A Law - Non English Speakers MUST Prove They are Learning Ou

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Speak English in America - how provincial!  

We all know how to Press 1 for English - we are smarter than we act! And it's not a bad idea for all Americans to learn Spanish, +++ - the more languages the better chance we have for good sex lives!

But it IS frustrating when you go into a deli & the woman at the counter has not clue what I am saying  - she does understand pointing & fingers (I wanted to give her one!).  

Is is simpler than ever to learn English - or for anyone to learn a foreign language. Just ask Mrs. Google English to Swahili (or whatever) or Swahili to English - will check that one out.  People will be requited to take screen shots of what they have learned & the "English Speaking Task Squad" can see definitively if they are complying with the law.  We do have laws to promote the betterment of our society & to me, speaking English, in America, is for the betterment of our societA friend is spending time in Jolly Old England - she was born there, with a British Accent - Waa can sound very British. Anyway, enough silliness, down to business.  She was required, under serious penalties, to quarantine for 10 days.  She could only leave the house without permission that was somehownoted in their "Big Brother" journal.  

I know, we all have our GPS & that certainly. makes traveling around in the '56 Chevy a lot easier.  But, still so many things that could be done that would make navigating our piece of the planet a little easier.

So, the idea has many permutations:

1- Establish a toll free # to call all over America where a rep (in America, hopefully - not Manila again, please) will take info on the location where you would report an issue with signage.   The agent would take the location & the problem(s) with the signs & then pass that info to a local office that would go out to confirm the problem, then fix it.  Oh my, lions & tigers & bears.

2 - Intersections with lights should have a nice sized sign, lighted at night, to give the cross street in bold letters & the street you are on in smaller letters.

Now street id signs are very small so you need a telescope to read them. Help us poor drivers out, TY.  Then, of course, if it is found a sign is missing or improper, the local gov't would do what has to be done to make a functional sign.  

3 - In NYC, I propose that corner street signs are large enough to read & after NY defines neighborhoods by boundaries, the signs will have under the street name, the name of the neighborhood. Wow, nice to know where I am.  I thought I was in Bushwick, B'klyn, but, no sir, you are in Ridgewood, Queens. 

Speaking of Queens, Ru Paul is the best one in my book!

Her name is Iris Apfel (sort of like Apple!). She was about 100 in this image & died recently at 102 - she was amazing - youtube her! I have said if I was told I had to give up my left arm or my phone I would say "Take my arm".  I can live without a left arm, but I can not live without my phone.  Remember the olden days with opening maps & stopping all along the way to ask where you are & how you get to there.  No more, off we go.

But Apple & the iphone, with all its glory, has some serious issues that should be corrected:

1 - Customer Service - The reps are competent, but you can not call before 8 am.  I am often up early & want to work on a project & need help. No siree.  "You are really up much too early, Mr. Weiss - go back to be for a while".  I often have an 8 am "meeting" (Staples to print my images) & have to wait to call Apple.  Reps say "We have 24/7 chat".  I told the rep today that I have tried it about 30 times & it just tells me to choose a question & gives an answer that does not help me.  He said he would walk me through it after 1/2 hr. he said he will notify who ever to have a direct link. But what I also said was Apple is one of the largest, most profitable corporations in the world.  The should give their customers what they deserve - human support 24/7.  It's insulting to tell you the truth.  Of course, the customer service reps are mostly very good. And they are all over the world. This morning I spoke to someone in Rumania. Movie theaters are open in Rumania (6-2-21) in case you were interested.

2 - Siri is a sweet child, but that poor girl is learning disabled!  I heard she's a computer, & heard computers can "learn".  Not Siri - you can say the same thing many times, correct it & when I say it again, she does it wrong again.  If she were my secretary I would say "Sweetheart, you are a lovely girl & not bad in bed, but you don't know what the F u r doing so get your stuff together & c u Jan 6, 2022 for the glorious recreation of that Patriot Day.  It will live in infamy.  

3 - Notes - Oy veh!  If I am looking for, say, the Red Robin note, I get all notes with the word red any where in the body of the note - even a word like reduce!  Huh?  What were they smoking when they came up with the search result system. It is frustrating & stupid!  I just want the Red Robin note.

4 - Idea for Apple to sell. millions more phones (any compensation 4 little 'ol me?).  Every photographer wants the ability to control the shutter to allow as much light as the photographer wishes to come in - not what the computer in the phone wants!

5 - Another idea to sell lots 

Dots on Lots - How much of my life have I spend looking for my car in a parking lot.  A circle with a different color could be put at both ends of a parking line of cars. Or just a number would do.  How much would this cost? Bubkis!  I asked Mr. Oy Veh about the idea & he likes it - no Oy Veh!

The seder is the meal Jesus was having at his last supper. After all, he was Jewish & this was Passover in year 0!  Typically, people do not sit at 1 side of the table.  Sometimes seders are very large with hundreds of people.  The Obamas had a seder each year in The White White you can youtube it.  I am not sure about Trump, although Ivana is now Jewish - she converted.  

A seder is the most joyous, intellectual, festive, fun Holiday meal. It is nothing like an Easter ham. No, siree.  There is no reason that all can not enjoy this most wonderful of meals & celebrations.  The teachings & life of Jesus can become part of the non Jewish Seder. The Haggadah tells the story of the Exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt & how, after putting lamb's blood on the place where a Hebrew lived, the "killing of the 1st born" by the Pharaoh, would save those children.  What is the lesson here?  Maybe, being pro active to combat a situation is a good way to move forward.  And move forward they did.  Not having time to bake bread for the flight from Egypt, they made matza, an unleavened bread (the dark chocolate ones are amazing - Uncle Jeff has them on Amazon!).  Then it was off to the Red Sea & that nifty trick & then 40 years in the desert (no GPS then) to make it to Caanan.      

So much "stuff" in one Holiday.  Throughout the Seder, there are 4 cups of wine & the mandatory seder plate is explained with each item a symbol of the Exodus from Egypt.  Every seder plate has a place for each item that is to go there, often with an image. You can google a Seder plate or even buy one - Uncle Jeff will sell them all year.  He's on his new $500 million yacht trying to consume all the champaign he stocked on.  Tough job!  The Haggadah goes over the items & symbols as part of the Seder. The items on the seder plate & their symbolism are: 

A roasted egg - Symbolizes both the festival sacrifice made in biblical times & it is a symbol of Spring, the season when Passover is always celebrated.

Maror - Bitter herbs, generally horseradish, it symbolizes the bitterness of slavery, both actual & emotional.  It is dipped into charoset (see recipe on line) 

to reduce the sharpness of the maror.  It is a commandment in Numbers 9:11 "Eat the paschal lamb with unleavened bread & bitter herbs".

Chazeret - It is included as the Numbers text, as above, has herb as plural, so this is the other herb.

Shank Bone - It symbolizes the Paschal lamb offered as the Passover sacrifice in Biblical Times - seems like only last yr.  Veggie households generally use beets - not sure why.

Charoset - This symbolized the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves to build in Egypt.  It is generally apples, nuts & spices ground together with wine - sounds yummy & a nice good night snack too.

Karpas - This is parsley - although I do not know why something else is never used - I HATE parsley - what is it, anyway?  It is dipped into saltwater during the seder.  The saltwater is a reminder of the tears shed during slavery.  It could a personal "slavery" that might be causing tears also.   The parting of The Red Sea will take care of all that.

                                                                                                                        Passover symbolizes many important concepts like freedom & the joy of being together with family &/or friends +++.  It is a "tradition" to invite someone to a Seder who has not been to one before.  The traditional Seder is outlined in a book called a Haggadah.  There are many different kinds with different trajectories. Uncle Jeff (Amazon) offers 17 Haggadahs.  Many families have a "family" Haggadah that is used yr. after yr.  Often they are "marked up" or with stickers & notes because going through the whole Haggadah could take about 2 hrs.  Some just do the 4 cups of wine & that is enough. Others will decide what to exclude to instruct all what page to turn to.    

Usually everyone at the table is given their own Haggadah, sometimes they are shared at the table.  Of course, like any Holiday meal, there is the "Hello, how are you" section. But generally not cocktails & appetizers.  Why is this night different from all other nights?  That is a famous question asked at the Seder. I am not sure of the origin I will try to find out.  Well, that Mr. Google is right on top of his stuff.  The answer is Passover is not a holiday observed in a Temple or Synagogue (or church if that becomes a Christian custom) - it is a home event.  So, that does make it different from all other nights.  Plus all the yummy food, singing, hiding the matza for a child to find, the 4 questions from The Wise Son, m The I ask myself that same question every night!  Oh well.  Then the host &/or hostess might have made place cards to make sure Uncle Barry is no where near Aunt Tilly, as there was a rumor there might have been some "issue" between them.  So, don't leave that one to chance.  There is 1 leader to the Seder who will generally have others read from the Hagaddah. It is not uncommon to let everyone know what they will be reading so they are less apt. to screw up. Many famous actors were discovered at a Seder - most famous being both Mickey & Minnie Mouse (devout Jews, but they "hide" it).  So, the Passover Seder begins. Of course the most important question most people ask to themselves, or the one next to them (no public announcement here) is "I wonder how long this will take - I'm hungry already.  

Of course, Passover has been just a Jewish tradition forever.  But why shouldn't everyone who follows the Old Testament (the Torah) enjoy this most fabulous of Holidays. It's even better than The Met Gala. And your outfit does not have to be that expensive. But of course, if that becomes a new tradition - there could be "Theme Seders", The Met Gala would be a great 'theme".  

Let the Games Begin - Of course the "leader" welcomes everyone & may note some special people who are at the seder - Hello, Oprah - nice to see you not on TV.  And he/she/whatever might tell a little about the anticipated time so every does not start cheating on taking food on the table.  Food is supposed to be eaten in the order of the service, but, naturally, those hunger pangs overtake responsibility & a hunk of the gafilte fish is missing. Yum.   According to Wikopedia, the word in Hebrew means "telling" & it "sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. Reading the Haggadah at the Seder tale is a fullfillment of the mitzvah of each Jew to 'tell your children'the story from The Book of Exodus of the bringing of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt 'with a strong hand & an outstretched arm'".

