Spring rains are finally here, and, despite the cold
winds, the landscape is turning green. Actually, this weekend it’s really warm,
so we’re looking forward to a lush June, with hopefully no rain during Festival
time. If it does rain, please be advised all the outdoor events will take place
at the Civic Center.
Spread the word about The Wizard of Oz Festival.
It’s going to be great!
Now, on to our news.
1. "“Chuck and Judy" a presentation by author, film archivist and dancer, Brent Phillips
2. Judy in Concert by John Fricke
3. Gift Shop Treasures and Surprises
"Chuck and Judy" by Brent Phillips
Author - “Charles Walters: The Director Who Made Hollywood Dance
If you are fan of
Turner Classic Movies, you will probably recall seeing our guest, Brent
Phillips, being interviewed by Robert Osbourne. For a month this winter, Mr.
Phillips appeared on TCM’s Friday Night Spotlight
series to speak about the films of Charles “Chuck”
Walters.
Most Garland fans are
aware of Charles Walters. His name repeatedly appears on the credits of many
MGM musical films. Walters was a dancer, choreographer and, finally, a
director. He not only directed Judy Garland on film, but when she decided to do
a show at the Palace Theater back in 1951, Walters was there, choreographing Judy
and her chorus boys, who were known in the show as “Judy’s Boyfriends.”
Recently, I spoke to
Brent Phillips about his interest in director Charles Walters. Here are the
fascinating details.
Judy Garland Museum: We've heard wonderful things about
your book. How did you become interested in Charles Walters?
Brent Phillips:
I first became interested in Charles Walters when
I was twelve years old and really trying to learn about the MGM movie musical,
which I had recently “discovered.” I read anything I could find about these movies.
I learned the basics
about Walters’s career: he had been a Broadway dancer turned choreographer
turned film director. But there was very little information. Then I found an
interview that Walters gave in the 1970s and was instantly drawn to his candor --
and amazed by his career arc. I didn’t know he had been so renowned on
Broadway; I didn’t know he worked at MGM for twenty-two years; I didn’t know he
had been nominated for an Academy Award as Best Director.
My curiosity was piqued.
I wanted to know more and began to investigate. The more I learned, the
more I wanted to share. Charles Walters: The Director Who Made
Hollywood Dance was my opportunity to do so. I hope the book helps
restore this benevolent director-choreographer to the pantheon of great
Hollywood filmmakers.
JGM: I noted that you were a dancer with Joffrey
Ballet.
 |
| Prior to becoming a media archivist and author, Brent Phillips began his career as a principal dancer with The Joffrey Ballet. He is shown here during the 1989-90 season in a performance of Gerald Alpino's TRINITY. (Photographer: Herbert Migdoll) |
BP: Yes, I was a
soloist with the Joffrey Ballet for seven years. Before that I had been an
apprentice to the company as well as an apprentice to the American Ballet
Theater (ABT) -- way back when I was 16 years old!
JGM: Can you tell us something about how you became a
dancer; what inspired you, and something about your time with the Joffrey.
My
first introduction to dance was when I "discovered" the MGM musical.
As I mentioned before, I was twelve years old and growing up in Racine,
Wisconsin in an era long before home video, Turner Classic Movies, or Netflix.
Our local PBS station would air one MGM musical every Saturday night.
That became the high point of my week.
The first MGM musical I
saw was Singing' in the Rain. I was amazed by Gene Kelly
and Donald O'Connor. They introduced
me to dance! I knew at that moment I wanted to be a dancer. I watched these
films every weekend. Seeing artists like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, Mickey
Rooney, and Judy Garland impacted me greatly. And I recognized from the
beginning that Judy was not only an incomparable singer but also a marvelous
dancer.
I began formal dance
training and a few years later was offered an apprenticeship with ABT. Joining
the Joffrey Ballet (at age 18) was wonderful because -- besides doing many of
the classics (The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet) -- they had a
varied repertoire. One of my favorite pieces, which was positively panned by the critics, was a tribute to
"two-a-day vaudeville." I got to wear a top hat and tails and pay
homage to Kelly and Astaire by leaping around the stage as I had seen them do
so many times in their films.
