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Judy Garland: Mgm Records
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Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American film actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years, Garland attained international stardom as an actress in both musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage.
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In 1935, Judy Garland auditioned for a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract. Jack Robbins and Koverman auditioned her. When she was finished, they immediately called Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM studios, to hear her. He listened quietly and after she finished singing, he immediately said, "Please prepare a contract for the services of Judy Garland as an actress." Her first movie was "Pigskin Parade." It was a movie about football. The movie that made her famous was "Everybody Sing" in 1937.
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The first Judy Garland recordings that Decca released to the public ("Stompin' At The Savoy" & "Swing Mr. Charlie") were recorded in New York City while Judy was on her first trip there for MGM promotional appearances. She had just turned 14 when these recordings were made with Bob Crosby & His Orchestra. Crosby's manager was unhappy with the band having to perform with "this unknown girl" and refused to let Decca list the Band's name on the labels!
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For the first time on film, Judy Garland tells her own story, in her own words. Using recordings Garland made in preparation for writing her autobiography - a book that was never published - AMERICAN MASTERS is in a unique position to reveal Garland as she saw herself. "Judy Garland: By Myself" airs on PBS Wednesday, February 25, 2004.
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In 1935 Garland was signed to a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, supposedly without a screen test, although she had made a test for the studio several months earlier. The studio did not know what to do with Garland, as at age thirteen she was older than the traditional child star but too young for adult roles. Garland's physical appearance created a dilemma for MGM. At only 4 feet 11.5 inches (151 cm), Garland's "cute" or "girl-next-door" looks did not exemplify the more glamorous persona required by leading ladies of the time. She was self-conscious and anxious about her appearance. "Judy went to school at Metro with Ava Gardner, Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, real beauties," said Charles Walters, who directed Garland in a number of films.
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The Garland Sisters broke up in the summer of 1935 upon the marriage of Garland's oldest sister, Mary Jane. Soon after, Garland successfully auditioned for the MGM film studio, and she was signed to a contract that fall. Within weeks, she made her network radio debut on The Shell Chateau Hour. The movie studio did not have immediate plans for her, but her career did advance in another area. She had made test recordings on two occasions in 1935 for Decca Records; finally, in June 1936 the label recorded her singing "Stompin' at the Savoy" and released it the following month as her debut single, although she was not yet signed to a term contract with the label.
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