There are so many wonderful traditions of a Seder that all enjoy & look forward to:

The story of The Exodus

4 cups of wine represents the 4 promises God made in Exodus 6.  Each cup has a unique name - 1st cup is for santification, the 2nd for judgement, the 3rd for redemption & the 4th for praise.  

The 4 Questions - Asked by 4 at the table, often the young. 

Why is this night different from all other nights?

Matza on the table & 3 pieces are in a special pouch. At some point in the seder, the middle one is removed & part of it is wrapped in a white cloth & it is hid for a child to find at the end of the meal.  Generally the one who finds it get some money.  It's called the afficomen.  Jeff Bezos never found the afficomen.

If you have not been to a seder, youtube one.  I suggest:

American Family Passover - 3.12 - It looks like Israel to me.  It is just some wonderful "Passover" music show preparation & then cleaning after a seder with some traditional Passover music.  

Explain it to Me Passover (3 min) - The commentator talks about Jews celebrating Passover. It may, one day, be "people celebrate Passover".  Why not?

The Last Supper Passover - The best (35 min).  The leader talks about Jesus' Passover at his Last Supper & how Jesus followed the instructions in The Bible.  He speaks of Jesus' words at his Passover & talks of the bread as his body & the cup of wine is the new covenant in my blood.  This video is beautiful.

Such a wonderful way to teach children history & create a family bond.

Gospel of John - He reads from a passage telling of Jesus washing the feet of the others at his Seder.  Did Jesus know tomorrow he was off to the cross?

Not an original idea - it is from a FB post I got.  I thought it was brilliant!  The body is placed in a decomposable bag & a tree, or a vine,  is plated over it. The nutrients from the decaying body help the tree grow.  It could be a lovely vine also with a siting area for  "visitors".  Ther could be new "neighborhoods" of trees & vines.  I would like my neighborhood to be called Azeleaville - that's where I grew up in St. Pete, Fla. - so 1950's - like "Back to the Future"!     

Naturally, this is ILLEGAL - yup, no problem buying an AR15, but to bury someone without a casket - No Can Do.  For now, anyway - & this is in NY State - not sure of laws in other states.  I hope to work with Pine Lawn in Farmingdale, NY to get legislation in NY to allow this type of burial.  Not sure who, except funeral homes, who could not sell a casket, would be opposed.  But new legislation is complicated - time will tell. 

This should be. pretty complete list of all the songs  she has sung that are on youtube - about 600, or so.  Try 1 & you will finish in less than 2 years!

A - 39

A Cottage For Sale

A Couple of Swells (w Fred Astaire) 

A Foggy Day

A lot of Living to Do

A Journey to a Star

A Pretty Girl & Her Goat 

A Shine on Your Shoes 

A Wonderful Guy 

Abe Lincoln Had Just One Country

Abide w Me

About Me 

After the Holidays

After You’re Gone 

Alabame Bound

Alexander’s Rag Time Band 

All Alone

All I Do is Dream About You

Alice Blue Gown

All God’s Chullin got Rhythm 

All the Things You Are

All Through the Day

Alone

Alone Together 

Always

Am I Blue

America the Beautiful 

Americana - Swing

Among my Souvenirs 

An Angel of Joy

Anchors Away

Any Place I Hang my Hat 

April in Paris

April Showers 

Are You Having Any Fun

Aren’t You Kind of Glad we Did

*As Long as he Needs Me 

At Long Last Here I Am

At the Stroke of Midnight (The Letter)

Auld Lang Syne 

B - 23

Ballin’ The Jack

Barbershop Chord

Battle Hymn of the Republic - Tribute to JFK 

Be a Clown w Gene Kelly 

Be A Football Player

Beautiful Trouble (The Letter)

Bei Mir Bist du Shein

Ben Blue Dance

Better Luck Next Time

Biden my Time 

Bill

Blue Prelude 

Blue Skies 

Blues in the Night 

Boise Idaho

Bombshell From Brazil

Born in a Trunk 

Boys & Girls Like You & Me

Broadway Rythym

Buds Won’t Bud 

But Not For Me (My Sweet Embraceable You - Crazy Girl) 

By Myself 

Bye Bye Blues

C - 26

Call me up Some Rainy Afternoon

Call The Press

Can Do, Will Do - Patriotic

Can This be the end of the Rainbow 

Can’t Help Lovin Dat Man of Mine 

Caro Nome

Carolina in the Morning 

Charlie’s Blues

Changing my Tune 

Chicago 

Chin Up, Cheereo, Carry On

College Swing 

Come All Ye Faithful

Come Rain or Come Shine 

Cole Porter Medly

College Swing - Swing

Come Back (The Letter)

Comes Love 

Comes Once in a Lifetime

Confess

Conn. Is the Place for Me w Bing C 

Consider Yourself

Could You Pass in Love

Could You Use Me 

Cry Baby Cry 

Cryin for the Carolines

D - 24

D’ Y’ Love Me

Daddy 

Danny Boy

Dardenella

Day In Day Out 

Dear Mr Gable 

Deck the Halls

Dinah 

Dirty Hands Dirty Face

Dixie 

Dixieland Band 

Do I Love You 

Do it Again 

Don’t Ever Leave Me 

Don’t Forget Me 

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 

Don’t Rain on my Parade 

Don’t Tell me That Story 

Do the La Conga

Down on Melody Farm - Everybody Sing

D’Ya Love Me

Doing What Comes Naturally

Down w Love 

Drummer Boy - Swing

E - 6

Easter Parade (w Fred Astaire)

Easy to Love

Embraceable You 

Ever Since the World Began

Everybody Sing 

Eyli Eyli

F - 19

Falling in Love w Love 

Faraway Part of Town

Fascinating Rhythm 

Feeling Like a Million

Figaro x - Swing

Fight For USC

Fly me to the Moon 

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Football Hero

For Me & My Gal (w Gene Kelly) 

For Once in My Life

For You For Me For Evermore

Forget Your Troubles

Franklin D Roosevelt Jones 

Free & Easy

Friendly Star

Friendship  

Friendship Medley w Ethel Merman

From This Moment On 

G - 15

Get Happy 

Get me to the Church on Time 

Get Off Looking Good

Give my Regards to Broadway

Glen Miller Melody

God Bless America

God’s Country

Go Home Joe 

Good Morning

Good Night my Love

Goody Goodbye 

Going Home Medley w Bobby Daren

Got a A New Pair of Shoes

Gotta be This or That w F Sinatra

Gotta Have me go with You 

Great Day

H - 27

Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe 

Happy Days are Here Again 

Happy Harvest 

Happy New Year

Have I Stayed Too Long at the Fair

Have Yourself a Merry Christmas 

Here’s That Rainy Day

Here’s to Us

Heartbroken 

He’s Got the Whole World in his Hands

Hello Bluebird 

Hello Dolly w Liza M

Hello Ma Baby

Here’s That Rainy Day

Here’s To Us

Here’s What I’m Here For 

Hey Look me Over 

Hoe Down

Hold that Bulldog 

Holiday Melody (JG Show)

Hooray for Love 

*How About Me? - 

How About You 

How Could You Believe Me

How Insensitive (When a Love Affair is Over)

*How Long has this Been Going On? 

How Lovely to be Me

How You Gonna Keep Them Down on the Farm

I - 91

I am Loved 

I Belong to London

I Can’t Give You Anything but Love - Bday

I Concentrate on You

I Could go on Singing 

I Cried For You (Babes in Arms)

I Don’t Care 

I Feel a Song Coming On

I Get the Blues When it Rains 

I Got Rhythm 

I Got the Sun in the Morning

I Gotta a Right to Sing the Blues 

I Hadn’t Anyone Till You 

I Happen to Like NY 

I Hear a Rhapsody 

I Hear Music 

I Left my Heart in SF w Tony B 

I Like Men w Peggy Lee

I Love a Piano

I Love Paris

I Love Paris Medley  

I Love You

I Love You Today

I Loved Him

I May be Wrong

In the Valley Where the Sun Goes Down

I Never Knew 

I Remember You

I Want to go Back to Michigan

I Will Come Back 

I Wish I Were in Love Again 

I Wish You Love 

I’d Like to Hate Myself in the Morning

If He Walked into my Life m

If I Had a Talking Picture of You

If I Had You

If I Forget You

If I Love Again 

If Love Were All

If You Feel Like Singing, Sing

I’ll Be Seeing You

I’ll Get By 

I’ll Plant my Own Tree 

I’ll Remember April

I’ll Show Them All

I’m Always Chasing Rainbows 

I’m an Indian Too

I’m Confessin I Love You

I’m Following You Medly w Robert Goulet

& Phil Silvers

I’m Glad There is You

I’m in Love w a Wonderful Guy

I’m Just Wild About Harry

I’m Nobodys Baby 

I’m Old Fashioned

I’m on my Way

In Between

In Came Upon a Midnight Clear

In My Merry Oldsmobile

In The Valley Where The Evening Sun Goes

Down

Island in The West Indies

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 

It Never Rains but What it Pours

It Never Was You 

It Only Happens When I Dance w You

It’s a Great Big World 

It’s a Hap Hap Happy Day

It’s a New World

It’s All For You

It’s Lovely to be Back in London

It’s Love I’m After

It’s Yourself

In Between 

In the Good old Summertime 

In the Valley

Island in the West Indies

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

It Never Rains but it Pours 

It Never Was You 

It Only Happens When I Dance w You

It’s a Good Day

It’s a Great Big World 

If’s a Great Day for the Irish 

It’s a Hap, Hap, Happy Day

It’s a New World

It’s All For You

It’s Love I’m After

It’s So Lovely to be Back in London

It’s Yourself

I’ve Confessed to the Breeze

I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

I’ve Got The Sun in The Morning

I’ve Got You Under my Skin

J - 12

Jamboree Jones 

Jitterbug

Joey Joey Joey

Johnny One Note

Judy at The Palace Medley 

Just a Memory

Just Imagine 

Just in Time 

Just Once in a Lifetime 

Just One of Those Things

Just The Way You Are

Just You Just Me

L - 22

Last Call For Love

Last Night When we Were Young 

Laugh? I Thought I Split my Sides 

Let’s Dance

Life is a Bowl of Cherries 

Limehouse Blues

Little Drops of Rain 

Little Girl Blue

Liza

Long Ago & Far Away

Look for the Silver Lining 

Loose that Long Face

Lorna

Lost in the Stars

Love 

Love in the Villiage (The Letter)

