Michael Feinstein's Tribute to Judy Garland on Oct.1, 2016 with Lorna Luft & Liza Minnelli at Feinstein's at the Nikko, SF

Jon Perdue, Rob Mills and I met with Jack Wood in the lobby of the Nikko Hotel in great anticipation for this Judy Garland tribute. Jack and Jon had shared many of their stories with me about seeing and meeting Judy in years past and I had included them in my book, Always for Judy: Witness to the Joy and Genius of Judy Garland, (pub. 2014, Yarnscombe Books) so we were very happy to be together again sharing the joy and magic of Judy.

Liza Minnelli had been in the audience on the previous evenings and so we hoped we would see her also. Just before the show started, we were all delighted to see Liza appear and sit in the audience with us.

Michael started by saying that this show was a tribute to the talent and artistry of Judy Garland.

Michael is just not a ballad singer; he has done his homework working for years to preserve and music of the composers and lyricists of the Broadway Theatre and Hollywood Musicals (1920s-1950s eras). In 2000, the Library of Congress appointed him to the National Recording Preservation Board. Therefore, Judy’s music is his music!   

He opened the show with “That’s Entertainment” a song in tribute to the great musical movies of the past. The two television screens at the side showed excerpts from these movies, not Judy specific. I imagine he has used this as an introduction to other events, as he regularly does shows about the great composers and lyricists of the past in the theme of the Classic American songbook.

I had never seen Michael perform before and found I was pleasantly surprised at his warmth, charm, and range of his voice.

His first Judy song was “Just in Time” using the Kay Thompson’s arrangement, which was so perfect because Kay had been Judy’s dear friend and Liza’s godmother. He really nailed it in true Judy fashion. His voice had enough power to do justice to “her rendition” of this so well- loved song among the Judy fans. He went on to mentioned that although Judy often sung the old remembered songs from her movies occasionally she found a new one and sang for us “I’d Like to Hate Myself in the Morning” by John Meyer. He finished this opening segment with “Swanee.” This last song was such a favorite of Judy’s and she often sung it as an encore at her concerts. (I had been lucky enough to have been taken by her to the EMI recording studios one day in August 1960 and sat three feet behind her when she belted it this number with the Norrie Paramor orchestra. It is in the London Sessions CD, so it was particularly nostalgic for me.)   

Michael talked about the The Wizard of Oz and then went to the piano saying “If you know the words please don’t join in…except one person,” referring to Liza. Then he sang the song which had been sung to Dorothy in this movie; the Scarecrow’s lament, “If I only had a brain;” then the Tin Man’s,” If I only had a heart” and finally the Cowardly Lion’s, “If I only had the Nerve.”

He brought back the musicians and introduced pianist Colin Freeman (Lorna’s husband who had taken time out as musical director of The Little Mermaid to be part of Michael and Lorna’s tribute to Judy,) bassist Daniel Fabricant and percussionist Mark McLean, who had been with him for a while.

Michael introduced Lorna Luft who quickly went into a rousing version of Judy’s “San Francisco.” She told us afterwards how she had spent quite a bit of time in this city because her son had attended San Francisco State University and she figured she had helped with the city’s economy by the number of parking tickets she had paid during that time! Lorna has a wry sense of humor. She added that she would be back here again during the holiday period appearing in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. (Both Jack and I have tickets for this.) She chatted about how happy she was to be with us and that this show was a party. She told us that she was anticipating the birth of her third grandchild as her daughter-in-law had gone into Labor at 10 am this morning. She was very excited about this new addition to her family. She introduced the next song by telling the oft-told story of how Judy first heard strains of “The Man that Got Away” on the golf course when Harold Arlen hummed the tune and later that day Judy sang it for the first time in the Palm Springs Club House. Lorna has a quite different way of handling this torch song. She doesn’t sport the sweet smile of her mother, but puts a great deal of dry humor into the hurt that the songstress is experiencing, remembering this broken love affair. Good for her! Then she went on to talk about Al Jolson’s influence on her mother and sang his song—which has now become Judy’s song: “Rock-a-Bye my Baby with a Dixie Melody.” 

