Judy Garland Letter from Home - From Hollywood

Letter from Hollywood

This past month, museum director, John Kelsch, and wife, Michelle Russell, visited California, and most recently Hollywood.  As a result, this letter has been written by them.

In 1926, four year-old Frances Gumm (the future Judy Garland) moved to California with her parents and sisters. Over the next forty-two years, she spent a great deal of her life there, so any trip to that state will find the visitor crossing paths with significant locations in Judy Garland and the Gumm family’s lives.

This is a rather long and unusual newsletter for us, but we hope you enjoy it.

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La Fiesta de Santa Barbara

In 1935, a fifteen minute color film titled “La Fiesta de Santa Barbara” was released by MGM. Ultimately, it was nominated for an Academy Award. The film portrays the celebration of “old Spanish Days” in Santa Barbara, an event which takes place in this lovely seaside town annually. Santa Barbara is approximately 95 miles from Los Angeles.

Originally inhabited by the Chumash Indians, the Mission of Santa Barbara was founded by Padre Lausen in 1786. The Spanish began settling in the town in 1782. An earthquake in 1815, destroyed much of the village, but much of the early settlement from the mid-1800s on still remains. The city of Santa Barbara does much to protect against tall buildings, modern signs and new development.

Photos show John and Michelle Kelsch in the courtyard
where a local vendor stated historically, this is said to
be the area where the  Garland Sisters sang.

 La Fiesta de Santa Barbara had quite a number of Hollywood actors in it. The Gumm Sisters – by then known as the Garland Sisters – were hired to sing “La Cucaracha,” a traditional popular folk song, popular in Mexico. The song is about an unfortunate cockroach who fell into a cake while it was baking.

This film is the sisters’ last professional performance together. Dressed in colorful festive Spanish outfits, the girls have make-up which turns their fair skin darker, in order to appear Hispanic. The girls are obviously professional performers and sing with great harmony. Ethel Gumm may have taught them the harmony for this number.


Although a television news report states that portions of the film were made in Hollywood, on this trip we were determined to scout out the original location where the Gumm Sisters stood and sang.

While visiting the El Paseo portion of downtown where the Festival took place, a local vendor was able to point out the exact spot where the Susie, Jimmie and Judy sang, stating it was near the fountain. Since water is scarce and greatly treasured in Santa Barbara, there was no water in the fountain. 

The Old MGM Studio

In 1935, thirteen year old Judy Garland signed her first MGM contract. Two months later, her father, Frank Gumm died of Encephalitis. For the next 15 years, years during which she grew from a child to a teen, to a lovely young woman, wife and mother, Judy Garland worked at MGM, becoming one of the biggest stars Hollywood has even known. Her legacy of film, is treasured today, but the long years of hard work also affected her health, to the point that MGM was not a totally happy memory.

Plaque which now commemorates MGM on side
of one building.

In 1969, MGM sold off many of its holdings and ultimately its back lot with blocks and blocks of streets containing beautiful sets. As a young girl, Michelle Russell, a native Californian, was able visit MGM during this time.

“I remember I begged and begged my mother to go to MGM. She finally gave in. Buying the catalogs for the auction gained you entrance to the studio. We went down first to look at the sound stages filled with items for sale. It seems to me the studio was then surrounded by a few narrow streets – narrower than now – and old buildings.

We went in through a side entrance – I think – and walking down the narrow streets, surrounded by tall, tall sound stages, and there was Andy Hardy’s car. The inside of the first sound stage we entered was just packed with furniture. Each piece had a tag on it. You’d look at the number on the tag, and then look it up in your book to find out what movie it was from. There was a sideboard from Gone with the Wind that I recall distinctively, feeling that was the closest I’d ever come to Clark Gable. I also recall seeing the piano (organ) from Meet Me in St. Louis. It was truly overwhelming to see all these things.

We visited two buildings, I think, but my mother was mother finally felt anxious to get home. We had no idea there was a soundstage with costumes or that we could go to the back lot! My mom just wanted to get home to her new baby. How I wish there had been tie and we had known all we could see!

John Kelsch walks toward one former MGM
entrance. There is a photo of Judy Garland
in one of the John Fricke books, where she is
driving in or out right by this gate. Same
lamps and columns...

