My visit to the Judy Garland Museum, Grand Rapids, June 2015

    A visit to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids is always exciting with the opportunity for me to make new friends. I had flown into Fargo Airport where Ruth and Robert Turner picked me up and took me to their home in Grand Forks. I had met Ruth at the Judy In Hollywood 2010 function organized by Jan Glazier and we had kept in touch through the years and knowing I was considering a visit to Grand Rapids, she insisted I spend a few days with her and her family. Robert had offered to drive us in to the celebrations. 

    Ruth and I arrived late afternoon on the Wednesday and checked into the legendary Sawmill Inn. Why does the phrase “decayed grandeur” immediately come to mind. I imagine the Inn was built in the 1970s and retains much of the charm of these buildings, even with an old-fashioned door key, and an indoor pool and Jacuzzi.  Every time I passed the Jacuzzi I recollect talking with Sid and Joey Luft while they relaxed there after a game of golf when I last visited the Museum in 1997-ghosts of the past!  We bumped into Paul Herrick in the lobby. He is sorry to have missed Robert, who was on his way home. Everyone loves Robert.  We found our rooms; made our way to the Cedars Dining room, and sat with Paul, Lorraine Lassig-Banks, the Coroner (Jeff Kortman)  and Scarecrow (Tom Hendicks)  and the charming Michelle Russell.  I seem to remember having an excellent pork chop. Paul, who is the tech person helping with presentations, has his computer on the table and so I pass my flash drive to him and it seems to work. 

Lorraine & Paul

Joseph, Ruth & Michelle

After dinner, we remained in the dining room talking about Judy, of course. Joseph Malinosvsky and Alyson Hill were with us. Ruth saw that John Fricke and Brent Phillips were at another table and so she said Hello to them and they came over and joined us. We had numerous photographs taken –“ The three authors!”  John, says Jokingly.  He explained to me that he had known Brent for several years and they often helped each other with their writings. Brent charmed us all with his pleasant manner and laughing brown eyes, a true dancer, reminded me of Gene Kelly. Brent told me that he had been with the Joffrey Ballet for about ten years. “Lifting the ballerinas?” I joked, “Oh Yes,” he nodded in reply. He had been a great fan of Judy’s and we all sat reminiscing about her for quite a while.

Brent & John 

    The next morning, Thursday, after breakfast Ruth and I went over to the Museum to check that whether John’s presentation and mine worked on Paul’s computer. They did so we were all relieved. We went down to inspect the room where the Opening Festival Events were to be. There was a low platform for Josh, the pianist. A screen was found and the stand to support it. I’d bought a CD of Judy singing songs from the London Sessions and Michelle produced a CD player so it could be playing before and between set ups.  It was going to work………..     While Ruth ran around the museum and visited Judy’s home, I was content to remain in the lobby. Like most anthropologists, my fascination is with people, I love watching them. My particular joy is airplane terminals where I seem to spent hours, not reading, but watch the constant movement of people, many from foreign lands.At some point Paul organized a group of us to go over to the Gumm house to have a photograph taken.I was glad to see Rudy and Kim Rudolph again, I had met them at one of the UK club meetings; also Sheree Gilbert and Kathleen Stevens Lands, the niece of my old friend, Gordon Stevens.

Coroner &
Scarecrow

Sheree, Kathleen and John

     Many people coming in and out, it was quite exciting!. I spent time with the Scarecrow and the Coroner and was fascinated to see them change suddenly into their Oz characters when visitors walked in. They were true actors!  It was amazing to see so many small children jumping for joy at meeting an Oz characters in the flesh as it were. However, it was not only children who were excited;  I watched a young woman dance back and forth with the Scarecrow, as if she was Dorothy in the Land of Oz. Many of the events on based the Wizard of Oz theme because the movie is so close to the hearts of everyone.

      Michelle Russell had prepared a new wall presentation of Judy’s Public Service work inspired by a chapter in my book, Always for Judy and John Fricke had supplied many of the photographs from his collection. A family came in with a daughter who was obviously autistic (wearing head phones to dull of noise simulation) and I mentioned Judy’s work with handicapped children and service members and they went down to view it.

     Ruth and I went back to the Sawmill to change and have dinner. Nialani and Bobby arrived so “my team” was all there. 

     Pianist, Josh Gallagher, was the opening act and he would play his Jazz Tribute to Judy Garland just before my presentation at 8 p.m., Remembering the Judy I knew.   

     Bobby took my Sony camera and put in on a high cupboard to film my presentation from there and Nialani used my iPhone for close ups. Ruth made sure I had water to drink. I was grateful to have these three personal assistants helping me.

    When Michelle Russell and John Kelsch invited me to attend this year’s Festival I realized I would have to prepare a Power Point Presentation. I knew what I would be talking about, Judy at the Palladium and Dominion etc. and so I put together some photographs but I needed some of Judy’s songs to liven it up. Luckily, I had a good friend, Frank Labrador, who offered to embed them for me. He added transitions to all the slides, and animated some of them so that they played in rhythm to the music clips. A truly talented creative soul. .  

