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The DRG Records website has been changed to read:
"Description: Plus 6 bonus tracks from Judy's London recording sessions with Norrie Paramour. They are: "Why Was I Born?" and "Stormy Weather;" a Nelson Riddle arrangement: "Come Rain or Come Shine;" two Roger Edens arrangements: "Chicago" and "San Francisco;" and "It's Lovely to be Back in London" (Edens)."
No more mention is made of the "previously unreleased Manhattan Center" session recordings. Not sure what happened there. Between this and the aborted Collector's Choice "Judy & Liza at the Palladium" release, who knows what's going on with these Garland CD releases?
[06-20-09]:
June seems to be "Judy Garland News" month, what with all the news and updates on Garland releases and happenings.
DRG Records has announced that they're releasing Judy's 1962 Capitol Album "The Garland Touch" on CD. The album was originally a compilation comprising of tracks from Judy's 1958 studio album "Judy In Love", some unreleased tracks from "The London Sessions", as well as her 1961 45rpm "single" which contained "Comes Once In A Lifetime" and "Sweet Danger".
This new CD will have two bonus tracks new to this compilation: the previously unreleased Manhattan Center session recordings "76 Trombones" and "Tonight".
What with all of the various news events of late, I forgot to remind people (as if you needed reminding)
that the annual Judy Garland Festival is a short week away!
Warner Home Video has finally released artwork and some promotional material for the upcoming 70th anniversary editions of The Wizard of Oz on standard DVD and Blu-Ray.
Click on each image for details.
Gary Horrocks has asked me to post the following update about the status of The Judy Garland Club, and I'm happy to do so. The club has been around since the early 1960's and I encourage everyone to join!
See the info below to join. An example of the Club's publication, the "Rainbow Review" is at right.
Dear Judy fans,
I’d like to thank you for the amazing upsurge of support and
groundswell of enthusiasm and encouragement over the last few days. I
guarantee hand on heart that the future of The Judy Garland Club is
secure and will take on a new phase under my tenure. I have not had
the opportunity to discuss the handover with the current management;
but will do so during next week. I have already lined up three
trustworthy volunteers to take on the management of all funds (your
cheques will be overseen by a London city financier!), copying typing
for the new magazine (to reduce the load on me as editor) and somebody
to manage the membership database (which I hope will grow over the
next few months with your support.)
I am absolutely delighted that Eleanor Lyon has agreed to continue her
role as US representative; which means that all North American fans
will be able to send her cheques directly rather than bother with
international postage. We are both really excited about the renewed
collaboration and are keen to take the Club forward in your name.
Steve Sanders has been brilliant in rallying the troops on my behalf
and I am absolutely amazed at the number of Garland stalwarts who have
come forward in support. John Fricke, Elly, Susie Boyt, Kim Lungreen
in Denmark, Ken Sephton, Brian Glanvill, Joan Coulson, The Judy
Garland Experience’s Daniel– and many members who had lapsed
membership and are keen to return to the fold.
Lorna Smith, the founder of the Club, has been a friend and supporter
from the start. We have been working on a new Garland magazine over
the past year: ‘Judy Garland In Retrospect – the new Rainbow Review’ and would launch that in July/August as part of the new Club
portfolio. I envisage that we will offer two glossy magazines a year– of no more than 48/52 pages; with an interim bulletin. Lorna and I
have nearly completed the first two magazines already – we just need
to assess the subscriptions before we move forward. Please send Elly
your cheque for $35 to support this initiative – we cannot do it
without you.
Daniel and I have had a brief email communication. He is fully
supportive and I am keen to collaborate with him to offer an
integrated experience for Club members that comprises his brilliant
web and multimedia presence with a high quality journal; the perfect
solution marrying 'traditional' with virtual. I am hoping we will
transition the currently out of date Judy Club pages to the TJGE so
that fans have clear information on how to join the Club. Daniel
already has some ideas about how best to take this forward.
A few additional thoughts.
I have access to a stunning digital archive of photographs that the
community has never seen. Lorna Smith’s collection alone is of immense
historical value – and you will be able to share in that by
subscribing to the magazine. Each issue will be rich in new and rare
images of Judy. I have also been working with Lorna to capture her
memories on video for posterity and we hope to have that project
completed by the end of the year. Similarly, I have been working with
a colleague Andy on filming all senior Club members, and we have
nearly completed that as well. We hope to produce a special video
capturing the history of the Club for all members.
The first magazine due for publication is a 40th anniversary special
issue. In 1969, as the world mourned the loss of Judy after her death
in London in June that year, Lorna Smith, in mourning for a person who
had become a friend and confidante over the years dusted herself down
and in true Garland style, rallied the troops in order to compile a
66-page memorial tribute to Judy. We celebrate the best bits of that
magazine forty years on and include Lorna’s superb essay ‘Judy – With
Love’. There are also over 100 photographs!
Those of you who know me are aware that I also juggle a busy work life
with Judy commitments. I am now in a much better position to ensure
that the magazine keeps to a regular publication pattern. I have
decided to resurrect articles from the original Rainbow Reviews that
started publication in 1963. Bringing this archive back to life will
be of immense benefit to younger members who have not experienced the
wealth of superb writing that they capture. I’m also keen to work with
guest writers like John, Steve and Susie to offer complementary
journalism.
