The Last Chapter -

I had just finished "The Last Chapter" - with the observation that there would never be the last chapter for Judy, when I realized I had not finished because I had to write about what has been happening since Judy has left us.

And I thought it was over and I just had to tidy up....not more research....I said a few choice words, we English have some lovely words at our disposal which helps with frustration...So it is back to the drawing board as they say.

But this chapter is important, perhaps one of the most important in the book because it talks about the new fans and admirers of Judy and how her magic has continue all through the years and will continue for 100, 200 and even 500 years in the future--as I said in the presentation at Jan Glazier's Judy in Hollywood meeting.

I'd been out of the Judy world for many years living and working in Silicon Valley and it wasn't until I attended the Grand Rapids in 1997 that I realized there was an active Judy world out there.  I became reacquainted with the Lufts and met teenager fans, Elizabeth and James.

Many books have been written about Judy, many not worth the paper they are written on but there are exceptions.  John Fricke, who has become the great Judy historian, has produced several large, beautiful, coffee table books and a new one Judy: A Legendary Film Career.   Lorna Smith's Judy with Love is much sort after and difficult to find.  Coyne Steven Sanders covers the CBS television series excellently in his book, Rainbow's End: the Judy Garland Show.   Another worth while book is Ronald Haver's A Star is Born.  I also enjoyed David Dahl and Barry Kehoe's Young Judy - again probably hard to find.


There are many web pages devoted to Judy.  TheJUDYList --members comment on Judy activities and keep in touch.   It was manned for years by Mark Harris, a dear man, who sadly departed this world.  It is now ably run by Steve Jarrett, southern gentleman with a great sense of humor.

I think of other Judy friends who have left us, dear, dear Sonny Gallagher. Sonny had his own Judy magazine for many years and attended all her concerts and kept Lorna Smith and British club up to date with Judy's activities. I met him in 1998 at the request of Lorna Smith and we attended the big Judy Celebration at Carnegie Hall that year together. I remember he once drove four hours - there and back - one Easter weekend to come and meet me at a friend's house in Reading, Penn. A very special Judy person.  It was Sonny who made the comment, a few years after Judy had gone, that there would be a big revival and love for Judy in the future; and he was right, Sonny was right about many things.

This summer there has been two big Judy events in New York City; many of her television performances have been shown at the Paley Center for Media Collection and the film Society of Lincoln Center presented nearly all of Judy's movies.  Martha Wade Steketee attended many of them and beautifully documented these occasions in her blog: http://msteketee.wordpress.com

Lorna Smith of the UK club, wrote two books about Judy and produced a beautiful tribute to Judy and retired.  After some ups and downs, the club is now excellently run by Gary Horrocks and Justin Sturge. It is now called  The International Judy Garland Club and has over 300 members all over the world, hosts two events and publishes two magazine a year.  www:judygarlandclub.org.

There is more but I have started writing again.   Always for Judy,  Joan    PS If I have got any of these web pages wrong, sorry, let me know.