We all enjoyed Josh Gallagher’s music but finally it was my turn to talk. John Fricke had told me the evening before that he would be introducing me and I was very honored. We had met many years ago in New York and occasionally bump into together each other at Judy functions. John mentioned that he had followed my writings in the British Judy Garland Club, over the years and this information had helped him in many of the books he wrote. I said that no one had perpetuated the memory more beautifully than John had and hoped he would go on through the years finding new aspects of Judy’s genius to entertain us.

thanks to Kristin Yanish Pavlish for photo

   I talked about discovering her in the movie, Strike up the Band, seeing her at the London Palladium 1951 and the London Dominion 1957, and meeting her after the last show. Also attending Press Reception in 1960; attending one of the London recording sessions at EMI house, and seeing her London Palladium concerts in 1960. I was lucky enough to be at the London Palladium during some of the filming of I Could Go On Singing – also at a recording session in 1962. When I moved to California in 1963, I found myself working at CBS during the same time of Judy’s early tapings for her CBS Television Series and I was able to share the excitement of attending the party after the first television show with Mickey Rooney. The presentation ended with Judy singing, “This is my Lucky Day” because I felt so lucky to have Judy in my life and through her met so many lovely people who have become friends.

Ruth taking shot of Joseph and I 

Ruby, Paul & Joseph

    We retreated to the Bar at the Sawmill and stayed there until midnight talking.

Friday.  The divers came back from their exploration of Lake Superior without finding the Ruby Shoes, which had been stolen from the museum years ago.  

    The first event of the day was a Wizard of Oz Jeopardy Game at 10 a.m. followed by my book signing from 11 a.m. to noon.  I was quite content sitting there talking to people and at one point Brent Phillips joined us, sitting on the floor happily explaining to Ruth, Nialani and I how he came to write his book, 

Ruth, Brent & Nialani

Ruth, the book and Brent

Charles Walters: The Director who made Hollywood Dance.

with my assistant Ruth

I am on my own for a moment and in walks the Tin Man; I suppose everyone has his favorite character and he is mine.  I jump up and dance around him like a small child, inspecting the costume.  He tells me about Judy’s home being moved from several locations and how he came to create his costume and how he goes out on Halloween.    

Larry Muggs Johnson

    John Fricke was very busy every day.  He gave a talk on Fun Facts about Oz from 1:30 – 2.00 p.m. Then at 3.30 p.m., there was the big event for me, a presentation by John about Judy in Concert. He shared rare footage of silent home movies taken of Judy during her concert years from 1951-1969. He also had a couple of Garland recordings from her 1950s and 1960s appearances. I loved hearing these special recordings again. Thank you John! 

    I realized there was something peculiar going on when Bobby and I sat over on the right hand side of the audience and my other two assistants seated themselves, with my handbag, over on the left hand side. They took no notice of the retreats from me to join us. At the end of John’s talk, when I am recovering from the emotions of hearing Judy sing again, John calls out “where is Ruth?” and I realize Nialani and she have gone from the room. I sense they are up to something and suggest to Bobby I will slip out but he stops me. The door bursts open and my two Oz friends; the Scarecrow and the Coroner come in with a special cake for my birthday, and cakes for everyone. I am very touched and quite overcome emotionally. But I still threaten to fire these two assistants!.  Altogether a very special afternoon and thanks to everyone.

Dorothy, Scarecrow , Coroner and Bobby

   Soon after, we have to say our goodbyes because Nialani and Bobby offered to take us back to Grand Forks to save Robert having to drive in again to pick us up. 

   John Kelsch and Michelle Russell work hard to make the Museum a fun place for children and their parents to visit because everyone loves, the Oz story and characters. The Museum is full of books, recordings of Judy and mementos. 

John Kelsch and Michelle Russell

I am sure the rest of the activities were just as exciting;here are a few:

For the children there was Farm and Zoo event in the afternoon put on by the Lake Superior Zoological Society in the Memorial Gardens. Then BBQ Picnic planned for 5:30 p.m., followed by  a Wizard of Oz Character Costume Contest at 7.30 p.m. then the screening of the famous movie.

Saturday

John Fricke is full of information about the Oz movie and Judy and happy to share all he knows. He had two talks in the morning with film clips, one about the actors who were nearly in the movie: The OZ That Almost “Woz” and the other about the actors who played the roles ALWAYS From the Yellow Brick Road.  

From 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. there was THE EMERALD CITY FEST in down town Grand Rapids with the Horse of a Different color carriage rides, Face painting, Hair Braiding and Glitter Tattoos. I can imagine Michelle and my two Oz friends were kept quite busy.

My new friend, Brent Phillips gave his talk about his book on Charles Walters, with film clips. Sorry I missed this. 

From 5.00 - 6:30 p.m. there was The Judy Garland Museum Singing Contest for youngsters from 6 – 18 years.  

The final event was a Wine and Cheese Reception at 7 p.m. then a talk by Hamilton Meserve, son of Margaret Hamilton, the witch in the movie. It must have been fascinating.

Sunday FAREWELL BREAKFAST

Thanks to my support team, Nialani, Bobby & Ruth