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No rainbow without rain, not even for Judy Garland
lived a tragic life, filled with confusion, drug abuse, suicide attempts and failed marriages.
Frances Ethel Gumm is not a household name, but Judy Garland is world famous! Under this stage name, Frances became one of the most famous movie stars and gay icons of all time. Garland was not only a fantastic actress but also a phenomenal singer and dancer. Her life seemed like a dream, but, Garland also
Child Star Judy was the youngest of three daughters and by far the most accomplished in singing, acting and dancing. It was no coincidence that Judy signed a contract with MGM at the age of 13; Judy’s mother had wanted to be a great actress herself, but this dream never came true. Her mother
was therefore determined and was now going to do everything she could to make her daughter succeed, for better or for worse. When Louis B. Mayer, co-founder of the MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer) movie studio, first saw and heard Judy, he was stunned by her beautiful singing voice and she was immediately offered a part. This was the moment Judy’s mom had been waiting for all along! But instead of the beginning of Judy’s dream, this turned out to be
the very beginning of a nightmare. Even before her big break at age 13, Judy’s mother decided it was a good idea to give her 10-year-old daughter pills so she would stay fit while they were on the road. Vitamin pills in the morning, sleeping pills in the evening. The more famous she became; the more pills went into it. The studio demanded more from Judy than was human. Sometimes she worked
24 Gay News 354 winter 2021/ ‘22
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