Liza Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland, found fame in show business like her mother. Song and dance were clearly in Liza’s genes. In 1984, Liza was interviewed for New York Times article on her late mother. Garland’s daughter recalled the first time she ever performed with her mother. She recalled how, in that moment, their relationship grew from a loving one to a competitive one.
“I think that what Mama was saying was, ‘You’re everything I wanted you to be. You’re a force to be dealt with and I created it, and now I’ve come up against it,” Minnelli said. In a strange coincidence Dorothy Gale’s daughter found herself, for a short while, married to the Tin Man’s son, Jack Haley Jr.
The Winnings Of The Wizard Of Oz
The Wizard of Oz is a film known and loved the world over. It is often ranked among the best movies in the history of cinema. Frank Nugent once said of the film, it's a "delightful piece of wonder-working which had the youngsters' eyes shining and brought a quietly amused gleam to the wiser ones of the oldsters."
In "Variety," John C. Flinn wrote of the film, "Some of the scenic passages are so beautiful in design and composition as to stir audiences by their sheer unfoldment." He wrote of the teenage star, Judy Garland, that she was an, "appealing figure."
Beyond The Rainbow
Though she would always be tied to the song, "Over the Rainbow," is seems Judy Garland never quite found the life the rainbow, and the song seemed to promise. She once said, "We cast away priceless time in dreams, born of imagination, fed upon illusion, and put to death by reality." She lived through countless abuses and tragedies in her life, and yet Garland remains one of the most well known actresses of her age, or any.
Most of her legacy of course is due to her performance as Dorothy Gale in, The Wizard of Oz. In 1997 Garland was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. Many of her songs have since been inducted into the Grammy hall of fame. The award came many years after her death.
Clara Blandick As Auntie Em
The character of Auntie Em was played by actress Clara Blandick. The part was a relatively small one in the film; it was certainly key to the films larger themes and elements. Auntie Em very much represented the longed for ideal of home and happiness that both Dorothy and, perhaps Judy Garland, shared. Blandick, like Garland, however suffered off set and away from the idealized character she portrayed.
By the 1950's Blandick suffered from sight loss, significant arthritis, and a severe lack of hope. On April 15, 1962 the actress attended church before returning home and rearranging her bedroom …
Asbestos In The Air
In the famous poppy field scene in The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy, tot, and the Cowardly Lion fall asleep as it begins to snow. The snow, as you may have guessed, was fake. What you probably don't know is that the fake snow was made up of 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. At the time of filming it was already known that asbestos came with many health concerns and problems.
The production used the asbestos despite the known dangers. The evidence about health issues related to asbestos was discovered nearly 40 years before production on The Wizard of Oz even began. While no news ever came out about any of the actors or crew suffering from anything linked to asbestos hazards it's still not a decision that seems wise in hindsight.