The day of the MGM auction, we were coming back from Malibu and my mom said we could go to part of it. My grandmother came with of. We each held a few catalogs, and no one stopped us at the entrance. We didn’t know that Debbie Reynolds and other stars were up front in that huge sound stage. We sad in the back and watched about 20 items being sold. Then right before we left, we walked up front and I stood right next to Elizabeth Taylor’s wedding dress from “Father of the Bride.” In those days, people didn’t take pictures of everything like they do now. You just held those moments in your memory.

That night we heard that Judy’s Dorothy dress sold for $1,000 and that the ruby slippers had sold for $15,000. That was an unheard of amount. Everyone was talking about it, saying they just couldn’t believe it. Most costume items were selling from $50 to $300 or so. We never thought we should buy something and it would grow in value. It was like, “What would I do with that.”

Walking around the periphery of Sony was a bit confusing. John wanted to find the Thalberg Building. He posed at the back gate and then we found the front gate. Lots of guards there and no time for a tour.

Main Gate at the former MGM (now Sony). Inside there is now
a huge rainbow going 90 feet up in the air - honoring the immortal
film made there, "The Wizard of Oz" and Judy who sang the un-
forgettable song, "Over the Rainbow."

One of the most exciting things for Michelle was to find the former David O. Selznick lot – the building which appears at the opening of every Selznick picture (see blelow). It seems unchanged! But Culver City, like all of California has changed a great deal since the time Judy worked at MGM.

The First ‘World’s Greatest Entertainer’ - Al Jolson

Before Judy Garland received the title, “Greatest Entertainer in the World,” Al Jolson held that honor.  Born Asa Joelson in Shrednike, Russia on May 25, 1886, his family immigrated to America when he was seven. 

Asa grew up in Washington, DC, where he sang and danced on the street to earn money Unhappy with his conservative Rabbi father’s views, he ran away from home and began singing onstage in vaudeville at the age of 13. . Like Judy, during his childhood and early teens, he developed his own singing style and a voice that could be hear to the back of the balcony..

By the late teens and early 1920s, Jolson had appeared in numerous New York stage plays where it is said he created such excitement when he sang, people literally jumped over their seats and ran to the stage. Also like Judy, Jolson used a runway into the audience where he could get close.A quote used in his autobiographical film was, "I want to see their faces!"


In 1927, Jolson appeared on film in the part George Jessel, (who gave the Garland Sisters their name) created on Broadway. “The Jazz Singer” broke all records because it was the first film with “synchronized” speech and singing. Needless to say, Jolson was HUGE in the entertainment industry.

As a child, Judy once did an imitation of Jolson, singing “My Mammy” and getting down on one knee – Jolson’s trademark. In the mid-1940s, she appeared on radio with him, no doubt a great event for her – appearing with one of your idols.  Later, Judy, who had been compared to Jolson, sang many of his greatest hits, most notably, “Rock-a-bye Your Baby (with a Dixie Melody)” and “Sewanee.” It should not be forgotten that “You Made Me Love You” was also Al Jolson’s hit recording when it was first written back in 1916.  Daughter Liza Minnelli also sang a Jolson hit, “My Mammy,” early in her career.

Throughout his life, Al Jolson continued to perform on radio and stage, as well as making numerous recordings. During WWII and when the Korean War began, with great dedication, he traveled to entertain the troops.  Due to illness, one lung was removed. In 1950, while traveling to entertain the troops against doctor’s advice, Jolson had a heart attack and died.

While in Culver City, Michelle wanted to visit the grave of a relative and discovered that the Hillside Memorial Park, where her relative is buried, is also the resting place of numerous stars including George Jessel, Leonard Nimoy and Al Jolson. "Since Jolson was a favorite of mine when I was a young girl, I wanted to visit his grave while we were there. As you enter the cemetery you can’t miss it. A huge waterfall cascades down the hill, with the sarcophagus at the top and a bronze statue of Jolson on one knee. It is said that Jolson’s grave is the largest monument of any star.

