Was

Customer Reviews:

The Real Dorothy.......2007-05-25

Dorothy Gael as an abused child, the childhood of Judy Garland and her estranged mother, a young actor dying of AIDS obsessed with Oz, and his therapist who becomes wrapped up in the entire thing are all elements of this brilliant meditation on reality, fantasy and what it means to be human. Although I had a problem with the ending, which dissolves into a hodgepodge of imagery and sentiment, I loved this intense novel. Geoff Ryman is one of my favorites, and he does an amazing job with Was.

Home.......2007-01-14

I stumbled upon this book. It's fascinating. While I was reading it I kept thinking of homes, and the importance of Home in Wizard of Oz, and how those that have homes filled with danger and despair create (hopefully) their own reality. Transending reality is what the characters do, in this book, in different ways. The book is set on the plains of Kansas 1880s, 1930s Vaudeville, and present day California. Highly recommend, I plan to read more books by this author.

If you do go home again, what do you do when you get there?.......2006-11-15

The idea behind this novel is an interesting one:

Was there a real Dorothy, where did all of the other characters come from, and what happened in the rest of her life?

Along with the OZ story, comes the story of Judy Garland (AKA Frances Gumm) and how in many ways her life was as destructive as Dorothy Gale (in the OZ books) WAS. Judy's life was loveless from childhood (because she was the family meal ticket) and slowly spiralled downward through bad marriages, drugs and alcohol. She always remained sixteen to the american public which set her on the same path as Elizabeth Taylor and Mickey Rooney, except that the yellow brick road had a lot more potholes.

Ryman rights about the darkest novel you can have without being one of Stephen King's bad dreams. Jonathan, a Canadian, who grew-up to become an actor, is tantamount to the scarecrow in this story. He is gay and dying from AIDS, and displayed autistic tendencies as a child. Strangly though in the main character he plays in horror films...which he says is based on Boris Karloff, he seems to be an evil Patchwork Girl (from the later OZ books) called the "Child Minder" (whose face is a patchwork due to being cut up with a knife by his father.

The unfortunate part of the book is the last section which is like a bad Timothy Leary, Hunter Thompson LSD trip/dream from the sixties. It adds little to the book and makes a non-ending ending which there is no need for. The epilogue at the end, by Ryman, is almost an apology for the whole book itself, which weakens the story even more. His editor should have done a better job of convincing him that the death of Jonathan made a fine ending on it's own.

So maybe you can go home again, just don't expect everyone to be that happy for you to be there, after a week or so, you CAN easily wear-out your welcome.

Deliciously Complex.......2006-06-14

'Was' is my favorite Ryman novel (and since I love sf, that's saying a lot). Although I enjoyed Maguire's 'Wicked,' 'Was' does something more complex than retelling 'The Wizard of Oz' - it uses it as a springboard to tell a much more compellingly human story - one of incestuous rape, loneliness, fractured families, lost desire and AIDS. Weaving 3 main alternate storylines into a fascinating whole, Ryman nonetheless arrives at a destination that's far more positive than the desolation my last sentence implies.

Not Meant to be to a comparison to Wicked!.......2006-01-08

Ryman's WAS is an heartbreaking and honest story of how important the imaganation is. True to historical facts, Ryman hits his readers both in the imagantion but also in histornical collective memory. He covers the true living conditions of Kansas in the later 1800's perfectly. Yet most importantly, unlike the author of Wicked, Ryman internalizes his Oz characters. The powerful images reminds one of the film Return to Oz. Ryman, understands how OZ lives within the American psyche. Was is a matter of memory, and written for each person who is too sentive, too dreamy, to loving to fit into grey and crushing world. Was is at the core of the Oz inside of us. Wicked will never, come close to the work of honest art contained in Was. Was stands as a testment to Frank L. Baum's orignial tale how truly powerful the imaganation is. Amen.

Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art & Anecdote

Average customer rating:

A magnificent look at the performer and wonderful woman behind it
Picture galore!
Judy, Judy, Judy!
Great Photos
Five stars for one of our brightest and loneliest stars

Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art & Anecdote
John Fricke , and Lorna Luft
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend
Judy
Me and My Shadows : A Family Memoir
Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland
I Could Go On Singing

ASIN: B000E0VVYA

Book Description

A celebration of the actress who stole America's heart, this is the definitive book about the legendary Judy Garland, with reflections by the people who knew her best. In a career that spanned five decades and encompassed stardom in every medium, Judy Garland's professional achievements remain unsurpassed. Now her timeless joy comes alive in JUDY GARLAND: A PORTRAIT IN ART ANECDOTE. Hundreds of rare and previously unpublished photographs, studio memorabilia, and personal mementos from the family archives, along with scores of anecdotes drawn from interviews with her professional colleagues, friends, family, and Judy herself, showcase her on- and off-stage 'talent to amuse.'Decade by decade, her incomparable accomplishments on stage, film, television, radio, and recordings are lovingly illustrated and remembered by those who knew her best. Often funny, sometimes poignant, but always fascinating, this book singularly conveys the happiness that Garland's own great and buoyantly emotional performances have brought to hundreds of millions of admirers. Anyone who ever enjoyed a Garland song will revel in this glowing, lavishly illustrated tribute.

Customer Reviews:

A magnificent look at the performer and wonderful woman behind it.......2006-08-17

This is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful book about the life and career of "Miss Showbusiness" Judy Garland. This was the first real book on Judy I read and what an excellent way to begin. I had vagually known that the many stories about Judy were disgusting lies. Now John Fricke (after his other great book) now puts Judy in her proper place, I wanted to get to know the woman better and this book did better than that. I actually felt that I was there with Judy, experencing her warmth, joy and laughter with her in her personal life and watching her perform on the sets of films, live in concert and on her tv series. I actually got to know Judy from this book and I loved her.

Stories about Judy are often innaccurate but this book (and a few others) are the real deal. Most biographers like to think that Judy was a tragic figure and her life was a hopeless ride to despair and degredation.

But this book changed all that, Fricke brilliantly captures Judy Garland as her friends, family and co-workers knew her, as a bright, intelligent, witty human being and also a affectionate, kind and caring lady who happened to be one of the most talented performers to grace this earth.

