Judy Garland: The Television Years

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The Paley Center for Media will present the first comprehensive retrospective of Judy Garland’s career on television, celebrating some of the incomparable entertainer’s most notable, as well as most rarely seen, appearances in the medium. This series is coordinated and produced in association with the Film Society of Lincoln Center who will be screening Garland’s motion picture work July 26 to August 9, 2011.

Anytime Judy appeared on television it was a reason to rejoice, so thoroughly did she commit herself to giving her very best, so palpable was the joy she brought to entertaining. From her first television special in 1955 until her untimely death fourteen years later, she managed to leave behind an impressive number of musical performances and talk show appearances, not to mention starring in her own acclaimed variety series.

In addition to six full episodes from The Judy Garland Show, where she shares the spotlight with such entertainers as Mickey Rooney, Barbra Streisand, Ethel Merman, and Peggy Lee, the screening series will include her four specials and all extant guest appearances on such programs as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show, The Sammy Davis Jr. Show, On Broadway Tonight, and The Jack Paar Program.

Garland historian and author John Fricke (whose latest book, Judy: A Legendary Film Career, will be released this summer) will be on hand to introduce several of the screenings.

Screenings

Wednesday, July 20 at 12:30pm and Thursday, August 4 at 6:00pm

Ford Star Jubilee: The Judy Garland Special (the premiere episode of this series features Garland in her first network TV starring vehicle; 1955; 60 minutes)
General Electric Theater (Judy in concert; 1956; 30 minutes)
The Ed Sullivan Show (April 1963; 10 minutes)

Thursday, July 21 and Saturday, August 6 at 12:30pm

1961 Judgment at Nuremberg on-set interview (used on the series Here's Hollywood) (6 minutes)
The Judy Garland Show (this 1962 special paired Judy with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin; 55 minutes)
Judy Garland and Her Guests, Phil Silvers and Robert Goulet (1963 special; 55 minutes)

Friday, July 22 and Sunday, August 7 at 12:30pm

The Jack Paar Program (Judy performs with Robert Goulet and promotes their animated film Gay Purr-ee; 1962; 55 minutes)
Gay Purr-ee trailer (3 minutes)
Excerpts from The Judy Garland Show Compilation #1 1963–64, from shows not screening in their entirety; approximately 60 minutes)

Saturday, July 23 and Friday, August 5 at 12:30pm

Judy and Liza at the Palladium (Highlights from Judy’s 1964 London concert with daughter Liza Minnelli; 55 minutes)
The Judy Garland Show #11 (Steve Allen/Mel Torme/Jayne Meadows; 55 minutes)

Sunday, July 24 and Wednesday, August 10 at 12:30pm

The Tonight Show (Judy makes two appearances on Johnny Carson’s talk show: June 1968, 20 minutes; December 1968; 20 minutes)
The Hollywood Palace #2 (Judy’s second appearance as host and performer; Judy excerpts; May 1966; 25 minutes)
Kraft Music Hall (Judy guest stars on one of Perry Como’s sporadic specials; Bill Cosby; February 1966; 35 minutes)

Wednesday, July 27 and Saturday, August 13 at 12:30pm

The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show # 1 (the first of two back-to-back appearances on Sammy’s weekly variety show; March 1966; 22 minutes)
The Ed Sullivan Show #2 (October 1965; 15 minutes)
The Judy Garland Show #1 (Mickey Rooney/Jerry Van Dyke; with outtakes; 70 minutes)

Thursday, July 28 and Sunday, August 14 at 12:30pm

Cole Porter Medley/Academy Awards (1965; 10 minutes)
Today  (Judy and her children, Lorna and Joe, chat with Barbara Walters; 1967; 20 minutes)
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show #2 (Judy excerpts; 1966; 20 minutes)
The Judy Garland Show #9 (Barbra Streisand/Ethel Merman/The Smothers Brothers/Jerry Van Dyke; 54 minutes)

Friday, July 29 at 12:30pm and Thursday, August 11 at 6:00pm

The Jack Paar Program #2 (from London, Judy excerpt; 1964; 20 minutes)
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Hollywood (Judy talks with Jack Paar; excerpt; 1967; 10 minutes)
The Mike Douglas Show (August 1968, Judy excerpt, 20 minutes)
The Judy Garland Show #20 (Judy in Concert, 55 minutes)

Saturday, July 30 and Friday, August 12 at 12:30pm

The Andy Williams Show (Judy excerpts; 1965; 30 minutes)
On Broadway Tonight (Judy excerpts; 1965; 30 minutes)
The Hollywood Palace #1 (Judy’s first appearances as host and performer; November 1965; Judy excerpts; 40 minutes)

Sunday, July 31 and Wednesday, August 17 at 12:30pm

Judy Potpourri (approximately 45 minutes total)
     The Dick Cavett Show (brief clip; 1968)
     The Merv Griffin Show (brief clip; 1969) 
     Kup’s Show (Chicago talk show; brief clip; 1967)
     What's My Line? (Judy as mystery guest; 1967)
     Soupy Sales clip (unbilled gag appearance on unaired special; 1966)
     Gypsy (clip from Gypsy Rose Lee's West Coast talk show)
     The Red Skelton Hour (Judy receives the Look magazine award; 1955)
     Australia interview (1964)
     Last Performance clip (from documentary; 1969)
The Judy Garland Show # 13 (Peggy Lee/Jack Carter/Carl Reiner; 55 minutes)

Wednesday, August 3 at 12:30pm and Thursday, August 18 at 6:00pm

Excerpts from The Judy Garland Show, Compilation #2 (1963–64; approximately 50 minutes)
The Judy Garland Show #26 (approximately 70 minutes)

Photos: John Fricke

A special thanks to John Fricke and Coyne Steven Sanders who were instrumental in making this screening series possible.