Skylar Magazine

~Where It All Began~

"Miss Show Business"

Frances Ethel Gumm, aka, Judy Garland, is the one who made me want to be a movie star.

-via, I'm Always Chasing Rainbows-

I don't recall the exact moment when I became infatuated with the whole "fame" thing. I had to have been fairly young, I'd say about 5 or 6, possibly younger.

I hadn't even started school yet, so I doubt I even knew what fame was, or what it meant to be famous. I think I was probably just drawn to the glamour. If I had to guess, I would say I was probably influenced by TV and movies. It was the characters from the shows and movies I watched, who sparked my curiousity.

I loved Glenda's sparkly pink poofy dress!

-source unknown-

It's partly Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Victor Fleming and Noel Langley, who are responsible. They were the producers and directors who brought us the most magical and most mesmerizing film of all time, "the Wizard of Oz".

But, it was the star of the movie, "Miss Show Business" -Judy Garland, who inspired me to want to be a star. Fred Astaire described Garland as "the greatest entertainer who ever lived", and it's so true!

She was fabulous!

I am still so in awe of her!

I think she has had that effect on most children who have watched "the Wizard of Oz". My oldest nephew actually had a bit of a crush on "Dorothy", when he was about 3 or 4.

This was "Baby Gumm's" first publicity photo as "Judy Garland", in 1934.

I didn't know who Frances Ethel Gumm was, I didn't know her story, or
...anything about her struggles...

I've read a lot about her over the years. When I worked at the library several years ago, I remember one day when a bunch of people called off, there were only a few of us working so, I had to work in the basement. The job I was on entailed sitting and waiting so, I got to do a lot of reading. I discovered Garland's gigantic biography and read the entire thing, in about, 6 to 8 hours. I was so intrigued! I could not put it down!

It's such a sad story, she did not have a pleasant childhood and was never really happy with her self-image. She was once considered to be "the ugly duckling" of show biz. Her looks and weight were often criticized, even by film executives. I don't want to point fingers, but I can see how that might mess a person up. She started in the business so young, from what I've gathered, it sounds like she was pushed into it. She was also given narcotics and diet pills at about 16 years old. Yeah, I think that can definitely have damaging effects on someone.

She had such a beautiful voice!

Had I known then, how harsh and how cruel that business was, I probably wouldn't have been as enthused about it. I didn't know about any of that stuff, to me she was "Dorothy Gale" from Kansas -the wholesome, sweet, beautiful girl-next-door, whom I idolized all through childhood.

Eventually, my parents told me more about "Frances Gumm" and explained that she was an actress who had been diseased for many years. That's when I think I first learned what a movie star was. I believe that might have been when my fascination with fame began.

-via, imgur.com-

-via, Delius Connections-

-via, The Feminine Flower-

-via, A Dame Like Me-

-via, judygarland.com-

I just want to write, I want to write about fashion, makeup, admirable people such as Judy Garland and all of my other favorite people, places and things.

This is what I love, it's what I've always loved and blogging has given me the chance to do what I've wanted to do my whole life.

This is an outlet, a way for me to express myself. It's not an obsession, it's my passion!

...Q & A...

What is your passion?

When you were a kid, were there any fictional characters from books, movies or TV, who inspired you? Who were they and why were you inspired by them?

...You Might Also Like...

My Desire To Be Famous

What Glamour Use to Look Like

Get In the Spotlight