Love is Sweeping the Country

Loved Him But He Did’t Love Me

Lover Come Back

Love of my Life

Love Sweet 

Lucky Day 

M - 35

Ma, He’s Making Eyes at Me

Maggie Mae

Make Someone Happy

Making Whoopee

March of the Doagies

Maybe It’s Because

Me & My Shadow 

Mean to Me 

Meet me in St Louis 

Meet me Tonight in Dreamland

Meet the Beat of my Heart 

Memories of You 

Merry Christmas

Mine (w Bing C) 

Minnie from Trinidad

Minstrel Girl Medley

More

My Buddy

My Country Tis of Thee

My Heart is Taking Lessons

My Intuition

My Man’s Gone Now

My Old Kentucky Home 

My Romance w F Sinatra

My Ship

My Wonderful One, Let’s Dance

Moon River

More Than You Know

Mr & Mrs Clown

Music That Makes Me Dance

My Heart is Taking Lessons

My Melancholy Baby

My Man’s Gone Now

My Romance

My Ship

N - 8

Nearer to You

Nelson Eddy, Jeanette McDonald Medly

Never Walk Alone

Never Will I Mary

Nobody 

No Love No Nothing 

Nothing but You 

Notre Dame Victory Song

O - 15

Oceans Apart 

Oh Johnny

Oh, You Beautiful Doll

Ol’ Man River 

Old Devil Moon 

Old Man River 

Olio

On the Atchison, Topeka & The Sante Fe 

On the Bumpy Road to Love 

On the Sunny Side of the St 

One For My Baby

Ooh What You Said

Opera vs Jazz 

Our Love Affair 

Over The Rainbow

P - 15

Paging Mr Greenback

Paris is a Lonely Town 

Peanut Vendor

Pennies from Heaven 

People Will Say We’re in Love

Play Overture Play

Play that Barbershop Chord

Please say, Ah (removed from I Could Go on Singing)

Porgy & Bess Medley w Vic Damone

Poor Butterfly

Poor Little Rich Girl

Poor You

Purple People Eater

Put Your Arms Around Me 

Putin on the Ritz

R - 3

Roses Red Violets Blue

Rock a By Your Baby 

Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer

S - 43

Sail Away 

Salute to NYC

Sam’s Song

Savoy 

Say SiSi

Send my Baby Back to Me

Serenade

Seventy Six Trombones

Shall I Sing a Melody

Shenandoah 

Shine on Harvest Moon 

Silent Night

Singing in the Rain 

Skip to my Lou

Slap That Bass

Sleep My Baby Sleep 

Smiles

Smiling Through

Sophie

Some of These Days

Someone at Last 

Some People 

Somebody Touched Me

Something Cool 

Somethings Coming

Something in The Air

Something to Remember You By - w B Crosby

Somewhere

Speak Low

Stars & Stripes Forever

Stay With Me Till After the Holidays

Stepping out w my Baby 

Stomping at The Savoy 

Stormy Weather 

Strike up the Band 

Sun Shine 

Sun Showers

Suppertime 

Swanee 

Sweet Danger

Sweet Sixteen 

Swing Low Sweet Chariot 

Swing Mr Charlie 

T - 54

Take my Hand Paree 

Taking a Chance on Love

Ten Pins in the Sky 

That’s All 

That Old Black Magic 

That Old Feeling

That’s All There Is (The Letter)

That’s Entertainment 

That’s the Good Old Sunny South

The Belboa 

The Bells are Ringing

The Birthday of a King

The Boy Next Door 

The Christmas Song w Mel Torme

The Jitterbug Song 

The Joint is Jumpin 

The Land of Pretend

The Land of Promises

The Last Call for Love 

The Last Dance

The Man I Love

The Man that got Away 

The Music That Makes me Dance 

The Nearness of You 

The Party’s Over 

The Peanut Vendor 

The Red Baloon

The Right Romance

The Star of the East

The Stroke of Midnight (The Letter)

The Texas Tornado 

The Trolly Song 

The Way You Look Tonight 

The Worst Kind of Man (The Letter)

Theme from Mondo Cane

Than You’ve Never Been Blue

There’ll Always Be an England

There is no Breeze 

There’s A Lull in My Life

There’s No Business Like Show Business w Barbra S & Ethel Merman 

There’s Only One Union

These Lush Moments

They Can’t Take That Away From Me

This Can’t be Love 

This Could be the Start of Something

This Heart of Mine

This is It

This is New 

This is the Army

This is New

Three Cheers For The Yanks

Through the Years

Till After the Holidays

Till the Clouds Roll By

Time After Time

Tom, Tom The Piper’s Son

Too Late Now

Too Romantic

Toot Toot Tootsie Goodby

Two Lost Souls

Tzanna 

W - 38

Waltz with a Swing 

We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together w Liza M

Wearing of the Green 

We’re Off to See The Wizard 

West Side Story Melodies w Vic Damone 

What Childs is This

What’ll I Do

What now my Love 

What the World Needs Now 

When I Look at You

When I’m in Love

When Johnny Comes Marching Home 

When my Sugar Walks Down the Street

When the Midnight Cho cho Leaves for Alabam

When the Saints go Marching In

When the Sun Comes Out xl

When You Walk Through a Storm xl

When You Wore a Tulip 

When You’re Smiling 

When Your Lover has Gone

Where Are You

Where is the Clown

Where The Butterflies Kiss the Buttercups

Where There’s Music

Whispering

Why, Because

Why Can’t I

Why Was I Born

Winter Wonderland

Wish You Were Here 

Wishes

Who 

Why Can’t I

Why was I Born 

Wish You Were Here

Wishing 

Without a Memory 

Wonderful Guy

Ya ta ta x (w Bing Crosby)

Yankee Doodle Dandy

Y - 23

Yes

Yes, Indeed

You Are my Sunshine

You Belong to Me

You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun

You Can’t Have Everything 

You go to my Head 

You Got me Where You Want Me (w Bing Crosby) 

You’ll Never Walk Alone 

You Are My Sunshine

You Belong to Me

You Can Do No Wrong

You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun

You Couldn’t Be Cuter

You Made me Love You

You Wonderful You

Your Broadway & My Broadway

You’re Just in Love 

You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You w Frank S & Dean M 

You’re Nearer

You’re So Right For Me

You’ve Got me Where You Want Me w Bing C 

Yours & Mine

Z - 1

Zing went the Strings of my Heart 

One of the unique things about  Judy Garland is that she "transcends" time & space It is as if she is singing just to you. - good trick!  It's hard to narrow the list down because there are very few of her songs that are less than wonderful!

Judy Garland songs for kids (& adults too):

Mr. & Mrs. Clown - with Van Johnson - so much fun - so brilliant

Be a Clown - with Gene Kelly - How do they wiggle their ears?

Got a Pair of New Shoes - From her movies “Thoroughbreds Don’t Cry” 

Ten Pins in the Sky - From a movie of hers

The Jitterbug - Originally made to be in The Wizard of Oz but never made it into the movie. All her “friends” join her in this song.

Swing Mr. Mendelssohn - Great song also in a movie of hers

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - She wrote this one - a beauty!

Dear Mr Gable - Her song to Clark Gable - info above

Franklin D Roosevelt Jones - Many black families were naming their sons Franklin in “honor” of FDR

God Bless America (soon, please!)

Over the Rainbow - Info above. She would end many of her concerts sitting at the edge of the stage, with no shoes, & sing this song. It was so powerful, people would cry.

Zing Went the Strings of My Heart - Info above

Palace Theater Medley - Sooo beautiful. It is almost her true life story!

76 Trombones - She created this new “version” of the classic song from The Music Man.

All God’s Chillun' Got Rythyem

On The Bumpy Road to Love (It can be very bumpy!)

Here’s to Us - info above

A Couple of Swells - Dressed in hobo outfits with Fred Astaire from the movie “Easter Parade”

Born in a Trunk - Another one almost the story of her life story.

Daddy - Luv it!

Mean to Me - Decide who to sing this to - “Sweetheart, this is for you!” “Mom - for you!”

Could You Use Me - From 1 of her movies with Mickey Rooney

Barn Dance - With Gene Kelly from the movie Summer Stock. Both Gene Kelly & Fred Astaire said they never had a partner who learned so quickly & was the one the audience paid attention to - not them!

The Trolly Song - From Meet Me in St. Louis

On the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fee - from the movie The Harvey Girls. Ask Mr. Google about the story behind this movie - it’s sooo interesting.

Who - From a movie of hers - choose the 2.29 min video

Ballin! The Jack - w Gene Kelly

Barbershop Quartet - Also from a movie

I Don’t Care - A good answer when Mom says “Clean up your room!” 

Get Happy - Brilliant

Swanee - Brilliant x 2

Mickey Rooney on The Judy Garland Show - They made many movies together

Happy Harvest - Forgot what movie this is from

Do The LaCondo - Go Judy!

Radio - Judy Garland & Jack Benny - “Spring is in The Air” - (Gregory & Gwedolyn & Herman & Mertyl) - She was a popular guest on many radio shows & sang & “performed”. She plays all the female parts in this one. She sings Alice Blue Gown at the end. This show is a favorite & very funny.

Judy Garland, Phil Silvers & Ribert Goulet - I’m Following You - more joy

I Want to go Back to Michigan - Really? Detroit?

