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THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW is being re-released on DVD
[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
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WARNER HOME VIDEO ANNOUNCES THE DETAILS OF THE UPCOMING
70TH ANNIVERSARY DVD & BLU-RAY RELEASES
Click on image above for close-up!
Click here to order the Blu-Ray edition from Amazon
Click here to order the standard DVD edition from Amazon
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), Donna 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
Ultimate Collector’s Edition (SD)
$69.92 SRP
Two-Disc Special Edition
$24.98 SRP
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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!
CLICK HERE PDF with complete info...
(Thank You to The Judy Garland Experience for this early "sell sheet")
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UPDATE ON THE JUDY GARLAND CLUB
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 please CLICK HERE to email Elly
Could all UK and European fans please CLICK HERE to email me.
If everybody on this [site] joined up we’d be afloat again, and secure
for many years to come. Please join up now.
New members will be offered a complementary back issue for as long as
stocks last.
Best,
Gary Horrocks
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PALLADIUM CD UPDATE
Well, it happened again! Echoing the events in 2002, the proposed May release of "Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli Live at the London Palladium" 2-CD set has been halted. For now. No one has any definitive answer about why it's halted and/or delayed or if/when it will be released. Those "in the know" aren't speaking up. A similar release was halted back in 2002, also at the 11th hour, due to legal issues evidently dating back to Judy's contract with Capitol Records in the mid 1960's as well as issues with the current "Judy Garland Heir's Trust".
Prior to his death, Scott Schechter was putting the finishing touches on his liner notes for this new 2-CD set which was to be released by Collector's Choice Music. Just after his death, Collector's Choice quietly removed the listing from their website. All that's been told to people calling the company is that it's been delayed due to issues with the manufacturer. However, a few online sites such as Amazon.com & CD Universe still have listed as available for order, but with a release date of June 22nd (oddly enough that's the 40th anniversary of Judy's death).
I don't know if this 2009 release was the same remaster as the 2002 version, or a new one. Scott Schechter died before issuing any details about it.
I personally hope this DOES get released. In spite of some of Judy's (and Liza's) vocal "issues" it's still an enjoyable concert to listen to. Some of the performances are absolutely fantastic. It's really not as bad as people make it out to be. Perhaps it's a matter of taste. Many of Judy's mid to late 1960's performances spark debate among her fans about whether they're "good" or not. However, "Judy and Liza Minnelli Live as the London Palladium" is a very historic recording not only because it's Judy Garland, but because Liza has become an iconic legend in her own right - as evidenced by her recent Tony award for her recent appearance at The Palace - just as Judy did in 1952!
And finally, since various sellers on eBay and the other auction sites are making money by selling bootleg copies of the aborted 2002 release, why not officially release this so that Judy's heirs can actually reap the rewards? If in fact that's the case - it's a bit unclear at this point.
Whatever happens, I'll be sure and post updates on The Judy Room news page.
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Be sure to regularly check out The Judy Room News Page for updates and details about
all the upcoming products and events posted just as soon as I get the info!
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