Before any of us knew the beloved Wizard of Oz, before she crooned over her signature red slippers, Judy Garland had already sailed through a life of extraordinary striving and shortcomings, becoming an iconic star we still venerate today.
Judy Garland was born June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Ethel and Frank Gumm. On her fifth birthday, she and her younger sisters received their first piano, jumpstarting Judy’s singing career on the road with her professional vaudeville family.
An Unequal Life of Stardom
When Judy was only 13, Louis B. Mayer signed her to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (or, MGM). This fancy award came with a price tag: Her addictive tendencies, poor self-image and a struggle for balance in her professional and personal life.
MGM’s Controlling Nature
Judy was immediately placed on a strict diet and MGM made significant modifications to her physical appearance. She was given powerful diet pills that were intended to control her expanding weight. The pills were notoriously dangerous and Judy soon became hooked, building a substance dependency.
Meanwhile, Judy was introduced to the studio’s relentless work schedule. Her day usually started at 5:30 AM and finished at 9 PM – hours restricted only by the studio’s needs. The constant pressure intensified Judy’s internal torment and loneliness.
MGM Took Control
MGM was not only verbally and mentally abusive to Judy, they controlled her social life as well. She was required to attend studio parties and managed events; meanwhile, she was prevented from having contact with anyone outside of her studio “family.” Even her mother was made to stand outside of sound stages and studios, unable to enter.
Judy’s Future Relationships Filled with Mistrust and Abuse
It’s no surprise that Judy’s subsequent relationships were marked with mistrust and abuse. Judy married five times—the most significant being her brief marriage with the notorious lecher, Sid Luft between 1952 and 1965—which resulted in two children and ultimately, the gradual destruction of Judy’s professional and personal life.
Sid Luft Used and Abused Judy
Sid Luft was a ruthless businessman, who more often than not, used Judy as his bank accounts. He craved attentions, endlessly trying to collect that fifteen minutes of fame. I addition, Sid was a pathological liar, leaving Judy feeling hopeless and absent of self-respect.
The End of a Star
By this time, Judy was barely making ends meet: working constantly, unable to pay bills, and living in three different states (New York, London, and California) to avoid foreclosure on her numerous homes. The turbulence in her life had an irreversible effect on Judy’s mental, physical and emotional health, leading to hallucinations and thoughts on suicide.
Judy’s Final Performance
On June 22, 1969 Judy took the stage for her last performance at a London nightclub. This would be her final end: a hard-fought life of addiction, destruction and depression. In the months prior, Judy had been hospitalized numerous times due to respiratory infections, heart problems and substance abuse.
Life and Death of an Iconic Star
Judy hummed and sang through her last performance, not knowing that a few months later, on June 22, 1969 she would take her last breath. She died of an overdose at 47 years old, in her home in Chelsea, London.
Legacy of Broken Dreams
Gaylyn Gumm was the perfect example of a girl for whom nothing ever works out and whom everybody loves, a combination that destroys the heart from within. Her inordinate determination to face life, pain, damage and personal turmoils made her an iconic star, who tragically left this world too soon.
The life of Judy Garland was a unique combination of fame and notoriety, success and failure, heartache and humor. Unfortunately, Judy never experienced the feeling of contentment or triumph, cementing her as one of the greatest icons, who never actually finished the race. Judy’s memory will remain in the hearts of many who, through her timeless and classic songs, can find a moment of escape.
