March 7, 1949: Judy’s first day of work on Annie consisted of wardrobe fittings and a song rehearsal (song title not specified).
March 8, 1949: Rehearsals of “Anything You Can Do” and “They Say It’s Wonderful” with Howard Keel in Rehearsal Hall A for song rehearsals (noted as “Rehearsal #1”) with co-star Howard Keel. Judy was due on set at 11 a.m.; arrived at 11:15 a.m.; dismissed at 4:45 p.m. Songs rehearsed: “Anything You Can Do” and “They Say It’s Wonderful.”
March 9, 1949: “Rehearsal #2” with Judy and Howard Keel rehearsing the songs “Anything You Can Do”; “That Say It’s Wonderful”; and Judy’s solo of “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun.” Time called: 11 a.m.; Judy arrived at 11:35 a.m.; lunch from 1:20 – 2:20 p.m.; dismissed at 4:45 p.m. The actual recording session did not happen until March 25th.
March 10, 1949: More rehearsals with Howard Keel, “Rehearsal #3” which included “The Girl That I Marry”; “Anything You Can Do”; “They Say It’s Wonderful” and “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun.” Judy was due at the studio at 11 a.m. The assistant director’s notes state: “Ms. Garland called Al Jennings at 10 a.m.; saying that she was ill and would be unable to work until later in day – at this time she was given a call for 2 p.m.” Judy arrived at 2 p.m.; dismissed at 4:20 p.m.
March 11, 1949: “Rehearsal #4” for Judy and Howard Keel rehearsing: “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun” (Garland solo); “Anything You Can Do” (duet); “They Say It’s Wonderful” (duet); “The Girl That I Marry” (one solo each). Judy arrived at 11:30 a.m.; lunch from 1:20 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.; dismissed at 5:15 p.m.
March 15, 1949: Wardrobe fittings from 12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m. From 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Judy and Howard Keel rehearsed their songs, including “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun”; “Anything You Can Do”; “They Say It’s Wonderful”; and “The Girl That Marry.”
March 16, 1949: “Rehearsal #7” – Judy was fitted for more wardrobe from 12:45 – 2 p.m., then song rehearsals at 2 – 3:30 p.m., including “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun”; “Anything You Can Do” and “The Girl That I Marry” – with Howard Keel.
March 17, 1949: Wardrobe and makeup tests were canceled as Judy sick. She called and said she’d be ready at 2 p.m. rather than 10 a.m., citing “intestinal flu.” At 3:45 p.m. she called Jennings again stating that she wouldn’t make it in at all. She was out sick for the following two days.
March 21, 1949: Judy returned after being out sick for several days. On this day, she had some wardrobe and makeup tests, plus “Rehearsal #8” in which she rehearsed the song “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly.” Time called: 10 a.m.; due on set at 1 p.m.; arrived on set 1 p.m.; dismissed at 4:40 p.m.
March 22, 1949: Wardrobe fittings which began at 11 a.m. and lasted to Noon, then a lunch break from 12:20 – 1:20 p.m. Rehearsal #9 was from 2 – 3:20 p.m. It’s unclear what was rehearsed, but it’s likely that the rehearsal consisted of more work on the songs.
March 23, 1949: Rehearsals of “There’s No Business Like Show Business” and “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly.” Judy arrived at 11 a.m.; dismissed: 4:00 p.m.
March 24, 1949: More wardrobe and makeup tests. Judy was due on the set at 8:30 a.m. Per the assistant director’s notes: “Miss Garland was in at 8:30 a.m. to have hair dyed; Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; due on set: 1:15. Arrived at 1:15; due to illness of Frank Morgan, rehearsal was canceled and Mr. [Howard] Keel made comparative makeup test with Miss Garland from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.” Dismissed at 3:50 p.m.”
March 25, 1949: The first recording session. Judy pre-recorded “Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly” and “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun.” She arrived at 1:30 p.m. and was dismissed at 3:15 p.m.
March 28, 1949: The second recording session. Judy and Howard Keel pre-recorded “They Say It’s Wonderful” (the duet and Judy’s reprise) and Judy pre-recorded her reprise of Keel’s “The Girl That I Marry” after he pre-recorded his solo version. Judy arrived at 1:30 p.m. and was dismissed at 3:15 p.m.
March 29, 1949: A break in the pre-recording sessions. Judy posed for silent (film) makeup and hairdress tests. Judy was due in the studio at 8:00 a.m.; due on set: 10:00 a.m.; Judy was on time arriving at 10:00 a.m.; dismissed 11:00 a.m.
March 30, 1949: Judy pre-recorded the song “Let’s Go West Again” which was written specifically for her by Irving Berlin. After Judy left the project it was pre-recorded by Betty Hutton but ultimately cut from the film. Judy’s co-star, Howard Keel, also recorded his solo of “My Defenses Are Down” during this session. Time called: 11:30 a.m., due on set 1 p.m.; Judy arrived at 1 p.m.; dismissed at 1:45 p.m. It only took Judy 45 minutes to pre-record the song with the orchestra.
March 31, 1949: Judy, Howard Keel, Frank Morgan, and Keenan Wynn pre-recorded “There’s No Business Like Show Business” as well as Judy recording her solo version of the same song. Time called: 11 a.m.; due on set 1 p.m.; Judy arrived at 1 p.m.; dismissed: 4 p.m.
