Lorna Smith in A Celebration-Issue5-Autumn 2013

The International Judy Garland Club–A Celebration–Issue 5–Autumn 2013

It was with great anticipation that I opened the new publication from the International Judy Garland club. I knew Gary Horrocks had been working on it for six months because he often contacted me asking for my memories of the time when Judy was in England making the movie, I Could Go On Singing. As this was over fifty years ago certain details are blurred – precise dates are gone from my memory but Horrocks has researched and noted these facts. I do remember the day we were present at the Palladium when Judy filmed the "Bluebird" number was before the day we watched her at the recording studio singing, “I Could Go on Singing.” This corresponds to the reporting in publication, so I am relieved the memory is not completely gone!

Sitting in the dress circle of the Palladium listening all day to the playback of “Bluebird” will never leave me, neither were the moments when Judy came out in different stages of readiness and chatted to extras in the stalls, and finally filmed the sequence.

It was a joyous day and just recently, I chatted with Christopher Finch, author of “Rainbow – The Stormy Life of Judy Garland” at the Judy in Hollywood function 2013 and discovered he had been there this same day.

Later in that summer I remember shaking hands with Judy (wearing the black dress) for a few moments back stage at the Palladium after she had done some filming on “I Could Go On Singing.” The exact details of day have faded but recently Steve Jarrett found this photo of Lorna Smith and I peering out of one of the boxes overlooking the stage watching Judy and Saul Chaplin chatting on stage. So we really were there!

Horrocks,  as  editor,  has researched this period thoroughly, interviewing everyone involved with the production of this movie. This was a very emotionally difficult time for Judy, being in the midst of a divorce from Sid Luft, father of her two small children. There were times when Judy found it hard to concentrate and these facts have not been ignored or glossed over. They have been reported in a factual manner that “She was anxious, insecure, occasionally suicidal, exhausted and sometimes short tempered, feeling isolate, desolate and abandoned when her agent David Begelman left her to go back to the States” (page 8). I doubt that any of Judy’s movies have been researched as thoroughly as this one has and if one is a Judy fan, it is an absolutely must to obtain a copy of this publication. Not only were the club members invited to Abbey Road recording studios on numerous occasions and also to be present at filming at the Palladium often, but Lorna Smith (who ran the club then) was invited to Shepperton Studio to participated in the celebration of Judy’s fortieth birthday.

In addition, another club member, Bob Murrell, as the props master on the film, kept Lorna informed of the activities at the studio.

This issue also covers Judy's appearance in the Stanley Kramer movie, “Judgment at Nuremberg,” “A Child is Waiting,” the CBS television special with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin filmed in January 1962. Also covered are the recordings for “Gay Purr-ee” in November 1961, recordings at New York’s Manhattan Centre April 1962 and Judy’s appearance at the Palladium March 1963, which coincided with the premiere of the movie.   

Horrocks has prevailed upon Lorna Smith to keep writing her memories of Judy and in this issue we have Part 3 of “Getting to Know Judy.” Lorna went from being a representative of the club to be a real friend to Judy, and she was greeted with genuine pleasure every time they met. Twenty-two pages of her memories and photographs are in this issue and Lorna is, in effect, bringing her book, “Judy, with Love” up to date including details which were impossible to include at the time she wrote the book.    

Smith talks about how the British club came into being following the disbandment of the US club. She was concerned at that time how she would obtain information of Judy’s activities in the States. But she need not have worried because the American correspondents, Sonny Gallagher, Eileen Steere, Charlotte Stevenson, Betty Welch along with Jennie Wheeler and Wayne Lawless reported regularly. Gallagher was the American representative for many years and joined a clipping service to be sure Smith received all the news about Judy. All this marvelous information is in the Rainbow Reviews 1963-1968. I am grateful to Lorna for giving me copies in 1997. This information helped me write about these years of Judy’s life in my book, “Always for Judy: Witness to the Joy and Genius of Judy Garland.” to be published soon. The club archives continue to be a resource for those interested in Garland history. I am sure the club records have helped other authors writing about Judy. John Fricke was a member when he was sixteen years old!  David Shipman, “The Secret Life of an American Legend” was also a member at one time and Sonny Gallagher told me how he passed a lot of his material to Gerald Clark for the writing of “Get Happy.” So three cheers for Lorna Smith for gathering this information and to Gary Horrocks and Dr. Justin Sturge for retaining and reviving it every now and again so we can rejoice in Judy again.    

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Mac as Judy Garland

In April this year, Jan Glazier organized a "Judy in Hollywood" event and one of the entertainers was Peter Mac; whose claim to fame is that he manages to recreate Judy on stage doing one of her shows.  One might call him an impersonator, but he is really more than that. He manages to convince the die hard Judy fans that he really is Judy! It is a very peculiar experience for those of us who love Judy; because very often we would prefer not to see one of these shows.

Anyway Peter Mac is on the agenda. Jon Perdue, wondered if he should buy a ticket and asks if I am going. Long time fan Wayne Lawless, who probably saw Judy as many times as I did, had assured me that Peter was good and had seen him several times. "Go ahead and get a ticket, it will be fun" I tell Jon.

It is the first evening reception when we all meet up again or find new friends.  A knock on the door and in bursts Peter Mac as Judy wearing the blue jacket and black straight dress. He grabs the mike and immediately starts chattering to us as Judy, finishing leading us into a sing-a-long.  I observe his manager, Dj, keeping an eye on him from the door way.

