MovieChat Forums > The Judy Garland Show (1963) Discussion > The Judy Garland Christmas Show (1963)

The Judy Garland Christmas Show (1963)

posted 10 years ago by Camelot_2000
2 replies | jump to latest

I watched it one year during the Christmas Season just out of curiosity to see what was offered and ended up enjoying it. You could tell the whole thing was taped LIVE and that everyone on stage were doing their best to not flub their lines or make any mistakes.

Judy's two small kids looked really nervous throughout the whole show. They looked especially bug eyed when sitting with their mother while she sang a dramatic presentation of "Over The Rainbow".

The dancing Santa Clauses were a major highlight and you could tell that as the show was nearing the end, Judy was starting to look tired and worn out. She put a lot of talented effort that night into this Christmas Special 50 years ago.

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The more I study it, the greater the puzzle becomes.
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[–] Truman-11 10 years ago

I loved it! Clearly modeled after Bing Crosby's Christmas specials that began on radio, and I noticed "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" seems to go where "White Christmas" would go on one of Bing's specials.

When you think about it, it's interesting to note Judy's pretty much invited us into her home...as a single mother. Which she was at the time. That appears to be fairly rare for that time period.

[–] bradford-1 9 years ago

The show was also taped a coupla weeks after President Kennedy was killed, if I'm not mistaken. According to Mel Torme's book, the show's producers/director weren't even sure Garland would show up for dress rehearsal and the taping itself.

May I bone your kipper, Mademoiselle?