Friday, May 11, 2012

JUDY '60

Gary Horrocks, president of The International Judy Garland Club and publisher/editor of Judy Garland: A Celebration, has asked me to share these sample pages from issue four of his wonderful magazine. The following notes are from Gary himself:

Radiant, Relaxed and Irresistible: Judy in 1960

Coming VERY soon! (On its way to the printers )

The International Judy Garland Club is pleased to announce that issue 4 of `Judy
Garland – a Celebration' will be published and mailed out to members over the
next few weeks.

Entitled `Radiant, Relaxed and Irresistible' it covers Judy's life in 1960 and
is the best magazine yet. There are 44 pages packed with 90 very rare
photographs from the period, many from the archives of Club founder Lorna Smith,
who also writes an article for this issue. This is not only a visually stunning
publication but also a painstakingly researched oversight of what was
undoubtedly one of the happiest and most successful years of Judy's life.

London was Judy Garland's lucky city. Her third visit in 1960, after her debut
at the Palladium in 1951 and success at the Dominion in 1957, laid the
foundations for the historic April 23rd 1961 Carnegie Hall concert and
recording. Many of the songs, anecdotes, impish improvisations, teasingly
forgotten lyrics and ecstatic reviews were reflected in her 1960 Palladium shows
and subsequent visits to the UK provinces and other European capitals

`I'm so darned calm these days,' she said, excited at the possibility of a fresh
start in London - `a new house, a new home, a new life.'
Lorna Luft, in her 1998 autobiography `Me and my Shadows' had fond recollections
of her time in London. `I loved that old house. I used to love cuddling down on
the couch under a quilt to watch TV with mama and Joey and my dad.' She recalled
playing in Hyde Park, shopping in Harrods, pantomimes, fireworks on Bonfire
night, mama taking them to school, bangers and mash for lunch, `with hot British
mustard that made my nose run, and cake with runny custard for dessert.' She
concluded: `I could have stayed in England forever. It was the last time we were
really ever happy as a family.'

`I consider this time when she was happy, well and singing at the studio to be
my favourite memory. I was terribly shy and in great awe of her.' Joan Coulson,
present at some of Judy's London Sessions

`Judy seemed remarkably happy at this stage of her life. She always had a great
sense of humour and she was certainly at the top of her form with us.' Norrie
Paramor

`Norrie is such a fine conductor and he has arranged some very fine material.
[The orchestra] is a fantastic aggregation of musical talent.' Judy

`She showed us what she indisputably is – a singer who throws out notes like
skylarks escaping from her throat, who can growl out a blues, or caress a love
ballad, with equal effect and virtuosity…she, and her melodious, intelligent
songs – makes all the current singing rages seem like street-corner shouters.'
1960 review

` "Why was I born? Why am I living?" As the great voice poured from the small
but sturdy frame I felt an emotional surge, a stinging behind the eyes and a
constriction in the throat.' Lorna Smith, present at some of Judy's London
Sessions
`We are left to revel in what is incontrovertible 1960 history: an abundance of
gloriously sung, professionally-recorded tracks for Capitol in Los Angeles and
London; the introduction of another Academy Award-nominated song; an uproarious
return to the stage in a one woman show that proved to be off-the-radar in terms
of both artistic and box office appeal - many times emulated but never equalled,
never mind surpassed.' John Fricke

`I like the photographs I have of a beaming Judy clutching the Club's bouquet in
the dressing room after a Command Performance on December 1st, wearing a very
practical warm jumper underneath the turquoise jacket! A homely touch and it was
cold outside!' Lorna Smith

This is a fantastic collectors' item with dozens of beautiful family photographs
never before published to the Garland community.

If you are not a member join now for a copy; if you are a member tell your
friends and spread the word.


Contact us at: judygarlandclub@gmail.com
PayPal: www.paypal.com
payments should be made to our email address

Or go to:
www.judygarlandclub.org






1 comment:

Gary Horrocks said...

Dear International Judy Club members and TJGE lovers,

I’m so pleased that the new 'Celebration' magazine is landing in UK mailboxes, and I do hope that Europe, USA, Canada, Australia (not to mention Japan, Korea and the whole United Nations that makes up the JUDY Club membership) will follow.

Issue 4 was a true labour of love, and includes fresh research, insights, reviews and photos from 1960. It was finished and all set to go in March this year, but – an indication of the economic climate – our printing company went bust and left us ‘all dressed up and nowhere to go.’ This calamity hit us during a particularly busy work period; no need to go there today, but some of our followers on Facebook will be aware that we have had a tumultuously traumatic year.

However, as the divine Ms G would have said – the bloody show must go on – and here we are. New magazine, Club lunch in October this year for those of you in London – and preparations underway for our 50th anniversary in June next year. You all MUST come. (As you know, it’s been a very quiet summer in London, so we hope to rock the house next year! The Olympics as a warm up!)

Circa 7th – 10th June 2013! Be there!

Even though I say it myself, I think issue 4 is magnificent – and I do hope all of our members enjoy it. If you haven’t joined the Club – please rush to PayPal post haste. If you are a member, persuade your pals that it is a sound investment. Please review it online – happy to take good, bad, constructive critiques. It’s packed with great photos – and Lorna Smith has written a superb new essay about 1960. My editorial excavates loads of new reviews, quotes and anecdotes that you won’t find in Judy books.

Great news: The membership has increased so significantly we have also reduced our membership rates – not yet updated on the web pages.

18 pounds UK 24 Euro Europe $35 USA/Canada $35 Australia $35 Other $35

2012/13 subscription includes issues 5 and 6 – (5 will be out in December and has a STASH of RARE 1962/3 photos), a membership card and newsletter.

Here’s the blurb on issue 4!

Radiant, Relaxed and Irresistible: Judy in 1960

Teaser pages at:
http://www.judygarlandclub.org/Publications.htm

Entitled ‘Radiant, Relaxed and Irresistible’ it covers Judy’s life in 1960 and is the best magazine yet. There are 44 pages packed with 90 very rare photographs from the period, many from the archives of Club founder Lorna Smith, who also writes an article for this issue. This is not only a visually stunning publication but also a painstakingly researched oversight of what was undoubtedly one of the happiest and most successful years of Judy’s life.

London was Judy Garland’s lucky city. Her third visit in 1960, after her debut at the Palladium in 1951 and success at the Dominion in 1957, laid the foundations for the historic April 23rd 1961 Carnegie Hall concert and recording. Many of the songs, anecdotes, impish improvisations, teasingly forgotten lyrics and ecstatic reviews were reflected in her 1960 Palladium shows and subsequent visits to the UK provinces and other European capitals

‘I’m so darned calm these days,’ she said, excited at the possibility of a fresh start in London - ‘a new house, a new home, a new life.’

This is a fantastic collectors’ item with dozens of beautiful family photographs never before published to the Garland community.

If you are not a member join now for a copy; if you are a member tell your friends and spread the word.

Teaser pages at:
http://www.judygarlandclub.org/Publications.htm

Contact us
e: judygarlandclub@gmail.com
PayPal: www.paypal.com
payments should be made to our email address

Or go to:
www.judygarlandclub.org

You can ‘like’ us on Facebook by signing up for a free account and searching for ‘International Judy Garland Club’

www.facebook.com

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