Afterward he passes among us chatting, as Judy, and we are enchanted with him. He compliments me on my jacket, rather as Judy might have done - being the expert she was on jackets!!

  
Later in the weekend we go to the little night club, the Oil Can, where Peter is performing and watch his two part concert. Garland Overture started, it was just like waiting for Judy to come out and sing. Peter sang all the usual opening songs, "I feel a song coming on", "Zing," Trolley Song," "Palace Melody" etc., but the thing which enchanted me so much was his chatter between songs. Peter and Dj had obviously done their reading and homework. They knew Judy life; her ups and downs and saw Judy very much in the same way I did. 

 

 

We have an interval and then "Just in Time," "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "I'd like to Hate Myself in the Morning," "Maybe I'll come back" among others and finishing with "Rainbow" and "Get Happy."  Again, for me, it was not the songs which enchanted me but rather the life history which Peter manages to transmit to us in-between songs.

Sam Irwin (author of the book, "Kay Thompson") and Peter Mac

 

Afterwards, Peter removes his make-up and runs up to me as himself and I finally see his true self. 

Peter Mac and Wayne Lawless

Later we are all together at the final dinner. Thank you Peter for bringing Judy back for a few hours.

Peter Mac and his manager, Dj. Schaefer

Americanah, a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie-or how to survive as an immigrant!!

"Princeton, in the summer, smelled of nothing, and although Ifemelu liked the tranquil greenness of the many trees, the clean streets and stately homes, the delicately overpriced shops, and the quiet, abiding air of earned grace, it was this, the lack of a smell, that most appealed to her, perhaps because the other American cities she knew well had all smelled distinctly."

This is the first sentence of the above book and I am hooked. How delicious from one who always gets carried away with long sentences and the grammar correct tell me how wrong I am. I found the book in my son's house and he commented that I may like to read it. It is a book I should have written years ago about how an immigrant adjusts to life in this country, which on the surface speaks the same language as the English people, but is actually quite different, particularly the expressions.  The author is from Nigeria, well educated and was brought up with the King's English.

They say that to write a novel one should write about what you know and the author certainly has done so using her experiences and those of her friends.

Our main character, Ifemelu, comes to the States to further her education, struggles to find work to support herself and try to fit in to the society. As she signs up for classes the administrator says to her, "You are all set."  She wonders what this means. I felt the same way when some new friends we had met in California, said upon leaving, "See you later."  Did I miss something? I remember thinking. I didn't remember us making arrangements to see a movie or anything specific.  When they continued to say this upon I realized it meant, "So Long," or "Cheerio," as the Brits say. My worse experience was reply to a question about the time and responding that the time was "half past four." The men who had asked this question nearly fell over laughing. I suppose they enjoyed teasing me and hoping to hear something strange from my mouth. Finally my boss, Joe Delaney, a Canadian (I wonder what happened to him?) told me, "You mustn't let them do this to you-give them back as good as they give you!" "But how can I?" I asked. "I am the foreigner here."  I did learn though and became stronger. Another phrase Ifemelu comments on is instead of saying, "ask somebody upstairs," Americans say, "you might want to see somebody upstairs." Another observation; in answer to the question, "How are you?" Americans reply in a sing-song voice, "Good, how are you?"  At one point Ifemelu, who has been faking an American accent to fit in decides to revert to formal English and says. "I'm well, thank you." She had made an effort to blur the "t" and roll the "r."  I never was able to do this and still say, "can't" with my strong "a."  Upon observation I noticed as the earlier you come to the States the easier one acquires an American accent. Upon returning to the States after living in England for three years I listened as my six and eight year old children changed their vowel  sounds in one month.

Our main character, Ifemelu, is an African and struggles with controlling her hair. We learn of the problems of braiding (and how long it takes) or relaxing or straightening the hair.  So different from my problems of having my straight hair permed.   All this was fascinating to me.

But the most important aspect of this book are Ifemelu's experiences and comments on race in America. Until she came to the States, she didn't know or use the word "black." In Africa you were Nigerian, or South African. She writes blogs with the titles of "To My Fellow Non-American Blacks, In America you are black, Baby!" to explain to fellow immigrants from other parts of the world how it is here. As a social commentary this book is magnificent and well worth reading.

      

A Sentimental Journey - Part II

 

In as much as the first part of this blog was about my friend, Inger, this second part focuses on her daughter, Marika and her life. When we parted in San Francisco, the three grandsons went to the airport to meet two more friends from Sweden, Eric and Sara, rent their own car and set off for adventures in Oakland and eventually Los Angeles. Inger, Marika and Brit-Marie travel inland to Vicki’s home and visit her mother, who had been very kind to Inger years ago.

Then they made their way to Huntington Beach for ten days. These three days in San Francisco had not been enough for me with the family so I decide to fly down spent another six days with them. John Wayne Airport seems nearest to them so off I go.
Inger and Brit-Marie are waiting in airport while Marika circles the airport. We find the car and I see this bright-eyed friendly face from the back of the red SUV–it is Tracy; Marika’s long lost sister from Washington State. She had flown down the day before. So much, I must discover about them. The next few days I feel like an investigative journalist or detective, continually asking questions about how and why.  

The first question I ask is why are we in Huntington Beach?  I learn that Marika’s father Derek, had immigrated to California from England in 1951 when he was fourteen year old ago with his parents and sisters. When Inger’s children, Kenneth, Marika and Marcus were in their teens, they spent six months visiting their grandparents; so this was home. This was very interesting to me as an anthropologist: a complete reversal of my experience. My home is England and my adopted home the USA. Marika’s home is California and her adopted home is Sweden.