Here is a list of stars buried there: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillside_Memorial_Park_Cemetery

Angelus Temple and the Gumms

Amy Semple McPherson's home, now a a museum that gives
tours.

John Kelsch noted that Angelus Temple was one of the places Gumms visited on their first trip to Hollywood back in 1926. Angelus Temple is a non-denominational evangelical church founded by the famed preacher Amy Semple McPherson in 1923.

Amy was born Amy Elizabeth Kenney in a farmhouse in Ontario, Canada in 1890. She would have been close in age to Judy’s mother, Ethel. As a young woman she married Robert Semple, a Pentecostal missionary from Ireland and together they went to China. Unfortunately, Robert died there, leaving Amy, a 19 year-old widow with a new baby daughter. Upon return, Amy married Mr. McPherson. And together they had a son.

Amy Semple McPherson continued to feel the call to preach. One day when Mr. McPherson returned home, Amy and the two children were gone. Although McPherson attempted to bring her home, when he saw her preaching, it is said she was so “radiant” that he changed his mind.

Angelus Temple today

By 1918, Amy had moved to California and was able to purchase the land opposite Echo Park and see her “temple” built.  Much of the labor and materials for the building came in the form of donations. Being non-denominational at the time, all were welcome.

Echo Park, across the street, is a beautiful place, but today
contains many homeless people - along with those who
like to exercise.

The building itself is round, designed with a stage and a place for two choirs, one on either side of the stage. When Amy came out singing and dancing, it was quite a sight. Eventually she had a long, white gown designed for herself with long bell sleeves. When she held her arms out, she would look like an angel.

As John Kelsch tells the story, “The Gumms were so fascinated during their first visit to hear Amy Semple McPherson preach, they came back for a second time. They just had to go back!”

Watching the films that exist, we can just imagine the excitement of the family and the impression made on young Baby Gumm.  A short documentary on Amy Semple McPherson, including scenes in Angelus Temple, showing what the Gumms would have seen:

https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrJ7FQCZKlaIwIAvixXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyMjVkMWMwBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDQjQ3MjFfMQRzZWMDc2M-?p=Amy+Semple+Mcpherson+dancing&fr=yfp-t-m#id=7&vid=17bbbd5d8f95f0f1470bcb39991dac51&action=view

Hollywood’s Forever Cemetery – Judy’s Grave

One of the places we felt we really should visit is Judy Garland’s new resting place. For years, Judy’s body was at Ferncliff Cemetery in New York State. After her death in 1969, the family felt that Hollywood was not the place for her. However, in recent years, the family’s feeling about this changed.

Last year, a new Judy Garland Gallery was built at Hollywood’s Forever Cemetery in West Hollywood with room for the entire family. In addition, there are small glass cases, where cremation remains and memorabilia can be placed in viewable glass cases. So far, only two of these are occupied.

We also know that Mickey Rooney’s grave is at this cemetery as well as a memorial statue to Toto (who was really a female named Teri).  Unfortunately, with all the appointments we had to make and all the crazy traffic in the Los Angeles area, it was almost closing time when we arrived at Hollywood’s Forever Cemetery, so we only had time to visit Judy’s grave. 

One feature of this cemetery is that you can see the Hollywood sign from its entrance. The cemetery is in West Hollywood.

A Visit with Judy’s Son – Joe Luft

While in California, John Kelsch and Michelle Russell were able to have a nice visit with Joe Luft.

Joe has visited Grand Rapids many times, attending The Judy Garland Festival. About the Judy Garland Museum and Birthplace, Joe says, “I love that place!”

On the visit of Luft and the Kelsches, the trio went to the beach in Santa Barbara and spent some time at a private residence in Montecito, an oasis in the midst of the recent mudslide destruction.

During the visit, Joe mentioned to us that a new movie is being made about Judy's years in London with Rene Zellweiger. We hope the film will be positive but have no idea about it.

Another new show is now being broadcast on CNN about the Kennedys and Michelle asked Joe if he remembered meeting the Kennedys, in particular, President Kennedy.  In response to Michelle’s question, Joe said that he remembered Robert Kennedy much better but he had a few memories of President Kennedy. During Joe’s early childhood, Judy Garland rented a home just outside the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts.

