Judy Garland on Jack Paar's show, May 7, 1967

May 7, 1967: Judy's last primetime television appearance: "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to Hollywood," an NBC-TV/Jack Paar special (her last US TV appearance was on "The Merv Griffin Show" on December 23, 1968).
"A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Hollywood" was videotaped in color at NBC's Rockefeller Center, Studio 6B, in New York City, but only a B&W film print survives.
Judy was escorted by Sid Luft and Tom Green. She arrived at 6:20 p.m.; the taping started at 8 p.m. Judy is in good form but not sounding or looking very well.
Several stories that Judy told were cut from the show: Judy told the story of Elvis pulling up in his car only a week before the taping to say he was a big fan, but ignoring Paar who was in the car with Judy; a "recreation" of her dance down the yellow brick road; the time she sang "God Bless America" on stage with a model who was made up as the Statue of Liberty but was so plastered she fell flat on her face while Judy was trying to sing the song! The special aired on May 15, 1967.

[@sashek8451]

Kind of floored because I just watched the 1962 interview and the difference between the two

[@SaxonC]

Lucille Ball once said that she herself wasn’t funny. Lucy said “the funniest woman in the world is Judy Garland.. She makes me look like a mortician”....

[@marbury2403]

Jack Parr thought he was more interesting than he actually was.

[@michelinelalonde2217]

This is an unusual hair style for Ms. Garland. I’ve been binge watching Judy videos for weeks, and this is the first I’ve seen here with straight, sleek hair. It’s beautiful on her. (She is always beautiful.) I don’t think she looks a wreck here at all. I think she is having fun. She looks a little different. I think some may be misreading her.

[@michelinelalonde2217]

*her

[@grecomic]

Beautiful but she looks a little too much like Ayn Rand!

[@memphisward]

Agree completely

[@williamj.crofts41]

Even though Judy Garland was clearly drugged here at the time she still the most charming and totally charismatic person in the world ... It's no wonder she is such a beloved 😍 star.... Seems like her heart always shines through

[@michaelmcgarry7701]

Judy was hysterically funny...very witty...

[@SaxonC]

She was certainly was a funny lady! I just love her.

[@TransVangal]

Her straight hair looks awesome

[@UncleDuTheWatchman]

If we can watch Jackee' and Regina King BOMBED on WWHL and love it (because bombed or not they were having a ball), why can't JG be on Jack Paar tipsy??? She's an entertainer, not a nun.

[@okiedokey9962]

It seems he's really looking out for her to be sure she comes off looking good. Nice introduction too.

[@coffeehigh420]

Jack Paar was really a good man, and he DID really try hard to help her out.

[@astorkitty]

I find her absolutely engaging and hysterical in this interview, despite her issues, it's always been one of my favorites, her charisma and wit blazes through any murk. His story about James Mason was hysterical too. This video delights me.

[@louk231]

I agree...Why so much critical analysis of her in this crowd. We all know that issues were present but she still had it all. Witty , engaging , so quick...Why is this so edited down? I would love to hear all that she had to say. Especially the story of Elvis Presley stopping in his vehicle to praise her. Is there any way to locate this entire interview...?

[@jazzmanchgo]

@@louk231 Definitely quick-witted, definitely a great storyteller, and that acerbic sense of humor! If she'd had it a little more together, she could have been a great talk show host.

[@howardwaxman2514]

Well she had an amazing variety show for awhile (as Nat King Cole also had!) with the best guests (Barbara Streisand, one of my faves!) with some great vocal duets and some very heartfelt and funny banter with them!

[@Angie-GoneSoon]

I could be wrong, but she seems like she had a drink or two before the show..

[@markwhitman9029]

Judy was funny here as usual and very quick! She doesn't miss a beat when he asks her about what she calls Deanna: "Hairy" LOL

[@mariagalante821]

Judy Garland... THE BEST...

[@victoriaharris882]

Hard times but she will never be forgotten a true talent which in today’s business ,there are so few academy awards this year proved so example why not Meryl Streep, a great actresses of this time 🎥🤔😎

[@joebustos3513]

Judy Garland is beautiful and she has a beautiful voice and personality to match. that's terrible how mgm treated her mgm treated Her Like dirt but i have and always will love Judy Garland she's beautiful and she has a beautiful voice and personality to match even in Her darkest days she laughs and smiles and tries to be happy Judy Garland loves us her fan's even to this very day we love you Judy Garland forever and always

[@nutrianirvana6823]

Judy looks *so* tired and painfully thin. Not surprising she passed away two years later. What an astounding talent and such a brilliant woman. It's amazing she survived as long as she did.