Over the next few weeks I will be taking stock of the current Club
situation, rectifying the nose dive and pushing heavily for new
members. Would you all please find it in your hearts to join or re-join the Club? Would all US fans pleaseCLICK HERE to email Elly
Judy's TV series is being newly remastered and being re-released on DVD!!
This is a project that the late Scott Schechter was working on at the time of his untimely death. It's a fitting tribute to him that the series is being re-released. The original Pioneer (and then Geneon) releases have been out of print for quite some time. These new DVDs have been remastered using the latest technology - the first volume in the 13 volume series is due out July 28th.
[June 10, 2009 - Press Release]
Infinity Entertainment Group Proudly Presents
The Judy Garland Show: Volume One Judy Will Move You Like No One Else!
First of 13 DVD Releases of Special Collector’s Set in Stores July 28th
LOS ANGELES — For Immediate Release — From ingénue darling to legendary star of stage and screen, beloved songbird Judy Garland was at the height of her fame and popularity during the television run of The Judy Garland Show. Now Volume One, the first in a special collector’s set of 13 volumes coming to DVD, will be in stores July 28 from Infinity Entertainment Group.
The Emmy-nominated variety program ended its critically-acclaimed CBS-TV run after just one season (1963-64). Today, those 26 shows are revered by many as the entertainment icon’s finest work. Singing then-new material as well as the classics expected of her, this is the legendary Judy at her peak. Also featured in volume one of this 13-volume collector’s set is daughter Liza Minnelli, now a legend in her own right.
Then just 17, Liza sings her off-Broadway hit “You Are for Loving” and displays her renowned ability as a dancer on “Put on a Happy Face.” Liza and Judy shine in the duets “Together,” “We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “Bye, Bye, Baby” and “Bob White”; and revive the “We‘re a Couple of Swells” tramp characters from Easter Parade.
Also featured in a dazzling display of song, dance and comedy are jazz greats Count Basie and his band and Mel Tormé, who perform solo and join the great Garland on such stunners as “I Hear Music,” “The Sweetest Sounds,” “Strike Up the Band,” “April in Paris” and “Memories of You”; folk singer Judy Henske; and series regular Jerry Van Dyke who trades quips with Soupy Sales.
Judy also sings “A Cottage for Sale,” “Hey, Look Me Over,” “Liza,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” and “Come Rain or Come Shine,” a highlight of Judy’s 45-year career.
Restored and digitally remastered from the original masters, this dynamic diva will move you like no one else! Look for all 13 volumes, each featuring two hour-long shows.
The Judy Garland Show: Volume One is presented in full frame with an aspect ratio of 4 x 3 and original mono sound and 5.1 surround sound. Bonus features include outtakes.
Infinity Entertainment Group, headquartered in Los Angeles, Calif., is a multi-service home entertainment retail distributor specializing in independent films, television programming, special-interest, documentaries, anime and music. Clients include Smithsonian Networks, MOJO HD, Falcon Picture Group, Bandai Entertainment, Roxbury Entertainment, SJ2 Entertainment and Retromedia. Hit titles include the iconic Route 66 television series, now available on DVD for the first time, and Spike Jones: The Legend. The company was launched in 2006 and is a division of Infinity Resources, Inc., a privately-held, multi-channel marketing and service enterprise with general offices based in suburban Chicago, Ill.
The Judy Garland Show: Volume One Infinity Entertainment Group Genre: Classic TV/B&W Not Rated
Format: DVD Only Running Time: Approx. 102 Minutes (Plus Special Features) Suggested Retail Price: $19.98 Pre-Order Date: June 23, 2009 Street Date: July 28, 2009 Catalog #: IEG2148 UPC Code: #617742214895
WHV Press Release (June 9, 2009): The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary UCE (DVD/Blu-ray)
70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition
Warner Home Video Celebrates the Beloved Classic
with Spectacular New Blu-ray Version September 29
16 Hours of Enhanced Content, Four of Which Are Brand New, Includes
New Documentaries, Featurettes, a Sing-Along Track
and Extraordinary Collectibles
THE WIZARD OF OZ
70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector's Edition
Museum exhibit at Warner Bros. and FIDM's 70th anniversary screening of "The Wizard of Oz"
on June 9, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America)
Burbank, Calif. June 9, 2009 – It is difficult to imagine a motion picture more magical and more wonderful than Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's wonderful The Wizard of Oz. Over the last seven decades, the film has indelibly woven itself into America’s cultural consciousness: Is there anyone who doesn’t immediately think of the film upon hearing the words, “Dorothy,” “Toto,” “Emerald City,” “Ruby Slippers” and “Yellow Brick Road” -- or the lines to the song “Over the Rainbow?”
Now, the colorful characters and unforgettable songs of Oz come alive as never before when Warner Home Video brings this cinematic treasure into the digital age with the September 29 Blu-ray release of The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition. The commemorative edition contains nearly 4 hours of all-new and never-before-available bonus features and is housed in numbered collectible packaging, and will be available for a limited time only for $69.92 SRP (DVD) and $84.99 SRP (Blu-ray Hi-Def).
