Judy Garland Books

Like the Clock some of the radio plays in this set aren't musicals.
It contains the following:
WIZARD OF OZ Lux Radio Theatre
STRIKE UP THE BAND Lux Radio Theatre
BABES IN ARMS The Screen Guild Theatre
MERTON OF THE MOVIES Lux Radio Theatre
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS Lux Radio Theatre
DRIVE-IN Suspence
MORNING GLORY Lux Radio Theatre
includes a 32 page booklet

Of special interest is the reprise of Over The Rainbow at the end of Wizard of OZ. Broadcast Christmas of 1950 at the end of Garland's MGM period. The first time it's sung it's still very much the in character Dorothy version, the reprise however is a bridge to the version Judy would sing during her concert years.

I admit I read this close to 10 years ago. Then I loaned it out and never got it back. I kept meaning to find it and couldn't recall the title, until a librarian helped me. Anyway: it was a very neat book about "what if they didn't die". The subjects, including Elvis, Marilyn, JFK, etc, all received their "fatal" injury from real life, but lived, and the book has a different story for each character as to what their life may have been like. Very interesting premise. I just ordered 3, want to give a few away. Stace

Dorothy Gael as an abused child, the childhood of Judy Garland and her estranged mother, a young actor dying of AIDS obsessed with Oz, and his therapist who becomes wrapped up in the entire thing are all elements of this brilliant meditation on reality, fantasy and what it means to be human. Although I had a problem with the ending, which dissolves into a hodgepodge of imagery and sentiment, I loved this intense novel. Geoff Ryman is one of my favorites, and he does an amazing job with Was.

The idea behind this novel is an interesting one:

Was there a real Dorothy, where did all of the other characters come from, and what happened in the rest of her life?

Along with the OZ story, comes the story of Judy Garland (AKA Frances Gumm) and how in many ways her life was as destructive as Dorothy Gale (in the OZ books) WAS. Judy's life was loveless from childhood (because she was the family meal ticket) and slowly spiralled downward through bad marriages, drugs and alcohol. She always remained sixteen to the american public which set her on the same path as Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, except that the yellow brick road had a lot more potholes.

Ryman rights about the darkest novel you can have without being one of Stephen King's bad dreams. Jonathan, a Canadian, who grew-up to become an actor, is tantamount to the scarecrow in this story. He is gay and dying from AIDS, and displayed autistic tendencies as a child. Strangly though in the main character he plays in horror films...which he says is based on Boris Karloff, he seems to be an evil Patchwork Girl (from the later OZ books) called the "Child Minder" (whose face is a patchwork due to being cut up with a knife by his father.

The unfortunate part of the book is the last section which is like a bad Timothy Leary, Hunter Thompson LSD trip/dream from the sixties. It adds little to the book and makes a non-ending ending which there is no need for. The epilogue at the end, by Ryman, is almost an apology for the whole book itself, which weakens the story even more. His editor should have done a better job of convincing him that the death of Jonathan made a fine ending on it's own.

So maybe you can go home again, just don't expect everyone to be that happy for you to be there, after a week or so, you CAN easily wear-out your welcome.

'Was' is my favorite Ryman novel (and since I love sf, that's saying a lot). Although I enjoyed Maguire's 'Wicked,' 'Was' does something more complex than retelling 'The Wizard of Oz' - it uses it as a springboard to tell a much more compellingly human story - one of incestuous rape, loneliness, fractured families, lost desire and AIDS. Weaving 3 main alternate storylines into a fascinating whole, Ryman nonetheless arrives at a destination that's far more positive than the desolation my last sentence implies.

Ryman's WAS is an heartbreaking and honest story of how important the imaganation is. True to historical facts, Ryman hits his readers both in the imagantion but also in histornical collective memory. He covers the true living conditions of Kansas in the later 1800's perfectly. Yet most importantly, unlike the author of Wicked, Ryman internalizes his Oz characters. The powerful images reminds one of the film Return to Oz. Ryman, understands how OZ lives within the American psyche. Was is a matter of memory, and written for each person who is too sentive, too dreamy, to loving to fit into grey and crushing world. Was is at the core of the Oz inside of us. Wicked will never, come close to the work of honest art contained in Was. Was stands as a testment to Frank L. Baum's orignial tale how truly powerful the imaganation is. Amen.