[@CusterFlux]

It's sad, she's clearly very talented and hilarious, but sadly she's about two drinks past the line here …

[@FLStelth]

She reminds me of my scary aunt that I would avoid when I was very young.

[@SuperBookdragon]

I love the way Judy interrupts Jack

[@gabe-po9yi]

What’s strange is that she said she didn’t know Jackie Cooper, but in a documentary about her, he talks like they hung out then and that he knew her quite well.

[@taliyatofilau6029]

I second that

[@jl3322]

Third that here

[@akrenwinkle]

Aside from appearing together in Ziegfeld Girl, Judy and Jackie were frequent companions.

[@chrisschroeder1455]

The broom at the beginning is too much...lol

[@akrenwinkle]

Actually, from the neck down she looks okay, especially her legs. Paar used say he and Judy were friends, but don't believe it. Judy was a barrel of laughs, Jack was impossibly stuffy, reactionary.

[@jamesanthony5681]

You don't believe Paar was friends with Judy Garland? She appeared with him on the Tonight show a few times. Jack was impossibly stuffy, reactionary? Is that why he got the Tonight Show gig? The man could tell a story and had quite the wit.

[@WintersWar]

@@jamesanthony5681 parr was likable. Shame he was so insecure about himself

[@akrenwinkle]

@@jamesanthony5681 Judy never appeared on The Tonight Show when Paar was the host. She appeared with him once in 1962 and once in 1964 on The Jack Paar Program, a 1-hr variety/talk show, and in 1967 on the special shown here. No photograph of them together exists outside of these three appearances.

[@johndalton3180]

Clearly, they attended parties together. At the very least. Paar was enthralled with Judy, like many other gay men.

[@akrenwinkle]

@@johndalton3180 I agree that Paar was a closeted gay, but... According to Dick Cavett's book, Paar was staying at a hotel, and Dick, then his employee, knocked at Jack's door one night. Paar opened the door and Cavett excitedly told him that Judy was in another suite where there was a party going on. Paar shushed him and closed the door.

[@CharlieChilders-wm9gb]

It's easy to imagine this being the real Judy@ Hollywood parties especially in the 50's and 60's. Everyone loved her and always wanted her to sing! Always entertaining everyone for hours.😱🤗👍

[@MicharlMcGarry-pn1fd]

The clearest version I have ever seen

[@Lisa1111]

Class ❤

[@TransVangal]

She was so intelligent..she should have been alive today

[@fanboy2015]

This is were all the Munchkins myth started.

[@T4531600]

She says she like mayer but we all know this is not 🤔

[@akrenwinkle]

According to Lorna Luft, Judy loved Mr. Mayer all her life. Those present at the time would say that Mr. Mayer loved Judy; she was not just a commodity to him.

[@RandyWilsonESQ]

Mayer made sure to pay her time at sanitarium. He may have realized - unlike the others - that the studio crushed her spirit and made a mess of her life

[@MicharlMcGarry-pn1fd]

Wonderful introduction.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Sure would like to see the whole thing! 😁

[@aishah5244]

...in her 40s.

[@frankroper3274]

I have heard a few stories about Mickey and if true smoking was not the only thing he liked to do! He and Lana were smoking alright! Jack was afraid Judy was going to lose her balance and fall but no she even stopped to pick up the broom!

[@taliyatofilau6029]

She's funny lol

[@Autistic_Gallant-92.]

7:53 They were drunks. They were little drunks? 😂

[@mayaa5048]

Judy Garland was the best, nice person, talented, but her drug addiction was stronger than anything else.

[@heathermann8788]

Addiction is a symptom. The cause is bigger, and even it wasn't the biggest thing about the woman. Empathy was.

[@PhilAlumb]

Judy was a Mega Talent & Unique Talent.

[@LIJVHAZ]

Anyone know the name of those two films at the end that have the same dialogue?

[@hollyirisdrucker2201]

Two class acts. Two icons.

[@tommyjohnson2279]

This poor woman.

[@heathermann8788]

Love the sound of her voice.

[@bobdownes162]

CACKLE !

[@annairwin8147]

Judy Garland was so precious and she was hilarious…..Rest in peace Dear One

[@davidbaise5137]

Star comes out, Paar keeps talking and talking and talking.

[@bruno.prieto]

I literally love that entry with the broom