In order to bring all the visual splendor of The Wizard of Oz to the Hi-Def world of Blu-ray Disc, the film has been entirely remastered, with each of the original Technicolor camera negatives scanned using 8K resolution. From this scan, a final ‘capture’ master was created in 4K, yielding twice the resolution seen in the master utilized for the film's previous DVD release.
Working in ‘full film Resolution’, extreme care was taken to ensure that all of the image fidelity contained in the original negatives was properly captured for this new presentation. The sounds of Oz will come alive on Blu-ray disc utilizing the full audio spectrum capabilities available through Dolby TrueHD audio. The net result is one of unprecedented quality that is sure to make The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Edition a benchmark in the history of the Blu-ray format.
There will also be a dedicated official site for all Oz-related events and products: Warner Bros..
The following components are ALL-NEW and exclusive to this release:
The Dreamer of Oz – which makes its long-awaited home video debut. Also remastered the occasion, this full-length motion picture was an NBC-TV special event in 1990 and thrilled critics and audiences as it told the back story of author L. Frank Baum, "the Royal Historian of Oz.” John Ritter shines in the title role -- the man who defied all odds to create the famous characters and stories. Annette O'Toole beautifully co-stars as his supportive wife, with Rue McClanahan as his challenging witch of a mother-in-law.
Victor Fleming, Master Craftsman -- a new feature-length documentary produced specifically for this release about the Hollywood director who, in the same year, miraculously brought both Oz and Gone With the Wind to the screen.
Hollywood Celebrates It’s Biggest Little Stars -- a new featurette stars seven of the original "Munchkins of Oz" and tells the saga of the long journey, culminating in them receiving their own 2007 Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Magic Cloak of Oz -- the first release of the complete 1914 silent film, including lost footage never before included in a home video presentation of this feature (produced by Baum himself).
The Patchwork Girl of Oz -- another 1914 Baum-produced, feature-length silent film, new to Warner Home Video.
The Wizard of Oz Sing-Along Track -- here making its home entertainment debut.
Reproductions of Archival Material -- Extraordinary renderings of the original 1939 Oz campaign, exploitation, and press books. These materials constitute a Hollywood "holy grail" for Oz, Garland, and motion picture fans alike and, for decades, have been among the most sought-after and impossible-to-find collectibles.
Behind The Curtain -- a 52-page miniature coffee-table book, assembled by pre-eminent Oz historian John Fricke. Encompassing much previously unpublished material, the deluxe volume includes behind-the-scenes Oz photographs, studio memos, and script pages for abandoned scenes and musical numbers.
Exclusive Wizard of Oz Watch -- A collectible and numbered 70th Anniversary watch, incorporating art from the film and enhanced with genuine crystals. Available nowhere else, this beautiful timepiece was created specially for this DVD edition.
And for the Blu-Ray Ultimate Collector’s Edition, the original extended version of “If I Only Had a Brain” performed by Ray Bolger has been remastered in hi-definition especially for this release.
About the Movie
Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Ray Bolger appeared as the Scarecrow; Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Woodman. Frank Morgan was seen in six different roles, including that of the "wonderful Wizard" himself. Dorothy was portrayed by a 4'11" sixteen year old girl who quickly earned her reputation as “the world’s greatest entertainer”-- the incomparable Judy Garland.
The Wizard of Oz received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and captured two Oscars® -- Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score -- plus a special award for Outstanding Juvenile Performance by Judy Garland. The film was an overwhelmingly popular and critical success upon its initial release and repeated its ability to captivate audiences when M-G-M reissued the film in 1949 and 1955. The film made a new kind of history with its network television premiere in 1956 on CBS. Nearly 45 million people tuned in for this initial telecast, marking the beginning of an annual tradition. Ever since, The Wizard of Oz has been shown virtually annually on network (and then cable) television; its magical story and heartfelt performances have enabled it to grow from a perennial classic to its current status as a treasured icon of popular culture.
