“She sang very softly ‘Somewhere over the rainbow’ and you could honestly have heard a pin drop in the Palace. This was the magic that happens once in a thousand times on Broadway, and the audience knew it.” – Inez Robb, 1951
November 14, 1930: “The Gumm Sisters” performed at the Lancaster Grammar School’s play, “The Old Sleuth.” They sang “My Baby Comes For Me” between the acts of the play.
November 14, 1934: The first night of a six-night engagement for “The Garland Sisters” at the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, California. This was a return engagement for the sisters and from this point forward they would use the Garland name for most of their engagements. The films on the bill were Desirable and The Lemon Drop Kid.
November 14, 1935: Here is an article about the upcoming Shell Chateau Hour radio show (November 16), which featured Judy in her second appearance on the show. The article incorrectly gives Judy’s age as 12. She was 13. MGM shaved a year off of Judy’s real age to make her seem more precocious. The article also notes that both she and Allan Jones have “been featured on the screen.” Judy had yet to make any film appearances under her new MGM contract.
February 14, 1937: This review of Broadway Melody of 1938, as published in Longview, Texas, quotes the film’s director, Roy Del Ruth: Judy Garland is another “discovery” who will win the hearts of international audiences. Even at the studio, workers make a special point to be on the set when she is acting and singing. Miss Tucker claims she’s one of the greatest child singers she has ever heard.”
This is most likely a studio-written review. It was common for the studios to send out pre-written reviews for theatre owners and managers to provide to local newspapers.
November 14, 1939: Judy’s weekly appearance on “The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope” on NBC Radio. Judy sang “Dardenella.” This was previously thought to have been on November 13th but all of Hope’s shows were on Tuesdays, not Mondays.
Photo: Judy with Jerry Colonna and Bob Hope during a broadcast. Colonna was also a series regular.
November 14, 1940: This pic was taken of Judy in her dressing room on the set of Ziegfeld Girl. At this point, Judy was in rehearsals for the film and had just pre-recorded the comedic and ballad versions of “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” the day before.
Little Nellie Kelly was in theaters, and although it wasn’t the greatest film ever made, Judy received glowing reviews.
Check out The Judy Room’s Filmography Pages on Little Nellie Kelly here.
Check out The Judy Room’s Spotlight on Ziegfeld Girl here.
November 14, 1940: Judy Garland grows up.
November 14, 1942: This article reported that Judy allegedly helped an MGM office boy prank his prankster co-workers. It’s a nice story and in keeping with Judy’s helpful and friendly personality, but it’s highly doubtful that Judy ever ventured to the top of a studio building to sunbathe, certainly not at this point in her career. She didn’t have the time.
The ad above right was published in the “Film Daily” trade magazine.
Check out The Judy Room’s Filmography Pages on For Me And My Gal here.
November 14, 1943: Here’s a fun article about the MGM “Glamazons,” who were featured in films such as “Thousands Cheer.”
November 14, 1947: Judy had rehearsals of the numbers “Mr. Monotony” and “I Wish I Were In Michigan” for Easter Parade. She had prerecorded the songs on November 12th. Time called: 12:00 p.m.; dismissed: 5:00 p.m. Judy’s co-star, Fred Astaire, was at the MGM Recording Studio pre-recording “Taps & Drums,” as seen in the Daily Music Report below. Among other things, Astaire was a drum enthusiast.
Check out The Judy Room’s Spotlight on Easter Parade here.
November 14, 1948: Arthur Frudenfeld really liked Words and Music.
November 14, 1951: Inez Robb reported on Judy’s recent collapse and spoke to her about her struggles with self-confidence. Judy was candid about it and also about her audiences, and they took her into their hearts.
Check out The Judy Room’s “Judy Garland – The Concert Years” here.
November 14, 1953: Filming for A Star Is Born continued with scenes shot on the “Exterior Oleander Arms” set, which was filmed on location using a local apartment building as a stand-in for the Oleander Arms. Time started at 10 a.m. and finished at 5:45 p.m.
Check out The Judy Room’s Spotlight on A Star Is Born here.
November 14, 1953: Bob Thomas’s column reported on the early days of filming A Star Is Born, featuring an interview with Judy and co-star Jack Carson. When asked about her plans once the film was completed, Judy replied, “I don’t know yet. I’ll either hit the road, do another picture, or have a baby. I haven’t decided which.”
Check out The Judy Room’s Spotlight on A Star Is Born here.
November 14, 1954: What makes a great holiday gift? Judy’s recent album of songs from the soundtrack of A Star Is Born, of course!
November 14, 1957: The Clock was featured on “The Late Show” in New York City.
Check out The Judy Room’s Filmography Pages on The Clock here.
November 14, 1957: Being “The World’s Greatest Entertainer” has its perks, such as meeting all of the crowned heads of Europe. Judy was currently performing at The Dominion Theater in London, England, when she attended a luncheon in her honor, given by The Variety Club of Great Britain, at the Savoy. She attended with comedian Alan King (her opening act) and met former UK Prime Minister Earl Clement Attlee. Since this photo was published on this date, the event most likely occurred a day or two before.
Check out The Judy Room’s “Judy Garland – The Concert Years” here.
November 14, 1962: Moviegoers in Ft Lauderdale, Florida, were treated to two of the films making the rounds nationwide as part of the “World Famous Musical Hits” series.
November 14, 1965: Judy married actor Mark Herron, her fourth husband, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 1:30 a.m. at the Little Church of the West by Dr. David Howe of the Church of Religious Science.
Her publicist, Guy McElwaine, was the best man, and his wife, the actress Pamela Austin, was the matron of honor. “The Los Angeles Herald-Examiner” stated that after the ceremony, the party, including Eddie Fisher, moved on to catch Don Rickles’ show. Rickles gave the newlyweds a terrific ribbing. The party went on until 7 a.m. The decision to fly to Vegas was so sudden that jeweler Marvin Hime had to go to Judy’s home at 3 p.m. Saturday, November 13, to fit them for their wedding rings. Judy and Mark honeymooned in San Francisco and Carmel, California, for a week.
November 14, 1965: Judy’s appearance as the guest hostess on “The Hollywood Palace” the day before (the 13th) garnered Judy some great reviews.
November 14, 1967: Judy was a fan of Tony Bennett. Columnist Earl Wilson mentioned Judy’s recent attendance at the Tay-Sachs dinner honoring Bennett. Throughout his life, Bennett was a huge fan and admirer of Judy’s, never hesitating to remark that she was the greatest talent he’d ever known.
Check out The Judy Room’s “Judy Garland – The Concert Years” here.