Who is Frances Ethel Gumm?

Judy Garland (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969), born Frances Ethel Gumm, was an American singer, actress, and vaudevillian. She was renowned for her contralto vocals and attained international stardom which continued throughout a career that spanned more than 40 years. She received a Juvenile Academy Award and won a Golden Globe Award as well as a Special Tony Award. She was the first woman to win a Grammy for Album of the Year.

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Chris Lee

James Vetzel, Thanks for this great question. Judy Garland was ridiculed in her time for her struggles with drugs, forced upon her by a system which saw her as a paycheck, and which affected her performances and professional reputation. Later, as a coping mechanism, she also turned to alcohol. Gay men of the 1960s empathized with her because of her struggles; at her concert performances they attended in huge numbers - so much so that at the time she was questioned in the press and TV media about that too. She defended her gay audience in a TV interview in September 1967, (Youtube: JUDY GARLAND: A GAY ICON DEFENDS HER GAY AUDIENCE, A RARE INTERVIEW, after a reporter derided her audience, to which she said "I've been rather rudely treated by the press, but I'll be damned if I like having my audience mistreated" It's a painful interview to watch - she seems medicated, but still witty. With a wink and a nod, she described the reporter - "She's a fella" - in other words, a Lesbian (The interviewer repeats her - "A jolly good fella" - both ancient Hollywood code words, although in 1967 it was OK to say "homosexual" on TV. Apparently "Gay" wasn't yet in vogue. So, she returned the adoration of her fans, no matter who they were, and was loved all the more for it. Another reason she's loved is that her memory has been enshrined in the performances of many female impressionists and female impersonators, then, and to this day. Lastly, some say that the Stonewall Riots, the acknowledged coming-out "party" of the gay community, were sparked by Judy's funeral which coincided with first night of the riots. That connection has alternately been deemed plausible by some, and debunked by at least one individual who was there as a young man. Still, and ultimately, its the struggle to be loved, the banishment by and alienation from many of her peers, and the unnecessary pain inflicted on her by others seeking to profit from her talent, which many in the Gay community see mirrored in their own lives. Something she stated about herself: "'I tried my damnedest to believe in the rainbow that I tried to get over and I couldn't. SO WHAT!"

dvdeaton

Judy Garland was SO MUCH more than Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz!!!" and She passed on her talents on to her multi talented daughter, Liza Minelli!!!

Rebecca Woods

Loved her in Meet me in St Louis.It's one of my favorite movies.

Jimmy J

Chris Lee, Maybe she was just Somewhere over the symbolic rainbow.

Maia

Thanks to Chris Lee for a compassionate explanation.

rustynshushu

Chris Lee, I don't know if this had anything to do with it, but her father supposedly got into some trouble for showing "unnatural "affection towards a young man, causing the family to move. Also I read in a biography that Liza's father, Vincent Minelli was gay. Don't know what if any of that is true.