The show was very fast paced and it is difficult to be sure just what happened next but it may have been Michael’s melody of Judy’s songs including “Our Love Affair,” “This is my Lucky Day,” “Zing went the Strings of my Heart, “Get Happy,” “I feel a song coming on,” ending with a rousing “Come Rain or Come Shine.”  

Then he told the story of how Judy had explained to Hugh Martin—composer of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and other songs for Judy—when they were together at the Palace in 1951 why people were so effected by her sad songs “I always smile when I sing Torch Songs.” (So true, I had wondered about that often.) He went to the piano again and sang a medley including, “Look for the Silver Lining,” from the movie Till the Clouds Roll By,  Noel Coward’s “If Love Were All,” George & Ira Gershwin’s “But not for me,” from Girl Crazy and Irving Berlin’s “Better Luck next time” from Easter Parade.

He brought Lorna back onto the stage and they decide to do the Judy/Barbra Streisand’s duet “Get Happy/Happy Days are here again” from Judy’s CBS Television series. Some of the songs included in medley were, “After You have gone,”  “By Myself,” “S’Wonderful,” “How about You?”  “Hooray for Love,” “You and Night and the Music,” “It All Depends on You” and then going into the finale of “Get Happy/Happy Times are Here Again.”    

The show ends with Michael—echoing what I had said in my book, “Judy will be a part of our culture for 100, 500, and even 500 years in the future”

(p.243)—talking about how the legacy of Judy Garland will go on forever and he sang the song Judy loved the most, “Through the Years,” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”

The show ended but not quite, because Lorna came up again and introduced her sister saying, “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family. I am so lucky. I am so lucky because a woman who has been so supportive of me, and has been there when I’ve fallen down, when I’ve gotten back up, and she has always said to me ‘We’ll go through everything together.’ And, I am very, very fortunate because she is here to night. Ladies and gentlemen—my sister Liza Minnelli!”

Michael and Lorna brought Liza onto to the stage and she settled herself in a director’s chair. Michael asked, “What should we do?” “It’s up to you, whatever you want,” replied Liza. Michael asked, “You want to do a song about this big black instrument?”

Then Liza began the opening verse of “I Love a Piano.” Her mother had sung this song in the movie, Easter Parade. Liza has a particular magic all her own and every movement, turn of the head, gesture is unique and she really enjoyed herself having fun with this song.

It was great to see her well and happy being with Michael, who she is obviously exceedingly fond of, and with her sister. She commented how she loved hearing Lorna singing Mama’s songs.  

It was a happy occasion celebrating the joy and magic of Judy Garland. As I mention in my book, although Judy is gone “We are lucky enough to hear her voice when her two beautiful daughters….sing.” (p. 242)

Thank you to Michael, Lorna and Liza for a beautiful evening and bringing back so many memories. 

"Hello Dolly!" at the California Music Theatre in Sacramento

                On June 20. 2016 I went with a group to see “Hello Dolly!” at the California Music Theatre in Sacramento. ” This is a classic musical that I had never seen so I was glad to sign up. I knew it was about a character named Widow Dolly Levi, matchmaker who set her cap at Horace Vandergelder, with Music & Lyrics by Broadway legend Jerry Herman and choreography by Gower Chapman. Carol Channing had played “Dolly” in the original Broadway production in 1964 and Barbra Streisand in the 1969 movie. 

 Many recorded the title song including Sinatra, Bobby Darin and jazz musician Louis Armstrong. There is a funny story attached to the Armstrong recording. In 1964, his agent persuaded him to make some recordings of show songs.  About three or four months later while they were playing their usual jazz numbers in Nebraska, the audience called out for “Hello Dolly!" Without him knowing it, the recording had become a great hit on the radio and jukeboxes and he had completely forgotten he had recorded it and had to send for the music. They put the number in the act, with Louis playing the 32 bar trumpet solo and singing the chorus. The first night they played it, pandemonium broke out and his recording became the No.1 Song in the United States for several weeks. This had never happened to a jazz musician before and in 2001, his version was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Anyway, back to “Hello Dolly!” in Sacramento. The thing that struck me was the excellence of the orchestra conducted by Craig Barra who has been with the Music Circus for almost thirty years. They were so sharp and bright so I felt we were in for a good show. 