Next question, how did Marika and Tracy find each other? Tracy was a daughter from Derek’s first marriage and never saw her father from about the age of two years. Around the year 2000, Tracy decided to look for her father and family and she traced them to the Los Angeles area and found her father was living in Seattle. This led to her finding Marika and her brothers in Sweden. I had known from Inger that Marika had found a sister in Washington. It was such a joy to see these two sisters interact with each other and find so much pleasure in sharing notes and catching up with their lives.

Time for lunch, the girls have picked out a charming place and so we record this moment 

Then it is time to explore and shop at Balboa and Newport Beach and finally to the charming house on Newland Road.

 

 

The next day is Marika’s birthday and so we are off to I Hop on Beach Blvd. to meet the young people for breakfast. This particular I HOP had been Marika’s a favorite haunt of her grandfather. We are a big group now, five young people and five ladies. I meet Eric and Sara, who are friends with of Michael since childhood.

  Then to Venice Beach; such a lot of interesting characters, it is a long time since I visited this beach. The young people love it. Inger and I met a young student from Boston who tells us about her experience coming to California a year ago and attending college.

We pass this information to Dennis. On the 405 freeway at 4:30 pm-it takes 2 hours to get home. Big rush as we are meeting Marka’s cousin Michelle for dinner at the Cheese Factory. Now we are a party of eleven. Michelle’s mother, Sandy is the sister of Derek. Another new friend!  It is beautiful warm evening with a gentle breeze and we eat outside.

It is Saturday and we are taking it quietly. A trip down to Huntington Beach and we walk on the pier. Marika has been talking to Markus, her brother in Sweden, she learns there is web cam set up transmitting to Sweden, and so we all wave frantically at the camera so Markus can share in our lovely day. Have lunch at Sandys  

 

 

Go shopping at Kohls

Sunday and we are all going to Universal studios  We enjoy the tour around the sets and the young people go on all the rides.

Monday. The young people and Brit-Marie are off to Las Vegas for the day and returning the next day. Dennis, who is only twenty has to hang out with two grandmothers and two aunts. He is very patient.  We drive to Long Beach, San Pedro where Inger and the children had lived in two different houses.

 Then we drive up to Santa Monica and have lunch on the pier at 

Have a charming walk around this gracious city.

Dennis found an apartment and new friends and so he is off in his new life. Marika met up with the rest of Michelle’s family and shopped till they dropped. They flew home........

 

Enough of my Swedish interlude.  Peter Mac, as Judy, next week.  

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

A Sentimental Journey

My friend Inger 

This blog is not exactly about my Judy book, but is concerning a woman’s life and as women’s lives are my interest, I had to write about my recent trip.

My Swedish friend, Inger is coming back for a trip forty years after returning to her home country in 1971. She is bringing her daughter, Marika and three of her grandsons and a friend, Brit-Marie. They will be in San Francisco for three days – do I want to join them? I am so excited, we had been friends since we met in the late 1960s when our husbands had played cricket together in Los Angeles and then later when we all moved to the Bay area. We spent many long Sundays during the summers sitting in various cricket fields watching out for our small children. Inger had three children, Kenneth, Marika and Marcus, while I had Carolyn and Adrian. After my children were grown, I often flew to Sweden when visiting my mother in England and I had met her grown-up children and their children.

Initially we were going to stay in a hotel but one of the sisters who were helping organize the trip found a lovely big house we could rent in the city. Vicki and Marie had been neighbors of Inger during the five years she lived in San Francisco; Marie and Marika being first best friends. When Vicki finished high school, she followed Inger to Sweden, and stayed with the family for six months before continuing her adventures in Paris, Turkey and eventually finding and marrying her husband from Lebanon. Exotic is a great word to describe Vicki! All these details of our relationship with Inger came out during the days we spent together.

Marie and Vicki, were brought up in San Francisco and used to driving and exploring the beauty spots and so were the guides. Both had wandered into the hinterland of California but their hearts were still in the city.

Marika, being the super mother she was, probably organized the trip. Not only was she bringing her mother, Inger, two sons, Michael and David, and nephew, Dennis, but a lovely new friend to me, Brit-Marie. They flew into Seattle, where they had relatives and started the journey south and I watched their journey on Facebook, stopping at  Spokane,  Pilot Butte, Bend, Crater Lake, Oregon, Grants Pass, Folsom State Prison before arriving in San Francisco.

Marie, a merry soul, lives in Folsom and so they stopped there and convey begins again collecting me from Vacaville. This means people will come to my house – I am writing a book and the place is covered with papers, I throw them into a bedroom. 

They all pile into my little house – three ladies and three young men - overlooking the golf course and the geese. Marika, with the sparkling dark eyes of her father: same as when she was a little girl. the eyes don’t change. She introduces me to three young men standing before me observing me with their calm Scandinavian eyes and good angle-saxon names, Michael and David her sons and Dennis, Marcus’s son. My goodness how will I tell them apart-I worry I will get their names wrong? We drive into San Francisco on route 37 and enter over the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a glorious Sunday and there are cars everywhere, we pause and Marika, David and Brit-Marie walk the bridge. We will meet outside the gift store, (yes a gift store for the bridge) and Dennis is with Inger.  He is Marcus’s son and has a flock of hair–Ha!–I can see him as a six year old “Dennis the menace”  “You are cute,” I say; he winces. Good I have identified one of the boys!