Well done, Mr. Fricke and thank you.

Picture galore!.......2006-06-27

As a relatively new fan to Judy, I bought this book mainly due to the positive reviews here on Amazon, and Amazon writers never fail. This book is truly fantastic. With more rare pictures than you can shake a stick at, most of them at better-than-good quality, too. These pictures, complete to extensive captions and quotes by the people who knew Judy, span her entire lifetime. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and indeed these pictures speak more plainly to the reader than even the most comprehensive biography. Judy Garland was a phenomenal talent, and what a pleasure to have such a wonderful book devoted to this true star.

Judy, Judy, Judy!.......2005-07-21

The rare photographs in this book are worth the purchase price alone! John Fricke seems to know more about Judy Garland than probably most of her family and friends. You'll come away with a new appreciation of this talented and troubled woman.

This book is a must-have for all Garland and Oz fans!!

Great Photos.......2005-07-15

This book gave me a refreshing and rare look at Judy Garland's life through pictures. The most interesting ones were of her behind the scenes, with family or rehearsing. These are ones of her behind the scenes laughing and dancing with people like Gene Kelly. So any fan of the classic musicals would enjoy these photos.
You get to be a witness to what an extraordinary person she was not only on the screen, but off, and in person. There are great quotes from people who knew her, all of them saying how she really was unique and a one-of-a-kind class act. She did have a hard life but I like the way this book doesn't seem to focus on that at all. The focal point of this book is to show the great points of her life that fans will enjoy seeing and that's good enough for me.
It's great to see her in her prime and with some of the top stars of the day. It shows the excitement in Hollywood and their lives in that era, and how she was in the very midst of all of it.
Any Judy Garland fan, really anyone, will enjoy this look at Judy Garland's life through photos. It really is a book that makes you want to look at it over and over again.

Five stars for one of our brightest and loneliest stars.......2004-10-25

She's reviving her career, she's in London with a troubled marriage that's fodder for the tabloids...no, we're not speaking of Liza Minnelli, mega-talented daughter of "Dorothy Gale from Kansas," but of "Baby Gumm," Frances Gumm, who you might have heard of as Judy Garland.

In a memorable scene from the 2001 miniseries "Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows," a frustrated Garland, played to perfection by Judy Davis, shouts into the phone, "Yes, I've heard how difficult it is to work with Judy Garland. Do you know how difficult it is to be Judy Garland? I've been trying to be Judy Garland all my life!" In the foreword to Judy Garland: A Tribute In Art And Anecdote, Garland's daughter Lorna Luft echoes this sentiment in as loving a tribute to her mother as the miniseries, based on Luft's own published memoir, and as reverent yet observant as John Fricke's stunning, definitive, human, glowing, not-in-the-least-fawning encomium on Garland's life. You'll love the posters, photographic portrait of entertainment history, drawings, and "home movie" photos of the private Garland. Garland's children, flawed and loving, gave her added complexity as a working mom heroine. To quote the title of one of her movies, "I Could Go On Singing." In Fricke's book, she does just that.

Average customer rating:

A person is not a human-doing.
Poorly Written Garbage!
A vicious piece of garbage
have just bought the book
My opinion of this book? LET THERE BE SILENCE!!!

Judy Garland: Beyond the Rainbow
Sheridan Morley , and Ruth Leon
Manufacturer: Arcade Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1559704918

Customer Reviews:

A person is not a human-doing........2007-07-03

I didn't have a problem with this book; in fact, I enjoyed it. It was a little deflated because it was not filled with all the normal tripe you read about Judy Garland's personal life. It's not easy to syphon-off the personal from the professional in Judy's life. This book made that attempt, and I'm okay with it. Sometimes the lite-touch is sufficient. We don't need to know about how many times Judy dunked her head in a toilet. I think, if Judy had lived to talk about her days in rehab, or what have you, she would have preferred to be remembered as someone who gave her everything to the fans. And she would have told the tripe-writers to buzz-off. I think Judy would choose this book to represent herself, uh-huh! At the end of her life, she was fed-up with hype. I think this book offers a simple, uncomplicated profile of an extremely intense life in the eye of the public. By the end of her life, when she was putting in phone calls to President Kennedy for validation and approval, it must have occurred to her that the personal is political. She experienced this downfall with her TV show, and was somber.

This collection is more focused on her long-time career, with excellent, clear photos, outlining the years of her performances, movies and concert projects. So from that angle, it could be anti-climatic. But I found it to be a light, entertaining read that left no heaviness. Something you could sit and drink your coffee with. It's a fun book for the serious collector.

Poorly Written Garbage!.......2006-04-27

This is a terribly written book! The inaccuracies have already been addressed by others, so I won't repeat them. Suffice to say the inaccuracies became so numberous, I stopped reading at page 38. Did the writers even bother to research anything? Was the editor asleep? Nice pictures, but don't bother buying this turkey.

A vicious piece of garbage.......2005-04-25

Obviously the authors are ripping off Judy's name for the money. What other excuse can there be for writing this piece of crap? At first I was happy to see another Judy book hit the market - especially one with such lovely photos. But after I started to read it, I was horrified. As I browsed through the text, I got sick. I am shamed to even admit I have this book in my collection. What a vicious piece of garbage! And these authors have the nerve to say they love Judy...

have just bought the book.......2004-01-05

I ordered this book from the store and am getting it tomorrow (tuesday 6th jan 04). I am now very dissapointed that i ordered this book because after reading everyones reviews i feel i have wasted money on it and i havent even read it yet.
when i go to collect this book and i am going to order the lorna luft book that everyone keeps recommending.
I was very much looking forward to reading this book but now i dont think i can be bothered.
i loved judy garland dearly. i am only 16 and think she was such a wonderful actress and one of the best singers i think i have ever seen. I would like to apologise to everyone that the writers of this book are british (atleast i think they are... thats what someone said) and would also like to point out that not all brits are like that and many of us love judy garland as much as all other fans.
may you rest in piece judy!

My opinion of this book? LET THERE BE SILENCE!!!.......2002-09-09

I have worshipped Judy 4 25-26 years! Her legacy is astounding - and she continues 2 enrich my life!