"Was" is author Geoff Ryman's fascinating yet disturbing twist on the classic "Wizard of Oz" story. This novel shifts back and forth between several characters who are all connected to the Oz saga. First there's Dorothy Gael, an orphan growing up on a Kansas farm with her Aunty Em and Uncle Henry. However, Dorothy's home life isn't identical to the way it's portrayed in the iconic film. Aunty Em isn't a loving, maternal figure at all: she's cold and methodical, occasionally bearing a striking resemblance to the Wicked Witch of the West. Uncle Henry is a smelly old farmer who shows little interest in Dorothy until she becomes a young woman, which is Henry begins molesting her. These tragic experiences transform innocent little Dorothy into a vile, wicked girl who is unable to be saved. In addition to Dorothy, "Was" also tells the story of the young Judy Garland and her depressing rise to fame, and Jonathan, an AIDS patient who has had a strong attachment to Oz that dates back to his miserable childhood.

Ryman puts a brilliant new spin on one of the most famous stories of all time, but "Was" isn't exactly pleasant reading...and it's not intended to be. This is a very dark, gritty story that forces readers to reexamine popular characters from fiction and real life and reconsider what life was truly like for them. "Was" is an interesting story, one that I highly recommend for all "Wizard of Oz" fanatics. Also, this novel was turned into a wonderful play, which I saw produced in Chicago in the 1990s. I wish it was performed more often, but my guess is that it's probably too disturbing for most audiences.

This is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book about the life and career of "Miss Showbusiness" Judy Garland. This was the first real book on Judy I read and what an excellent way to begin. I had vagually known that the many stories about Judy were disgusting lies. Now John Fricke (after his other great book) now puts Judy in her proper place, I wanted to get to know the woman better and this book did better than that. I actually felt that I was there with Judy, experencing her warmth, joy and laughter with her in her personal life and watching her perform on the sets of films, live in concert and on her tv series. I actually got to know Judy from this book and I loved her.

Stories about Judy are often innaccurate but this book (and a few others) are the real deal. Most biographers like to think that Judy was a tragic figure and her life was a hopeless ride to despair and degredation.

But this book changed all that, Fricke brilliantly captures Judy Garland as her friends, family and co-workers knew her, as a bright, intelligent, witty human being and also a affectionate, kind and caring lady who happened to be one of the most talented performers to grace this earth.

Well done, Mr. Fricke and thank you.

As a relatively new fan to Judy, I bought this book mainly due to the positive reviews here on Amazon, and Amazon writers never fail. This book is truly fantastic. With more rare pictures than you can shake a stick at, most of them at better-than-good quality, too. These pictures, complete to extensive captions and quotes by the people who knew Judy, span her entire lifetime. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and indeed these pictures speak more plainly to the reader than even the most comprehensive biography. Judy Garland was a phenomenal talent, and what a pleasure to have such a wonderful book devoted to this true star.

The rare photographs in this book are worth the purchase price alone! John Fricke seems to know more about Judy Garland than probably most of her family and friends. You'll come away with a new appreciation of this talented and troubled woman.

This book is a must-have for all Garland and Oz fans!!

This book gave me a refreshing and rare look at Judy Garland's life through pictures. The most interesting ones were of her behind the scenes, with family or rehearsing. These are ones of her behind the scenes laughing and dancing with people like Gene Kelly. So any fan of the classic musicals would enjoy these photos.
You get to be a witness to what an extraordinary person she was not only on the screen, but off, and in person. There are great quotes from people who knew her, all of them saying how she really was unique and a one-of-a-kind class act. She did have a hard life but I like the way this book doesn't seem to focus on that at all. The focal point of this book is to show the great points of her life that fans will enjoy seeing and that's good enough for me.
It's great to see her in her prime and with some of the top stars of the day. It shows the excitement in Hollywood and their lives in that era, and how she was in the very midst of all of it.
Any Judy Garland fan, really anyone, will enjoy this look at Judy Garland's life through photos. It really is a book that makes you want to look at it over and over again.

She's reviving her career, she's in London with a troubled marriage that's fodder for the tabloids...no, we're not speaking of Liza Minnelli, mega-talented daughter of "Dorothy Gale from Kansas," but of "Baby Gumm," Frances Gumm, who you might have heard of as Judy Garland.

