- Cleveland Music Hall -

Personality Girl Gives Her All
Judy Wows Throng at Music Hall
By Harlowe R. Hoyt, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Judy Garland defies time and ill health. Years have passed since Dorothy set out on her adventures in the Wonderful Land of Oz and wistfully rendered "Over the Rainbow." Last night at the Cleveland Music Hall, where Miss Garland appeared for single performance sponsored by G. Bernardi, she ended with the familiar melody. 

And the audience went wild. They stood and cheered and called her back, again and again, until she responded with encore after encore, giving her all and receiving the most enthusiastic demonstrations staged in this theater in many years.

It started before the opening, set for 7:30 but delayed by late arrivals for a good 15 minutes. Along the side of the building, Sixth Street was crowded with enthusiasts, seeking an autograph, willing to settle for a look at the star. St. Clair was equally full and the audience drifted in. It was a near capacity house demonstrative from the beginning.

The opening disclosed a 28 piece orchestra grouped about the stage, strings at left, piano and percussion center, and brass and bass at right.

A medley of familiar Garland hits set the pace and when Judy made her appearance, in a simple black dress and blue waist, the house rose with cheers and applause. It was several minutes before she could offer her opening "When You're Smiling," followed by "Almost Like Being in Love."

Judy was nothing if not unconventional. There was no printed program. She seemed to sing them off the cuff but there was method in this apparent insouciance that made her audience love her the more.

With a frog in her throat, after the first few songs, she trotted off stage, brought back a glass of water, and alternately sipped it, chatted with her audience and explained they could foregather a bit until she resumed. 

Later she helped to move the orchestra about, forming a brass and percussion combo of 10 players, directing them while she sang spirited jazz.

What the songs were doesn't matter. What does matter is that half of the time her voice was drowned out by young enthusiasts, standing to applaud, whistle, shout and express adolescent delight.

Explaining that she was going to change her clothes Judy scooted off for the intermission, returning with black capri pants and a sequined jacket. The demonstration renewed.

Her combo had backed her in "Puttin on the Ritz" and "How Long Has This Been Going On?" and turned to "You Made Me Love You," "Me and My Gal" and "Stormy Weather." Here the drums took over and the bongo player, unidentified, gave performance of acrobatic activity second only to that of the star.

And so it went until near 10 o'clock. Then "Over the Rainbow" brought the audience to its feet. It yelled and shouted, applauded and cried "Encore" again and again. There was a strong nostalgia among the older demonstrators. There was the exuberance of youth in the juveniles. But they wouldn't let her go until she returned with her two children, one youngster bearing her familiar black topper which meant another song. And so it continued for a good half hour more.

Judy Garland is an entertainer out of the ordinary. She has a top orchestra and top arrangements, directed by Mort Lindsay. But it is Judy, personality girl, giving her all in each number, dancing, moving, never still, who keeps the crowd on edge and makes the most of every dramatic opportunity.

Master showwoman that she is, her audience loved her with all the enthusiasm of yesterday.

And that is why more than a thousand crowded Sixth Street hoping for a last glimpse of their favorite as she left the theater.