Yah Ta Ta - Duet with Bing Crosby

Boy, that was fun! Never get tired of Judy singing to me. She has the super natural ability to transcend time & space! She’s been dead since 1969, but it’s as if she is singing to YOU! Good trick! That’s how she connected with her audiences in her aporox. 1,100 live concerts. The audiences were wild for her & she would do anything to make them happy. There a few songs of hers that are less than wonderful. 

Judy Garland Songs for Adults (& Kids Too)

Come Rain or Come Shine (in her beige dress)

Hello Bluebird - a Wowie Zowie

When The Sun Comes Out

Paris is a Lonely Town on Jack Paar Show

Alexander’s Ragtime Band

Aren’t You Kinda Glad We Did - Great duet with Bing Crosby. She sang many songs with him including:

Connecticut is The Place For Me

Mine 

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

I am Loved 

I Get the Blues When it Rains (not me - I love the sound of rain!)

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

Me & My Shadow

As Long as He Needs Me

I Got Rythym

The Letter - It’s like an opereta with a beautiful story of “lost love”. The full album is not on youtube & on

If You Feel Like Singing Sing

The Man That Got Away - From her brilliant movie A Star is Born. She was “supposed”to win the Academy Award, but Grace Kelly won - because of her “political” connections

Sail Away

A Cottage For Sale

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Poor Butterfly

Rockabye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody - 

I Got The Right to Sing the Blues

Concerts & TV Shows. 

Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall ‘63 - Still called “The Greatest Night in Entertainment History”. 

Judy Garland Musical Special April 8, 1956 - I believe this was to be a GE Theater show but the execs thought Judy’s skimpy dress did not properly represent their button down style. Go Judy!

Judy & Liza at The Paladium - whole concert or just listen to Judy & Liza Hello Dolly

Judy Garland Shows - Google it for list of guests - The best are with her daughter, Liza Minelli, #3 & Barbra Streisand -  #9.  I would scroll past ll the dumb Jerry VanDyke stuff & anything else that is not Judy or her guest singing.  Her producers, for some reason, included all this "junk" 

Long list of Judy Garland songs in top section of pg 2 - Go to the top of the webite & click on pg 2 at the top. To get back to pg 1 - click Home Page at the top. 

Begin by YouTubing Playlist Get Happy - about 85 videos of her at many different times in her life.  She had the JudyGarland Show in '63 & '64    After I saw the movie, Judy, & started doing "research" on her (there is soo much - on the web, youtube, books +++) & listening to her, I became an "addict".  So many people of import have recanted glowing things about her, even JFK!  I think she can be presented to kids as they have an immediated connection because.of The Wizard of Oz (do kids still watch it?  It IS a wonder!). Judy Garland - Songs 4 Kids (& Adults 2!) is listed below.  In addition, I have listed all of her songs (on youtube).  I guess the best example of who is Judy Garland is her singing Old Man River.  When she had The Judy Garland Show in '63 & '64, she said, "No woman has ever sung Old Man River - I want to".  Listen to her & then youtube the song & listen to anyone else - she IS the best, by far!

Song suggestions are in the section below my “dissertation!”

I am a "Judy Garland addict", but not to worry, I start rehab soon!  Addicts like to share their addiction!

She is a wonderful singer/entertainer for kids (& adults) to be introduced to because her life story is so interesting. She is the only person who has a book written about almost every day of their life (Stephen Schecter).

Many of her songs are wonderful 4 children, including Over the Rainbow which she sang in the movie The Wizard of Oz in 1939. It still is considered the most beloved, popular song of all time. She was Dorothy in the movie (not Mrs. Gulch!). Her dog, Toto was very well paid.

Judy Garland is the only entertainer in history who began their career in show business before being born. How was that? Her mother played piano in silent movie houses and in the vaudeville house she and her husband owned in Grand Rapids, Minn. When she was pregnant she stayed home, playing the piano - jazz, and music from silent movies and where was little Judy? She was just 1 ft away, snapping her fingers and twitching her toes and dreaming “I’m going to be a big star one day!” And she did become the most popular, famous & beloved movie star of her day. She made The Wizard of Oz in 1939 when she was 17 years old and became a worldwide phenomenon after that movie came out. 

Judy said her years in Grand Rapids were the happiest of her life because it was pure joy in their home. Her two older sisters performed in the vaudeville house, as well as her mother and father. They were all practicing their singing & dancing at home & Judy would be running up and down the stairs - just a happy little kid. She kept begging your parents “Mommy Daddy - I want to sing on the stage like my sisters.” When she was 2 1/2 years old her mother made for her beautiful little white knit dress and on the day after Christmas, after her two sisters had finished performing at the vaudeville house, her father gave her a bell and she went on stage and sang Jingle Bells. The audience went wild clapping, and she loved the clapping so much she came out and sang it 7 times before her grandmother had to come on the stage and take her off! And she got a good review in the newspaper the next morning!  Even at the age of 2 1/2, she did not have a mature voice, but she had a very unusual & powerful voice.

When she was about 8 or 9, the family moved to Lancaster, California about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles. Her mother wanted to start taking her to auditions in Hollywood and they couldn’t afford to buy a vaudeville house in Los Angeles. So they bought one in Lancaster. At an early age she was already on the radio. There’s one cd I have where the announcer says “And here’s little Judy Garland - she’s just 10 years old, but she’s got the voice of a woman of 40 - who’s been hurt!”  WOW!

They later moved to Los Angeles. An executive with MGM heard her sing the song Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart on the radio. He was so impressed, he went to find her & took her, took her to the chief executive of MGM, Louis B Mayer, who was also the highest paid executive in America. She sang the song for him & he put it under contract immediately, without a screen test. Now, at the age of 13, Judy was under contract with MGM. But they didn’t know what to do with a 13 year kid. They didn’t have any other 13-year-old movie stars. She was working with a composer by the name of Roger Edens. He wrote all the music for The Wizard of Oz, as well as many beautiful songs.     

                                                                                                                     She told him that she’d “fallen in love” with Clark Gable, who was the most famous movie star of his day. He starred in a movie Gone With the Wind and was very handsome. So Roger Edens uses the song: “You made me love you, I didn’t want to do it, I didn’t want to do …”, and in the song he writes a soliloquy where Judy talks to a picture of Clark Gable. It’s on YouTube - Dear Mr. Gable. It was on the radio & everyone listened to it because Judy Garland has a remarkably beautiful voice, the song is beautiful and she’s talking about the most famous movie star in the world! At the age of 13 Judy Garland was now a household name in America - everyone knew Judy Garland!   

She went on to make movies with Mickey Rooney. Originally he had top billing, but soon Judy did. She made 28 movies in the 12 years she was with MGM.  MGM worked their movie stars to death & she was tired of the work & the control of Louis B Mayer & she & MGM “parted ways” in 1949.  She had married her band leader when she was 18. She had wanted to get away from the control of Louis B. Mayer. That marriage lasted less than 2 years.  She met Vincint Minelli when she was staring in the movie she was making - Meet Me in St. Louis.  He was the Director. They married & soon had a daughter, Liza Minelli. She is famous i her own right winning many awards & staring in the "classic" movie Cabaret.   

                                                                                                                    After she “left” MGM, a man by the name of Sid Luft wanted to help her get "back on top".  When he was in Manhattan in 1950, in Times Square, he saw the Palace Theater was abandoned. He called the owner up and said, “Why don’t you renovate the theater and Judy Garland will sing there.” They agreed. The original contract was for 20 weeks, 2 shows a day, 7 days a week. But singing was not work for Judy Garland - singing was what gave her her joy.              

John Kennedy, one of America's most famous Presidents,  came to opening night and he fell in love with her. He would call her once a week to say hello and ask her to sing the end of Over the Rainbow. She could call him whenever she wanted, even when he was President of the United States. She spent a month at the Kennedy compound on Cape Cod with her three children (she had 2 with Luft who she had married). When Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, she has The Judy Garland Show on television. Her original contract was for 4 years @ $24 million - the highest amount paid an entertainer, even through today. She wanted to dedicate a show to honor Kennedy by singing patriotic songs. The CBS executives wouldn’t let her so she conspired with her orchestra leader, Mort Lindsley, to sing the song Battle Hymn of the Republic. They didn’t put it on the playlist that they gave to the CBS executives & she just sang it at the end of one of her shows. It does not show up in the video, but I read before singing it she said "This is for you, Jack!"  It’s a beautiful song to listen to on YouTube.  

Then Sid Luft said "I’m going to put you in opera houses all over the world". She was the first female to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan. She did sang at opera houses all over the world. All sold out - all with rave reviews. She went on to make the movie a Star is Born, which is a beautiful movie. In it she sings a gorgeous song  - The Man That Got Away.  She was called a "shoe in" to win the Academy Award, but Grace Kelly (who became a real "princess" when she married the Prince Rainier of Monaco) won because of her "political connections".

She made a few more movies, but mostly she had live concerts. She had about 1,100 live concerts. In a few movies she did not sing & was a wonderful actress.  She got an Academy Award nomination for one of her dramatic movies, Judgment at Nuremberg. 

Her concert at Carnegie Hall in 1963 is still call “The Greatest Night in Entertainment History”. It’s not available on video because at that time most concerts were not filmed because it required a large camera which took up space in the auditorium and obstructed sight lines. When you listen to this concert, or any of her many concerts that were recorded, you can hear the relationship she developed with her audience.  It was as if she had invited people in the audience into her living room. She connected with them on a very personal basis. She loved them & they loved her. It was a love fest. 

Judy had a contract to play for a number of weeks at the Palladium in London. She invited her daughter Liza, who is only 18, to join her. She was reluctant at first, but finally consented. That entire concert is available on YouTube because it became a television show. All you have to do with YouTube Judy and Liza at the Palladium. There’s one song in particularly that is fantastic. YouTube Judy and Liza Hello Dolly. At the beginning of the show, Liza’s on the left-hand side of the stage and Judy’s on the right hand side of the stage and Liza sings out “Hello mama” and Judy sings “Hello Liza - it’s so nice to have you here with me."  Then they walk to the middle of the stage, hold hands, hug & sing together.