In a memorable scene from the 2001 miniseries "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," a frustrated Garland, played to perfection by Judy Davis, shouts into the phone, "Yes, I've heard how difficult it is to work with Judy Garland. Do you know how difficult it is to be Judy Garland? I've been trying to be Judy Garland all my life!" In the foreword to Judy Garland: A Tribute In Art And Anecdote, Garland's daughter Lorna Luft echoes this sentiment in as loving a tribute to her mother as the miniseries, based on Luft's own published memoir, and as reverent yet observant as John Fricke's stunning, definitive, human, glowing, not-in-the-least-fawning encomium on Garland's life. You'll love the posters, photographic portrait of entertainment history, drawings, and "home movie" photos of the private Garland. Garland's children, flawed and loving, gave her added complexity as a working mom heroine. To quote the title of one of her movies, "I Could Go On Singing." In Fricke's book, she does just that.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

This book was first published in the early -70's right after Judy's death. I was 14 years old when I picked it up. And yes, it was a little too raw for me at the time. There was something dark in the feel of the book, something I couldn't allow myself to look into until 30 years later, at the age of 44. Then, I felt I was ready. Christopher Finch is not just writing about Judy, he's writing about an era of performance when you consider Judy made albums through the 1930's, '40's, '50's and '60's.

He paints a vivid picture of her family background, the tension between Judy's parents and her slow-build to overnight fame. With that comes a descriptive view of the relationship Judy had with her mother, and you find that the girl was never nurtured, but found ways to nurture herself through food. Because Judy was pushed around like a dumb animal until it was time to sing, she overcompensated by sneaking around. And thus, she fell into the trap that lying establishes. (Judy had a large following of gay male fans, who had some emotional identity with her repression and neediness. This becomes a pattern in her relationships with men, throughout her life.) For although her tendency to lie and sneak allowed her some privacy, it became a form of mania and self-destructiveness that was, for the most part, covert. It was very convenient for all those around her! Judy learned to keep herself in-check at an early age, never doing anything that might threaten someone else's comfort level (it would be bad publicity). Of course, as Mark Twain used to say "you can't pray a lie."

Polarized throughout her 20's, Judy kept operating under the belief that someone, preferably a man, would reach out and save her from herself. She was attracted to men she felt safe with, many whom were gay or bisexual. That's how it had always worked out for her mother... A man would always be there on the basis of need. This book offers a great collection of photos and an absorbing, educational read. You can glean much about the trends at MGM, the Mickey and Judy days, and what it was that made America so much "fun" during war time. This book gives some clues as to the relationship Louis B. Mayer had with the government, you see, because he was rich. Judy operated under that weight as well, and became the archetypal Hollywood gal-pal. Her ability to try different approaches to dramatic film, her overlooked comedic timing, her relationship with her own children and her concert tours are all adequately covered in such a way that makes this great reading. Again, Finch was writing at the time when the term bipolar was not known or used. He could not give that aspect of Judy's condition the justice that's needed. What he does do is describe the trends in her family history, and with the suicides of her two sisters who were also "performers". On that note, he braves new frontiers most writers would not attempt at the time. I believe he touches a little on the riot at Stonewall, and it's connection to Judy's funeral. Contrasting photos to how she looked in her final days, to the beginning days in Vaudville. I feel women should read this book, just to think about how far we have come. Judy was old enough to be my grandmother, and my grandmothers emulated and loved her. My mother rocked us to all Judy's songs. I have two large 10 X 12 editions of this book, and have handed out several of the smaller copies to friends.

After reading the glowing reviews of the 4 other people here, I could not wait to get hold of this book.

Well......the photos are terrific. But there is something very mean-spirited and melodramatic about the way the author presents Judy Garland's life. I can't quite put my finger on it.......you'll have to read it yourself to get a feel for his attitude. I'm really in the minority in my opinion on this one, but I felt I should balance the opinions of a great percentage of readers who consider this the best biography of Judy Garland. I get the feeling the author did not really like his subject. He treats her like some kind of bizarre creature. If she was difficult, to a certain extent, her demanding life and out-size talent made her so. Read it yourself, and make your own decision, however!

It is a shame that this book is currently out of print, for it is to my mind the only completely satisfying biography of entertainer Judy Garland available. Finch not only writes about Garland's life in well researched, eloquent prose, his work also provides a broad overview of the world and times in which Garland both worked and lived, with considerable reference to those who shaped her personality and her art, and who contributed to both public and private successes and failings. Truly a masterpiece of the biography genre, drenched with seldom-seen photographs as well.

The Stormy Life Of Judy Garland by Christopher Finch is quite a page turner! The book is well written--in fact, this book is so well written that you just can't put it down. Finch manages to pull his readers into the story of Judy Garland's life with power and skill. Even those of us who are not diehard Garland fans will want to read this book from front to back practically without stopping.