TWO DISC DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
DISC 1
· Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio (NEW)
· Sing-along Track (NEW)
· Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), Dona Massin (MGM choreographer), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen, Mervyn LeRoy, and Jerry Maren
· The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Storybook
· Prettier Than Ever: The Restoration of Oz
· We Haven’t Really Met Properly
· Music and Effects Track
· Original Mono Track
DISC 2
· The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic [1990 TV special]
· Memories of Oz [2001 TCM documentary]
· The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz
· Because of the Wonderful Things it Does: The Legacy of Oz
· Harold Arlen’s Home Movies
· Outtakes and Deleted Scenes
· It’s a Twister! It’s a Twister! The Tornado Tests
· Off to See the Wizard
· 3 Vault Shorts
· Audio Jukebox Selection
o Leo Is on the Air Radio Promo
o Good News of 1939 Radio Show
o 12/25/1950 Lux Radio Theater Broadcast
· Still Galleries
· Six Theatrical Trailers
DVD & BLU-RAY HI-DEF ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITIONS
Includes everything listed in the Two Disc SE as well as the following:
DISC 3
· Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman (NEW)
· L. Frank Baum: The Man Behind the Curtain
· Celebrating Hollywood’s Biggest Little Stars (NEW)
· The Dreamer of Oz [1990 TV special] (NEW)
· The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910)
· The Wizard of Oz [1933]
DISC 4
· His Majesty, The Scarecrow of Oz
· The Magic Cloak of Oz [1914] (NEW)
· The Patchwork Girl of Oz [1914] (NEW)
· The Wizard of Oz [1925 feature]
(Blu-ray Hi-Def will have Discs 1 & 2 and Discs 3 & 4 combined)
Also included are unique premiums:
· Collectible and numbered 70th Anniversary Wizard of Oz watch with genuine crystals
· Replica of the original film budget
· Behind the Curtain, A 52-page, coffee-table book
· Reproduction of the original 1939 campaign book
EXCLUSIVE TO THE DVD and BLU-RAY HI-DEF RAY ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITIONS:
· Digital Copy on Disc
EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY HI-DEF ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITIONS:
· MGM: When The Lion Roars Documentary
The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Edition
Street Date: September 29, 2009
Rating: G
Blu-ray Hi-Def Ultimate Collector’s Edition
$84.99 SRP
New OZ book: John Fricke, the foremost OZ expert, brings us another treasure. If this new coffee table book is anything like his 1989 50th anniversary book, then you should run out and buy it. And this new book is only $20 (American).
From the publisher (Becker & Mayer):
The Wizard of Oz
An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic
by John Fricke & Jonathan Shirshekan
published by Barnes & Noble Books
The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Movie Classic is a vibrant celebration of the story that's been dazzling audiences for generations! Inside are more than 400 images, including behind-the-scenes shots, movie stills, production memos, and original illustrations. Authors John Fricke and Jonathan Shirshekan, renowned authorities on all things Oz, have gathered a wealth of rare photos and rarely heard anecdotes and quotes. It’s a collection sure to captivate Oz fans everywhere!
Starring:
With Isabelle Georges, Frédérik Steenbrink & guests
Description:
June 22, 2009, a special evening commemorating the 40th anniversary, to the day, of the death of Judy Garland’s (The Wizard of Oz, A Star is Born, The Pirate…), one of the great voices of the 20th century.
For this one-night-only tribute, the legendary Palace will host more than 50 artists on stage.
For the first part of the evening, a new version of the musical Une étoile et moi [A Star and Me], which has already conquered thousands of theatergoers in France and beyond, with Isabelle Georges (Du Shtetle à New York, Chantons sous la pluie,…) and Frédérik Steenbrink (Irma la douce, Désaccord parfait,…).
For the second part of the evening, numerous French artists will pay tribute to Judy Garland in sketches and song.
Already confirmed to appear are: Jean-Claude Dreyfus (the unforgettable butcher in Délicatessen), René Urtreger (the French composer and pianist for Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Chet Baker and Lester Young), Victor Cuno (dancer and choreographer: Tempo), Sirba Octet (a group of eight musicians from the Orchestre de Paris who apply their virtuosity to honor traditional Yiddish music and the American musical comedy), and Quai N°5 (five virtuosi musicians who play original compositions based on famous themes by Bach, Chopin, Mozart,…).
Proceeds from the evening will go to the association Arc-en-ciel [Rainbow, an AIDS association].
Event:
TRIBUTE TO JUDY GARLAND
Address
LE PALACE
8 rue du Faubourg Montmartre
75009 Paris
Warner Home Video is having a PRESS ONLY [this is actually open to the public!] event on June 9th. The information about the event is below.
***
Locals, keep your eyes to the skies for the OZ balloon!!! ***
[from Warner Home Video]:
It’s the 70th Anniversary of Wizard of Oz and we’re having a gala party on June 9th at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in downtown Los Angeles to announce a very special Wizard of Oz Collector’s Edition DVD and … Opening an ART SHOW -- The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition with 19 pair of High End Designer Ruby Red Slippers– along with other Oz themed art and fashion AND….. Warner Home Video is also launching a colorful hot air balloon, to tour America in the months preceding the DVD release date.
The balloon will float in the skies across the U.S.A., visiting cities and hot air balloon festivals, culminating in an appearance at the September 24 Tavern on the Green gala event – where the Ruby Red Slippers will be auctioned (online so everyone can participate) to benefit the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
The Emerald City Green balloon is encircled with the Yellow Brick Road, stands over 75 feet tall, is 55 feet in diameter and holds 90,000 cubic feet of air. The Oz balloon also carries the 70th anniversary logo that includes Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers. Another side of the balloon has a larger–than-life image of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and Toto. The famous movie characters stand nearly 30-foot tall and seem to be skipping off the side of this beautiful balloon. Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers are size 8 and a half – feet long!
MEDIA RELEASE 06-01-09:
WARNER BROS. & FIDM PRESENT
THE WIZARD OF OZ EXHIBITION OPENING NIGHT GALA FEATURING THE RUBY SLIPPER COLLECTION
RED CARPET LAUNCH EVENT AT FIDM, LOS ANGELES
WHO: “Project Runway” alum Nick Verreos, renowned designer, Tarina Tarantino, Warner Bros. executives, FIDM students and other fashion tastemakers Additional VIP guests include Debi Mazar, Kelly Osbourne and MANY More!!!