Although the original contract for The Judy Garland Show, in 1963,  was for four years, it only lasted a year. CBS put her in the 9 o’clock time slot on Sunday night against Bonanza on NBC. Bonanza was the highest rated show of the time and also was in color. The Judy Garland show was in black-and-white. People were buying their new color TVs in the early 60's &, although her ratings were good, she did not knock Bonanza "out of the box".  There were 26 episodes.  Most are available on YouTube and they’re all wonderful.  Some of  guests are Barbra Streisand (subline), Liza Minelli, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett,  Peggy Lee, Lena Horn +++.  The thing about them is Judy Garland had her hand in everything - she controlled everything about the shows and you’ll see that even though the shows are 60 years old  they’re still contemporary. Any other show that you YouTube from the 60s looks dated. One of my favorites is The Judy Garland Christmas Show. She had all her kids on.  Being the loving mother she was, she let her young son, Joey Luft, sing a song from the play Oliver. He did not inherit Judy's voice & Judy never let him sing on TV again - he was consigned to playing the bongos! 

On the Judy Garland Show, she said “no man has ever sung Old Man River - I want to sing that song!” Listen to her sing it, and then just YouTube the song. No one compares to Judy Garland! A good example of her joy of singing is the song San Francisco. The genius she was, she begins the song with a dedication to Jeannette McDonald. Why? Jeanette McDonald sang the song in the rubble of a San Francisco earthquake & became famous because of that.  Judy  is on the stage, singing, hopping, skipping like a kid in a candy store. She lifts her leg to get a note out!   

Another great example of "Who is Judy Garland?" is the song Here’s To Us. She wrote the music & the lyrics. It was to be on her last Judy Garland Show. It never made it on the show, but he video is on youtube. She’s in a clown costume & she had champagne at the edge of the stage. She gives glasses to people in the audience and pours champagne for them. Her two children that she had with Sid Luft, who she had married, were sitting in the front row. They were about 10 years old then. She gives them a bottle of milk!

She truly had a "storied" life , but died at the young age of 47. There’s a biography called Get Happy (great song of hers also) available on Kindle to read on your phone or ipad, if you like to read that way.  There are many documentaries that have been made of her life. I think Judy Garland is someone that children will enjoy, because the songs give you so much pleasure and many are “fun”. Sooooo - here goes:

I have 3 addictions: Judy Garland, bridge & Starbuck Frappachino. 

I started to play bridge in the early 90's & liked it so much because, unlike golf, which I never could figure out what to do to get it right, in bridge there was some hope.  Without doubt it is the most intriging game of all time.  There are many ways to play bridge.  Party, or kitchen bridge, is the getting together & everyoe trying their best.  Duplicate bridge is a whole nother ballgame.  It is called duplicate, because all the pairs play the same hands as the other pairs.  Hands are nos computer generated so at the end of a session (generally 20 hands), you can see what cards were in each hand for each deal (called a board as the cards are face down, 13 in each direction, in a board).  This allows for endless discussions & sometimes heated arguments as why your partner screwed up!  So if yu & I are North-South, all the other North Souths will be playing the same hands. So, very little luck is involved.  It' almost ll skill, genius, cleverness & cunning (like life!).  

 To: Elton John & David Furnish:

Take your time (or not), there’s a lot here! All good!

I am hoping both of you will want to “produce” on Broadway the Grand Reopening of the Palace Theater. It was renovated for her in ’51 after bing abandoned for 18 years I am proposing “The Judy Garland Life Story”. It would be in 2 parts. Part 1 would be from her birth in 6-1922 till 9-1950 when she was fired from MGM at the matinee. The 2nd half of her life would be the evening performance. These would be shown only 3 or 4 days a week, unless demand is so hight a 2nd theater can be used for the balance of the shows - I call them “Judy Garland Highlights”. These would drawn on her almost unlimited body of work - movies, concerts, interviews , documentaries +++. It would be low budget as there would be video of her singing alone - a new singer, or a star, can come in making her silent at times, duets with the original partner 7 new singers (or stars), dancing & sing-a-longs. Oh boy - I’m excited! Clips of her original 1st song on the Grand Opening of The Palace in 1951 is on Ford Star Jubilee Judy Garland (start @ 6 minutes0. It’s a Wowie Zowie Kapowie!

For sing a longs in the “Highlights” shows, the words will be on a big screen as well as printed & handed out with the program. If Elton John agrees to Bertie a new song or intro song, it can be long, if that’s what he wants to create - a montage - Judy Garland was ubiquitous . So is Elton - good combination.  

The Palace theater had been abandoned for 18 years when her soon to be 3rd husband, Sid Luft, in ‘51, was in Times Square, & saw the abandoned theater, he called the owner & asked him to renovate the theater for her to sing there. He loved the idea. She performed for 40 weeks, 2 shows a day. All shows were sold out - all shows had rave reviews. Huge crowds came to Broadway because Judy Garland was the biggest, most popular & most beloved star of her day. She is still called “The World’s Greatest Entertainer”! John Kennedy came to opening night and “fell in love” with her (everyone does!). He started calling her once a week to say hello and ask her to sing part of Over the Rainbow. She spent a month at the Kennedy compound with her three children, literally having to sing for her supper, she campaigned with Kennedy for President & was in the White House many times. They had a love affair, but it was platonic! When he was assassinated, she had the Judy Garland show on TV. Her original contract in 1963 was for $24 million for four years the highest mountain entertainer on television through today. She was only on for one year but every show is brilliant and she had her hand and everything. She was like a good architect who creates a timeless building. She created a timeless show. Even though they were made in the early 60s, they still look contemporary. She sang “Battle Hymn of the Republic” in his honor & said, before she sang it, “This is for you, Jack”. I cried - it is very powerful. Then she said “No woman has ever sung Old Man River - I’m gonna sing that song.” YouTube her singing it and then just YouTube the song & choose anyone else. Judy Garland is twice as good as anyone else singing this common song - that was part of the genius of Judy Garland..

Judy Garland Highlights would be a different show than the other Judy Garland Life Story shows. Famous stars can show up, even the day of performance, to sing duets with Judy. I think many famous singers and actors (who can carry a tune) will love to sing a duet with Judy Garland. One show may be, say 10 - 12 songs of hers. 1st with her singing on video, then with a duet either if one exists with the original duet partner, then stopping to have a live duet partner chime in. Then an audience sing-along. So, each song can last easily 15 or 20 minutes with the combination of three or four ways of presenting the song. There is so much Judy Garland material, it is almost limitless.

I believe that demand will be strong - both fprmats will be an audience pleaser. Whoopi Goldberg said “When Judy Garland sings you hear the voice of God”. Will she want to sing with Judy in a duet? I think she would love it. Barry Manilow already did a beautiful duet with her - just YouTube Barry & Judy duet & choose the one that is 2.50 minutes (the sound on video has to be updated). I’m sure he would love to do a live duet with Judy on Broadway. YouTube Liza & Judy “Come Rain or Come Shine”. Maybe even Elton would love to do a duet. I’m sure many other stars would also, as long as they can sing a bit! Barbra Streisand’s duet with Judy, “Get Happy” is, probably, the most beautiful duet ever made. Of course, Judy Garland created it by combining the songs “Get Happy” and “Happy Days are Here Again”.

I will be contacting Susan Stroman (or maybe Elton can!) and hope that she will be happy to be the choreographer and set designer for the Judy Garland Life Story & Judy Garland Highlights. Lion King (on Broadway) has the most brilliant score (nice work, Elton!) & unbelievable staging. I often watch The opening of Lion King on Broadway on youtube. 

The Judy Garland Highlights shows can literally change every time it’s performed. The body of work Judy has left behind is voluminous. It can sometimes include her early singing, like Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart. This was the song she sang on the radio when an MGM executive heard her, he went to find her and took her to Louis B Mayer. He hired her immediately after she sang the song, without a screen test. There is much before she was hired by MGM (at the age of 13). She made over 40 movies with MGM until she was fired for not showing up at all to film, as the star, in Annie Get Your Gun.  

The body of her work is voluminous. In fact there is so much available that there could be a different “Highlights” every show, probably for an entire year, or more. Maybe some of the shows would recycle. This would involve taking material of Judy Garland, which can go anywhere from her childhood singing as Francis Baby Gumm with her sisters as The Gumm Sisters (Georgie Jessel changed her last name when she and her sisters were performing in Chicago and he was the MC and the marquee called them The Glum Sisters). The story of her being hired by MGM when she was 13 is legend, to her many movies & songs in the movies. She made approximately 40 movies with MGM to her many wonderful concerts, Judy Garland Shows, guest appearances, interviews of her (& Liza & Lorna about her) +++. She had approximately 1100 concerts. It has been said that going to a Judy Garland concert was like a séance. She had the audience in her hand and the audience loved her. It was a love fest! I read that often times she would sit at the edge of the stage for her last number with no shoes and no microphone and sing Over the Rainbow and people would cry. The only two women in the world whoever made me cry were my ex-wife and Judy Garland! There would be minimal staging. It will all be videos, stills, Judy singing solos, duets as her many fabulous duets with the original “partner” alternating with w live duet partner for that song for that performance. The duet partners can change. Liza & Lorna will be allowed to come to any shows they desire, even at late notice, and be part of either the Judy Garland story or Judy Garland highlights. They will get paid according to an agreement and the person who is being replaced would either take another roll or sit out that performance, but still get paid. 

More repeat, I think - going to bed now - will review tomorrow.

