"JUDY GARLAND MUSICAL SPECIAL" (8 April 1956)

First time on KZbin in one continuous video! "JUDY GARLAND MUSICAL SPECIAL" was a special installment of TV's "General Electric Theater" (8 April 1956). Hosted by Ronald Reagan. Announcer: Bill Goodwin. Pianist: Joe Bushkin. Choreography by Peter Gennaro; musicians are George 'Red' Callender, Dick Cathcart and Jack Costanzo. Produced by Sid Luft; directed by Ralph Nelson. Songs include "I Feel a Song Comin' On", "Maybe I'll Come Back", "Last Night When We Were Young", "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries", "Dirty Hands, Dirty Face", "Come Rain or Come Shine", and "April Showers".

[@keithnieto2882]

thank you social media...now everyone is a critic lol I may be queer for Judy but any reason or opportunity to see/hear Judy is a good one especially when she is in wonderful voice and looking so beautiful...this special in my humble opinion is just delightful...

[@srobindittrich6599]

Keith, I agree with you. Judy looks and sounds beautiful. But I think the naysayers of this special musicals featuring Judy also featured her as a great comedienne, especially when she sang Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries. I thought her deadpan face with her "almost" over acting singing was well just FUN!!! Judy was having a blast not taking herself too seriously. And her song sung to her son little Joey was just precious. I love love LOVE as she arches one eyebrow higher than the other. Loving Mother singing her emotions to her little devil angel of joy. Very touching and heart warming. Tell me. How many women could be a sexy as all get out comedienne toying around with her male dancers and musicians...then in another moment wear her heart so openly about her love for her son Joey? Only Judy.

[@walterscott2286]

Kinda like how we've never seen another Leonardo Da Vinci on the planet, I believe this massively talented Judy will never ever be matched in this world.

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

There has been NONE, after JUDY GARLAND. No one belt out a tune and the number and variety of tunes - like JUDY GARLAND did, as JUDY GARLAND did. There will never be another to compare, excluding her daughter, LIZA MINELLI.

[@ShogunHull]

TOTALLY Agreed on Both counts

[@SilverGram]

Agree 100%. Something very special about both Judy and Liza.

[@elainelosee7974]

Judy Garland, that's my Judy. Singing her heart out As only Judy can. Happy on stage, she did it all. She had a natural talent, greatest story teller, dancer, I've never seen another one that loved to Entertain like Judy. Love her still, thank you Judy. Forever🤩❤🤍😘

[@sheldoncooper1134]

Love this. You can see what made her a superstar legend. Great voice and charisma and fun personality!! 👏 👏 👏 👏 🏆 🏆 🏆 🏆

[@SilverGram]

She looked so great here.

[@gregsonvaux4492]

Really? I think that she looks terrible. She seems unwell.

[@matthewdarnell3535]

Judy looked so fabulous in this special! Beautiful face and the voice was so rich!

[@WitoldBanasik]

Well, thank you so much for the archival Judy rarity never watched by me before. She was in full bloom in mid 1950's and was about to start her Las Vegas tour... she brought down the whole casinos-riddled city in late 1950's becoming the grandest and most acclaimed and cheered artist in Vegas history... before Elvis came of course. Typical set up and choreography for 1950's TV... no frills as they say ha ha ha. Just Judy and her genius. The vaudevillian kind of performance so so beloved those days since 1920's, the days of The Gumm Sisters performances, I believe. "Dirty hands dirty face" derived from 1927 movie was later on sung by Judy during her CBS The Judy Garland Show, episode 23, 1964 performance- utterly different from this one, equally brilliant though... p.s Sid Luft the producer of the show- then Judy's husband and her manager exploited Judy to the brim of extinction as we now know-- Sidney was a gambler... the horse race gambler to be precise... the rest is history. Aloha !!!

[@EagleRockers]

Aloha to you and thank you so much for your comments; I mean Mahalo!