I was pleased and delighted to see there was more than just Dolly Levi (Lynne Wintersteller) and her antics in this show. The romantic leads were actually a middle-aged couple Cornelius Hackl (John Scherer) in love with Irene Molloy (Jacquelyn Piro Donovan)and he gets to sing the beautiful  “It Only Takes a Moment”  to his love. 

Above everything else, the dancing captured my attention. In the second act, we get to see the classic “Hello Dolly!” number set in the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant. Rudolph (John B. Williford) and the six waiters entertain us with “The Waiters’ Gallop.” Cheers to the costume designer for their outfits: the combination of white spats, apron and shirts with black shoes and pants highlighted with red bow tie and waistcoats and their magnificent dancing were the highlights of the show for me. Dolly Levi enters the restaurant and the theatre explodes as she greets each of the waiters.

A lovely uplifting afternoon!   

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella or Ella at the Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco

On Wednesday May 4, 2016 I set off with a group from my community happy to be leaving  Vacaville for a while. Our driver, from All West took us on Route 37 so that we could cross into San Francisco over the Golden Gate Bridge, always a thrill no matter how many times one does it.

Lunch was at the Beach Chalet overlooking a grey sea, often that way in the city. I enjoyed Kale Salad, Grilled Salmon and a “to die for” New York Cheesecake.

We drove along John F. Kennedy Drive through the 1,027 acres of Golden Gate Park, which is larger than Central Park in New York. We were luckily enough to Carolyn Roy with us; she had worked with the Golden Gate Police Dept. for 30 years and knew so much about the park.

The area was originally sand dunes and from the 1870s John McLaren (Superintendent of the Park for 53 years), worked to design the park, initially planting 60,000 trees from all over the world.

We saw many of these trees on the drive along with lakes, a soccer field and golf course. We passed two windmills, a herd of buffalo, and beautiful gardens in front of the Stow Lake Boathouse and Japanese Gardens, along with the Conservatory of Flowers which uses re-cycled water.  We passed the many buildings of the California Academy of Sciences; the Planetarium, National History Museum and the new Aquarium along with the new building housing the deYoung Museum.  

The musical was enchanting in this lovely old theatre filled with moms with little girls in their party dresses, retirees and tourists. The singing, dancing and costumes were perfect but I think most of us were curious about how they managed the transformation of Ella and the Fairy Godmother’s costumes on stage right in front of our eyes!   Many of the songs were familiar to us particularly “In My Own Little Room,” “Impossible” and “Ten Minutes ago.”

The Prince, was impossibly beautiful — be it if slightly unworldly! The Producers of this show had developed the characters of the two ugly stepsisters to make them more interesting. One was a comedian who kept the cast and audience laughing all through the show with her antics. The other sister was in love with the local social activist and after the couple becomes friends with Ella, the three of them work to open his eyes to inequities in his land, and everyone lives happily ever after.

 A special mention is given to Lauren Sprague as Marie, the Fairy Godmother!

Seems I forgot to publish this: Remembering 'Old Blue Eyes,' Mr. Francis Albert Sinatra

The television is full of tribute programs to Frank Sinatra on what would have been his 100^th birthday and although I am up to my eyes on packing for another trip, I feel I must add my two cents worth.