One of his memories involved the President taking off in a golf cart with Caroline and John John and the Secret Service chasing after him. But Joe had another memory that was very special to hear.

As many know, the period when Judy taped “The Judy Garland Show” for CBS, was when Kennedy was President of the United States, and it was at this time he would often would call her or she would call him. During these phone calls, the President frequently asked Judy to sing a few bars of “Over the Rainbow.” It obviously meant something to him and brought inspiration in a very difficult job.

One day during this time, Joe was at home alone with his parents. They did not want to talk on the phone and had asked him to answer if anyone rang, and to screen the calls. So, when the phone rang, Joe answered “hello” to hear a voice say,

“Hello, is Miss Garland there?”

“Who’s calling, please,” asked Joe in the very polite way he’d been trained. Somehow the voice seemed familiar but he couldn’t quite place it. After all, he was only about eight years old.

The voice then said, “It’s the President, John Kennedy.”

“Just a moment, please,” he said, his heart beating a little fast. Then covering the phone with his hand, he turned to his parents and said,  

“Mom, I think you’d better take this. It’s the President!”

“Of CBS?” asked Judy.

“No, Mom, the President of the United States!”

“Let me have that phone,” said Judy as she jumped up. 

A pretty neat story, especially hearing it from Joe’s own lips. It really took us to the moment.

Part of the reason for our meeting with Joe was to discuss plans to celebrate Judy Garland’s Centennial in 2022. During this same time, we invited Joe to attend this year’s Wizard of Oz Festival. He said he will have to wait a bit to confirm, but would really love to come, so we will keep our fingers crossed.

Hollywood Spots and Museums

Due to time constraints with meetings and traffic (a real problem for people not used to it), John and Michelle were unable to visit many of the places they’d like to have noted on their trip. These would include: the hand and footprints in Grauman’s Chinese forecourt, the Hollywood Palace, Capitol Records, the Greek Theatre in Griffith Park (and golf course where  Frank Gumm sometimes played golf), more of Judy’s homes and the hotel where the Gumms stayed, some of which were covered in our newsletter a year or two ago.

Judy’s Daughter – Lorna Luft

Many of you made have heard the recent news about Judy’s middle child, Lorna Luft's recent health scare. While performing in London last week, Lorna collapsed and was found to have a brain tumor. Both her sister, Liza Minnelli, and her daughter, Vanessa, have asked people pray for her. As her daughter put it, she's "tough" but in the long haul, she really needs prayers.

 Lorna, a singer and producer has in recent years successfully fought breast cancer. This last year, Lorna appeared in the musical play, “Holiday Inn,” recorded a new album and has been performing her one-woman show. Inn addition, she works with Guide Dogs of the Desert in Palm Springs and recently did a benefit for them. Married to musician, Colin Freeman, Lorna is also the mother of two children, Jesse and Vanessa. In addition, she now has three grandchildren.

With the state of medical technology, fine doctors and her own strength, we hope we will have good news in the future to report on Lorna Luft’s progress.


CASTING CALL - Judy Garland Living History

The Judy Garland Museum is considering the possibility of another living history program in the Judy Garland Birthplace something like what was performed 21 years ago. Right now we are looking for the following:

Frank Gumm - age 48, baritone, entertainer, friendly and fun
Ethel Gumm - age 35, soprano or messo, not too tall, very lively
Mary Jane Gumm, 9-10, can dance and sing
Virginia "Jimmy" Gumm, 8, dances and sings
Frances (Judy) Gumm, 4 (can be 5-8 if small) sings and dances - big voice

We may fill in with other characters like Grandma Eva, etc.

This will be approximately a 30 minute show, presented from June 13 - 17, during The WIzard of Oz Festival.  Participants will receive music, script and recordings to study in advance.

For further information, please contact:  catsong2@netzero.net

To get an idea of what was done in the past, please see several youtubes from 1997 up under Catsongpub1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBACpdo1bJU

Coming Next Newsletter…

*Tentative Festival Line-Up

*Places to stay in Grand Rapids

*Places to eat in Grand Rapids

*Tentative Festival Line-Up

We hope everyone has been safe during this year’s severe winter storms. Enjoy the coming spring!