WHAT: A red carpet event in continued celebration of the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz featuring the Los Angeles debut of the world renowned The Ruby Slipper Collection, The Inspirations ofOz fine art collection, and the “My Pretty” collection from Tarina Tarantino. Featured designs from winners of the FIDM Student Design Contest are included amongst the collections.
The event will also feature a sneak peek of Warner Home Video’s upcoming limited-edition gift sets: The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Editions on DVD and Blu-ray.
***PHOTO/VIDEO OPP*** The Event launches The Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon Tour that will travel across the United States, visiting cities and balloon festivals all across the country. The Emerald City Green balloon is a truly a sight to behold, standing over 75 feet tall, 55 feet in diameter and holding 90,000 cubic feet of air!
Reporters can go up 40’ in the air and be filmed from news copters or the roof of the FIDM building. Balloon Inflation can also be exciting for viewers to watch and it will begin mid-afternoon.
WHEN: Tuesday, June 9th Press Check-In: 6:30 Doors Open: ?
WHERE: FIDM Museum & Galleries
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 919 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Gary Horrocks, the previous editor of The Judy Garland Club's "Rainbow Review" (see image at right), has told me that he and Lorna Smith (among many others) are currently working on a new, yearly publication (independent of The Judy Garland Club) to be title titled "Judy Garland In Retrospect - the new Rainbow Review". This new publication will only be published once a year, and will focus on essays and insights 'of the "Rainbow Review". This new publication will be published once a year, and will focus on
Gary said: The Rainbow Review ceased publication in 2007 after my tenure as
editor came to an end. Many fans and members were keen to see the
continuation of a high quality journal that celebrated Judy in words
and rare photographs. The new magazine: "Judy Garland - in
retrospect......the new Rainbow Review" will do just that and preserve
the heritage of a magazine that the Garland community had enjoyed
since 1963.
Be sure to check her for updates. Gary will share cover art, release date, and ordering information just as soon as it's available. If it's anything near the quality of the preview "Rainbow Review's", it's sure to be a "must have"!!
04-28-2009: Released today in the U.S.: "My Judy Garland Life", Susie Boyt's pseudo-memoir that has garnered great reviews and was previously published last year in the U.K. (see info below).
UPDATE:
This release has been halted, once again! The week before Scott Schechter died, he was working on finalizing the liner notes for this release. Just after his death, the release date was pushed out to late June. That date came and went. Various online retailers like Best Buy and Amazon had it listed, then "backordered", then some took their listings off completely. Now, it's obvious this latest incarnation of the expanded CD will not be released. Too bad - it's the last of Judy's Capitol records and her only concert with daughter Liza.
Collector's Choice Music is advertising a new CD release of "Judy & Liza Live at the London Palladium". No details yet, except what's currently on their site. Could this be the long-awaited "complete" CD release of the concert?
I'll update this page just as soon as more details are received.
The first Garland film to be released via Warner Bros' new online only "Warner Archive Collection" is 1943's Thousands Cheer. Available April 14, 2009.
Judy has a guest spot as one of the stars featured in the big show for the troops at the end of the film. This is Judy's first appearance in Technicolor after The Wizard of Oz, and the first time she plays herself in an MGM feature.
Warner Home Video has launched it's new "Archive Collection". These are DVD-R only-available-online editions of many rare and previously unreleased on DVD films. They're "bare bones" editions, meaning that currently they will only contain the films and trailers if the trailers exist. No special extras will be included. 150 films are currently available, from silents up through our modern times. 20 films are scheduled to be added each month. 1943's Thousands Cheer, which features Judy's guest appearance singing "The Joint Is Really Jumpin' Down At Carnegie Hall" is scheduled. Probably next month, as it's part of the promo video but not the initial list of titles. CLICK HERE for announcement flyer.
Here's the official site: www.warnerarchive.com
The Home Theater Forum had a recent chat with Warner Home Video, and in that chat WHV states:
<GinnySayre> The Mickey and Judy Box set was beautifully done. Are there any plans to release
Little Nellie Kel as well as Judy's remaining earlier films?
<warnerbros> Yes. We will release the remaining five unreleased Judys....most likely when we issue
our now-being-super-restored A STAR IS BORN special edition. Tentative date Spring 2010.
BFI 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
Judy Garland program
The British Film Institue is having Judy Garland screenings at the 23rd London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, which runs from 25 Mar - 8 Apr 2009:
We Love Judy Garland: A screening preceded by some favourite songs courtesy of the London Gay Men's Chorus.
Ronald Neame's I Could Go on Singing:
Judy's swansong as neurotic lonely singer Jenny Bowman back in London to see the son she gave up long ago.
Plus a collection entitled Judy on TV: Featuring "Impressions of Garland" an episode of Omnibus, "Judy and Liza at the Palladium" and "Get Happy", a documentary about a young boy who dresses up as Judy.
On Sunday, March 15th, the George Eastman House is presenting two showings of The Wizard of Oz in their Dryden Theatre. Showings are at 2pm and 7pm, tickets are $7 ($5 for students). Call 585-271-4090 or go to the website for more information.