Who know how many would love to sing with Judy. Certainly Whoopi Goldberg who said “When Judy Garland sings you hear the voice of God”! And Barry Manilow already has a few duets with Judy on YouTube - the best one is 2.50 minutes (the sound needs to be updated). He sings, in duet, one of the most consequential song in Judy Garland’s life, “Zing! Went the Stringe of my Heart”. She sang it on the radio & a MGM executive heard it, went to find her, & brought her to Louis B Mayor. When he heard her sing the song, he did not ask her to do a screen test and hired her immediately. So now, at the age of 13, she was under contract with MGM. This “story” could be part of a Highlights show. My idea is that there would be live performances of Louis Mayer and a 13-year-old Judy Garland going with her parents to the audition at MGM and her being hired. After she was hired she went under under the tootlidge of Roger Edens who I’m sure Elton knows well. He was a world class composer having composed all the music for ThevWizard of Oz as well as many many other classics . 

Just to digress with a very interesting fact, Roger Edens’ father was a Cantor and he grew up as a religious Jew. The lyricist for Over the Rainbow was Yip Harberg, whose father also was a cantor and also grew up as a religious Jew. The song was written in 1939 and if you just google the lyrics you can understand that they, in fact, wrote in a very subliminal way their desire and longing for the formation of the state of Israel - how about that?

***

As is everything in Judy‘s life, the story is fascinating when she became she was hired by MGM they didn’t know what to do with a 13 year-old kid. The only other child star was Shirley Temple - she was about 6 years old and was with ulUniversal. So they put her under the tootledge of Roger Edens. I’m sure Elton knows he was a world class composer, having composed all the music for the Wizard of Oz as well as many other wonderful songs. He, as well as many other composers, were moving from New York to Hollywood to make music for the movies. Clark Gable, who was the most famous movie star of his day (starred in “Gone with the Wind), a very handsome man & was also under contract with MGM. Judy told Roger Edens that she had “fallen in love” with Clark Gabel. So he takes the song “You Made me Love You” and attaches a solique with Judy looking at Clark Gable’s picture, singing to him & talking. It can be found on YouTube by just putting in Dear Mr. Gable. She sang this song to Clark Gable at his MGM birthday party and then that night at a fancy club in Hollywood. She said she was very nervous - here she was a 13 year old kid singing to the most famous movie star of the day. The song then went on the radio, (Judy had been on the radio for quite a while - I have a YouTube where the announcer says and “Here’s little Judy Garland. She’s just 10 years old, but she’s got a voice of a woman of 40 who’s been hurt”. Wow! The song was listened to everyone in America because Judy Garland’s voice is beautiful, the song is beautiful, her talking to Gable is beautiful and she’s singing to the most famous movie star in the world. So, at the age of 13 ,Judy was now a household name in America / everyone knew Judy Garland!

Would Elton John like to sing with Judy Garland. I guess if he decides he wants to produce the show maybe you and he would spend more time in New York and he would perform as many times a week as he was comfortable with always performing what I’m asking him to create - a new song dedicated to Judy Garland. It would always open the show and a Judy Garland replacement would end show sitting on the edge of the stage, with no shoes and no microphone, often having just finished a hobo routine, where part of her face is darkened or a clown routine, still in her clown outfit singing the song with no microphone. This was the common ending for her concerts and I read that it was so powerful people would cry. Videos of Judy singing and live singer, singing duets with her and singing some songs by themselves with high-end dancing, who I hope will be created by Susan Stroman.

As I guess you might have figured out, I am a Judy Garland addict, but not to worry. I start rehab soon. I have a new website judygarlandaddicts.com. I am in the process of building it. I am a typical addict. I like to share my addiction. I guess both you and Elton know her music and perhaps some of her amazing life story so I’m asking Elton John if he would write the introduction song to the show and I’m asking both of you if you would like to participate in the show in any way you feel comfortable. As of now it is only a presentation I made to the two owners of the palace theater, Stuart Lane and James Nederlander.  

I hope this idea excited both of you & you can help make it a reality.

Judy Garland the only person in history who has a book written about every day of their life. I know, Jesus got a Bible and some churches, but he did not get a book about every day of his life.

Warm regards,

donald weiss

December 12, 2024

dweiss5348@aol.com

917 923-2441

DonaldWeissIdeasForChange.com - My idea for a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians with the creation of what I call New Palestine having it overseen by the Commonwealth to make sure no leader comes in and decides he wants to kill all the Jews and destroy Israel)

JudyGarlandAddicts.com

DonaldWeissPhotosAndArt.com - under construction

SculpturesByPolles.com - Nathanael needs a new home & he told me he is very fond of cherry ol’ England!

My Ideas for NYC are below:

Fix NYCHA (NYC Housing Authority)

Clean UP NYC Garbage

Change Zoning

Modify Opposite Side of the Street Parking Regulations

Improve Times Square

Paint Street Lines with Reflective Paint

Dress Up NYC

                                                Fix NYCHA

There are approx. 175,000 New York City Housing Authority apartments in NYC, in approx. 300 “developments”. Everything is “well located” in NYC now (pending a living population - after Covid). Many are referred to a “projects”. Many have terrible problems with deferred maintenance, sometimes without elevators &/or heat. There is still lead paint in some apts. The apartments are all well laid out, most with large rooms. 

What to do? My idea would convert the majority poor population to a majority middle class population. It is a win win win win situation:

1 - Start with the worst housing project. Offer tenants money to move - say $25,000 to $35,000. They would not be obliged to accept the offer & could stay on a tenants with their current “protections”. I believe many will take the money & be happy to have it will move to family or someplace else. A contract would be made with the money put into an attorney’s escrow account to be released after confirmation of the apt being vacant.

2 - In a project of say 100 apts, I anticipate, maybe 1/3 will “sell”. The City & State will then renovate the building(s): A condo renovation for the vacant apts & what ever is need to be done for occupied apts. The entrance & landscaping will be made upscale, halls will be renovated & all needed capital improvements will be made as needed.  The vacant apts. will be sold & another “offer” might be made to existing tenants. The buildings will now be on the tax rolls, the new buyers will be middle class, most paying taxes to NYC, the existing tenants will be happy, the neighborhood will be happy. Happy Happy. My idea “Dress Up NYC” (see it, when I get it up) can make the red brick boxes something unique to look at & live in.

3 - Assuming this is successful, projects will be added for “buying” tenants & conversion to condos.

There is no reason NYC can not be a primarily middle class city again - it is now 40% “poor”. The significant additional income will allow better, & less expensive, services for the population.

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                                   Clean UP NYC Garbage

I have never been in a city anywhere in the world that has large numbers of black plastic bags lining the streets. What to do?

My idea is that large containers will be placed at ends of blocks with access from the sidewalk in put garbage in, with separate opening for different kinds of garbage - regular garbage, cardboard, crowns, etc.

The containers will be designed by winners of competitions, to add some art to the neighborhood. There will be a place on the street to open to collect the garbage. Each will become a “gathering place” for that block with places for posting notices, seating & planter boxes. This will allow all garbage cans to be eliminated & these areas in front of houses can now become part of the Dress Up NYC Program.

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                                      Define NYC Neighborhoods

Make defined Boundaries to NYC neighborhoods with City Council representation for 1 or more neighborhood. People will now where they are as all street corners will have a sign identifying the neighborhood. This will allow the City Council members to properly represent their constituents. Neighborhoods, as per the City Council, will be numbered, as in Paris. The local “governments” will be able to a proper job making sure local issues are tended to, like cleaning up garbage, regulating red lights at night +++.  

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                                               Change Zoning

In cities like Paris & London an existing building is allowed to remain with an use the landlord wishes to use it for unless serious objections from the locals.

Zoning is basically antithetical to the interest of all. Some group of people decided, maybe 20 yrs. ago what what good & what was not. Let any new construction have an approval scale with locals have the greatest % of the “vote” - complicated, but this will allow for a natural growth & development.

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                         Modify Opposite Side of the Street Parking

Have you ever looked at a street when the cars have moved but the sanitation truck has not come yet. They all are clean already. Why torture so many with this old fashioned plan. Streets can be cleaned as needed, by the property owners with special attention given if there is. serious garbage issue.

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                                   An Improved Times Square

This is being “updated” on De 30, 2021 with the knowledge that there are virtually no Broadway shows open now & we are all worried about covid. So this idea may come to be when Broadway shows reopen. Times Square is an American icon & treasure. It should be landmarked with the provision that the only people allowed to perform, & take money, are those sanctioned by Broadway theaters. In costume, performers will sing, dance & make recitations from shows. There may be a 15 min show every 2 hours. Assistants will have hand held devices to sell TKTS (1/2 same day tkts) & future date. The current “family” of nudenistas, cookie monsters, Micke & Minney Mouses, The Naked Cowboy ++ will be given a restricted area & others will be allowed on side streets.  

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                            Paint Street Lines in Reflective Paint

I have to turn my brights on at night on an empty street to see where lanes are. Paint lines on streets with a reflective paint - white & yellow - every 3rd stripe. This will help night drivers known where the lanes are.

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                                                 Dress UP NYC

Some parts of NYC are architecturally exciting. I think everyone likes good architecture. It may differ for each. So many parts of NYC are just plain ugly.

Just drive around parts of Queens - amazing. A tax credit could be given for visual upgrading of buildings - there are so many ways buildings, & homes, can be dressed up. Maybe with the increased tax income from converting NCHA housing to condos, telephone poles wire that sting back & forth on some streets can be put under ground.

I have been driving around NYC since my early 20's.  When I moved to NY, after college in 1970, my mom's new husband, Dr. Herbert Kahan (a wonderful man - he was an old time pediatritian in New Rochelle, NY) have me his old little green Renult.  I started working for any attorney who was buying apt. houses. This was about 1975 & apt. houses then were not an asset they were a liablity.  NY was going to hell - it was happening quickly & if you ow an apt, house & are loosing, say $30,000/yr. & there is no future, SELL!  I saw beautiful brownstone neighborhoods that were in poor shape & the large buildings & complexes, like styvesant Town & Peter Cooper Villiage, that are basiccally red brick, non descript, buildings.  The one thig aobut Donald Trump is that he built beautiful buildings when every one else was still building red brick blahs!  All these buildigs could be "dressed up". The cost is minimal & the befit for value & beauty is huge. For example, In Stuyvesant Town, each building could have a "theme" with the theme resented in the bottom of the building. Some buildings ould represent specific birds - The Flamingo Building, The Hummingbird Building +++.  Floweres, Trees, Animals & other specific presentations could be made. 

sSome builinngs could be dressed up with shuters & may buildig, particularily in Europe, have interesting painting on them - some with optical illisions. Just an idea folks, but it makes sense, NO?  Even Mr. Oy Vey likes it. 