JGM: How
wonderful! So when it came to writing your book on Charles Walters, how did you
go about doing the research? I gather you looked at films, articles and
tried to find people who worked with him. How many people did you meet or speak
to and is there anyone you'd like to mention who really helped or who possibly
knew Judy Garland?
BP: I
began doing serious research for about seven years. I watched every Chuck
Walters film repeatedly, which was really a joy! I watched his film work from
when he was a dance director (choreographer) which spanned 1942-1947 and of
course his directorial work from 1947-1966 so that I could look for -- and come
to understand -- his personal style.
I also scoured the
archives at the University of Southern California (USC) where Charles Walters's
personal papers are held. That archive also holds the papers of MGM producer
Arthur Freed, music arranger Roger Edens, and producer Joseph Pasternak.
In addition, I found
other archives that held the papers of several of Walters's closest friends and
associates, like writer Helen Deutsch (who wrote the screenplays for Lili, The Glass Slipper, and The
Unsinkable Molly Brown) and actress Gloria Swanson, who was a life-long
friend. I was really seeking out correspondence, memos, photos from those who
sadly weren't with us any longer. I sought out archival interviews and oral
histories.
JGM: Were you able to speak to anyone who knew
Walters or who had worked with him?
BP:
Besides archival investigation I attempted to speak with anyone I could who
knew Walters whether professionally or personally. For example, I found one of
his boyhood mates (from back in the 1920s) and several actors and dancers who
worked for Walters. I was thrilled to speak with actresses Leslie Caron -- a
most gracious and lovely lady -- and Debbie Reynolds -- the same Debbie
Reynolds who I had seen in Singin' in the Rain when I was
twelve. Talk about a thrill! And as for Judy Garland, every person I spoke with
mentioned that she was the best. Caron and Reynolds spoke about her warmth and
humor. There was a true fondness for Judy, and an appreciation for her
greatness.
 |
| Chuck Walters with Judy Garland and Gene Kelly during the making of Summer Stock. |
JGM: For
those who don’t know much about Walters, what do you feel is most important
about him? Why should be people be interested in him?
BP: The
Charles Walters story is really one about a stage-struck kid with a dream - and
the talent and intelligence to make it come true. From boyhood he wanted to
dance. With no dancing schools available he taught himself, moved to New York,
and enjoyed success after success on Broadway through hard work and honing his
craft. By the time he joined MGM as a dance director (choreographer) he arrived
with a solid foundation and he continued to learn at MGM.
By all
accounts Walters was a kind, considerate, unassuming man -- and crazy talented!
As Ethan Mordden wrote in his January 9, 2015 Wall Street Journal
review of the Walters biography:
"There
are no familiar Charles Walters anecdotes, no scandals, not even a
half-remembered riposte of some kind. He was amiably cooperative in an industry
known for raging narcissists who lived by two rules: one, Demand Everything;
and, two, Betray Everyone. Unassertive and loyal, Walters pursued success the
hard way: through talent alone."
JGM: Why do you
think Garland fans fill find most interesting about Charles Walters?
BP:
I think Judy Garland fans would be most interested in the Chuck Walters story
primarily because of the amazing connection that he and Garland shared. A lot
has been written about the professional relationship between Garland and her
MGM musical mentor Roger Edens -- and rightfully so. Similarly, the role that
Vincente Minnelli played in Garland's on-screen maturation has been frequently
discussed. Both Edens and Minnelli did a lot towards developing and fine-tuning
Garland's superb talent. Surprisingly though, Chuck Walters's relationship with
Garland has gone virtually unnoticed. Without Walters, there would be no “Get
Happy” or “A Couple of Swells” and “The Trolley Song” might not have been
conceived -- and executed -- so intelligently.
.jpg) |
| Judy and Chuck on stage at the New York Palace during Garland's record-breaking 1951 run, performing "A Couple of Swells." |
As a dance director,
Walters guided Judy through four films (the Presenting Lily Mars finale, Girl
Crazy, Meet Me in St. Louis, and Ziegfeld Follies.)
