Judy Garland
The Voice of MGM
“Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM” is already being hailed as the definitive volume on the star’s MGM career, with critics praising its balance of scholarly rigor and narrative warmth. By pulling back the curtain on the intricacies of Garland’s professional life, Brogan allows readers to move beyond the myths and appreciate the complexity of a woman whose voice defined an era and whose spirit continues to inspire.
– Edge Media Network, August 2025
Writer Scott Brogan is an engaging chronicler of this period, in which studio and star were inextricably linked, unearthing stories and treasures from the archives – Garland’s 1935 contract and unseen publicity photos – while not shying away from her darker personal troubles.
– IN, Empire Magazine, September 2025 issue
Click here for more details & purchase links!
I’m thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of my first book, “Judy Garland – The Voice of MGM,” which is now available in stores and from your favorite online retailers. [Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Walmart / Booksshop.org / Hudson Books]
“Judy Garland – The Voice of MGM” is the first comprehensive book about Judy’s MGM years. It features tons of new, previously unpublished facts and details about Judy’s time at MGM, personally and professionally. Peppered throughout are some rare, previously unpublished photos (and some fan favorites, too!). It’s an in-depth look that is as celebratory as it is revelatory.
Additionally, “Judy Garland—The Voice of MGM” provides a detailed look at Judy’s pre-MGM career in vaudeville and its importance in shaping her into the great talent we know today. Details about Judy’s radio performances, her recordings for Decca Records, and her personal appearance tours—especially her USO tours—provide more insights.
From Lyons Press:
More than 100 years after her birth, Judy Garland remains the gold standard by which all movie musical leading ladies are judged. She is revered and celebrated by current stars, directors, songwriters, and others in the entertainment industry. She also has a fan base that is as large as that of Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Her image, especially “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz (1939), is an instantly recognized icon. Garland really was the voice of MGM during her tenure and after. No documentary about any aspect of the history of the MGM Studios is complete without Garland’s voice on the soundtrack. When people think of MGM Musicals, they think of Garland along with Gene Kelly, and Fred Astaire. She’s the only female in that exalted “top three.”
There have been many books about Garland’s fabled and troubled life, but none devoted solely to the study (and celebration) of her years at MGM. She entered the studio as a 13-year-old contract player in 1935. She left the studio in 1950 carrying the title “Metro’s Greatest Asset.” Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM will focus on Garland’s films, but it will also delve into her other professional achievements, such as her extensive appearances on radio programs, her long association with Decca Records, and her personal appearances, highlighted by her USO Bond Tours in the early 1940s.
This will be the definitive book about Garland’s legendary career at MGM, pulling back the curtain to reveal the truths about that career while also presenting previously unknown details and facts that are sure to delight her fans as well as fans of classic film.
Order Links:
Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4ef5oJe
Barnes & Noble:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/judy-garland-scott-brogan/1146018575?ean=9781493086542
Walmart:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Judy-Garland-The-Voice-of-MGM-Hardcover-9781493086542/8241016182
Hudson Books:
https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9781493086542
Bookshop.org:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/judy-garland-the-voice-of-mgm-scott-brogan/21654542?ean=9781493086542
Books-A-Million:
https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Judy-Garland/Scott-Brogan/9781493086542?id=9256620401964
About the author (yours truly):
Scott Brogan is the webmaster and author of the world-famous The Judy Room website, which includes the biggest and most detailed Garland discography ever compiled. He is also the author and webmaster of the Judy Garland News & Events blog which features the resource “On This Day” series that presents thousands of images and details about Garland’s life and career for each day of the year. For four years, Brogan worked as a researcher and author for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. His program essays are cataloged by the Library of Congress and translated into several languages. He recently co-produced and wrote the liner notes for the successful “Judy at 100 – 26 Classics In Stereo” CD release. He has written several other CD liner notes and has been involved in the production of many others. He is world-renowned for the design and content of these sites, and is a respected expert on Garland’s career, having been a major contributor to books about Garland and/or her films, as well as books about the MGM Studios, podcasts, live stream events, and radio programs. He lives in Kansas City, Missouri.
Recent Interviews
My interview with Brandon Davis of Front Row Classics. We had a great time chatting about all things Judy!
Here are the links to listen via the various podcast platforms: LinkTree
I recently appeared live on Milwaukee’s TMJ4 News morning talk show “The Morning Blend” with hosts Tiffany Ogle and Ryan Jay. Thank you, Tiffany and Ryan!
More Interviews
Forgotten Hollywood Podcast with Doug Hess
Everything Old Is New Again with David Kenney
Listen below or click on the image above:
“Judy Garland – Property of MGM” – from AMS Pictures
Richard Skipper Celebrates
Page through “Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM” and you’ll instantly know that you’re in for a treat: this book is loaded with photos, stills, publicity shots, and newspaper recreations. There’s a lot to look at here, but what there is to read is better. If you’re expecting dirt-dishing, you’ll read about her father’s secret, her marriages, and her addictions, but not in an over-the-top scandalous way. Brogan is factual, inclusive, and respectful, just as you’d want.