Dennis, Inger and Michael

We make our way into the city and find our house on 23 Street on Noe Valley, near Castro.  Yes, it does have 57 steps up to the front door and Inger and I scramble up them as best we can.

The plan was for us to go out to dinner when Vicki arrives but Marie announces that we will have dinner in tonight. “Thank Goodness,” I say. One climb up the steps a day is enough for me. We explore the house-there are three big bedrooms upstairs and the master bedroom in the basement. The boys opt for the master and the ladies take the upstairs. The house has been completely refurnished, new floors, doors, kitchen and bathrooms – with a hot tub in the back garden which the boys appreciated one evening.

David, Dennis & Michael

The only thing was it must have been remodeled by giants, all the kitchen cupboards and micro wave were too high – luckily they had supplied a step ladder. AND there was not kettle for tea and one had to use a saucepan.  Not a very good quality one either and poor Brit-Marie received a very bad hand burn. Never mind she recovered.

Vicki burst in like a dynamo, elegantly dressed with long flowing red hair and the party began.

The refrigerator is full of food; Marie has brought basics with her. She and Marika go out for food from Castro Street and we have the first of our many meals together. I get to talk with Dennis, and he tells me about his childhood and how Inger, his grandmother, was the constant thing in his life after his parents separated. What does he want to do I ask, always the university counselor. He doesn’t know.  He has spent time in Norway and one senses the restlessness in his soul. He is a US citizen from his father and wants to try his luck in the States. I can see he has his grandmother in him. After all, she immigrated to New York years ago to seek her fortune. Vicki is sitting between us telling her stories of all her adventures in Europe and at one point, I comment that she is gregarious. Dennis doesn’t know this word and he puts it into his memory.  

Marika’s two sons are on the other hand, are settled in their work. Michael is a carpenter, like his brother, Patrick not on the trip. There is lots of work in Sweden remodeling houses. The younger son, David, is an electrician and loves his work. I tell David I am amazed that they can take a month’s vacation all at one time, but he tells me it is expected that everyone HAS to take their vacation. I talk with both of them often in the morning while we are waking up. I wondered how I would deal with people in the morning, I don’t wake up feeling very jolly.  Luckily everyone seems to feel the same way. Marika, Inger and Brit-Marie were usually up first making tea or coffee. Then me, the two sisters and finally the three boys would drift up into the living area. Michael likes Jon Stewart and plays games on his ipad. Everyone has their phone and keep up to date with their friends. Samsung is the phone of choice and seems efficient. 

Inger, Marika, Marie and me

A city tour is planned for the next day. We pile into cars; Inger, Brit-Marie and I are with Vicki, with the long hair. Marie is driving her best friend, Marika, and the three boys. Up on hill and down the other-all these iconic, well known avenues and streets, Golden Gate, Van Ness, Lombard into Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower.

The last time I had been to Coit Tower was 50 years ago.

We head southeast toward Filbert, into Lombard, Columbus, Bay, Franklin, Lombard, Lyon to the Palace of Fine Arts. It is beautiful there, I want a house overlooking the lake. Then lunch at Garibaldis on Presidio. Next we head off for Twin Peaks. An absolutely, beautiful clear day with spectacular views of the city and sea beyond.  The final stop of the day is the home Inger lived in for five years. Vicki and Marie had lived around the corner and they remember routes to school and the adventures they had in the neighborhood.  Glen Park School.  

I have been to SF many times and it often seemed to have a charming, if shabby perhaps seedy quality, but all that is gone. All the beautiful Victorian houses, built since 1909 have been restored and looked sparkling in their splendor. I was told that the dot-com millionaires of Silicon Valley have bought many.

We return home and Marie has found another friend, Carol and she joins us for dinner. Inger had baby-sat her son many years ago.  

Marika is fascinated with prisons and jails and wants to go to Alcatraz, but all the boat trips are full. The town is full of computer science people and sailing people, the Yacht races have just finished. So we drove down to Fisherman’s Wharf and caught a cable car up through the city to Market Street and Nordstrom- up the escalator to the top floor.  Time to eat again at the Brisco Café. The boys, Marika and Brit-Marie go off to shop while Vicki, Inger and I have a cocktail.

Inger with her 3 grandsons and daughter

We gather together again and catch a bus along Market to the Ferry Bldg. and up to Pier 39.  Inger, Vicki and I walk along the Embarcadero while the others check out Pier 39. There is Stephen Dreyfuss, a sax player at the top of Pier 39 and I bought his CD. It is now 6 pm and the temperature is 70 degrees with no wind-a most perfect day.

 Next were West Indian drummers, then 1970s music and finally we found a bar with a jazz quartet, Charlie McCarthy and his group (my son remembers seeing them years ago in Bay area). Vicki should be my public relations person, she tells everyone about my Judy book and invites a blonde cyclist to join us. He wants to take photographs of me, we decide he is a little odd and I dump him to talk to the musicians.

Last stop is Ghirardelli for a desert.By this time I have decided to adopt Dennis as a grandson and Inger is happy to share this honor with me.

No one wants to trip to end but Vicki must get back to her business, Marie to her family and work and Inger and family ever onward.  They are going on to Huntington Beach for ten days.  "Huntington Beach!" I say. "Come and join us" they say and this will be the next blog.   

   

Update on my book, "Always for Judy"

I'm feeling very guilty that I have not written any blogs recently, but I have been engrossed with putting Endnotes, Indexing and now photographs into the book.  Quite a time consuming endeavor, but things are coming together.