He directed her in Easter Parade and Summer Stock. (He
would have directed her in The Barkleys of Broadway, Annie
Get Your Gun, and Royal Wedding if she had done them.)
He
staged and directed her personal appearances at the Palace Theater in 1951, the
Los Angeles Coconut Grove and Chicago's Orchestra Hall in 1958, plus added
ideas for her 1956 return to the Palace. When pieced together, this list shows
that Chuck Walters was the calming, supportive, creative man who showcased
Garland at her best through three very different eras of her career - screen ingénue,
leading lady, and "live" performer.
JGM: Thank you so much,
Brent Phillips, for sharing with us. We’re looking forward to your talk. I’m
sure it’s going to be great!
Brent Phillips’s book
will be available in our gift shop:
Charles
Walters: The Director Who Made Hollywood Dance by Brent Phillips (University
Press of Kentucky, 322 pages, with 66 rare b/w photos) is the first full length
biography of this under-appreciated director-choreographer. It is available
wherever books are sold.
Brent Phillips’
Presentation
Saturday, June 13, 2015, at 3pm
Saturday, June 13, 2015, at 3pm
Brent Phillips’s
Presentation: “Chuck and Judy."
The event will include
film clips and be moderated by John Fricke.
Tickets are available online
Judy in Concert by John Fricke
As a special event for fans of Judy Garland and anyone
who like to know more about why she is considered by many to be the world’s
greatest entertainer, this year John Fricke is offering r a wonderful event
called “Judy in Concert.”
Because of her work at MGM in film, on radio, and recordings,
the years 1935-1950 were key to Judy’s development as an artist and, without a
doubt, the foundation for her international fame. However, those years of
intensive effort--and the accompanying strain of stardom-- left her depleted
and ill by 1950. When MGM canceled her contract that year, some thought she would
never again be able to perform; she was considered unemployable at age
28.
 |
| Judy Garland on stage at the Thunderbird, Las Vegas in 1965. (Photo courtesy John Fricke Collection) |
On Friday, June 12 from 3:30 p.m. – 5:00
p.m., at the Judy Garland Museum, John Fricke will give the audience a rare
treat by taking them back to Judy’s concert years. Included in this presentation
are home movies and newsreel footage of Garland on stage—everywhere from The
Palace and Carnegie Hall to the Boston Common, Las Vegas, and Hollywood. Some
clips from these films have been shown in various television specials, but none
have been seen in their entirety.
If you love Judy, or would like to know more about
her, don’t miss this opportunity to learn about her triumphs as a stage star,
as she performed worldwide during the years the years 1951-1969.
Tickets are available through the http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com
Gift Shop Treasures
Recently, when we decided to reorganized and clean our
storage room we came up with a big surprise - we discovered loads of extra books,
VHS tapes, CDs, cassettes and DVDs we didn’t know we had. We also have a number
of LPs but unfortunately there will not
be time to sort through them before the Festival.
In preparation for the Festival, our museum Gift Shop
is now fully stocked with an amazing amount of treasures. We’re including a few
photos here to give you an idea
In addition, we have some new souvenirs coming in that
will be totally unique to the Judy Garland Birthplace. So, next time you visit,
be sure to reserve some time for our shop. You may find a treasure you have been
looking for!
For those who can’t attend the Festival or visit, if
you are looking for something give us a call!
****
We hope you enjoyed our newsletter.
We'll be back soon!
***
Next Issue:
- More Festival Events
- Amanda Michelle Moon – How did she write “Stealing the Ruby Slippers?” and who did it?
- Who is Josh Gallagher, our visiting jazz pianist?
- What has John Fricke, writer, producer and historian been up to?
- What Oz surprises does John Fricke have in store for us this year?
- Our Most Exciting Visitor – Hamilton Meserve, son of Margaret Hamilton, Wicked Witch of the West.
- Oz events for children this year?
- Contests at the Oz Festival this year.
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This is really a wonderful post.
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