[@ShogunHull]

Whata LOUSE he was to her. He locked her in the poor house..ttuh. IMAGINE. Gambler? he was a crud.

[@hankaustin7091]

absolutely none better.. ever!! What a fantastic performer!!!!!

[@edwarddoyle1522]

The rain or Come Shine segment is a great example of the 50's 'hip' Beatnik period , also exemplified by 'Steam Heat' but with the emotional punch Pajama Game lacked. And the way Judy 'toys' with the male players speaks volumes as to why she became such an icon. Priceless.

[@rr7firefly]

Joey Luft was born on March 29, 1955, so he was all of a year old when this special aired on "General Electric Theater." (11:26) Judy Garland was 33 years old in this video.

[@fatjackjack5416]

Noe Berengena she look freaking amazing I can't be leave I'm watching it. My age and look what she had acheived

[@emomarcelor]

A hidden gem, unearthed. Thank you.

[@kimbuck6680]

Great seeing this. She’s having fun here

[@ton4347]

This lady aways deserves at least a million views!

[@ShogunHull]

I Love JUDY'S BOUNDLESS, HYSTERICAL WIT... beyond the beyond!!

[@vincentmarchese8202]

Judy!!Wow So Much Talent & you see so much of Liza in her ❤️

[@seventiesmemories5116]

It's great to find this to see what she did between A Star Is Born and Carnegie Hall. She looks happy and excited. Great to hear "I Feel A Song Comin' On" in her full 1950's voice, rather than the Judy Garland Show 1960's voice, raw from amphetamines drying out her throat, just to keep her weight down.

[@johnc.2683]

I wished she had this same confidence during her ASIB period and verve with the voice of the 60's to be frank.

[@RS-km4rm]

The way she sings for Joey is so beautiful

[@jamieparks6989]

Thank you thank you for posting this !!! Judy singing when we were young last night was breath taking !! You really see her in her craft that she meticulously mastered !! Just amazing

[@blonjon]

It is beyond profound.

[@Michelle-rb2mz]

Beautiful!!!

[@nudnikjeff]

Thank you so much for posting this!

[@519forestmonk9]

The words she said about Joe were sincere and heartfelt. Made me tear up.

[@Michelle-rb2mz]

Yes She makes you feel, what a gift to humanity

[@edwarddoyle1522]

Come Rain OrCome Shine...she tosses those boys aside like yesterday's news near the end. Bravo.

[@ceasarandrepont5331]

nostalgic commercials, thanks!

[@gaydarON]

This came on three days after I'm born! Wonder who was holding me??

[@January.]

*after I was.....

[@ShogunHull]

I've *ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOVED JUDY.* And *I ALWAYS WILL!!*

[@jrbaskind]

What a lovely mini-concert! And it was wonderful to see Peter Gennaro again!

[@SilverGram]

At about 20 minute mark, "come rain or come shine" is my cousin Jack Costanzo. He's the guy playing the bongos.

[@danielemoura1983]

Wow!

[@Telboy555]

Wow

[@seventiesmemories5116]

WOW - he was on the Francis Faye albums, she always mentioned him.

[@ShogunHull]

oh..niice!

[@ShogunHull]

@@seventiesmemories5116 Francis Faye used my chariot carved brass bed in the movie with Brooke Sheilds>> "Pretty Baby". *I love Francis Faye. Always will.* She lived next door and her Long Time *Manager, Teri Shepherd, is a Doll!!*

[@drac47]

Good or bad, as long as Judy's in it then I'm good with it. I don't care what anybody else thinks. It's history now. Loved seeing Ronnie. One of the greatest president's ever.

[@scotnick59]

"The Wizard of Oz" made it's yearly TV debut in 1956 as well

[@Ma_Ba]

CBS bought it - I think I read that on Wikipedia page for The Wizard of Oz.

[@fromthesidelines]

They bought the rights to schedule the film for many years, throiugh 1967.

