# Judy Garland Biography **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 18, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731 "2007-02-18T20:01:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/1 "2007-02-18T20:01:48Z")
The Wikipedia article on Judy Garland lists almost 20 biographies that have been written on her. Can anyone recommend the best one to give a real feel for her life and tribulations without giving an over-emphasis on the tribulations? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/2 "2007-02-18T20:31:02Z")
[QUOTE=Ronald C. Semone] The Wikipedia article on Judy Garland lists almost 20 biographies that have been written on her. Can anyone recommend the best one to give a real feel for her life and tribulations without giving an over-emphasis on the tribulations? [/QUOTE] I have a better idea. Simply go to any Gay bar, find a guy about 50 years old or older, buy him a beer and say, “so tell me about Judy.” This approach would work if you found me, and about 98% of the guys I know. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/3 "2007-02-18T21:52:12Z")
I’ve read that Judy’s gate swung both ways. Also, there was a movie about her life a few years ago starring this INCREDIBLE young singer (I’m to lazy to look it up.) The movie showed her problems with weight and her mother having her doctor prescribe drugs for that. I still go out of my way to hear her songs. Whatta voice! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2007, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/4 "2007-02-18T22:17:08Z")
[QUOTE=Jake] Also, there was a movie about her life a few years ago starring this INCREDIBLE young singer (I’m to lazy to look it up.) [/QUOTE] Judy Davis played Judy Garland in [Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0250581/). ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/5 "2007-02-19T03:28:41Z")
None of the Garland biographies is entirely satisfactory because of, as you say, the over-dwelling on her tribulations. Both of her daughters have denounced that view of her life as being unbalanced. That being said, Gerald Clarle’s meticulously researched bio _Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland_ is probably the best of the lot. P.S. Both Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis won Emmys for portraying Garland in _Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows_, with Blanchard playing the younger Judy. Both lip-synched to Judy Garland recordings. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/6 "2007-02-19T05:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=DMark] I have a better idea. Simply go to any Gay bar, find a guy about 50 years old or older, buy him a beer and say, “so tell me about Judy.” This approach would work if you found me, and about 98% of the guys I know. [/QUOTE] Yup, me too. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/7 "2007-02-19T12:34:18Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] None of the Garland biographies is entirely satisfactory because of, as you say, the over-dwelling on her tribulations. Both of her daughters have denounced that view of her life as being unbalanced. That being said, Gerald Clarle’s meticulously researched bio _Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland_ is probably the best of the lot. Thank you. I’ll look that book up. ---
**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/8 "2007-02-20T02:33:39Z")
[QUOTE=DMark] I have a better idea. Simply go to any Gay bar, find a guy about 50 years old or older, buy him a beer and say, “so tell me about Judy.” This approach would work if you found me, and about 98% of the guys I know. [/QUOTE] Can you explain this obsession? I’ve never gotten it… ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/9 "2007-02-20T02:46:56Z")
I agree with the Clarke recommendation. “Judy” by Gerold Frank is also good, and “Rainbow” edited by Ethie Ann Vare is good. “Rainbow’s End” by Coyne Steven Sanders is a good recounting of “The Judy Garland Show.” ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/10 "2007-02-20T03:41:02Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] “Rainbow’s End” by Coyne Steven Sanders is a good recounting of “The Judy Garland Show.” [/QUOTE] I second that one. Stay away (FAR AWAY) from Mel Torme’s book on the same subject. There’s a metric assload of ego-driven bitter in it. ---
**Author:** ![Ronald\_C.Semone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cc9497/32.png) [@Ronald\_C.Semone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ronald_C.Semone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/judy-garland-biography/392731/11 "2007-03-24T02:42:19Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] None of the Garland biographies is entirely satisfactory because of, as you say, the over-dwelling on her tribulations. Both of her daughters have denounced that view of her life as being unbalanced. That being said, Gerald Clarle’s meticulously researched bio _Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland_ is probably the best of the lot. P.S. Both Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis won Emmys for portraying Garland in _Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows_, with Blanchard playing the younger Judy. Both lip-synched to Judy Garland recordings. [/QUOTE] I just finished reading the biography you recommended. I thought it an excellent study. Thanks for the recommendation.