This book(I WON`T EVEN MENTION THE WRITERS NAMES) is like dancing or spitting on Judy`s grave. There are 2 many numerous faults - in this book - worth mentioning....

The photographs are good, but years and their origins are 2 often wrong....

Please! If I were the publisher I would withdraw it from circulation. Liza, Lorna, Joey and Sid have plenty AMMUNATION for a lawsuit....

This book makes me cry! The authors HAVE NO SYMPATHY for its subject whatsover....

Book Description

Actor John Carlyle got his big break in 1954. New to Hollywood, the twenty-three-year-old Carlyle was cast as the assistant director of the movie-within-a movie in George Cukor’s A Star is Born. Although Carlyle’s scene was later cut from the film — and his star status subsequently never materialized — the job brought him in touch with Judy Garland, who up until her death fifteen years later was Carlyle’s friend and sometime lover.

Under the Rainbow: tells the story of this rocky but beloved relationship. No longer the great star who first enthralled Carlyle as an adolescent, Garland — like many former headliners in the 1960s — lived an often desperate, hand-to-mouth existence that was eased only by pills and liquor. She turned to Carlyle for support, even with the hope of marrying the openly gay actor. He politely declined the opportunity of matrimony, but remained constant in his adoration of the star for the rest of his life.

The author takes us on a rare, behind-the-scenes tour of gay Hollywood, with an intimate, often hilarious, star-studded memoir of the decline and end of old Hollywood.

Customer Reviews:

entertaining.......2007-05-10

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. John Carlyle lived a fascinating life. Although the info here about Judy Garland included no big surprises
for me, I enjoyed reading about her by somebody who was there for both the good and the bad times covered here.

Light Reading.......2007-04-03

John Carlyle was a lifelong "wannabe" in Hollywood. He was hopelessly smitten with Judy Garland from his youth, and only a bit less smitten with Joan Fontane. Eventually he apparently became close to Judy for a relatively short time. And he knew lots of people in the Hollywood scene of the 50's, 60's and 70's. But his memoir about these actors, producers, directors and agents is flawed by fuzzy writing and perhaps fuzzy memory. People in his circle DID drink a lot and do lots of drugs in those days. Light reading for anybody inerested in the movie industry of the last half of the 20th Century.

A top pick not only for fans of Judy Garland.......2007-02-08

Author John Carlyle isn't just a researcher doing yet another Hollywood expose: his UNDER THE RAINBOW: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR OF JUDY GARLAND, ROCK HUDSON & MY LIFE IN OLD HOLLYWOOD comes from an insider who was Judy Garland's on/off lover, and who tells of his life with her and encounters with her contemporaries. UNDER THE RAINBOW recreates the atmosphere, involvements and drama of the Hollywood of the 1950s, 60s and 70s: as such it's a top pick not only for fans of Judy Garland, but for broader audiences and library collections interested in Hollywood history and culture as a whole.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Better than 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!.......2006-12-30

Excellent, thoroughly enjoyable book. A shame Mr. Carlyle did not live to see publication of his memoirs. I truly hated putting down this book. When I came to the last chapter I set the book aside and forced myself to not finish the read, as I knew I would miss his tales. Even sans the Garland anecdotes, Mr. Carlyle's life was fascinating reading; however, the one odd note is Joan Fontaine's attitude throughout. That girl needs to relax! A delightfully bitter-sweet story. Bravo, Mr. Carlyle, for a life well lived!

Garland, Hudson, and..........2006-12-24

Carlyle, John, "UNDER THE RAINBOW: An Intimate Memoir of Judy Garland, Rock Hudson & My Life in Old Hollywood".
Carroll and Graf Publishers, 2006.

Amos Lassen and Literary Pride

Due out October 16 is a book that is going to be met with a great deal of controversy and welcomed lovingly at the same time. I was very surprised to find it in a shipment of new books sent to me by Betsy Steve at Carroll and Graf. The name alone brings back memories of two gay icons who are no longer with us. "Under the Rainbow" is a memoir dealing with the last ten years of Judy Garland's life as well as what was the beginning of the fall of Hollywood
Most of us are well aware of what an icon Garland has been to us. She was a survivor, she made it through drugs and depression, a life and career that soared and hit rock bottom more than once, a series of unsuccessful marriages but above it all she was "our Judy". There are those that say her apparent suicide and subsequent funeral were either indirect or even direct causes for the Stonewall riots which was the beginning of the gay liberation movement.
For the final decade of her life she had one constant companion and confidant, John Carlyle, who was an openly gay man. He was with as she lost herself to booze and drugs and faded out of the limelight. Gone was the Dorothy of "The Wizard of Oz" and in her place was a woman who had in many ways relinquished the control of her life. At the same Hollywood began its slow decline. Carlyle told of the Hollywood that once was the city of "glitz and glitter" and shows the skeleton of a town where gay men lived their lives in closets. At that time there was a king maker for the young and beautiful men who came to Hollywood looking for that lucky break into the movies. Henry Willson, who is also the subject of a new biography, created the personae of many of the macho men of the golden age of Hollywood. He created Rock Hudson and he created John Carlyle. In 1954 when Willson "discovered" Carlyle who was a mere 23 years old the homosexual underground of `Tinsel town" was hush hush. Willson had him cast as an assistant director in the classic "A Star is Born". Even though the scene never made it to the final cut, Carlyle met Garland and the two began a friendship which lasted until her death. He was more than just a friend; he was occasionally her lover as well. Garland seemed to have had a penchant for gay men and even went as far as marrying one.
Garland's and Carlyle's relationship mirrored Judy's life--rocky and uncertain. In the 1960s she lost much of her box office power and her star quality and lived a lifestyle we shudder to think about. She was desperate and lonesome and even tried to marry Carlyle who was not interested in that kind of arrangement. Yet he stayed her dear friend throughout.
This book is just as much about gay Hollywood of the period. He tells of his sexual liaisons with Marlon Brando and with James Dean, He was friendly with Rock Hudson and Raymond Burr and tells of their double dates and he relates how Montgomery Clift sunk into drink and despair. His female friends included the legendary Mae West as well as Lana Turner, Hedy Lamarr and Joan Fontaine. He tells secrets and exposes people and it is so much fun reading this book. A great piece of literature it is not, a wonderful read it is.
It is somewhat sad to look at the Hollywood of today and compare it to the Hollywood that was. But Carlyle gives us a chance to experience all of the glamour and all of the scandal. Skillfully written and easy to read, once you start you will not want to stop. I haven't ha this much fun with a book in a long, long time.