I recently watched his first movie at MGM, Anchors  Aweigh (1945) and Robert Osborne commented that Frank credits Gene Kelly with teaching him how to act in front of the camera, in addition to teaching him how to dance.   Thought that was nice because I know Gene had always credited Judy Garland as helping him on his first movie For me and My gal (1942). Gene had the biggest part in his movie but, this 13 year old girl was attracted to the shy sailor following his more sophisticated friend on adventures ashore. I was touched when he sang, “What Makes the Sunset” at a restaurant table but when he sang, “I fall in Love too Easily” I ‘fell in love’ – me and millions of other teenage girls all over the globe who saw his movies or heard his recordings.

If I were asked to rank my favorite performers on a scale from 0 – 100%. Judy Garland would be ranked at 150%, Frank at 125% and Ella Fitzgerald at 120%. If I could have sang I would have liked to sound like Ella. We were lucky in England to have the BBC radio who were determined we would be exposed to all sorts of music. Apart from classical music they played, in addition to Pop music all the great jazz performers of the age and of the 1920s. We heard Fats Domino, Jelly Roll Morton, Bix Beiderbecke, Modern Jazz Quintet; in addition to the more well-known Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong and all the big swing bands. I loved all the girl jazz sings and Bill Eckstine. When interviewed many British musical performers refer to this time when they heard all the great American performers on the BBC radio.

 Judy and Frank never played opposite each other in a movie but they appeared on many radio programs together and were very good friends. Frank admired Judy and was always there to help and guide her in any way he could. In fact, it was at his suggestion that she started recording at Capitol records. We learn about his first recording at Capitol from the James Kaplan book on Sinatra (2010).   As Frank sang “get the string around my fin-ger''  the brass kicked – Bang -  and the band was cooking. Frank was smiling as he sang,   Afterwards he asked who made the arrangement, “Nelson Riddle” says Alan Dell   “Beautiful” said Frank. (p.616) this started their collaboration. Nelson Riddle did one of the first Capitol recordings with Judy called Judy.

When considering Sinatra’s body of work, we must not be distracted by his sometimes-volatile private life. His body of film work is more than impressive, we all know his dramatic roles, From Here to Eternity, The Detective,  Man with a Golden Arm  in addition to the musical comedies, Guys and Dolls, The Tender Trap, Ocean’s Eleven and High Society. This work shows his intelligence and determination. TCM were showing his movies recently and one I had not seen before was called The first deadly sin  (1980) and Frank would have been around 66 years old then. He plays a near retirement serious New York Police Sargent, Delaney, with a difficult case and ailing wife. There is one 3 or 4 minute scene when he comes home to an empty house after a particularly difficult day of police work and a visit to the hospital to see his sick wife. We hear the key in the lock, the cat murmurs hello and Delaney, says “Hello Rocky.” He puts a bag of groceries on the counter, takes his overcoat off and puts on a chair, then his jacket, loosens his tie, goes over, and turns radio on and lights a cigarette. He walks over to the desk glances at the mail and throws it down with disinterest. He wanders around the empty apartment, goes over and touch his wife’s a half finished painting. He drifts around the apartment, turns the lights off and goes upstairs. This scene of utter loneliness was worth an academy award on its own. Of course, the strings of the Gordon Jenkins orchestra helped. Roger Edens said in the Chicago Sun-Times. “Who would have thought, in all honestly, that Frank Sinatra still had this performance in him?”

The last time I saw Frank perform was at the Circle Star Theater in the Bay area. I’d taken my pre-teen children because I felt it was important that they see and witness this giant of the entertainment business. We also saw Sammy Davis Jr. there. I had seen them both years earlier at the Palladium, in the 1950s.

A very mellow and kindly Frank came down the aisle at the Circle Star Theater that night greeting his admirers, with a big smile and accepting their gifts of flowers and Jack Daniels whiskey. This was a very happy and contented time of his life.

Thank you Francis Sinatra for all the pleasure you have given us through the years. Thankfully we have the movies and recordings.