April 1, 1949: Recording session: “Anything You Can Do” (with Howard Keel) and “I’ve Got The Sun In The Morning.” Judy arrived at 1:30 p.m. and was dismissed at 3:05 p.m.
April 2, 1949: Silent wardrobe, hair, and makeup tests Judy, J. Carroll Naish, and Geraldine Hall. Judy was due in makeup at 8 a.m., on set at 10 a.m.; she arrived at 10 a.m.; lunch at 12:05 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.; dismissed at 2:25 p.m.
- April 4 & 5, 1949: Judy had a rare two days off.
April 6, 1949: The first day of filming was devoted to the song “Doin’ What comes Natur’lly” on the “Exterior Wilson Hotel” set. Judy as due in makeup at 8:00 a.m.; arrived in makeup at 9:25 a.m. The Assistant Director’s reports notes state:
Miss Garland called cameraman on set at 9:40 a.m. to discuss her makeup after which time cameraman, Miss Garland and Mr. Freed looked at makeup test in projection room, cameraman returned to set at 10:05 a.m.; 10:05-11:25: Wait for Miss Garland on stage; 11:05 changing in wardrobe, and ready on set at 11:25 a.m.
11:25-12:07 – Rehearse with principles; set boom action
12:07-1:07 – Lunch
1:13-1:17 – Sew Miss Garland’s jacket
1:17-1:29 – Rehearse with principles set boom action
1:36-1:39 – Final makeup for principles
Time dismissed: 5:55 p.m.
April 7, 1949: The second, and last, day of filming the ‘Doin’ What Comes Natur’lly” on the “Exterior Wilson House” set. Judy had a call to be in makeup at 7:00 a.m.; due on the set at 9:00 a.m.; arrived on set at 9:30 a.m. The assistant director’s notes state:
10:40-10:54 – Wait for Miss Garland, putting on final wardrobe and makeup.
10:54-11:08 – Rehearsal with principles to playback
11:08-11:11 – Add makeup for principles
11:11-11:35 – Shoot 8 takes
11:35-11:42 – Camera reload
11:42-11:44 – Shoot 1 take
11:44-12:10 – Rehearse set boom action; continuation of number
Note: at 12 noon Miss Garland told Director she thought her toe was broken yesterday during rehearsal when she dropped a rifle on it. She left the lot at 12 noon to go and have her toe x-rayed.
12:10-1:10 – Lunch
Miss Garland returned to set from x-rays at 1:55 p.m.
2:00-2:11 – Rehearse set boom action with principles
2:11-2:15 – Rehearse Miss Garland for sync
2:15-2:19 – Add lighting
2:19-2:23 – Rehearse to playback, set boom action
2:23-2:25 – Add lighting
2:25-2:31 – Final makeup principals
2:31-2:35 – Rehearse
2:35-2:47 – Shoot 4 takes, and stills
2:47-3:54 – Director laying out action of scene, set boom action (Children finish school from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.)
3:54-4:07 – L&L Ext. Wilson Lawn
4:07-4:13 – Shoot silent wardrobe test Edward Arnold
4:13-4:25 – Continue lighting Ext. Wilson Lawn
4:25-4:30 – Wait for Carol Sue Sherwood: was hit in neck while playing, and went to hospital to have neck examined.
4:30-4:51 – Rehearse action with principals
4:51-4:55 – Final wardrobe and makeup for principals
4:55-4:59 – Add lighting
4:59-5:01 – Wait for director
5:01-5:04 – Shoot 1 take
5:04-5:10 – Cameral reload
5:10-5:24 – Shoot 5 takes
5:24-5:32 – Trim
5:32-5:45 – Shoot 4 takes
5:45 – Finish
April 8, 1949: The production moved to the filming of scenes on the “Exterior N.Y. Pier” set. Judy was due in makeup at 8 a.m. The assistant director’s notes state:
Miss Garland who had a 10 a.m. call, ready on set and did not come thru the gates till 9:45 a.m.
Miss Garland on set 11:25 a.m.
11:25-11:53 – Rehearse set boom action with principals
11:53-12:18 – Final wardrobe and makeup Miss Garland
12:18-12:30 – Rehearse with principals, add lighting
12:30-1:30 – Lunch
1:30-2:07 – Send main wardrobe to get new stockings for Miss Garland; meanwhile roll back canvas on top of set
2:07-2:16 – Add lighting
2:16-2:25 – Rehearse set boom, action
2:25-2:27 – Shoot 1 take
2:27-2:30 – Add lighting
2:30-2:36 – fix generator (blew out)
2:36-2:46 – Shoot 4 takes
2:46-2:53 – Fix dolly track, add lighting
2:53-2:56 – Shoot 2 takes
2:56-3:00 – Add lighting
3:00-3:05 – Shoot 1 take and stills
3:05-3:17 – Select setup
3:17-3:41 – L & L boom dolly 2 shot
3:41-4:05 – Rehearse with principals, set boom action
4:05-4:13 – Add lighting
4:13-4:19 – Final makeup principals
4:19-4:42 – Shoot 7 takes and stills
4:45 p.m. – Dismissed