DonaldWeissPhotos.com - Under Construction - I was building the site with a free trial from GoDaddy & they never gave me notice the trial was ending & the computer deleted all I had done. No one can find anything & they just say "Sorry, Mr. Weiss - you must start all over again. Not nice!  My 1st series has 20 images & is called  Las Vegas Abstract Expressions. 

For now, some images, mostly what I call "multis" can be found on my Facebook page.  I am the Donald Weiss with the postcard from the Rellim Hotel next to my photo.                                                    

I have been taking photos for many years now & have had some shows at art fairs.  I first used a Nikon 35 mm camera with film.  I have "photogoritus" (I take alot of photos - an addiction) & when I traveled to Paris, which was often in the "olden days", I would often take about 90 rolls of film. I had to put a # on. asmall paper to tape onto each roll to try to keep them in order.  Many were developed & they are in albums at my house.  

I then got the hand held camera with a sim card.  So much easier than lugging around the 35 ml.  I have some of the cards & am not sure where the others are.  That camera had a feature on it I just came upon to allowed me to hold the shutter open for as long as I wanted.  I used it Las Vegas when driving, I would open the window, hold the steering wheel with my left hand & move the camera from left to right with the shuttter open.  These images are part of my Las Vegas Abstract Expressions Series.  A "multi" with 8 of the abot 50 images in the series are on the right (when I get it up!).  

Another nice series I did is called Will & Kate's Wedding.  I went to London for The Royal Wedding & stayed in the hotel room that day to take photos from the telly.  The camera also had a feature called Best Shot.  It creates a painterly image for that shot.  I compiled about 30 images & bought 5 beautiful silver photo albums & sent them to Bukingham Palace to Will & Kate, The Queen & the Middletons.  They were alll returned saying they only accept photos from The Royal Photographer!  I responded I would tke the job, but nothing back.  Each album includes the letter wrote to each & I have the response lettter from Buckingham Palace.

My idea s a practical solution to begin to end homelessness & the shelter system. My “vision” is to begin with the approx 30,000 homeless Vets. I call the plan Community Living Centers (CLCs) 

My idea is to build CLCs on vacant, inexpensive, land or in cities that need revitalization or just want a CLC in their city. My plan involves construction of CLCs as condominiums. Units will be purchased Full CLC sponsors, like “The Oprah Winfrey CLC), by Corporations, the wealthy - individual units or as a Sponsor - for example “The Oprah Winfrey Community Living Center”. Even with 1 sponsor, the CLC will still be built as condo units so the sponsor can decide what they want to do. Governments may be sponsors too. Units would be bought with a down payment with the balance at closing. They are condos, so a mortgage can be taken out.  

Medical systems where the CLC is being built will be involved to set up all the medical needs there will be needed to tend to. The “member” will live there and then the sponsor may eventually sell it or actually give it to the previously homeless. 

I propose each CLC will have 300 - 500 “members” (that means about 100 CLC's just for homeless viets!) & units would be built for homeless, families & “outsiders” who want to live in a CLC. 

CLCs would be built as high rises, mid rise, 2 story &/or tiny homes (Elon Musk shows tiny homes for $15,000). Larger units & homes would be built for those described above. There would be a common dining room where members would share cooking, cleaning, maintenance, etc. Each unit would have its own kitchen also. 

There would be 4 types of CLCs:

1 - A Working CLC where members would work in a profit oriented business.  

2 - Learning CLCs where members would get a high school degree, an Associates Degree, a Bachelor’s or A Certificate of Excellence in a specialized field  

3 - A Caring For CLC if the member did not fit into 1 or 2  

4 - A Retirement CLC for old farts like me  

5 - An Intake CLC (only at the beginning of that CLC) to determine where that new “member” should go. 

I lived in Israel (’84 - ’87) & spent much time on the kibbutz where my wife’s cousins lived - Kibbutz Bachan. I have fond memories of how wonderful life was for these financially poor Argentinians who immigrated to Israel when it became a State. I soon thought how wonderful something like that would be for America. I have had the concept of Community Living Centers (CLCs) for many years but only now am I starting an aggressive campaign to present the plan to all as outlined above - I think they should be interested. 

Respectively Submitted: donald weiss 917 922-2441 (prefer text) dweiss5348@aol.com 

DonaldWeissIdeasForChange.com  

Follow me on FB - I have the postcard from The Rellim Hotel as my image (explained on the website)

"Old Posting":

America needs help! CLCs could become a haven for the troubled souls who may find this environment is a good alternative to killing & maming!

 To be sent to Governors, State Senators, Mayors & Directors of Homeless Services  

I call my idea Community Living Centers (CLCs). It is a practical solution to begin to end mhomelessness & the shelter system. My “vision” is to begin with the approx 30,000 homeless Vets. 

My idea is to build CLCs on vacant, inexpensive, land or in cities that need revitalization or just want a CLC in their city. My plan involves construction of CLCs as condominiums. Units will be purchased by Corporations, as a CLC sponsor, the wealthy - individual units or as a Sponsor - for example “The Oprah Winfrey Community Living Center”. Even with 1 sponsor, the CLC will still be built as condo units so the sponsor can decide what they want to do. Governments may be sponsors too. Units would be bought with a down payment with the balance at closing. They are condos, so a mortgage can be taken out.  

Medical systems where the CLC is being built will be involved to set up all the medical needs there will be needed to tend to.

The “member” will live there and then the sponsor may eventually sell it or actually give it to the previously homeless. 

I propose each CLC will have 300 - 500 “members” & units would be built for homeless, families & “outsiders” who want to live in a CLC. 

CLCs would be built as high rises, mid rise, 2 story &/or tiny homes. Larger units & homes would be built for those described above. There would be a common dining room where members would share cooking, cleaning, maintenance, etc. Each unit would have its own kitchen also. 

There would be 4 types of CLCs:

1 - A Working CLC where members would work in a profit oriented business.

2 - Learning CLCs where members would get a high school degree, an Associates Degree, a Bachelor’s or A Certificate of Excellence in a specialized field       

                                                                                                                         3 - A Caring For CLC if the member did not fit into 1 or 2  4 - A Retirement CLC for old farts like me 5 - An Intake CLC (only at the beginning of that CLC) to determine where that new “member” should go. 

I lived in Israel (’84 - ’87) & spent much time on the kibbutz where my wife’s cousins lived / Kibbutz Bachan. I have fond memories of how wonderful life was for these financially poor Argentinians who immigrated to Israel when it became a State. I soon thought how wonderful something like that would be for America. I have had the concept of Community Living Centers (CLCs) for many years but only now am I starting an aggressive campaign to present the plan to all as outlined above - I think they will be interested. 

Respectively Submitted: donald weiss 917 922-2441 (prefer text) dweiss5348@aol.com 

DonaldWeissIdeasForChange.com 

Follow me on FB - I have the postcard from The Rellim Hotel as my image (explained on the website)

The wealthy &/ or corporations or foundations may want to sponsor entire CLC complexes. They would also be built as single homes or condos to allow for units to be sold later, if desired, or given to the occupants.

I guess NYC, Broadway & Times Square Ideas is my 2nd most important idea, although, Community Living Centers (below, somewhere)??????? is my idea to begin ending homelessness (starting with the apprix. 30,000 homeless vets)

Judy Garland Returns to The Palace Theater in Times Square:

I am proposing Judy Garland Sings Highlights & Duets (with a sing a long).

Using Youtubes & still from the almost unlimited body of work including videos of her singing alone, singing duets with the original partner & then with someone live, dance numbers & some new soloists singing her songs as well as sing-a-longs. Lyrics for each shows' songs would be inserted in the program. I propose Liza & Lorna, & any other "star",  can come whenever they want & sing Judy "mama for Liza & Lorna) at scale pay. Who wants to sing with Judy Garland? Barbra's duet with her - Get Happy - is probably the most beautiful duet evr sung! Would Barbra like to sing with Judy again? Barry Manilow did  - youtube Barry & Judy duet & choose the 2.50 minute video. You tube Judy & Liza Come Ran or Come Shine.    

An MC would introduce the show & give commentary throughout. It could be live, video or both.

The  show would be for the Grand Re Re Opening of The Palace Theater staring Miss Judy Garland! The Palace had been vacant for 18 years & in 1951 Sid Luft, who became Judy's  3rd husband, called the owner & asked him to renovate the theater for Judy to sing there. He did!! She performed for 40 weeks - 2 shows a day -  all sold out - all rave reviews,  Her original contract was for $24 million for 4 years - the highest amount paid an entertainer on TV through today. Big crowds came to Broadway just to get a glimpse of her. She WAS the biggest, most beloved singer & movie star of her day!  John Kennedy came to opening night & "fell in love" with her - everyone does - can't help it. He started calling her once a week to say hello & ask her to sing part of Over the Rainbow.  She spent a month at the Kennedy Compound on Cape Cod with her 3 children - she, literally, had to sing for her supper. She campaigned for President with him, & she was in the White House often. It was a love affair - platonic, but love for sure. When he was assassinated in '63, she wanted to sing Battle Hymn of The Republic to commemorate him on The Judy Garland Show. CBS execs said NO - too controversial! So she conspired with her orchestral leader to sing the song at the end of 1 of the shows but did not put it on the playlislt they gave to the CBS execs. i read that on the TV show, before she sang it, she said "This is for you, Jack"  I cried. So powerful.   