Average customer rating:

Leaves out some stuff and plays it "safe" but still excellent - long, but excellent
Judy Garland, Feminism, Hollywood
IT REVEALS JUDY THE HUMAN BEING!
BEST JUDY GARLAND BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN!!!!
Garland Under The Microscope

Judy
Gerold Frank
Manufacturer: Da Capo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art & Anecdote
Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend
Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland
Judy At Carnegie Hall: Fortieth Anniversary Edition
Me and My Shadows : A Family Memoir

ASIN: 0306808943

Customer Reviews:

Leaves out some stuff and plays it "safe" but still excellent - long, but excellent.......2007-07-22

This is an "early" review since I haven't finished this very long book yet, but I will say that I don't like very long books (I find them daunting and time-consuming) but this one is good and holds your interest despite its detail and depth. However, I know that it leaves out certain parts already about her early life. For example, various sources (such as Marcella Rabwin, who is featured in the book prominently, and a family friend of Garland for many years) said on the E! True Hollywood Story TV program, that Judy and her sisters, mother, and father left Grand Rapids because Judy's father, Frank, had an affair with "a young man" and in those days that was "scandalous" and they "had to" move away. This story is nowhere in the book. This book also supposedly had the cooperation and the blessing of Liza and Lorna (not sure about Joe), Judy's children, so you know that despite the book's detail and depth, it's going to be "safe" with nothing too controversial that the children didn't want published. That's too bad, because for a biography to be truly inspirational (let alone just plain "accurate"), you have to include the skeletons in the closet (sorry for the pun, there, Frank). I haven't read Gerald Clarke's "Get Happy", which might include more scandalous stories. It's funny how there are 2 major Judy biographies that are very very long with authors named "Gerald"; easy to confuse the two, as I did at first. What a remarkable life; what a remarkable book. I still recommend book this highly, for Judy fans and also because I recommend biographies in general as a way for people to put their troubles in perspective, to gain inspiration from people we all "know", and as a parable to learn what to do, and not to do, to be happy in life. This would also be a great "primer" for young people to understand the history of Hollywood, or if you want a case study of a great American if you're patriotic, a great woman if you're a feminist, an unfortunate addict if you have an interest in drug and alcohol abuse issues, and a great musician/actress if you're an artist.

Judy Garland, Feminism, Hollywood.......2007-07-02

Do get this book. And you'll be swept-away into another world where a crazy-girl named Francis, aka Judy Garland, got away with all kinds of mischief and adventure. Somewhere in her kooky, chaotic, vaudeville life, she surely got the idea that it was all a show about nothing.

Judy was a passionate person, and Gerold Frank captures her spirit, her sense of humor, her highs, her dark-side and the range of her anger and inspirations. "If you ever want to know who I was, listen to my songs," she said. What does one do with all that talent and energy? Frank gets into it. I think Gerold Frank does a fabulous job of filling-out the life of a human being. We sometimes forget that Judy was more than a performer. It is stunning to watch her films, knowing what was going on behind the scenes, how she was consistently exploited. She was young. People never had psychological terms for boundaries in those days, so she continued to remain a somewhat open and exploited person, "performing" right up to her death. And she was damn-angry in the end.

Judy had no outlet for her anger, except to strike out at things, objects and people. She was at a loss to know how to care, because she was never taught or given models of respect. So she stopped caring and began to take advantage of situations and people as a method of personal survival. This was the thing that alienated her from her children. Deep down, she didn't want to be this. So she let them go, and consequentially, a little bit of her self, as well. Bipolar disease is very difficult to manage without these psychological skills.

Judy never really had much of a chance to be anything than what she was. This happens to actors and people who need to showcase themselves in public: they get stuck. She learned how to play the victim. She just reached a point where she quit defending herself about it, that's all. Was Judy a bitch and a diva? Those were roles she took on, in the victim-mode. Women in those days were acculturated to be subservient, and therefore victims and blamers. If one is physically and mentally challenged, one needs help. Judy never got the right help and couldn't find it. Yet she always reserved a soft spot in her heart. She held on to her theme song, Over the Rainbow, and cherished it. So we have to look to someone like Gerold Frank, who is able to dig down under all this, and finds her; a woman who had a heart, and who was aching to share it with us, in spite of everything.

IT REVEALS JUDY THE HUMAN BEING!.......2005-04-04

Never mind other books on the subject, icluding Lorna Luft`s "Me and My Shadows - living with the legacy of Judy Garland"...

THIS IS IT! This is the definitive biography. The detail is amazing and Gerald Frank is by far the only one who has captured Judy the woman and not ONLY the star. John Fricke`s "The World`s Greatest Entertainer" is good, but a tribute to a star, up there somewhere..... It`s written by a fan and good as it is, it sadly looks perspective.

This must NEVER be out of print and belongs to every library in the world. Indeed, I thought I knew evrything about Judy(I`ve been a fan since 1977), but THIS book is filling in holes I NEVER KNEW EXCISTED!

Thanks a LOT, Gerald Frank:-) This book i s of Pulitzer Prize calibre, although I realise a biography will never be given that honour...

BEST JUDY GARLAND BIOGRAPHY WRITTEN!!!!.......2002-02-18

Gerold Frank has taken a subject of innumerable facets, a larger-than-life personality, and an almost indescribable talent and has put the history of her life to words as no writer before or since has been able to accomplish. Judy Garland, one of the silver screen's most beloved stars, is accurately and honestly conveyed in this biography. Frank's style is unique: when he tells of the tradgedies or failures of the star, he is not incriminating against the subject. Frank's book is one as written by an observer, sometimes voyueristically so. His thorough research bring Garland through in all her glory: as the vaudeville headliner, the little girl on the rise to stardom, the MGM superstar, loving wife and mother, and the sometimes self-destructive woman, taken from this earth too soon by the disease brought on by a lifetime of pills, but most of all, the woman trying to find her place in the world and the love she always craved and needed. Judy Garland is a human being, not a media figure, in this book. Gerold Frank is to be well commended for his excellent portrayal of Judy Garland, and readers will also be delighted or surprised by the informative tidbits along this Yellow Brick Road into the life of the great Judy Garland.