Then there are the various business aspects of learning to be a publishing company. Thankfully I have had help from the Town Square Writers group I found sponsored by our public library.  Hurrah for public libraries! We are a very diverse and interesting group of people-ranging in age from early twenties to my very senior age, equally divided between men and women. We have all sorts of writers-poets, mystery, romance, science fiction, self-help and non-fiction. Several of us have published and we are learning the tricks of the trade of how to sell our books.

Sometimes we have Reading/Response meetings when those who wish bring examples of their writings. We enjoy helping the author with any unclear aspects of their story! Another time might be Figurative Language: Simile, Metaphor and yet another the designing a cover of book or creating a web page.

There are two very able leaders of our group, Deni Harding, a retired English teacher and a monster with the editing pencil. With wry humor she misses absolutely nothing.  Betty Lucke, who has published a book on planning a Festival because she could not find any books on the subject, is the champion on all things to do with publishing.   

As a social scientist I am always curious about why people are the way they are. Why do some people, artists, for example, constantly doodle and create exquisite small masterpieces on scraps of whatever paper there is on hand, and others, the writers among us feel the need to document what they see or feel.  Why, when I am sitting waiting at an airport do I watch people and imagine the scenario of their lives, or invent a life for them.  Why don't I read a book?

Realize I am much happier writing than I am when putting, endnotes, index and photographs in.

I now have a PO Box and will buy ISBN numbers tomorrow...Enough for now, back to the drawing board.

   No particular reason for this photograph except that I had never seen one with Cary Grant before.

I still have a blog to write about the fabulous Peter Mac and I must write some words of thanks on Sam Irwin's web page for his book on Kay Thompson. It helped me fill in some gaps in my book on Judy.  

Judy in Hollywood April 2013

   Judy in Hollywood April 2013

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of The Judy Garland Show at CBS 1963/64

How do I begin to talk about the four days we spent this April celebrating Judy’s television series? Maybe I should start at the beginning.

 I returned from one of my many trips from “somewhere or other” in April 2009 and my dear friend Maurine was raving about a wonderful pianist who I had just missed playing Judy Garland songs in Vacaville. As with most things to do with Judy, I am always apprehensive to view anyone doing Judy material. I am not interested in going to this see this pianist! Nevertheless, she insists and so I reluctantly allowed myself to be taken to the San Rafael Theater. Of course, “the wonderful pianist” was Richard Glazier and I was completely enchanted with his “Judy Garland and Friends” show. I ran up to him in the interval and told him about myself and he said, “Oh, you better talk to my wife, Jan” so I did. That is how I joined Jan’s Judy Family.

 In concerts, Jan and Richard always include people who were close to Judy, either by video clips or in person, if they are able. On this occasion, they had invited Ray Hirsch to talk about his time with Judy. He loved to dance as Judy did and they often attended functions together. He was still a lively man and it was great to hear him talk about Judy.

 It is early in the year 2010 and suddenly there is a newsletter from Jan about a function in Hollywood in April. It is 10 p.m. and I am leaving at 4 a.m. the next morning to visit my daughter…What am I going to do?..  I don’t know anyone… I have to make up my mind then and there… There is a message from Heather Siebert wanting to share a room…Okay I will go, maybe it will motivate me to get on with my book.

 Of course, it turns out to be fantastic. Gary Horrocks and Justin Sturge come from England and we talk about the UK club. I met the brilliant and funny Martha Wade Steketee, author Coyne Steven Sanders and dear George Sunga from my CBS days.  

 Then there is Judy in New York 2011 and how can any top that? Carnegie Hall, the Palace, a party at Sardis, Albert Poland, the Russian Vodka Room and my own dear sweet Elizabeth Rublein, who I first met in 1997 and managed to never to lose, even though we both moved houses and email addresses many times.

 I am not entirely sure how Jan manages to put together her functions. She has a kind of magic. It appears she just waves her wand and everything happens. I realize that is not true and behind every event, there is enormous amount of work on the part of she and Richard, video taping people who were important in Judy’s life and inviting authors and producers to talk about Judy. With her loving sweet nature, she incorporates everyone into this magical Judy World.

 Now we are going to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of The Judy Garland Show in April 2013. Steve and Frank have been working long and hard on a new video presentation. Suddenly we get the dreadful news of Steve’s passing. Everyone is stunned and in shock and I guess that just about sums up how many of us felt. Steve had an uncanny ability to reach out and be the friend many of us needed. Frank summed it up best, “Steve inspired you to be better than you thought you could be.” In my case he encouraged my writing about Judy and responded positively to my blogs saying things like “Joan is a force of nature.” I doubt if talented Ruth Turner could have ever imagined she would have her New York premiere singing at the Cast Party at Birdland but Steve orchestrated that. As to dear Frankie, he had lost his mentor. But, the show must go on.

 Many of my friends from other parties cannot come. We have lost dear Steve. How will we get through the occasion? I will have Ellie (Eleanor Lyon), and Meredith Ponedel to sustain me. 

