I Love Judy Garland
It was 1969. I was 19 and had always been mad for Judy Garland. Somehow my cousin got tickets to see her on a Friday night in Boston at the Back Bay theater. Times were different then so you could get tickets in the Orchestra. We had seats in the second row, center stage. I don't remember being that excited before or after in my life. We waited and waited until finally there was the announcement that Judy wasn't able to perform that night but that we all could come back Saturday night to see her. I remember hearing people around us saying she was probably drunk. That pissed me off even though I thought that might be the case.
The next night we got the same seats. She did come out. A tiny, dynamic little thing she was. Waif like. We all looked up at her as though she was Gulliver.
She sang a couple songs with a jittery voice but we, none of us in the audience cared. It endeared her to us more. After a couple songs she sat down on the edge of the stage right in front of my cousin and I. She apologized for not showing on Friday. Everyone said in unison, " That's OK Judy, we love you" as if rehearsed. She talked to us as if we were in her living room. I was quite brazen and I talked right back to her complimenting her on her PJ's. She actually laughed out loud and cursed me for giving her away. Said she was pooped and had no intention of squeezing into the outfit they laid out for her backstage and decided to leave her "lounging pajamas on." She talked for quite a while and several times spoke directly to me. I had a conversation with Judy Garland.She made us all laugh many times. Great sense of humor. I never missed her on Jack Paar and she was an absolute riot.
She finally began to sing again, although we all would have been happy if she had talked for an hour and a half. She remained sitting on the stage after asking if we minded. She sang and sang and her legs were flying around and of course her one arm was doing it's thing as she put some feeling into it.
At the end she thanked us for coming back and said goodnight. She looked right at me and a couple others the first time she said it before scanning the rest of the audience.
I can't think of another time besides that night,in my life, that I could describe as magical. The best moment for me was when she was belting out "The Man That Got Away" and she spit on me !!!!! I talked about that to anyone who'd listen, for weeks, pointing out to them exactly where it landed on my face.
Judy talked about a new guy she was in love with. Mickey she called him. She didn't elaborate but it was obvious she was really happy. My heart breaks to this day when I think if the headlines 6 months later that they found her dead from an accidental overdose.
I am by no means the "starstruck" type. Except for Judy Garland who is alive and singing, still, in my life and always will be.
The next night we got the same seats. She did come out. A tiny, dynamic little thing she was. Waif like. We all looked up at her as though she was Gulliver.
She sang a couple songs with a jittery voice but we, none of us in the audience cared. It endeared her to us more. After a couple songs she sat down on the edge of the stage right in front of my cousin and I. She apologized for not showing on Friday. Everyone said in unison, " That's OK Judy, we love you" as if rehearsed. She talked to us as if we were in her living room. I was quite brazen and I talked right back to her complimenting her on her PJ's. She actually laughed out loud and cursed me for giving her away. Said she was pooped and had no intention of squeezing into the outfit they laid out for her backstage and decided to leave her "lounging pajamas on." She talked for quite a while and several times spoke directly to me. I had a conversation with Judy Garland.She made us all laugh many times. Great sense of humor. I never missed her on Jack Paar and she was an absolute riot.
She finally began to sing again, although we all would have been happy if she had talked for an hour and a half. She remained sitting on the stage after asking if we minded. She sang and sang and her legs were flying around and of course her one arm was doing it's thing as she put some feeling into it.
At the end she thanked us for coming back and said goodnight. She looked right at me and a couple others the first time she said it before scanning the rest of the audience.
I can't think of another time besides that night,in my life, that I could describe as magical. The best moment for me was when she was belting out "The Man That Got Away" and she spit on me !!!!! I talked about that to anyone who'd listen, for weeks, pointing out to them exactly where it landed on my face.
Judy talked about a new guy she was in love with. Mickey she called him. She didn't elaborate but it was obvious she was really happy. My heart breaks to this day when I think if the headlines 6 months later that they found her dead from an accidental overdose.
I am by no means the "starstruck" type. Except for Judy Garland who is alive and singing, still, in my life and always will be.
By:
Oddandsingular
Age:
56-60
,
Female
