mean-spirited nature of the work (all the more deadly for being hidden behind a facade of affection), I do not recommend this particular book to some one casually interested in Garland; on the other hand, those with a serious interest in the artist who can approach the work in light of unbiased accounts of Garland, Torme, and the history of The Judy Garland Show will find it an interesting sidelight on what was arguably one of Garland's most artistically productive eras.Final word: you'll need to take it with more than a few grains of salt, so keep the shaker handy.

And yet another perspective on Judy
I have read this book and also read through the other reviews and wonder how people reading the same thing come up with such different opinions.Mel Torme is definately presenting things from his perspective.That anyone could read the book and think Judy disrepected or disliked him is hard to swallow.They must not have read it very closely.It would be the reverse if anything but that would be a little hard to swallow too.He does show a little bitterness I think but overall expresses his overall thankfulness in having worked with her.Would I recommend this book?I think so.For us Judy fans it is good to get everyone's perspective who knew her well. ... Read more

Product Description
Adapted for a two-part mini-series, nominated for 13 Emmy Awards, this is the memoir of Lorna Luft - a remarkable woman and talented performer - her half-sister Liza Minnelli and baby brother Joe, as they desperately try to hang on to their legendary mother, Judy Garland. With wit and candid detail, this is an account of survival in a world of dizzying contradiction. By learning to embrace her past, Lorna Luft has managed to emerge out of the shadows. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A really good angle.
Numberous books on Judy Garland but this is one from a close famliy member (Judy's daughter) which I think has some validity points. A Very good point,not mentioned in other bios was that the family had a private detective investigate wheather Judys father,Frank Gumm, was a homosexual. His report stated that people whom wnew him interveiwed dispelled this.Further those claims were never made till many years later when family members were dead and Judy was famous enough to be paperback writer fodder. I recommend this book for anyone that's read other books about Garland's life written by a 'third party' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Cute Book for it's time (1977).
I occasionally see outrageous prices on this book, which don't seem warranted.If you're an Oz fan and collector, my advice is, shop around.The reason you will see the price on this paperback high at times is because it's out of print.It's larger than a regular paperback, measuring 8"x 10".The pages are a little like newsprint, with tons of photos, however all are dark and blurry.Horace Elias writes as if he's explaining the MGM Oz plot to a 9-year old...But the overall the composition lacks any real emotion or character development.By the end of the book, you still don't know who Dorothy is, or what drives her to be a heroine.A project of this type could have gone better.The book does not include full lyrics to the terrific songs from the MGM film, only a few pages of catch-phrase songs at the back. ... Read more

Product Description
Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more