Ellie and I manage to find our way to the welcoming party room and Kate Russell, Bev Shields and Meredith are checking people in. The first person I see is Jon Perdue. I am so happy to meet him finally; Jon has been helping me with the book, checking over confusing chapters and generally keeping me on the straight and narrow. His partner Rob Mills is with him. (Later I will find out that Jon had been in the Stock Market and Rob is a Real Estate broker; two subjects which are close to my heart. As we live fairly near to one another and we will be able to visit.) Dear friend Jack Wood is here; we occasionally meet in San Francisco for lunch. Jack lives a charmed life; he has friends all over the world and travels constantly. I hug Frankie; we had talked about how difficult this evening would be. I flit around in true Judy manner (for I had been at a couple of parties with her and had seen her in action). Managed to have a chat with Woolsey Ackerman, who is so knowledgeable about all things Judy related. I rush over to ask Tracy Terhume a question–he has published two books on Rudolph Valentino (my mother would have loved him). He reminds me that we talked last year at the Heritage Museum; I am such a twit! Here is Randy Henderson; we had talked for a long time at the Judy “do” last July. What a joy to see Ruth and Robert again! There is a new girl in town. She has big green eyes, blonde hair, petite and beautifully dressed. “I have a degree in journalism,” she tells me, “but I don’t work in that field.” Her name is Lauren McShea. She looks very capable.

Woolsey Ackerman listening to me

Beautiful, talented Ruth and her Robert Turner

Rob Mills signing in 

Lauren McShea who went from JudyFriend to niece, to godchild in a week

Richard and Jan have prepared interviews with Ray Hirsch, who danced with Judy (mentioned earlier), Clyde Willson, who was in the movie, Andy Hardy Meets Debutante, and Gene Allen, Art Director on the movie A Star is Born, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, and the incomparable Mickey Rooney.   

Gene Allen with Richard Glazier

Our guest speaker was Robert L. Freedman producer and writer of the Life with Judy Garland “Me and My Shadows”(2001)  won the Emmy for Outstanding Miniseries in November 2001. He shows clips and tells us about making the series. The most exciting thing was his new project “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder" co-written with Steven Lutvak and which has been performed in San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, which usually means it will go to Broadway.

Robert L.Freedman, Richard and one of Trace Terhune's collection

At one point, Jan and Frankie hear a knock at the door and in bursts D.j.Schaefer and Peter Mac, as Judy. Peter/Judy immediately leads us in a sing-along. (I am devoting a whole blog to Peter.) D.j. is standing over at the side. When the show is over, I rush up to him, “It’s me, it’s me,” I say. “I know, I know” he replies and we dance a little jig so happy to finally meet. D.j. had been very upset recently about that awful British woman (from the north) in a play I still refuse to remember the name of and I had to calm him down. Peter Mac wrote a blog for HuffPost Not the End of the Rainbow: Fact vs. Fiction and so I knew the boys had done their research on Judy. Later I would sit next to D.j. at the dinner at Matteo’s, we exchanged life stories and discovered we were both eggheads.

With Peter Mac/Judy - he admired my jacket

Suddenly I realize Sam Irvin is sitting at our table. I jump up lean over the table; two glasses of red wine go flying – over Ellie’s phone. I am so excited. “I need to talk to you about your Kay Thompson book,” I say. (He probably thought I was a mad woman!) “Don’t worry,” he says, “I’ll be here all weekend, we will have time to talk later” and we do and he is very helpful to me. 

Sam Irvin and his book on Kay Thompson

The morning of Day 2 is a tour of the Warner Bros. campus. Meredith had arranged with the studio to give us a special tour with emphasis on the locations of ASIB. Our tour guide had decided to work on his day off because he was so thrilled to take around such an interesting group as we were! And boy were we interesting! The Security is tight, similar to an airport except no removal of shoes. They show us movie clips and we tour the various back lots, Norman Maine’s dressing room, various external entrances where filming had taken place and we were all excited over the cross way ramp. We also went in several museums and storage areas and checked out items which had been in the movie.    

My Pal Ellie (Eleanor Lyon)

Outside the theatre where Vickie Lester's first movie was shown

From the talented Lauren McShea

Jeff Freeman going into Norman Maine's dressing room

For lunch, we went to Musso and Frank’s Hollywood’s oldest restaurant established in 1919. Someone commented that the waiters might be unfriendly but I found them charming and courteous. 

Lauren, Frankie, Richard, Tracy listening to Sam Irvin

Remember don't give Meredith too many drinks

Jan and Lauren - two ladies in red

Ellie and I drive back to the hotel with Meredith, stopping off at Ralph’s for some supplies and an ice cream at Baskin Robbins.

Meredith Ponedel and Jj Darling

If one ever needs a tour guide, I can thoroughly recommend Meredith Ponedel tour guide par excellence. Meredith has lived in Hollywood all her life, spent her childhood around the studios with her father and aunt, Dottie Ponedel. Meredith knows everything and everyone. Last summer Ellie was having one of her Bench Wench “dos” and and I crashed it. “Come a couple of days earlier and we can do things!” Meredith had said. Remember to not pile on the drinks otherwise, Meredith will fall asleep on your bed. Secondly, it is probably not wise not to schedule a tour when one of her dogs are in heat or having puppies, otherwise you will have to take a detour out to the valley to check up on them. Of course, a visit to Meredith’s house is worth the price of admittance. She has a menagerie; apart from the usual dogs and cats, there are reptiles and parrots. Oh and before I forget, take a fresh supply of pretty tops, Meredith often has to change tops depending on the weather, she feels the cold so. She won’t mind changing in the car.

Later we recovered and Jon and Ellie and I sent good wishes to Greg Speight who couldn't be with us

Laruen went out exploring with Jeff Freeman while we recovered from Musso & Frank's

Day 3 Friday. Thank goodness, for the schedule Jan gave us otherwise I wouldn't remember one day from the next.

