Today in History:1935 - Judy Garland signed with MGM

Frances Ethel Gumm;  was born on June 10th 1922.  But we know her better as Judy Garland.   it was on this fine day in September 1935 that the thirteen -year old Judy first auditioned for MGM and was signed immediately.  Or so the story goes.    She sang "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart," accompanied by Roger Edens of the MGM music department on the piano.   Her contract officially started on October 1st  with a starting salary of $100.00 per week with an option for seven years.   Her salary was guaranteed for 20 weeks.

While with MGM she was in a total of thirty- one movies by my count , twenty-seven of which were full-length feature films.   During her time at MGM she was the reigning "queen of the musicals" , appearing in more musicals than any other actress.  Nearly all of Garland''s movies at MGM were major hits, andmost  of them brokel box office attendance records .  Judy left MGM in 1950, after filming 'Summer Stock' .

She left with these words to her fans

"Basically, I am still Judy Garland, a plain American girl from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, who's had a lot of good breaks, a few tough breaks, and who loves you with all her heart for your kindness in understanding that I am nothing more, nothing less."

 Less than two weeks after her 47th birthday, Judy finally found the ultimate peace.  It was on June 22,1969, when the world lost one of our most beloved personalities; but she left an indelible mark on show business history. There will never be another JUDY GARLAND