If you’re planning on having guests soon, put “Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM” away or your guests will want to read, rather than mingle. It’s the kind of coffee-table book that, for fans, will make you Get Happy.
– Terri Schlichenmeyer, Syndicated, August 2025
Judy Garland’s legacy as one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons receives fresh and meticulous attention in “Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM,” the new book by acclaimed film historian Scott Brogan. Published by Lyons Press and spanning over 400 pages, Brogan’s volume stands as the first comprehensive work dedicated solely to Garland’s prolific years at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, a period that defined both her career and the golden age of American musicals.
While Brogan’s book focuses on her MGM years rather than later cultural events, its release has reignited discussion about the ongoing significance of Garland’s legacy. Her songs, especially “Over the Rainbow,” still serve as anthems of hope and longing, themes that resonate deeply with queer audiences. Brogan’s careful curation of archival materials and his celebration of Garland’s humor and humanity contribute to a richer understanding of why she remains such a beloved figure.
– Edge Media Network, August 2005
In the new book Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM by Scott Brogan, readers get a closer look at the real person behind the icon, and it’s a story worth reading.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of Judy Garland or just love classic Hollywood films, Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM is a book that’s worth your time. It tells the story of a woman who became the voice of an entire generation of musicals, and it shows why she’s still loved by millions today.
– WAO Team, WorldAuthors.org
In this celebratory volume, Brogan presents [Garland] with the fervor of a fan and the faithfulness of a fact-checker. He notes that … “[s]he was an inherently positive, joyous and funny human being.” That person comes alive in this rich and detailed story of Garland and iconic MGM musicals like The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Easter Parade. A worthy addition to film and performing arts collections and a treat for Judy Garland and classic movie musical fans alike.
– Carolyn Mulac, Booklist
Brogan excels at detailing the breadth of Garland’s career alongside the highs and lows of her personal life.
– Denise Miller, Library Journal
The Judy Room blogger Brogan provides a meticulous account of Judy Garland’s time under contract at MGM from 1935 to 1950. [With] generous and intimate photos of Garland’s life off set, including snapshots from her vaudeville days.
– Uncredited, Publishers Weekly
Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM improves on the models of two other notable Garland books, namely John Fricke’s Judy: A Legendary Film Career (Running Press, 2011) and Scott Schechter’s Judy Garland: The Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Legend (Taylor, 2002). Brogan’s work is well-researched, well-written, and scholarly, with plentiful endnotes. It contains several nuggets of information that have either never been published before or have not been emphasized …
Another essential point Brogan rightfully emphasizes is the importance of radio, which was an important source of income as well as a means of performing (and recording) songs [Garland] never tackled at MGM or Deсса. Add to that information about Garland’s Billboard chart positions on many of her 78rpm Decca singles, along with many extraordinary photos-most “from the author’s collection,” many never previously published, all in rich black-and-white or vivid color-that are so pristine and well-printed that they almost look three-dimensional and pop from the page, and you have an impressive publication from Lyons Press that brings new information to light.
– Lawrence Schulman, ARSC Journal
ORDER LINKS
Also available in Kindle (Amazon) and eBook (Barnes & Noble) formats!
“Scott Brogan reveals the most impressive and comprehensive celebration of Judy Garland’s unparalleled career at MGM. From her iconic journey ‘Over the Rainbow’ through her departure from the studio, Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM is not a typical rehash of commonly known anecdotes. Brogan’s work is nuanced, with new insights into what makes an icon shine the brightest. This book is a true love letter to the legendary star, but also to the fans who love her.”
– RYAN JAY,
film critic and Oz historian
“I found this impeccably researched deep dive into Judy Garland’s MGM career to be keenly sympathetic, virtually impossible to set aside, and ultimately heartbreaking too. Exactly like the legendary lady whom it celebrates!”
– STEVEN BINGEN,
author of The MGM Effect and The 50 MGM Films That Transformed Hollywood
“A breathtaking celebration of the incomparable star who defined the golden age of Hollywood musicals. With meticulous research and fresh insights, Judy Garland: The Voice of MGM takes readers behind the scenes of Garland’s legendary years at MGM, offering a rich portrait of her extraordinary career, personal triumphs, and struggles. A must-read for anyone who reveres Garland’s iconic legacy and the timeless magic of MGM’s musical era.”
– RANDY L. SCHMIDT,
author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter
Press Information
More than 100 years after her birth, Judy Garland remains the gold standard by which all movie musical leading ladies are judged. She is revered and celebrated by current stars, directors, songwriters, and others in the entertainment industry. She also has a fan base that is as large as that of Marilyn Monroe or James Dean. Her image, especially “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz (1939), is an instantly recognized icon.
Garland really was the voice of MGM during her tenure and after. No documentary about any aspect of the history of the MGM Studios is complete without Garland’s voice on the soundtrack. When people think of MGM Musicals, they think of Garland along with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire. She’s the only female in that exalted “top three.” There have been many books about Garland’s fabled and troubled life, but none devoted solely to the study (and celebration) of her years at MGM. She entered the studio as a 13-year-old contract player in 1935. She left the studio in 1950 carrying the title “Metro’s Greatest Asset.”