We are going to the Hollywood Heritage Museum. George Kiel, manager introduced us to the museum and told us how it was a converted 100 year old barn Lasky-DeMille Barn. Est.1913. It is a delightful place. Meredith had taken Hannah and me there last year. Not only do I buy Sam Irvin’s book, but several second hand autobiographies, Ingrid Berman, Carol Burnett, Noel Coward, (shall surely find stuff to add from there) George Burns (already added stuff from his book) and Eartha Kitt. Will I ever stop researching?

Last summer in Cecil DeMille's office

with Sharon Stewart

Tom Barnes showed us a filmed version of from one of the shows Judy did in her series.

Then Sam Irvin talked about his book, “Kay Thompson,” fascinating. (Writing a separate blog on his book when I can finish it.) 

Christopher Finch talked about his book on Judy, “Rainbow.” As Chris and I come from the U.K. we talked for about a half hour of our memories of Judy while others toured the Hollywood Bowl. We had both been at the London Palladium for the filming of “Blue Bird” for the movie, I Could Go on Singing many years ago.

Kate Russell, Jeff Freeman and Bev Shields at Hollywood Bowl 

Laruren McShea and Ruth Turner at the Hollywood Bowl

Then it was time for the tribute to Coyne Steven Sanders.

Richard, Jan Glazier and Coyne Steven Sanders

Randy Henderson read a tribute from Daniel Berghaus. He then talked about meeting Steve 30+ years ago, when Steve contacted him after Randy had written an article about Judy’s TV work in a magazine called EMMY. The first thing Steve did was to invite him to a party attended by his friends. Randy also talked of Steve’s kindness to Sid by inviting him to a screening of ASIB with a group of others so he could enjoy their appreciation for his work on the movie. Sid died shortly afterwards. Randy’s final words summed Steve up “A self-created, generous and kind person, who gravitated toward what he most loved and built a life around it.”

Don Azars (longtime friend and former roommate in LA) prepared a video about Steve and talked of his friendship with Steve. 

Then it was my turn. Frankie had asked me to read Gary Horrock’s tribute (Gary & Justin could not come because of house moves to Yorkshire but the club would continue from there) and say a few words of my own. I decided to gently “roast” Gary and tell some funny stories about our friendship to lighten the atmosphere.

Steve was a part of Gary’s ‘A’ team along with John Fricke. Steve suggested that Gary and Justin Sturge managed the International Judy Garland Club and create the ‘Celebration’ magazine. When they were visiting Los Angeles, he arranged for them to have lunch with Sid Luft. His final words to Steve were “Goodnight Sir. With the deepest affection and appreciation.”

I am sure Steve’s friendship with each of us was different, he had an uncanny ability to connect with our souls and give us the friendship and help that we needed. As Frankie said, he encouraged us and made us better than we thought we could be. In my case, our connection was the television series and he inspired me to write more about Judy. He would leave complimentary responses to my blogs. We were going to discuss my book this April and I am selfishly devastated by our loss. I ended with the words of Will Shakespeare: “Good night sweet Prince. May hosts of angels sing you to sleep.”

Ruth Turner had met Steve in JIH 2010 and they became great friends, visiting each other’s homes. Ruth talked of her love for Steve and how she would always miss him.   

Tracy Terhune read a tribute from Charles Tripplett and reminisced about his relationship with Steve and the many hours of fun at parties. Extracts from his comments"…Friends of his caliber are a treasured breed…with his death, what a tremendous void has been inflicted upon the Judy Garland community…Coyne Steven Sanders is an iconic example of the impact of one man…"

It came to Frankie to wind up the tribute. He told us that he felt Steve was his biggest cheerleader, always encouraging and supporting him. We were shown 55 minutes of highlights from the documentary about TJGS, based on all of Steve’s research materials gathered for the book, “Rainbow’s End” and approximately 90 audio interviews he conducted and recorded for it. The work-in-progress documentary will be done before the end of the year.

Frankie Labrador talking about Steve

Jan added a few words about her love for Steve, and how he never gave less than 1000% to anything he did.

Although it was obviously a sad occasion loosing Steve, it was also joyous remembering his love for Judy and his great contribution to the Judy Family. I like to think Steve was sending us happy vibes: not to mention the ones coming down from Judy!

Now it was time for Fun. Many of us were going to see Peter Mac in his fabulous show “Get Happy” at the Oil Can Harry’s in Studio City.

Again, the cars roll onto the LA freeways.

Oil Can Harry’s is really a lovely dive, probably doesn’t hold more than 75 people. But what a great bunch of people, all bubbling and ready to enjoy themselves. I spy Wayne Lawless and Larry and try to sit with them, but I’m moved on to make room for prestigious guests, Margaret O’Brien and Randal Malone. Oh well, fair enough. I managed to get a few words with Margaret saying how I had enjoy seeing her on a talk program and learning how she loved the archeology of Peru. She had lived there once for a couple of years. I had studied all the art of Mesoamerica while I completed my anthropology degree. Randal shared with me that Margaret would have been an archeologist if she had not been an actor. Me too, if I had discovered who I was earlier in life. 

Peter Mac- I am speechless and intend to devote a whole blog to him. I cannot remember a single song he sang; I was so captivated with his stories. Judy sang, “The story of my life is in my songs” Peter told her story in his chatter between the songs. I was impressed with his research; everything is in my book. Oh! Just realized you don’t need to buy my book, just go and see Peter! But my book won’t cost $32!.

When the show was over, he ran up to me, as if for approval, with a freshly scrubbed face and I saw this very nice young man.

Peter Mac with long time Judy friend, Wayne Lawless

A thoughtful D.j.Schaefer

The Last Day and we are going to Television City. Yippee!!