[@stevedasher6635]

how many singer's can belt a song while. sitting down none I tell none

[@panam747]

And after a carton of cigarettes!

[@reydee1028]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWiyq6V9m7-Nl9k

[@romzoundsserenitymoods8576]

There is! It's Regine Velasquez from the Philippines. Try watch her singing "Shine" you'll be astonished on how great she is at 50's. A total world class talent too.😊

[@jimrick6632]

SHE LOOKS MUCH BETTER THEN ON THE FORD SHOW THE PREVIOUS YEAR...LOST WEIGHT AND SEEMED AT EASE...

[@mariagalante821]

Sem comentários... amo Judy Garland. “Imortal”

[@RebeccaLynnMusic]

Yes! The drama 🎭!!

[@VILA1963]

She is truly amazing. Thank you

[@wildsmiley]

Her singing on ‘Last Night When Were Young’...damn. 😳

[@michelinelalonde2217]

Riské ;)

[@dianabeurman364]

SHE LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL ! SOUNDED GREAT!

[@laraeejohnson7880]

her voice is fine especially with the emotion she had with her tons about her son Joe/ gray segment.

[@christiancostanza9952]

Absolutely lovely

[@Telboy555]

Wow

[@dfwjac]

You'd never know what Sid Luft went though to get her up and performing after nerves got the best of her and she took downers to help calm her and they, knocked her out but good. Ooops!

[@CharlieChilders-wm9gb]

It was her first TV special in 1955 that was live and broadcasting color that she had all the trouble with. She had never done television and this was live and couldn't be filmed. Being very insecure and terrified of this format this is where she took pills and sid luft describes how hard it was. Hours before the show sid couldn't wake her up and he sent for a doctor who came and told Sid to feed her rice to help absorb the medicine from her body and drink lots of tea to flush it out. This happened in her first TV special a year earlier- not on this show. I don't remember reading that about this show but I may mistaken. 🤔

[@January.]

@@CharlieChilders-wm9gb *may be mistaken

[@jl3322]

Tons of chinese food and multiple amphetamines got her back on track as they had numerous times until they worked against her. RIP

[@Michelle-rb2mz]

A lot of guys here or real jelly probably because she could get more gay guys then they ever can

[@gregman1715]

Love Love Judy ❤️

[@fatjackjack5416]

OMG 😄❤️❤️😋

[@mariagalante821]

Minha cantora preferida... única no show Biz na “Era de Ouro de Hollywood “ cantora.atriz.dançarina

[@lutgardschoepen1192]

zeker weten.......ik kom

[@mariagalante821]

Judy Garland... “Deusa das Deusas “

[@Jasper7182009]

…. Love your comment!!! Love Judy !! 🥰🥰🥰

[@dale19532]

Interesting that Reagan comes on with ad for GE right after follow spot flub.

[@laraeejohnson7880]

why cant someone ask joel bushkin k familiy members did he ever make a commentdid he ever say anything about the piano routine where she hits the piano. was it planned.

[@Montavanni1]

. . . very good voice here but there's something odd about the whole thing from the costume on down. Her talent is unquestionable but from here on she's a bit of a challenge to sit through comfortably and as for her 63/64 series, often it's a war of nerves (with a few exceptional moments it was not Judy at her best). She is, and remains, however, one of the greatest talents of the 20th Century. Mentioned here with ALL due respect.

[@kennetpon]

Shes amazing, you're both nuts

[@Jasper7182009]

… Greatest talent of all time!! Miss Garland has no limits!

[@elizabethdacosta5601]

Carmine: I adore Judy Garland and can never get enough of her singing, but I agree with you about this particular show. It seems strange to me. However, her 1963/64 show I think she was always wonderful!! Her voice, her acting, dancing, interaction with guests, all of it just seemed spectacular to me. I probably don’t have your ear for music in general though.