Rochester, New York: On May 3, the George Eastman House joins the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra for Cinematic Symphony: Oz & Beyond. The event will feature preconcert activities and an Oz costume parade. At 3 p.m., the RPO will play the score live as the movie is projected on the big screen at the Eastman Theatre. At 5:30 p.m., the two organizations will host a fundraising gala featuring behind-the-scenes stories and a rare showcase of the Eastman House's treasures from its motion picture archive.
Tickets for the May 3 concerts are $24 to $70 (children's tickets start at $18). Tickets for the gala start at $175 and include a ticket for the afternoon concert. Call (585) 454-2100 or go to wwo.rpo.org.
You can catch the full stage version of The Wizard of Oz May 26 to 31 at the Auditorium Theatre.
AND:
Word on the street (i.e. in the Oz discussion boards) is that the new OZ 70th Anniversary Blu-Ray and Standard DVD releases are supposedly scheduled release on October 27, 2009. More to come as we confirm the rumors and/or get serious info from Warner Home Video!
The International Poster Center is having their first auction of a wide variedy of original posters. Included in the lot is the 1968 Judy at the Lincoln Center poster. Check it out! Starting bid is very affordable at $300.00.
Also included (see link or click on the poster) are some Liza, Bette, and Babs posters. LOTS of great stuff that's fun to browse through, even if you're not interested in bidding.
Judy is one of the first exhibits you see when you walk in. The speakers play clips of her songs ("Someone At Last"; "Born In A Trunk", & "Over The Rainbow", along with some clips of songs from other featured performers in that same room such as Shirley Temple and Marilyn Monroe. A placard explains how much of a Judy fan Warhol was, and quotes him saying that it was natural for him to become friends with Liza, due to his love of Judy. Liza is featured as well, along with the album cover for her first "Liza at Carnegie Hall" album that used Warhol's Liza portrait, and she's also on the cover of one of the examples of his "Interview" magazine.
On a side note, also included are many of the late 50's early 60's album covers he designed, and also items from his own collection of albums and tapes. Prominently displayed is the original box version of the 12" soundtrack to A Star Is Born (follow this link to see it at The Judy Garland Online Discography).
There is also a fantastic exhibit featuring the costumes and couture of Yves Saint Laurent that is most definitely worth browsing through as well.
This is the best photo I could get of the three canvases of Judy. Obviously no flash was allowed,
but I tried to get a few without using the flash, before one of the exhibit employees sternly said "No Photos!".
The speakers above these canvases continuously play clips of Judy singing
"Someone At Last" ["Now here come a big fat close up!"], "Born In A Trunk", and "Over The Rainbow".
The latest news from George Feltenstein at Warner Home Video, as reported here by High-Def Digest News, states that release of the new 6k restoration of A Star Is Born on Blu-Ray will happen in 2010.
The release of The Wizard of Oz will be "later this year".
...That trio, however, is just a warm-up for what Feltenstein calls a "murderer's row" of classic releases later this year that will include such AFI 100 masterpieces as 'Gone With the Wind,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' and 'North By Northwest.' Hitchcock's thriller underwent a $1 million restoration, while 'GWTW' and 'Oz' – both of which were remastered in 2K Ultra Resolution three or four years ago for splashy DVD releases – have been completely overhauled once again to make sure they meet all of Blu-ray's exacting standards. "What was perfection two to three years ago is not now," Feltenstein says. "We thought 'Gone With the Wind' would be good to go on Blu-ray with what was done previously, plus $200,000 for dirt cleaning. But to look perfect, we had to start all over from scratch at enormous cost. I took it to management and there was no hesitation. Having a film like 'Gone With the Wind' on Blu-ray will set a new standard and pave the way for more classic releases."...
...Oftentimes, 1080p remastering shines a beacon on basic rudimentary production techniques used in classic films. Mattes, backdrops, and rear projection work are more noticeable, and special effects can lose their mystique. When upgrading 'Top Hat' (1935), Feltenstein was shocked to see how dirty the floor was on which Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced. That dirty floor will be clearly visible when the Astaire-Rogers films make their Blu-ray debut in 2010, as will the wires that support the Scarecrow in certain scenes of 'The Wizard of Oz.' Age-related specks, scratches, and grit, however, will be erased...
...And Warner has plenty of those on tap. In addition to the Astaire-Rogers canon in 2010, Feltenstein said the 1954 'A Star Is Born' with Judy Garland, currently being remastered in 6K resolution, will also see a 2010 release...
...and 'Meet Me in St. Louis' also will see high-def releases in the next two to three years...
Click on image above to go to the 2008 News Page with details of the A Star Is Born restoration.
Warner Home Video has announced more titles in their "Greatest Classic Films" series, including the volume titled "American Musicals". This set of 4 films includes two Judy films: Easter Parade and Meet Me In St. Louis. The set retails at $27.92 and has a street date of: 5/5/09. Click here to pre-order from Amazon.
No word on whether these are the two disc editions as previously released, or if they're single discs with just the films themselves. More than likely they're not the two disc special editions.