Garland Under The Microscope.......2001-11-29

Gerold Frank's biography is probably the single most comprehensive book written concerning Judy Garland: meticulously researched, debunking many myths, and richly detailed, it is certainly a standard for any one seriously interested in Garland. Even so, I have several issues with the book.

My single greatest complaint about the book is that Frank often seems to include detail for the sake of detail, and at times these details don't seem to make any cohesive statement. That aside, while Frank places Garland under a microscope, he never really quite delivers any sense of the world in which she moved; consequently, we never really have any background against which we may judge her. There is no context.

Book Description

Garbo and Crawford. Ava, Hedy, Judy, Liz epitomized Hollywood's golden era. With a trembling lip or sultry eye, with a tear or song or husky whisper, these women held moviegoers across America in their sway from the hard times of the 1930s through the booming postwar years to the early sixties. They were royalty and box office, and led pampered public lives-furs, jewels, designer gowns; limousines, flash bulbs, handsome escorts-that captured the national imagination. They also signed seven-year contracts with a morals clause, and the more they slipped, the more the secret abortions, efficient cover-ups, legal legerdemain, and dropped charges bound them to the wizard in their Oz, Louis B. Mayer. The slips are here along with the successes. Here, too, are the Blonde Bombshell Jean Harlow, Million-Dollar Mermaid Esther Williams, Sweater Girl Lana Turner, and bad girl Ava Gardner ("She can't act. She can't talk. She's terrific," declared Mayer after her screen test). From Jeanette MacDonald and Norma Shearer to Princess Grace and Dame Elizabeth Taylor, the sixteen portraits in this lively, photograph-filled volume, each accompanied by the star's filmography, tell the tales that have long lay hidden behind the gossip and the glories of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's glamorous golden girls.

Customer Reviews:

pure speculation.......2007-06-09

i have read the book and i keep wondering if any of this really true. it is just pure specualtion. idle gossip. but it was fun reading it. why was so much attention given to grace kelly when she only made a couple pictures with MGM. katharine hepburn was a much bigger star and the author gave her a couple of pages. just not enough.

Not Worthy for the Collector.......2007-01-13

Miss Wayne clearly did not investigate the rumors that fills this book. Many of her facts are not validated and that many more are known to be just rumor. The typographical errors abound, i.e. Wiltshire Boulevard in Los Angeles - it is Wilshire Boulevard. Her dates are deplorable - i.e. Esther Williams and Fernando Lamas were married for 22 years from 1969 until his death in 1982 - that's 13 years, Miss Wayne!

As an avid collector of classic movies and the literature of the Golden Age of Hollywood, this book has no value to this or any other collector!

this is not what it purports to be.......2005-10-25

Jane Ellen Wayne's book "The Golden Girls of M-G-M" will not be everyone's cup of tea. The author seems to take serious advantage of the fact that most of these women are no longer around to protect their reputations, and thus this book is full of vulgar details more at home in the National Enquirer than a deceptively-stylish biography tribute book (which this purports to be). Though to be fair, Ms Wayne is somewhat sympathetic to each of the ladies she features here, but the book is riddled with typographical errors, misspelled names and wrong information. This book will probably never help Miss Wayne ascend the upper-echelon of biographers.

Covering as much dirt as possible, each actress gets a chapter (Jeanette MacDonald, Norma Shearer, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Joan Crawford, Lana Turner, Judy Garland, Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor). There is also a `Naughty-But-Nice' section in the back, comprising of mini-chapters devoted to Hedy Lamarr, Katharine Hepburn, Esther Williams, Debbie Reynolds and June Allyson.

There are so many wonderful biographies available on these ladies, but I'm afraid this isn't one of them.

Dragged Through the Mud? Some jumped in on their own!.......2005-08-06

While we all know that these celebrity histories relate many falacies, some shocking tid-bits are true. For instance, it has been well known that Mickey Rooney, as baby-faced and non-sexual as he may seem, was quite the ladies' man. As a 16 year old he had an affair with a much older Norma Shearer (quickly broken up by Louis B. Mayer to avoid scandal). As for Hedy Lamarr, read about the admitted bi-sexuality and orgies in her own words... "Ecstacy and Me," her autobiography, does not hide that she acutally is an arrogant nymphomaniac, and she seems to be rather quite proud of it! We all agree that there are false rumors that are attributed to these actors and actresses, but let's not forget that a lot of them brought sensationalism and scandal on their own. That is what makes their stories so fascinating, and that is why we read them.

Another Wonderful Book From Jane Ellen Wayne.......2005-07-10

I always have a great time reading Jane Ellen Wayne's books. Once I started reading this one I could not put it down. Every chapter is filled with terrific stories about Hollywood's greatest actresses. You will learn all about Jeanette MacDonald's love affair with Nelson Eddy and Norma Shearer's marriage to Irving Thalberg. None of the ladies are portrayed as saints but if you can handle the truth you won't be disappointed.