Adventures in Washington Dulles Airport December 2015

My adventures in Washington Dulles Airport December 2015

I am flying home from Virginia after spending a fortnight with my daughter and three grandchildren over the Thanksgiving Holidays. We had spent a lovely Thanksgiving Day with Dr. Thomas Albert (Carolyn’s music director) and his family. We had been to see rock n’ roll artist Patrick Sweany at the Bright Box in Old Town, Winchester, Romeo and Juliet at the Shenandoah Theatre and visited the Museum of Shenandoah Valley to view costumes from the British movies on loan from BAFTA. This was my favorite worn by Mrs. Barry in the movie, Finding Neverland.   

My daughter teaches at noon so I am dropped off early at 10:30 a.m. for a 5.30 p.m. flight, but I do not mind because I look forward to meeting interesting people at the airport. I discovered my interest in foreign and different people when I hitchhiked around Europe a couple of times with my cousin Marigold when we were in our early twenties, and it is while traveling that one finds exotic people.

I try to check my bag but there is a new procedure and I am sent to go to one of the new machines in the terminal. You punch in details of flight and a label is printed out to go on luggage. Then the bag goes over to the bag checker. More automation, soon there will be less and less jobs at the airport.

 I am off on my adventure through the airport. “Where do I go?” I ask the assistant standing in a central position. “I’ll get you a wheel chair,” she offers. “No, No, I don’t want a wheel chair, I have five hours to find my way through the airport” I insist. The next guide at the entrance to gates points me in the direction of an elevator when I tell him “I don’t do escalators or stairs.” “Okay”, he says, “then punch in M for Monkey.” I suppose he thinks I will forget M for Main.

I find myself in a long cravenness area leading to the security checkpoint. The officer looks at my boarding pass, and gasps, “5.30 pm boarding time.” It is about 11:45 am. “I know,” I reply. “I did ask my granddaughter would I should do and she said, ‘Shop, Shop!’” He laughs. This the first time I have ever made a security guard laugh. “Well, there are some good eating places around the D gates.” He tells me.

Next stop, an attendant who points left or right to go through security checkpoint. I go left and find myself behind a tall foreign man trying to handle four pieces of baggage. He tries to balance the lighter ones on top of the carry-on suitcases while he looks for his boarding pass. Why has he four pieces of luggage I wonder and then I spy his wife, master or owner who glances occasionally back at him. He has great difficulty getting the four pieces of luggage on inspection trays and even more trouble balancing the smaller bag on top of carry-on bag to start his walk again. I am observing them and the woman gives me a glare – why does she remind me of an opera singer perhaps it is her haughty gaze. She is quite elegant; obviously, she should not have to carry even her handbag, which this poor soul is trying to manage. He starts shuffling off, and his walk reminds me of the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.  “This way,” She commands and they go off in a different direction to me.  

The next area has a donut shop and so I buy two. Then I see a newsagent, I will treat myself to a newspaper, I’ve always liked the Wall Street Journal - $3, the last time I bought a newspaper it was $1.50! A wheelchair goes past me, “I’ll come back for you,” The pusher insists. “No, No,” I insist. “I am okay.” Time for a ride on a train. There two different kinds of trains; I don’t know why sometimes one goes on the posh one and other times not.

We arrive at Gates D & C and I start up the slope to main area. “Let me get you a wheel chair,” an assistant offers. “No, No, I have loads of time.” I spy the Lancôme shop and go to investigate. Manage to contain myself and only purchase a lipstick for $12. 

Next to eat and I look at the menu at the first eating establishment, Bistro Atelier. An English breakfast catches my eye. There is a long bar and eating area. A couple of waiters wander around so I guess this is how you get food. A tall angular man in his fifties guides me to table at front of entrance but I would rather sit behind in the corner so I can watch people walk by. The breakfast comes and it is enormous, must have been 4 eggs scrambled and 4 rasher of bacon and a pile of French fries. He brings me coffee and a large glass of water. I hear an accent and I ask where he is from. I am born in the States he says, but then admits that Greek is his first language – he had a mother who insisted he speak Greek so he could understand the culture. He also speaks, French, Italian and Spanish. He tells me about his father, who was born in 1901 and immigrated to the States and their early life. He works at this eating establishment until noon and then on to another and another. He obviously has it down to a fine art and works when the trade is busy. It is very quiet now, the early morning travelers are gone. I attempt to refill my water bottle from the glass of water, but he insists of filling it from the tap at the bar. I read my newspaper and watch the world go by. He gets a $4 tip and so my breakfast was $18.