(from Warner Home Video):
Synopsis: EASTER PARADE Strolling along 5th Avenue or bumming around as A Couple of Swells, Judy Garland and Fred Astaire lead a parade of music (17 Irving Berlin tunes and an Academy Award-winning adaptation score) and gotta-dance fun in this never ending delight co-starring Ann Miller and Peter Lawford.
MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS She's in love with the boy next door. And movie fans are forever in love with her Judy Garland in a nostalgia and humor-filled tale of life with the Smith family in 1903 St. Louis. Songs include The Boy Next Door, The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
SINGIN IN THE RAIN Considered by many to be the greatest movie musical ever! Silent movies are giving way to the advent of sound and a Hollywood matinee idol (Gene Kelly) is caught in that bumpy transition, as well as his buddy (Donald O'Connor), prospective sweetheart (Debbie Reynolds) and vocally-challenged co-star (Jean Hagen).
THE BAND WAGON Fred Astaire dazzles in a train station (By Myself), a penny arcade (A Shine on Your Shoes), a back-lot Central Park (Dancing in the Dark) and a smoky café (Girl Hunt), the latter two with incomparable Cyd Charisse. Nanette Fabray, Jack Buchanan and Oscar Levant co-star, and as the movies hallmark song goes, That's Entertainment!
click on image to see announcement flyer
Warner Home Video has the largest selection of Garland films available!
I'll add more items and artwork as time goes on. And please give me your feedback and also what you might want for sale in the store.
The minimal (and believe me, it's VERY minimal) commission that I get will go towards the maintenance of The Judy Room site (which is several hundred dollars per year). It's not that I'm destitute, I just thought this might be a fun way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the site, and also offset some of the cost of the maintenance.
Besides, it's kind of fun having a "Judy Room" mug! And yes, I have to buy one too! Nothing's for free these days!! But, it's something fun that I can change and add to as the year goes on.
NOTE: The mug with the current "Judy Room Homepage Cover" is a LIMITED EDITION. When the cover goes offline and is replaced with the (probably) Spring version, the mug will change too. So, get that while you can! It'll be available for the next few months (I'm a mug person - I drink coffee and just love mugs!!
Thanks everyone for making these past 10 years AMAZING!! Really! I wouldn't do all of this for The Judy Room if it were a pain in the a--!
Scheduled for release on January 13th (just in time for Valentine's Day) is the new Savoy Jazz CD "Judy Garland - Love Songs".
Track listing:
1. From This Moment On
2. That's All
3. Old Devil Moon
4. The Nearness Of You
5. Medley: Almost Like Being In Love/This Can't Be Love (Show # 17)
6. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
7. I Am Loved
8. Alone Together
9. Island In The West Indies
10. Do It Again
11. I Wish You Love
12. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Show # 21)
Per Garland Historian John Fricke, another as-yet-unnamed Savoy Jazz CD release is also scheduled for mid-June 2009, right around Judy's birthday (June 10th).
This CD clocks in at approximately 41 minutes, per Mr. Fricke on a few Garland disccussion groups:
"And if you're wondering about the absence of a number of other unreleased love song tracks from the TV series, several of these have been programmed into the "theme" attendant to the late-spring release; details forthcoming.
Anyway, please keep an eye out for JUDY GARLAND/LOVE SONGS. The test pressing of the disc "plays" kind of like a 41-minute concert "set," I think Savoy is to be commended for their dedication to their JG material. These things aren't major best sellers, but the company continues to be genuinely proud of the fact that she's in their catalog, and they continue to utilize the tracks in as classy and creative a manner as possible, given the limitations of the market."
Word on the street (i.e. in the Oz discussion boards) is that the new OZ 70th Anniversary Blu-Ray and Standard DVD releases are supposedly scheduled release on October 27, 2009. More to come as we confirm the rumors and/or get serious info from Warner Home Video!
No official word from Warner Home Video, but Amazon.com has this new 70th anniversary Blu-Ray artwork posted.
The actual release could be quite different, but this gives us an idea of what the new Blu-Ray and standard DVD artwork might look like. No word yet on any official release date(s) for the 70th anniversary editions of the film.
Thanks to "LostnOz" for the info!
Warner Home Video has the largest selection of Garland films available!
Warner Home Video has announced a new film series, in association with Turner Classic Movies, called ""Greatest Classic Films Collection". Beginning on February 3, 2009 (see image below), new themed collections will feature 4 films per package. See the details below.
Judy fans get to see both Meet Me In St. Louis and Easter Parade scheduled for the May 5, 2009 releases. The Wizard of Oz is not part of the series, probably because it's getting a special 70th anniversary Blu-Ray and standard DVD release of its own.
The dates and titles are subject to change.
