While at the same time that I was enjoying the lifetime of love that Jim had committed to his site, in the back of my mind I wanted my own Judy tribute. It was then that I decided to do my  favorite Judy, the entertainer of TV and concert fame - and I purposely decided to cover these areas of Judy's career, to add to, or be used in conjunction with, what Jim had created, together, creating an on-line 'archive' of Judy's life. 

Along the way, I made many new Judy friends, a couple of them offered to 'pitch in' as they also loved Judy the 'Concert Diva' as much as I did. If the truth were to be known, I was hoping that someone would help, because I was frightened to enter into this 'labor of love' alone!  Judy had always given me so much, I wanted to give something back - but I wanted this to be something that she would have liked - that she would have been proud of - and that is a lot to live up to! Enter many contributions from people all over the world, we were off! 

This site is dedicated to a woman that came into this world touched the very being of our souls and left us with a lifetime of memories, and an artistic legacy that will never be equaled. A person who 30 years after her immortality began, still shines as bright as ever in the hearts of those who loved her. A woman that is considered by many to be the worlds greatest entertainer.

Much has been said and written regarding this very talented lady, some of it may be true, most of it probably is not. We will not get into the 'legends' that surround Judy Garland in this tribute. Many people in order to sell a book, wanting to build their own careers or maybe even to simply increase their own bank accounts wrote many untruths and unsubstantiated stories about both her as a person and as a personality. This makes the task of seeking the truth almost impossible to find when reading many of the biographies that have been written. 

Since Judy's career was that of an entertainer, I feel that her place in history should be judged on what she did publicly rather than privately.  Time has allowed this assessment to take place as we focus on the career of the woman - it is the only fair judgment of her since she is no longer here: Her magnificent talent and it's transcendent effect on a live audience. Her abilities went far beyond voice alone. The essence of Judy Garland's art is emotion. She can take an average song and burn right through the lyric, projecting pure emotional substance. She was never one to hide behind any 'technique.' She was Judy Garland - most of her life was spent entertaining - the stage and the audience were her life. 

Clifton Fadiman wrote: "As we listened to her voice, with it's unbelievable marriage of volume and control, as we watched her, telling the most delicious jokes with arms, legs, head, and eyes, we forgot - and this is the acid test - who she was, and indeed who we were ourselves. She was gaiety itself, yearning itself, fun itself. She expressed a few simple, common feelings so purely that they floated about in the dark theater, bodiless, as if detached from any specific personality. She wasn't being judged or enjoyed, not even watched or heard. She was only being felt, as one feels the quiet run of ones own blood or the shiver of the spine. And when, looking about 18 inches high, sitting hunched over the stage apron with only a tiny spotlight pinpointing her elf face, she breathed the last phrases of "Over the Rainbow" and cried out its universal unanswerable query, "Why can't I?" it was though the bewildered hearts in all the people in the world had moved quietly together and become one, shaking in Judy's throat, and there, breaking."

Judy had a gift that allowed her to touch the hearts of those who watched or listened.  It seemed that people began 'pulling' for her because her success was their success since she practically grew up right in front of America's eyes. Judy was best known as the girl next door through her many popular movies of the 1930's and 40's, such as Dorothy in the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz and Esther Smith in Meet Me In St. Louis. She became the girl next door - that when she left  M-G-M in 1950, her outsized talent propelled her to become the most sought after stage performer of her time - or to some of us, any time. 

That being said, what this website will discuss is what kept Judy going during the last years of  her life here, her love of an audience, her artistry of the live performance - whether that place be on television, or on stage. A place where a 4'11", 100 pound lady (give or take!) can hold anywhere from tens of thousands of people in an arena, to millions of people on the small screen, in the palm of her hand. A part of her career - that spanned the 1950's and the 1960's and her live performances! 

So, here's to us, we who remember, that appreciate and care about what true talent really is, who have a burning inside us to listen - just one more time, to feel her reach into our hearts and souls and leave with us with so much more than what she found. 

Judy Garland will be talked about a long time after most of us are nothing but a faint memory - and I'm very happy to be able to participate by making this small contribution to her latest 'comeback' - but - as she herself often quipped, she never did really go anywhere. 

I would also mention of some very special people. 

Authors John Fricke, Steve Sanders, Scott Schechter and Al DiOrio who collectively have done more to maintain the integrity and protect the memory of the woman and the artist than anyone. These four men have done everything humanly possible to set aside all the rumors, stories and legend to find the true story of Judy Garland - the entertainer.  Almost all of the information for this website used in the "Judy Garland Television Show" - was found in Coyne Steven Sanders wonderful book, "Rainbow's End, The Judy Garland Show."  Most of the date specific information where relating to Judy's life in the movies and on the stage were primarily taken from John Fricke's research and borrowed by me from his various publications on Judy, particularly  "Judy Garland - World's Greatest Entertainer." Guys, thank you from the bottom of my great big sappy old heart for helping to keep her name out in the public, to help keep her light shining brightly for the next generation of Garland fans.

More recently - for Steve Sanders and Scott Schechter who have helped make any Judy Lovers dream come true with their work on the new Pioneer Entertainment venture, FINALLY making The Judy Garland Show available via Pioneer DVD.  Some of us have waited a lifetime for this - and what better possible format.

I would also direct visitors to view the "Contributors" page.  This site would be threadbare if not for the generous 'donations' of Judy's fans that have sent in countless items now on display here.  Bless all of you!

So, with all that (if you've made it this far!) - I'm going to shut up and let you enjoy the site! 

Steve Jarrett