Average customer rating:

Come On, Get Crappy
authentic personality portrait
Gripping read could benefit from a photo insert or two
A model of extreme economy
"Get Happy" Review

Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland
Gerald Clarke
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Judy
Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art & Anecdote
Me and My Shadows : A Family Memoir
Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend
By Myself and Then Some

ASIN: 0385335156
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Amazon.com

Like his renowned Capote, Clarke's Get Happy is an addictively readable bio of an addict genius. We learn that it wasn't just the Hollywood moguls who mangled Judy Garland's soul. Yes, MGM's Louis B. Mayer did paw her teenage breasts, exacerbate her insecurity by calling her "my little hunchback," feed her uppers and downers ("bolts and jolts"), and repel the U.S. drug czar's personal attempt to get her into rehab. But the true villain was Judy's diabolical stage mom, Ethel Gumm, who fed her pills at age 9. Judy's heart belonged to her daddy, a kindly theater owner cursed with pederastic yearnings that evidently got the family run out of various towns, once by a man named Doc Savage. Daddy died young, and Judy kept hooking up with older men, including two probably gay husbands, one of whom cheated on her with her daughter Liza's husband. Her first best girlfriend in Hollywood (and probable lover) turned out to be a studio spy. She knew at least one of her agents, nicknamed Loeb and Leopold, robbed her blind, but since betrayal was everybody's way of life, she just laughed it off--and died dead broke. Judy cheated on Liza's dad (and her own great director) Vincente Minnelli, with still-handsome Orson Welles, who was cheating on Rita Hayworth. "People like me don't grow up easily," Judy once said. Most people in this book deserved to go up in flames, but only nice Margaret Hamilton, playing the Wicked Witch of the West, actually did so in a filming accident. She recovered; Judy didn't. It's fascinating to read about Judy's self-immolating life. But for a jolt of joy afterward, I prescribe the CD Judy at Carnegie Hall. Clarke lets you know what the songs cost, and what they mean. --Tim Appelo

Book Description

She lived at full throttle on stage, screen, and in real life, with highs that made history and lows that finally brought down the curtain at age forty-seven. Judy Garland died over thirty years ago, but no biography has so completely captured her spirit -- and demons -- until now.

From her tumultuous early years as a child performer to her tragic last days, Gerald Clarke reveals the authentic Judy in a biography rich in new detail and unprecedented revelations. Based on hundreds of interviews and drawing on her own unfinished -- and unpublished -- autobiography, Get Happy presents the real Judy Garland in all her flawed glory.

With the same skill, style, and storytelling flair that made his bestselling Capote a landmark literary biography, Gerald Clarke sorts through the secrets and the scandals, the legends and the lies, to create a portrait of Judy Garland as candid as it is compassionate.

Here are her early years, during which her parents sowed the seeds of heartbreak and self-destruction that would plague her for decades ... the golden age of Hollywood, brought into sharp focus with cinematic urgency, from the hidden private lives of the movie world's biggest stars to the cold-eyed businessmen who controlled the machine ... and a parade of brilliant and gifted men -- lovers and artists, impresarios and crooks -- who helped her reach so many creative pinnacles yet left her hopeless and alone after each seemingly inevitable fall.

Here, then, is Judy Garland in all her magic and despair: the woman, the star, the legend, in a riveting saga of tragedy, resurrection, and genius.

Customer Reviews:

Come On, Get Crappy.......2007-07-02

I agree, this is a mean-spirited book. I use it occasionally for reference, since it is one of the most modern issues on Judy's life... But I think it says more about the author than his subject. I have a problem with someone who needs to tear women down. I get no sense of compassion from Clarke for the performer whatsoever. Further, the writing approach is clinical and nasty (which some people enjoy). I felt that was the focus, and it overlooked some valid points contributing to who Judy was. For one thing, she was an artist who hauled herself from one end of the planet to the other, giving live performances all her life. No less, she wore high-heeled shoes, which is not all that great for a woman who is perimenopausal, and just popped-out 3 kids. I never see any writers mentioning that! From the time she was a kid, she was the bread-winner for all her family members, trusted the wrong people, never had the right kind of management, and basically dropped-dead doing the only thing that gave her a sense of power and self in the world: singing. It's so fun being female! From the perspective of a feminist (me) who understands there are thousands of women out there, young and old, who have no idea how to command respect in their lives, this story is sad and pathetic. Judy never wanted it that way. She knew she was a victim of the chauvinism of times. From the time she was two, she was groomed to be a people-pleaser. She did whatever she had to, to make things work. In the end, she saw herself as nothing more than a "singing piece of meat". So from that angle, you might find something interesting here, and learn from it.

authentic personality portrait.......2007-01-28

This was a powerful book, skillfully written. I cannot verify that all of the facts are accurate, and I did wonder how the author found out so much about Mr. Gumm's private life, for example. What struck me as completely authentic is the author's portrayal of Ms. Garland's personality and behavior--mainly because he does not take the step of analyzing it in the psychiatric sense. I personally think that her behavior is a fairly classic case of bipolar disorder, exacerbated by the pills she took and the fact that she was in a business that has extreme highs and lows itself. Clarke never tells the reader this; he might not have been aware of the parallels to the characteristics of someone with a bipolar disorder. The fact that he draws this rich picture while not trying to convince the reader of his "diagnosis" gives this an authentic feel. Clarke does not seem to set out to prove Garland was bipolar, but his descriptions of her behavior seem to support that hypothesis.

I was equally impressed with the author's pacing. The shock of Judy Garland's early and untimely death is echoed in the way the book is written--it ends abruptly, as did her life.

I definitely recommend it.

Gripping read could benefit from a photo insert or two.......2007-01-26

It's all here: the tumultuous and suffocatingly pressure-ridden childhood; the tragic and naive crushes on gay (or unavailable) men; the fantastic, stellar performances; the unstoppable addiction to pills and alcohol--all in one neatly compact, albeit somewhat gossipy, read. This book is well researched and accessibly written, and gives a fair nod to Judy's roots, delving ever so lightly into her background, and her parents (as well as grandparents). My only complaints are there should be more photos nestled within, and I would have enjoyed reading more about her interactions with her children, especially Liza, in what should have been her middle age. The light treatment of later years made me feel as if the author was anxious to wrap the book up, giving only a cursory glimpse into the post-Syd times...Overall, however, this is a largely empathetic, if not accurate, portrayal of one of the 20th century's greatest performers. Judy's story will touch your heart.

A model of extreme economy.......2006-12-15

I normally don't write short reviews, but this biography, without question, is the most finely written work of its genre ever written. I have read several thousand books, and in this book I would cut only two words. There are very few big words (shades of Hemenway), because there doesn't need to be.

"Get Happy" Review.......2006-11-06

Everything you ever wanted to know about Judy Garland. A complete historical and psychological profile, yet still easy to read. Very interesting.

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A Good Judy Garland Reference Book!