Going to work after 50 years

The cars roll out again onto the LA freeways. They check driver’s license and the number in each the car. Again this is a special tour arrange by George Sunga. George Sunga and his sweet wife, Judy, greet us and guide the tour. He showed us where Judy’s trailer was and took us up in freight elevator to Studio 43. I wrote a long piece and video about the presentation George gave us in 2010 and published in the Judy Garland International Club – perhaps I will dig it out and post as a separate blog as it was very interesting, but I don’t have the energy to re-create it. 

Waiting to go into CBS with George and Judy Sunga

After the tour Eleanor Lyon took over and reminisced about the hours after the show, when she and the other Bench Wenches and Dudes waited for Judy.  Get on with your book Eleanor!

Randy Henderson, Ellie, Jack Wood and Kate Russell 

Eleanor Lyon telling Kate Russell about those marvelous days

Lunchtime and we drive to Farmer’s Market. Fifty years ago, there were no barriers and we used to walk over for lunch there. Now everything is so built up and the market crowded. 

Eleanor and Lauren

Party Time Again! Farewell Dinner at Matteo’s and George Schlatter!!!!!

Lauren and Bev Shields

Jon Perdue talking with Joe Luft and Tom Early at Matteo's 

The first person I see is Joe Luft. We had many conversations in Grand Rapids in 1997 and chatted again JIH 2010. In Grand Rapids I told him that he reminded me most of his mother, rather than his sisters. He agreed, been told that himself. If you look at photographs of him as a child, you see the same elf shaped face and warm eyes. Of course, they are different genders and everyone now says “ he looks more like his father every day.”  I do not think so. Liza has Judy’s mannerism and chuckles but she is her father’s daughter and certainly, Lorna is her father’s daughter. Now I am digging back into my genetics and anthropology for this. As I stood talking to him the other day, it reminded me of when I talked with Judy. I told him about my book and how I’d like to include some photographs I’d taken of him in Grand Rapids. Did he want to see I ask. “No, No,”  he said, “that will be fine.” He told me he was working in a photographic studio near LA airport and was happy with this new venture.

George Sunga and Joe Luft

Joe Luft and Paul Herrick at Matteo's

I left him free to talk to other people and wandered out into the patio where George Schlatter was holding court. Yes, that is exactly what was happening; he was “Holding Court.” The great man was accepting adoration from his public, which he certainly deserved to receive. People circled around him taking in every word. I had told George Sunga previously that I would like to talk to George and he very graciously moved from his position and I was able to move in. Told him I had worked in Business Affairs while he was producing Judy’s show and he recognized this department. We shook hands. Told him I was writing a book about Judy. “Why hadn’t I interviewed him?” he asked. Ha! Chance would be a fine thing, I thought. We talked of this, that, and all the bad stuff which had gone on. I left CBS soon after they fired him on August 6. 

I told George that the biggest regret of my life was that I had not tried to contact her while I was there. Directives had come down from Jim Aubrey that people working in the building were not to attempt to talk to Judy or go near her trailer. I was very timid at that time and very much a new girl just arrived from England, I looked for her but never saw her. Later when I read Steve’s book and understood exactly what she had to contend with I regretted my inactivity. I thought later I could have sent her a note in the internal mail telling her I was working in the building reminding her she’d taken me to recording studio etc. George looked at me understandingly and nodded, “You should have,” he said, “She needed a friend, she would have been glad to have a cup of tea with you.”   

Dinner is over and the floorshow starts with George Schlatter as stand-up comedian and George Sunga as his straight man. “How old were you when we started the series, two years old?” asks Schlatter. “No, four years” says Sunga and holds up four fingers….It does on from there. At one point, he calls over to Joe Luft, “About that father of yours, he was a piece of work” Joe laughs, agreeing. Many of the stories and comments cannot be documented. Someone head would roll, probably mine. Enough to say that George repeated many of the stories which are documented in Steve Sanders, book. “Rainbow’s End.” When you read them they are in black and white, but when George tells them they are in glorious Technicolor with many embellishments. Think it was a night none of us will ever forget.

George Sunga and George Schlatter go into their Act.

I told him before he left when he was chatting up Margaret O’Brien,(yes he gently flirts with ladies of a certain age and makes them feel attractive–quite a Gent!) that he should have been a stand-up comedian. He replied, “No they would have killed me” and he is probably correct, they would have.

Beautiful Margaret O'Brien wearing her Peruvian jewelry with Sam Irwin

Last but very certainly not least, here are the Bench Wenches and One Dude
Margo Slaughter, Norman Chramoff, Maureen Case Davis and Eleanor Lyon

Jan credits many people with helping her put on this event. Richard created those fantastic video interviews and filmed our participants in their individual interviews as well as interviewing Robert L. Freedman and introducing Margaret O’Brien and Joe Luft. Frankie worked tirelessly on the fabulous TJGS anniversary video, a couple of videos we didn’t have time to see, and conducting Steve’s very loving memorial. Tracy Terhune arranged to get us use of the Barn, printed all the brochures and helped wherever needed. Kate Russell, Bev Shields, Amalia Armijo and Stella Grace helped with registration. Meredith Pondedel arranged for our tour at Warners Bros. and lunch at lunch at Musso & Frank’s. Paul Herrick helped with shuttling people around. Tom Barnes showed his marvelous film of the television series. Eleanor Lyon shared memories of the Bench Wenches at CBS. George Sunga used his influence to get us into CBS and arranged for our audience with George Schlatter.

 Those of us who were there will never forget the experience.

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