I check the screens and my flight is still going from Gate D1, which is way down the corridor. So maybe I should start to walk.  

I love the felt carpeting, which is so much easier to walk on than shiny marble floors at Sacramento Airport. At one point, there is a steep slope and I rest for a while. I remember Gate D1, I have left from there before and it is very quiet. I look around for somewhere to sleep and notice there are already two women lying down along the side walls, and so this must be the place.  

I find a place along the outer wall in-between the other two sleepers and lay down. It is amazing how much more rest you get when lying down rather than sitting up. An hour or so goes by and I hear the announcement for boarding for Denver. I sit up and look around. I see there is a man sitting near me, next to the sleeping woman. I look accusingly at him, and ask, “Are you going to Sacramento?” Yes, he replied and explained he and his wife had a dreadful delayed journey from Nashville because of the heavy rain. Nashville! I think. What a delicious accent. He is willing to talk. He is going to officiate at a funeral of a very dear friend who had just died of cancer. He is a “preacher man” from the South. How marvelous, I think, and we talk for an hour. He first had a funeral business and then sold it to his brother. Now he is a stonemason making the headstones for all over the area. He shows me examples of his work on his phone and covers a wide area up to Tennessee. His son is in the business with him. He likes this better because he can control his time better. He seems to have always been in the death business but is remarkably cheerful. I ask him, do you feel there is a life after death? “Yes” he nods. His wife wakes up and smiles kindly at us. She has heard these stories before.

We both lay down to rest again.  It is nearing boarding time and I realize I should have found something to eat because we have a five-hour flight but there is only pizza nearby so I will have to buy something on the plane. I take off for the bathroom, “Do you want a ride?” says a cheerful chap in a buggy. “This is a pretty good job you have” I remark, “riding around the airport giving people rides.” He grins.

The flight is unremarkable. I do talk to a Chinese couple seated behind me who have been here since 1949 but look as if they had just got off the boat. When we disembark, there is only one wheel chair; I think the Chinese woman needs it more than I do and insist on walking out. Nevertheless, the attendant orders another one for me and a young student from Pakistan wheels us both down to baggage claim. He tells my new Chinese friends he spent 10 months in China and loved it. He has cousins in England. A big family contingent meets my Chinese friends and so the student wheels me out to area where the limo is waiting. I turn to look at him and marvel at his hairstyle. Cut very short sides and back with a big pile on top of his head.  How did you manage that I ask. When I blow-dry it, I spray it with hair spray. Must be one of the new styles for young men, I think!

Trip nearly over. But not quite. I board the limo and driver picks up a “walker”, this is the name given to a casual pick-up. Yes, he is a student but busy picking people up and dropping them off -five passengers. There is one woman left on the van as we take off on Highway 80, she lives in Dixon and we turn into the country. He drives purposely as if he knew the area although I could see he was using a GPS. I compliment him on his navigation skills and the woman who was being dropped off agreed laughing, commenting that it was easier in the daylight.

We are alone, perhaps now he will talk. “What are you studying,” I ask. “Sociology” he replies. Interesting I think. Then he starts talking, telling me that he started in Astrology Engineering, but he hated it; then he took Economics and had more negatives things to say about that discipline. Then he found Sociology. I ask what his parents thought of these changes. They had never been to college and didn’t really understand. However, I did because I discovered Anthropology when taking a Physical Anthropology class for my degree at the University of San Francisco. By this time, we are at my house and I am signing charge bill. “So what will you do with this education,” I ask. “I hope to do something to help the poor.” My goodness, how wonderful, I reply and I wish him well.

Thank you to the people who made my trip so much more interesting! 

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