Warner Home Video has the largest selection of Garland films available!
click on image to see announcement flyer
WAVE ONE (Release Date: February 3, 2009)
Romantic Dramas
(Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Streetcar Named Desire, Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden)
Best Picture Winners
(Casablanca, An American in Paris, Gigi, Mrs. Miniver)
Romantic Comedies
(A Philadelphia Story, Bringing Up Baby, Adam's Rib, Woman of the Year)
WAVE TWO (Release Date: May 5, 2009)
Musicals 1
(Singin' in the Rain, Easter Parade, The Band Wagon, Meet Me in St. Louis)
Musicals 2
(Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Annie Get Your Gun, Show Boat, Kiss Me Kate)
We know her as "Glinda" in The Wizard of Oz, but many people probably don't know that long before OZ, Billie Burke was a huge stage star, one of the great beauties of her day, and the widow of famed impressario Florenz Ziegfeld. Her story was such that while she was a contract player at MGM, her life with Ziegfeld was dramatized by MGM with Myrna Loy playing her in The Great Ziegfeld. Probably the only time a current star was portrayed by another star at the same studio!
This new biography will be out in Spring of 2009 - don't miss it!!
NEW TO DVD! Timed to release during the height of award season buzz!
MGM: WHEN THE LION ROARS
On April 24, 1924 the movies changed forever: the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio opened and soon assembled "more stars than there are in the heavens." Patrick Stewart hosts this enthralling Emmy® winner as Best Informational Series, a 3-part story of MGM's reign as Hollywood's class act and legendary entertainment empire. Bursting with memorable film clips, rare interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and insider info, this is a mother lode for film fans, profiling perfectionist moguls, glamorous and charismatic actors, innovative filmmakers and landmark movies. Experience the dramatic and romantic fire, singing and dancing magic, and sweeping epic adventure of Hollywood's greatest studio in this must-have 2-Disc DVD Set.
Includes amazing vintage footage and interviews with classic Hollywood insiders:
Mickey Rooney (Boys Town 1938), Myrna Loy (The Thin Man 1934), King Vidor (Director, Billy the Kid 1930), and many more!
Winner of Primetime Emmy® Award for Outstanding Informational Series (1992)
Street Date: January 20, 2009
Retail Price: $29.95
2 Discs
Only available in Standard DVD for now.
Warner Home Video has the largest selection of Garland films available!
A new and unique Garland related book was released in the U.K. in Fall 2008, and due for release in the U.S. this Spring. Gary Horrocks has provided us with a wonderful review
of the pre-release copy of the book:
I wanted to take
the opportunity to raise awareness in this forum
about a brilliant new book by novelist and journalist
Susie Boyt
entitled `My Judy Garland Life.' It is published in the
United
Kingdom on October 2nd with a US publication slated for
April next
year, and is available from Amazon UK for advance orders.
I was proud and honoured to be given the opportunity
to read an
advance draft that Susie sent over to me a few months
ago; even more
so when she indicated that she'd been an avid reader
of the Rainbow
Review under my editorship before it ceased publication
last year.
This is an intimate and extremely personal memoir that
intertwines
Susie's reflections on her own life with Judy's – an
imaginative
assimilation of autobiography and biography highlighting
the impact
and role that Garland played in shaping one person's
life. The book
encapsulates that intense intimacy and personal bond
that many of us
feel towards Judy; that `profound kinship' that unites
fans across
the world.
It's an acutely sensitive book where Susie
reflects on her own
battles to understand and master her own day-to-day life;
the
emotional world of love, laughter and loss that we all
inhabit, and
Judy's is a passive companion throughout this process.
At one point
Boyt observes: `I wasn't there at the moments of [Judy's]
greatest
triumphs and her cruellest despair. But she has been
at mine' and it
is a sentiment most of us share.
One chapter, entitled
`World's Greatest Entertainer' stands alone as
one of, if not THE most eloquent analysis of Garland's
talent that I
have ever encountered. Susie has captured the impact
of Judy: THE
voice, THE personality, THE agony, ecstasy and rollercoaster
extremities. The book is rich with anecdotes, eloquent
and evocative
childhood memories, whimsical reflections, amusing `what
if…'
speculation, humour and tears; and Judy strides like
a colossus
throughout; the key point of reference in Susie's life – omnipresent
but never really getting in the way of Susie's story.
It
is such a brave and exciting new direction in Garland
biography,
and reminds me of the Rainbow Review in the early years
when Club
members sent in essays on `Judy and Me' – adding
a unique personal
touch the Garland genre. Susie writes: `This book is
one story. Mine.
There are many others.' I hope it encourages similar
work and
contributions over the years to come.
The book is also
beautifully illustrated with some lovely and rare
Garland photographs, and I'm sure it will cause a huge
sensation on
its release in a few weeks. Reviews, articles and author
profiles
will appear in all key UK media.
Go to: http://www.amazon.
co.uk [Judy Room note: Amazon
UK does ship to the US if you don't want to wait for
April to read the book]
It is exquisite, imaginative and beautifully
crafted. A rare treat
these days.
Gary Horrocks
With an endorsement like this, who can't resist reading
what appears to be a loving tribute to "our gal"???
Thank you Gary for allowing us to reprint your review!
Gary Horrocks, the previous editor of The Judy Garland Club's "Rainbow Review" (see image at right), has told me that he and Lorna Smith (among many others) are currently working on a new, yearly publication (independent of The Judy Garland Club) to be title titled "Judy Garland In Retrospect - the new Rainbow Review". This new publication will only be published once a year, and will focus on essays and insights 'of the "Rainbow Review". This new publication will be published once a year, and will focus on 
