ABOUT
THE DISC & RECORDINGS:
This
rare record is a private recording of Judy's July 1, 1943
(although the label incorrectly states July 4th), concert
at the Robin Hood Dell in Philadelphia. This was Judy's first
real "concert" appearance. It's interesting to note that
this record was produced by the same company that made Judy
and her sister's test records for Decca in 1935. Those tests
were "rejected" by Decca and thought to have been lost until
recently when two surfaced for auction. Follow
this link to read all about the 1935 Judy Garland "lost"
test records.
About this first concert, we quote from Scott Schechter's
book "Judy
Garland - The Day-By-Day Chronicle Of A Legend":
July 1, 1943: (Concert) Judy's first time "in concert,
was at the Robin Hood Dell, in Philadelphia. 15,000 people
jammed the amphitheater well past its 6,500 regular capacity;
another 15,000 people sat on adjoining lawns, and in parking
lots; another 5,000-10,000 people left when they could not
get within listening distance. Following Andre Kostelanetz
conducting several songs to start the concert, Judy's program
(set by Roger Edens) was: A Gershwin Medley: "Someone
To Watch Over Me"/"Do, Do, Do"/"Embraceable
You"/"The Man I Love"/"Strike
Up The Band"; a medley of hits followed: "Over
The Rainbow"
(complete; then one chorus each, of:)/"For Me And My
Gal"/"You
Made Me Love You"/"It's A Great Day For The Irish"; "Our
Love Affair"'; "I'm Nobody's Baby"; and the
closer: "The
Joint Is Really Jumping." The encore was a reprise
of "The
Joint Is Really Jumping." Second and finale encore: "But
Not For Me." (By the end of the concert, crowds were
swarming towards the stage "in a gigantic ocean wave," as
they would do when judy began the "Third Phase" of
her career - after
"The Vaudeville years," and "The MGM Years" -
there were, of course, "The Concert years." Ironically,
Judy would give her final U.S. Concert in Philadelphia also,
25 years later, on July 20, 1968, at JFK stadium.)
This record is probably from Judy's personal collection, as
were the 1935 Decca tests.
All
images
on
this
page
from
the
collection
of
Eric Hemphill.
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