[@Michelle-rb2mz]

Just No pleasing some people, probably why Jesus had such a hard time on earth too🌍

[@duranddavis7710]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@ilovejudytoo]

Those legs lol

[@localeni]

Love Judy! Thank you for sharing.. Why she is referring to her son with that song? 11:28 What had happened? Anyone knows? Thank you Greetings from Greece

[@hudsony777]

I think she just loved him. She often sang about her children.

[@avifalco]

I read that the censors were not happy with the costumes and her flirtatious dancing so they didn't give her another TV special. As well the ratings on this show wasn't as high as her first TV special the year before

[@January.]

*the ratings (of the show) weren't....

[@elizabethdacosta5601]

I was really astounded at her second costume, and some of the very suggestive dancing, and couldn’t believe they allowed that in 1956! If she was so extremely terrified about this appearance, I wonder if that wasn’t the reason. Whoever made the decision to push the envelope like that would have been wise to give her something she would have been more comfortable with-it wouldn’t have taken much. If it was her idea, I would bow to her decision no matter what it was. You don’t tell almost supernatural talent what they can or cannot do.

[@byronallen9599]

Im surprised that her outfit which by today standards is sexy was ok with the censors but who could tell judy what to wear and do no one!!!

[@laraeejohnson7880]

ok either this is a a well planned routine or she nervous love the voice, last count a year ago does anyone know. She could not perform if shows messed up but the outfit is risky ft the1950's

[@dfwjac]

She was terrified to the point of taking a bunch of downers the night before. Sid Luft went thorough hell trying to get her in shape to do the show. But he did.

[@billinindiana1]

I don't think she felt very inspired and may not have felt too well either. Judy isn't the only one. I know Mahalia Jackson was felled by terrible illness in the mid-sixties, and she felt like crap a lot of the time.

[@nocilantro_gack]

Greatest entertainer of all time..Maybe...I dunno its a toss-up..Judy or Prince were the greatest of all time...Elvis, Janis, Tina...oh and Frank I guess....

[@hudsony777]

Prince? Prince Charles maybe?

[@Jasper7182009]

Judy …. And no other!

[@robertr8386]

James aka kimo,theres only one answer.his name is sammy davis jr. Sammy was in a different league.

[@victoriawittelsbach5808]

But dint leave out Frankie Laine --- such a powerhouse -And Rel a x i n g simultaneously. Like sitting at your fireplace where you can be comfortable & even organize your thoughts. Yay Frankie!!!

[@victoriawittelsbach5808]

Don't leave him out.

[@puzzled4497]

🩷LEGEND🩷

[@dale19532]

Live better electrically, unless you live in Texas!

[@donatord]

What a weirdly unflattering show. The costumes? Huh? And who was the guy wearing the wedgie?

[@srobindittrich6599]

But Richard, can't you tell by Judy's facial expressions that she bordered on dead pan comedy? Even her voice, with that emotional vibrato of hers, was still controlled with a tinge of irony. As far as the dress of the day, that was considered beatnik hip and very risqué for the 50s. I still think Judy is down right sexy in her costume, especially with her sense of humor. That "wedgie" you referred to on the male dancer was even too tightly arranged and accentuated with the pants held up tighter around his waist. Yeah lol you could see the man's underpants line through his trousers. Back then that was VERY risqué and sexy. To us now, the guy's trousers were campy. But hey, I kind of like the artsy fartsy way they showed all the musicians steam rolled over by Judy's theatrics, ending with them rolled out on the floor in front of her pushing them away with her high heeled feet. I've seen other people comment about the dress Judy wore here calling it unflattering or hideous. Oh come ON! How can anyone call Judy's legs hideous? Judy is just having fun being outrageously flirty. And really, just to add to the fun, in case you don't quite get Judy's humor yet, well she adds a fan to blow that black see through skirt dramatically around. Of course, pounding on the piano and saucily tossing her head singing Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries should make the joke easier to get. Well that's my humble opinion.