The Judy Garland Collector's Guide
Edward R. Pardella
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Judy Garland: The Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Legend

ASIN: 0764307649

Book Description

Judy Garland is a true Hollywood icon. A legend. Her remarkable 45-year career in show business began at the age of two, when she performed on stage as the diminutive member of the singing trio the Gumm Sisters. By the age of thirteen, she was under contract to MGM, and her extraordinary fifteen-year association with the studio provided moviegoers with memorable performances in classic motion pictures such as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Easter Parade. In the late 1930s, merchandise bearing her name and likeness began to fill department store shelves throughout the country. With over five hundred illustrations, this book explores all areas of the Garland merchandising phenomenon. It provides readers with a nostalgic, photographic reference guide to the vast array of collectibles, plus a biography exploring Judy's early childhood and rise to stardom, and a complete motion picture chronology, discography, home video library, and portrait gallery. This unique volume delivers a comprehensive identification and price guide for collectors of movie posters, movie memorabilia, Wizard of Oz collectibles, dolls, records, and sheet music.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Judy Garland Reference Book!.......2000-08-07

The Judy Garland Collector's Guide is a great book, especially for people who are just starting to collect Garland items. It has photographs of a good range of items from those that the beginner can easily obtain, to items such as original movie costumes, posters, and autographs for the more serious collector. This book, in my opinion, is better described as a reference guide rather than a price guide. If you are looking for exact prices for items, you won't find them here. Prices are set up in groups (Ex: $25 - $65). A few items do not have prices at all. Still, it is filled with both color and black & white photographs of memorabilia such as Wizard of Oz items, a wristwatch, writing tablets, sheet music, lobby cards, and includes a nice portrait gallery. I would recommend it to any Judy Garland or movie memorabilia collector!

Average customer rating:

Delightful
A Must Read for Judy Fans and Those interested in Celebrity
It's worth it, no matter how creepy the author is ...
A letdown!
I thought I knew it all...

Heartbreaker
John Meyer
Manufacturer: Citadel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Under the Rainbow: An Intimate Memoir of Judy Garland, Rock Hudson and My Life in Old Hollywood
The Letter
Great Day! Rare Recordings from The Judy Garland Show
The Essential Judy Garland
The Clock

ASIN: 0806527544

Customer Reviews:

Delightful.......2007-08-23

This book combines two qualities one rarely finds in books about Garland. It is written by a fine writer who was also a good friend.

Garland fans will enjoy Meyer's many examples of Garland's wit, and his uncanny ability to reproduce, in writing, her unusual speech pattern.

It has been mentioned several times that Meyer's book is gentlemanly. For example, he writes about the two of them arriving in New York for Judy's appearance on The Merv Griffin Show. As Meyer tells it, they could not find lodging because of (former husband) Sid Luft's poor credit in New York hotels. As others tell it, Judy herself was turned away for her own unpaid hotel bills.

In the larger picture, this book fills in the blanks found in most Garland biographies. Most books rush through the late 1960's, and refer to them as Garland's "lost years" during which she was homeless and bouncing from friend to friend. This book pieces together the last few months of '68 with detail and clarity.

My favorite little joke is when Meyer, after meeting her, shuffles through a small container of sugar packets on a restaurant table and says, "Garland...Garland...I can't seem to find your file."

They're very funny together, and the book offers a pleasant look into her day-to-day humor. Meyer was a sane, sober, employed, intelligent young man whose knowledge of movies and music made him a perfect playmate for Garland. Together, their impressions, song parodies and casual asides are a hoot. Too, Meyer's own show business connections helped to keep Miss Garland in the game - from singing in small clubs to appearing on the three major talk shows at the time.

Meyer's take on the usual Tragedy of it All is interesting, especially since he wrote the book before (or perhaps before he was aware of), the recovery movement. It is enlightening to read about Miss Garland from an enabler's standpoint. He really thought he was helping, and, by the end of the book, one realizes that, short of locking her up in a small cell, he did absolutely everything he could for a woman hell-bent on self-destruction.

The moment he realizes that his efforts are for naught is shattering to read. Without the vocabulary and labels of the recovery movement, he makes his point with an analogy I won't spoil here. It is absolutely heartbreaking to read about one person giving up on another in words straight from the heart.

A Must Read for Judy Fans and Those interested in Celebrity.......2007-01-12

John Meyer opens his heart in this tell-all book! I bought the book for the marvelous CD, which is included-- a casual recording of Judy telling stories, flirting with a new lover, preparing for a performance and learning a lovely new song. When I started to read the book itself, I couldn't put it down! Yes, it is a story of celebrity and addiction, but it is also a story of a star-crossed meeting, a courtship, euphoria, falling in love, playing house, getting to know one another, creating boundries, growing together, really getting to know one another, creating new boundaries, acceptance, hope, love and heartbreak. Mr. Meyer is honest, sincere and ALWAYS respectful of the great artist that was Judy Garland. If he waxes poetic, it is in the style of the great romatic songwriters: Lorenz Hart, Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer. As a singer, I am touched by this book-- Simply put, it is a story of a fan who has never stopped loving Judy, a song writer who was able to have the great Judy Garland sing his song and a young man who got his heart broken by an all-time great heartbreaker.

It's worth it, no matter how creepy the author is ..........2006-10-15

If you are a Judy fan, this book is one you should read. True, as one reviewer wrote, this is Meyer's one and only claim to fame. But it provides an intense portrait of a complex and important musical figure. I don't care for Meyer in this book; he is a blatant opportunist. Judy still shines as Judy, however; the light this shines on her is harsher and perhaps the most painful I have ever read. But it is really worth including in your collection if you care about Judy Garland.

A letdown!.......2006-09-27

I first read this book when originally published, and even then I thought it was a sad commentary on a great entertainer's darkest days.

There is nothing new here, really, that other books haven't described in detail, usually much better, too. Judy was at the low point of her life, and was heading towards an all-too-early death when she and Meyer met, and though he did help her in some ways, I think he was more interested in what she might do for him.