The book is filled with facts, anecdotes, stories from Judy's contemporaries, and great and black and white photos of Judy. We also get numerous photos of Judy with her immediate family members. The photos of Judy onstage both during her years at MGM and during her concert years are stupendous.

One thing that a diehard Garland fan may not care for is that this book does not try to water down or whitewash Garland's personal and professional problems. Although great care is taken to tell vividly of her countless triumphs, there is equal care given to her failures and her human idiosyncrasies.

However, after all is said and done, you still come away with the impression that Judy Garland was truly a wonderfully talented living legend; I would have loved to see her perform in public based on what I read in Finch's book. Finch does love Judy Garland; but he tries to be as honest as he knows how to tell the whole story--good, not so good, and in-between.

This book may be out of print but do not make the mistake of thinking that this means the book is devoid of insight. Finch writes with remarkably good insight into what made Judy Garland a huge success as well as what brought her down on certain occasions. Judy Garland fans would do well to get this book and read this fascinating account of the life and times of the immortal Judy Garland.

With appropriate candor and reserve, Christopher Finch not only presents Judy's life and work, but examines every piece of information he receives with level-headedness and occasional suspicion. This is no sugar-sweet fanletter to Judy, this is an almost scholarly approach to her extraordinary life. Especially fine insight is given to her earlier years and childhood surroundings, allowing the reader a glimpse into what may have possibly impacted Judy's psyche later on in her life.

Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm, lived an incredible life, her career spanning every field of show business from film to radio to live performance. Name any award of performing arts, and she's won it: Oscar, Grammy, Tony, Golden Globe...the list goes on. In her short 47 years, she managed to attain the status of "living legend", and still continues to delight generation after generation in her enduring film and record work. However, her life was not the fairy tale story of a show business princess. It was filled with tragedy, hardship, and soaring joys. She had basically no childhood, most likely addicted to pills at the tender age of 15 due to her exhausting work schedule, was forced to abort her first child, and was always belittled and made to believe she was not beautiful. How amazing is it that a person subjected to such sorrows could bring joy to millions and millions of people? And even at the tragic end, she retained a fabulous sense of humor and derring-do for life. In my opinion, one of the century's three best singers (along with Edith Piaf and Sinatra). She could sing the lyrics of a page and make you believe every word of it.

(wow, I've wandered off-topic, back to the book now)

In conclusion, a light and quick read, Finch's meticulously researched biography is excellent for the straight facts of Judy's life and career with an occasional aside from the author. Highly recommended for any budding Garland fan (or anyone in general).

i liked the way other people had comments in there.but one thing is did they have to put the part were they think she is gay.and when they had the other people writting a story about her you sorta heard the same thing over.if anyone wants to talk just go ahead and e mail me

This book is worth the price just for the chapter, "Raised on Judy, or What Chance Did a Boy Have." I have never seen Judy written about (and I have read a LOT) which such humor and compassion - especially what it was like growing up as a kid in the mid west during her years as a fading icon. Rick McKay's chapter is mah-velous. The rest of the book is quite good and a real Garlandophile's treat, but the McKay chapter could have been my life - or many of my friends' lives as well. It is a crime that this book is out of print. I would give it for Xmas every year!

A book filled with interviews rom over the many years of her career, recollections and stories of the great Judy Garland. A truly enjoyable read!

Rainbow: A Star-Studded Tribute to Judy Garland is a collection mostly consisting of magazine articles from the 1930s, '40s, '50s, '60s, and afterwards. There are a few other things, like MGM production notes for The Wizard of Oz, but it's almost all magazine excerpts, and it's interesting finding out just what the public's perception of her was, both before and after her death. Just don't go in looking for a deep character study.

This book is worth the price just for the chapter, "Raised on Judy, or What Chance Did a Boy Have." I have never seen Judy written about (and I have read a LOT) which such humor and compassion - especially what it was like growing up as a kid in the mid west during her years as a fading icon. Rick McKay's chapter is mah-velous. The rest of the book is quite good and a real Garlandophile's treat, but the McKay chapter could have been my life - or many of my friends' lives as well. It is a crime that this book is out of print. I would give it for Xmas every year!

From all the research I have done on Judy, I have found this to be the most comprehensive source for sheet music of her songs. Unfortunately, the songs are not printed in the keys in which Judy sang them. The music requires transposing for practical use. It is also missing some obvious favorites (for example, there are no tunes from "Easter Parade," one of her more successful films), however its the best of what is out there currently. You will greatly enjoy the pictures, which also include ones from her non-musical roles.