[@January.]

@@srobindittrich6599 *deadpan*downright

[@elizabethdacosta5601]

@@srobindittrich6599 : I think you are probably right, but it didn’t quite work for a lot of people. I adore Judy, but I think she got some bad advice on the costumes. The first one was very unflattering, and the second one would have been great if the jacket had been a couple inches longer. Yes, she has nice legs, but having the jacket so short that her entire crotch showed ruined the costume. She loved the sort of farcical behavior exhibited here, but again it didn’t quite work for some reason. Still, she was a breath-taking talent, and that was obvious regardless of any mistakes made in production or costuming.

[@markmaguet960]

I'm a life long fan of judy garland, i've seen all her movies, every single one and read a good dozen biographies, but generally speaking I can't bear to look or listen to her after 1950...this special is a previously unknown exception...its nice not to hear her struggling to find words or hear her voice stagger and crack and stumble like basically everything she's done in the 60's. She still has fine muscle control in this special, her voice is clear, her wits sharp, she's got a lovely glow and she seems very healthy..I hate the 60's ...everybody on tv is hideous..all bald and yellow and sallow and sickly and fat and grey...a lifetime of horrible diets , no exercise, alcohol and tobacco certainly take their tolls...judy is still young enough to be stronger than all that here...I know many love judys performances and interviews in the 60's..i've seen them all, but I always feel mostly sad when I think that here is a woman who died 5 years younger than sandra bullock is today. The socially accepted level of self abuse back then was incredible.

[@cliff9685]

Mark Maguet did you watch The Judy Garland Show? Some of her best recorded performances EVER! Old Man River and Battlehymn of the Republic are staggering jaw dropping examples of her talent. And Judy looked so great on her series, slim and beautiful. Some of her guests however were awful. A hillbilly singing group and Leo Durocher does not a good episode make lol but really watch her on those episodes!

[@cliff9685]

Mark Maguet kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5iXqKGNfrGqias this is everything!

[@markwachter3141]

do you think she is lip singing? I've always noticed she had teeth that were crooked and for her t v. or movie appearances she has a mouth piece in? and her mouth moves differently when she is lip singing...not spread out and lips sticking out? idk just thought I would get ur opinion?

[@loliwebb7267]

cliff9685 This IS everything!! ❤️

[@CharlieChilders-wm9gb]

@@markwachter3141 this was performed live mostly.. she did lip sync on a few of the songs on the show in 1955.

[@michaelimmaculate7433]

Wow that dancer from the “Come Rain or Come Shine” number is really insufferable.

[@dennishartnett684]

It's odd; I'll say that for it.

[@jimp765]

She is not in good voice here. Vibrato slower than her usual. Sid Lift said it was because of pills, according to his posthumously published memoir of his life with Judy.

[@BCNbananas]

love judy but this is super boring and not good. It barely showcases her talents...sorry.

[@Jasper7182009]

…. Huh?

[@michaelmcbride5012]

I'm just up to the point where the piano player's been introduced, but so far the whole thing seems kind of half baked. An opening number that's not particularly inspired, and then cut to a commercial? And a bland intoduction by the announcer? Yes, I know who it is. Where's the excitement? C'mon, it's Judy Garland! Then back with a mediocre song with mediocre choreography. Not off to a good start. Back to watching...

[@garyb3397]

+Michael McBride I agree, and I doubt you felt that it got better. Both of Garland's 1950s' TV specials are fairly awful. She went through hell before the first one (Ford Star Jubilee, 1955) and barely went on (it was live). What's strange, though, is how pretty she looks in this special. Her hair and eye makeup are very MGM-retro (think "In the Good Old Summertime"). THIS is how she should've been made up for "A Star is Born!" At least we have her 1963-64 TV series, which contains some of the greatest work of her career. Judy was a genius, but, yes, in the end, these''50s specials just don't flatter her.