Garland was a great entertainer, possibly the only one who could truthfully claim the title "World's Greatest Entertainer", but she didn't have the strength, physically and emotionally, to deal with her celebrity and it consumed her. Always afraid that her talent would leave her, and that her audiences would do the same, Garland needed a strong person in her life to help guide her in more ways than anyone could imagine. She tried to live up the "living legend" status heaped on her, but couldn't cope with living what was considered a normal life. Tragic - she was the greatest, and she gave millions of fans the best she could, but she just couldn't cope with downside of being a celebrity.

The CD that comes with this book in this re-issue is more of a novelty than anything else. Judy wasn't in the best of voice at this point in her life, but she still had the amazing personality to draw an audience into her music and was still a great performer. Her anecdotes are humorous, but don't even think that this is a great recording by any means. There are some nice parts, but overall it is not something one should use to measure the talent of Judy Garland. If you want a superb Garland recording, get "Judy at Carnegie Hall". Now that is the recording of a lifetime!

I thought I knew it all..........2006-08-19

I thought I knew everything about Judy Garland but this book proved me wrong. I've read every book I could find and they were all very vague about the last years of Judy's life. This book shed a lot of light on that particular time and explained why all the other books were vague. If I could meet John Meyer, I'd shake his hand for having the guts to experience life with a legend and for having the guts to write about it. Thanks, John.

Average customer rating:

The Munchkins revisited
What a Fun Book
Oz-some book!!
Great book! Great pictures! Great stories!
The Lollipop Guild Lives

The Munchkins of Oz
Stephen Cox
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road
The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry And Magic of The 1939 MGM Classic - Revised and Expanded
I Toto: The Autobiography of Terry, the Dog who was Toto
Dwarfism: Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Profound Short Stature
The Ruby Slippers of Oz

ASIN: 1581822693

Book Description

In November 1938 a crowd of more than 120 tiny actors ambled through the gates of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios in Hollywood. Headed for the set of one of America's all-time classic movies, The Wizard of Oz, they were about to become known as Munchkins.

Few movies have ever achieved the popularity and acclaim of The Wizard of Oz. It made the reputations of Judy Garland and many others, but ironically, the diminutive actors and actresses who peopled Munchkinland weren't even listed in the credits. Most of us have never heard their names. Now their story is finally told in a new and revised edition as thirty ex-Munchkins reveal their amazing personal stories.

The Munchkins of Oz offers a fresh perspective on the filming of The Wizard of Oz and what went on behind the scenes. We learn about life on the Munchkinland set, how they were recruited, intimate memories of the stars, and the Munchkins' lives before and after Oz. More than 300 photos, many first published in this book, illustrate and enhance the lively text. ENTERTAINMENT; FILM 300-PLUS B/W ILLUSTRATIONS 8-PAGE COLOR INSERT 8” X 10”, 224 PAGES PAPERBACK

Customer Reviews:

The Munchkins revisited.......2007-05-31

As a child, my very favorite movie was THE WIZARD of OZ. My favorite scene was when the tiny Muchkins "Came out ,came out, wherever they were".

I always wondered about the actors and actresses that played the parts of the delightful little Munchkins, & therefore I was thrilled to finally get this book (as a Christmas gift).

This book will not disappoint. Not only does it give a wonderful background as to where the Munchkin actors came from, but also this book goes into specifics, regarding the most famous of the Munchkins actors/actresses (eg: the Lollipop Boys, etc). Such endearing folks they were! (Sadly, most of them have passed away by now...sniff!)

After reading this book, you will forever love and appreciate the little people that were part of such a unique movie.

What a Fun Book.......2005-09-02

We would certainly highly recommend this book! Meeting several little people throughout our years, our family found this book to be a Top 10 book! It is full of stories of the Munchkins, and what it was really like to be a part of OZ. We found out things we never knew, even after hearing so many personal stories of those who shared their experiences with us personally. We believe Meinhardt Raabe is the last of the Munchkins still alive, and would also highly recommend his book, Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road.

Oz-some book!!.......2005-07-21

I loved this book so much that this is the 3rd edition that I've bought. I bought the first edition back in 1989 and the revised edition many years later. When this one came out, I knew I had to have it too. With each revised edition, Stephen Cox really outdoes himself. I've found that any revised edition of this author's books are always even better than the original, as he adds more info and photographs!

This book is a must-have for all Oz-fans, young and old. It's filled with rare photographs, little-known trivia and fascinating tid-bits. There is also a section about bloopers (find out about a scene where Judy Garland can clearly be seen wearing brown bedroom slippers instead of the Ruby Slippers!) and "urban legends" (no, the Munchkins did not get drunk & disorderly every night as portrayed in the Chevy Chase/Carrie Fisher movie "Under the Rainbow"!! Nor did a Munchkin commit suicide on set during filming; F.Y.I.: it's a large, exotic bird moving its head & wings that people think is the hanging Munchkin).

Reading this book will increase your Oz-IQ several points! What are you waiting for? Buy this book now!

Great book! Great pictures! Great stories!.......2003-03-21

I first read this book when the first edition came out, and was really impressed with the depth in which the author went to gather the information for this book -- hours spent locating and contacting the surviving Munchkins, all the interviews that took place, etc. This is NOT one of my favorite movies, by any means, but I always liked the first seen in Oz, where Dorothy meets the Munchkins, and this book really showed you who these people were and how they managed to get into the movie. Alot of great pictures help make the book really stand out. With each reissue (this is the third edition of the book), the author is able to provide a little bit more information on the Munchkin actors and actresses, and provides additional pictures to keep the experience of the book fresh. I would highly recommend not just this edition, but the two previous editions if you are able to find them. A great read!

The Lollipop Guild Lives.......2000-05-12

This is probably the most interesting Oz book in my collection. Finally someone reveals who these little people are, and in such an entertaining manner. I couldn't put this book down. I've read so many books about Prod. 1060, aka "The Wizard of Oz" (MGM) which are dry and stale. This book puts the whole experience into perspective and provides a human side to the Munchkin actors. I'm glad to hear some of them survive. The photographs in here are glorious. The color photography jumps out at you. Bravo to Steven Cox for doing such a handsome job and such a respectful job with "The Munchkins of Oz." If you want a book on Oz that is unique--this is the one.

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