A must for any Garland fan or lover of wonderful piano music. Great arrangements accompanied by nice photos.

John Fricke has written a celebration of Judy, with fun photos and inspirational montages of who Judy was, and how she changed with the years. Judy had an indomnitable spirit, it was her soul that was weighted down with bad karmic connections and stigmas she always fought to transcend. Some clues about this were the decision Judy's mother had to make about Judy's birth; and how the doctor intervened. So I think John Fricke captures this dynamic in this book, where is it possible to witness how a spirit survived in a material world.

This is a marvellous book, John Fricke writes of Judy Garland's career in great detail while also dispelling the old myths of tempermental and mean spirited behaviour that other Garland biographers presented as fact.

Here is Judy in all of her glory as the great entertainer she always was (and still is) and as mentioned earlier blows away the myths that have plagued Judy for so long, it shows Judy's effort to rise above problems and give her all, wether it is when she is performing or showing her love to her friends, co-workers and her children.

Buy this book now with another John Fricke title on Judy, 'A Portrait of art and Anecdote'. Forget people like Gerald Clarke and his innaccurate look at Judy's life and Mel Torme for his self-serving and also innaccurate look at the legend. Buy this book but quick.

I bought it during Christmas in 1992... And u know what; It`s the definitive book on Judy!!! It really is an open love-letter 2 the Great 1 From 1 Of Her Fans.... At times u might say that John Fricke is glorifying Judy - but I don`t mind... It`s the kind of book u would want if u were on a desert island(with the CD`s "Judy at Carnegie Hall", "The London Sessions" and the "25th Retrospective"(compiled by Fricke) and the films "The Wizard Of Oz", "Meet Me in St. Louis", "The Pirate", "Easter Parade", "In the Good Old Summertime", "Summer Stock", "A Star is Born"(just 4 the musical scenes) and "I Could Go On Singing" - her BEST dramatic performance!! And The DVD collection of her 1963-64 TV-series...

Come 2 think of it... With THIS book and her music and films... I THINK I wouldn`t have noticed the palms, animals and ocean surrounding me on that island hehehehe

Along with Gerold Frank's 1975 biography "JUDY", John Fricke's book THE WORLD'S GREATEST ENTERTAINER is the definitive book about the sensational talent and fascinating life of the legendary lady. Fricke has done the research that no one before him could do to really give a broad insight into the career that has made Garland an icon. Beautifully written and handsomely illustrated, this is a book for the ages, and a must-have for any Garland fan. Anyone who doesn't love this book clearly hasn't a clue what great books are all about.

This book is simply marvelous! This book has hundreds and hundreds of crisp, clear pictures of Judy, many not previously published!
This book covers Judy's entire carear, from her first performace at age two until her death on June 22, 1969! This book is packed full of both black and white and color pictures!
All of her movies are covered in this book, as well as her hundreds of concerts particually the landmark concert on April 23, 1961 at Carnigie Hall! Also covered is her 1963- 1964 television show on CBS: The Judy Garland Show!
If your looking for information on Judy's career, this definatly is the right book for you! Or if your looking for lots and lots of pictures of Miss Garland and all her movies, this is still the right book for you!
If you just love Judy in any way at all, and want more information on her life, this is the book to buy!

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.

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.

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.

Author John Carlyle isn't just a researcher doing yet another Hollywood expose: his UNDER THE RAINBOW: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR OF JUDY GARLAND, ROCK HUDSON & MY LIFE IN OLD HOLLYWOOD comes from an insider who was Judy Garland's on/off lover, and who tells of his life with her and encounters with her contemporaries. UNDER THE RAINBOW recreates the atmosphere, involvements and drama of the Hollywood of the 1950s, 60s and 70s: as such it's a top pick not only for fans of Judy Garland, but for broader audiences and library collections interested in Hollywood history and culture as a whole.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Excellent, thoroughly enjoyable book. A shame Mr. Carlyle did not live to see publication of his memoirs. I truly hated putting down this book. When I came to the last chapter I set the book aside and forced myself to not finish the read, as I knew I would miss his tales. Even sans the Garland anecdotes, Mr. Carlyle's life was fascinating reading; however, the one odd note is Joan Fontaine's attitude throughout. That girl needs to relax! A delightfully bitter-sweet story. Bravo, Mr. Carlyle, for a life well lived!