Judy Garland said "No woman has ever sung Old Man River - I'm going to sing it. Youtube Judy Garland Old Man River - she's a 15 out of 10. Then youtube just the song & choose anyone else - she is twice as good as anyone else! That is the part of the brilliance of Judy Garland. That's why I am a Judy Garland addict - but not to worry, I start rehab soon!  On to Broadway!

My proposed show outline is as follows:

Proposed Show Layout - Only videos & stills will be used with some dnnce numbers & sing-a-longs.  Words of the songs to be sung will be inserted in the program. Guest singers can do dests with Judy.  All duet partners will b organized in advance (all scale pay) but any BIG start can come, even at last minute & sing with Judy + sing a Judy song as a solo.  The show will begin with the fabulous Judy Garland Inroduction Orchestration (sound only - can not afford a live orchestra - hope th unions won't bitch & prevent this)        

Who might show up?  Her daughters, Liza Minnelli & Lorna Luft? Maybe they would love to sing with their "mama" on The Palace Theater stage. Her son, Joey? (only if he takes voice lessons), Barbra - their duet is the greatest duet ever sung - Judy & Barbra Get Happy; Whoopi Goldberg? She said "When Judy Garland sings you hear the voice of God". She can sing too! Barry Manilow - He already had a duet with Judy - Ziig! Went the Strings of my Heart - choose the 2.50 minute one. Who else might want to sing with "the greatest singer & entertainer who ever lived?" Maybe Lady Gaga, maybe Tom Cruise (can he at least carry a tune - if not, it's ok - just looking at him makes anyone sing!) Maybe Beyonce with her diamond ne cklace that she wears singing Ape Shit in The Louvre Museum (great name for a song!). Oh, maybe EVERYONE wants to sing with Judy. I always do & she never complains about my voice!

People will be encouraged to come in costume - anything from a munchkin (The Lollipop Kids ?) to Judy herself (maybe in her wonderful poppy field dress).  Would Liza mind if people came as her?  Don't want to insult her.  Oh boy - where is this going. Not to Mar-a-lago, I hopek!

All pay is “scale” - performers are there to give homage to Judy& sing with her & maybe sing a solo a song of hers, not for the $, honey. 

Since ANY "star" can show up to sing alone & duets w Judy, I think that will be part of the excitement of the show - not knowing who is going to show up. Barbra? Whoopi? Liza? Barry M? Lady Gaga! Any star can come last minute as long as they are prepared to sing a duet with Judy & they can choose any JG song to sing. They just need to bring their own background music, if they want it - or they can sing all alone. Wow! will the unions kabosh this? Someone - it might be Simon Cowell - can choose people from his show or other young and up-and-coming singers to participate (it can change often) and they probably don’t care about getting paid. I think they will just be happy to be on stage on Broadway and to sing with the greatest singer of all time - your friend of mine, Miss Judy Garland.

Note: The Palace Theater was raised (not razed! to create retail space on Broadway (good location!).  I am proposing 2 uses for that space - 1 - A "kool" 50's styles restaurant, ala Ellen's Stardust, to have singers perform Judy Garland songs with sing-a-longs.  There will have to be a time limit to dining otherwise all will stay forever!  In addition, I am proposing a retil store to sell Judy Garland & Wizard of Oz merchandise.  I hope the owners of The Palace are excited about this idea - Judy Garland Returns to The Palace!

1 - The show will begin with the Judy Garland Orchestral Introduction with still shots on the screens on the stage. I hope unions don't kabosh this.  Maybe a "deal' can be made, if the show is a success, there will be a live orchestra.

2 - MC: Introduces him/her self & tells a little of their "relationship" to Judy 

(Me) The two basic reasons I am a Judy Garland addict is 1.   I never hear a song of hers that is less than wonderful and 2 - Her life story is so remarkable and so inspirational It has given me a lot of inspiration for my own life. Maybe you will find the same for yourself. So now let’s just go into the show. I hope you have a good time. 

MC - There will be some sing-alongs - the words have been printed for you. I guess u know something about JG - she stared in the most popular & beloved movie of all time - The Wizard of Oz. She sang the most beloved & popular song of all time - Over the Rainbow. Her concert at Carnegie Hall (just youtube Judy Carnegie Hall) is still called “The greatest night in entertainment history”. She is the only person in history to have a book written about almost every day of her life. Too many more Judy Garland accolates to go over here.

3 - 1st video - JG on "Ford Star Jubilee with Judy Garland" - Start @ about 12.40 minutes - have to check out the exact time. It can begin with the announcer talking about the Palace being vacant - right before she sings there. Sing a longs after Shine On Harvest Moon. incl all the parts of songs she sings - after just Judy has sung. Her singing will be replayed w the audience participating. End about 17.60 minutes.

3 - MC - (still shots will be shown on a large screen relating to the story below.) WOW - wasn’t that amazing - The Palace Theater had been vacant & abandoned for 18 years and her soon to be third husband, Sid Luft, in 1951, saw it was abandoned when he was in Time Square. He knew the owner & called him & asked him to renovate the theater for her. He agreed. She performed for 40 weeks, 2 shows a day - all sold out - all rave reviews. 

Large crowds came to Broadway just to get a glimpse of her. She was the biggest, most beloved, highest paid movie star of her day! John Kennedy came to opening night. He “fell in love”with her, as most do - it’s hard not to. He started calling her once a week to say hello and ask her to sing part of Over the Rainbow. She spent a month 1 summer at the Kennedy compound with her three children - she literally had to sing for her supper. She campaigned with Kennedy when he ran for president & she was in the White House often. Judy Garland and John Kennedy had a love affair. It was platonic, but they loved each other as just two human beings! When he was assassinated in ‘63 she had The Judy Garland show on CBS TV. Her original contract was for $24 million - the highest amount paid an entertainer on television through today. She wanted to sing Battle Hymn of the Republic to commemorate him. The CBS Execs said no - it was too controversial. So she conspired with her orchestra leader to sing it at the end of one of the shows and they didn’t put it on the playlist that they gave to the CBS execs. Before she sang it, on the show, she said “this is for you Jack”. I cried (me!) when I heard it the first time, it is so powerful - here it is for you. Play Battle Hymn of the Republic!

4 - MC - (More still images to go along with the text.) So much to share with you. She was hired by MGM when she was only 13 years old when an MGM Exec heard her sing Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart on the radio. He went to get her, took her to Louis B Mayer, the president of MGM and the highest paid executive in America. He hired her immediately after she sang the song - without a screen test. But they didn’t know what to do with a 13 year-old kid. So she went under the tootlage of a famous composer, Roger Edens. He wrote all the music for the Wizard of Oz and many beautiful songs. Clark Gable was a star at MGM. He starred in Gone with the Wind and was the most famous and most handsome movie star of the day. Judy told Roger Edens she had “fallen in love” with Clark Gable and he used the song “You Made me Love You” and added a soliloquy - it’s all on YouTube Just put in Dear Mr. Gable. (I guess the “notes@ in the program can refer to the youtubes so they don’t have to be announced). Here is that beautiful song. Sing a longs after the video? It went on the radio, and everyone listened to it because the song is beautiful, Judy Garland’s voice is beautiful, the soliloquy is beautiful and she’s singing to the most famous & handsome movie star of the day. At the age of 13 Judy Garland became a household name in America. Everyone knew Judy Garland. She went on to make 40+ movies for MGM beginning with 10 movies with Mickey Rooney. Here are 2 of my favorite songs from those movies - (working on it) ! - Our Love Affair + ?

5 - She had many sons from her movies without Mickey.  (Me) 2 I love are 10 Pins in the Sky & On The Bumpy  Road to Love

5 - MC - Judy Garland was not always that reliable - she became dependant on "her pills". Her mother started giving her uppers and downers when she was young and performing with her two older sisters in their vaudeville house in Lancaster, California. The pills were new at that time so her mother didn’t think she was doing anything dangerous. Everyone was taking them and everyone was saying “my goodness how good these pills make me feel - so good”. Then when she was hired by MGM, Louis B Mayer gave her pills because he told her she was just 4 ft 11 and if she put on weight, she would look heavy in the movies. So she was now taking two sets of pills and her life did revolve around her pills and her need for them. But when you see her perform, you would think everything in her life was just close to perfect - well that was the beauty of Judy Garland. It was far from perfect, but it was perfect. It was perfectly amazing. She did not show up for a lot for her filming, but MGM put up with it because she was the highest paid movie star of the day and her films actually supported MGM. But her last movie, Annie Get Your Gun, which she was supposed to star in. She showed up strung out on her pills. So they fired her. That’s when Sid Luft came in and moved her along - first at the Palace Theater & then he put her in opera houses all over the world (stills as available). She was the 1st female non opera singer to sing at the Metropolitan Opera House in Manhattan - all the shows were sold out - all rave reviews. He then put her in Opera Houses all over the world. Then Sid Luft put her in The Palladium in London. She had her daughter, Liza Minnelli, come to sing with her and here is the beginning of that show. Liza was just 18 and it is a powerhouse.

Show video Judy Liza Hello Dolly. Who knows Liza may decide to come, even in a wheelchair, to sing with her “mama”. Maybe Lorna too.

Test testing 1230 wow wow wow

6 - Judy went on to have more than 1100 live concerts. Her concert in Carnegie Hall is still called “The greatest night in entertainment history”. Here are some songs & excerpts (I luv some of her “banter”) from that show. There was no video then because cameras were large and took up too much space & blocked site lines, but you can enjoy some parts of the show here and can you YouTube it by just putting in Judy Carnegie Hall and hear the entire concert - It is remarkable. 

7 - MC - although The Judy Garland Show was only on for 1 year, every show is a treasure. What you might notice is that even though the shows were made in the early 60s, Judy controlled everything and each show still looks contemporary. She was like a good architect who builds a building that is timeless - she created theater that was timeless. Any other show from the early 69’s looks dated! Here are a few excerpts from her many shows. We have included her beautiful duet with Barbra Streisand and you (JF) can choose what else you want to include. I luv San Francisco (with lights on the stage). Judy was always trying to pay deference to anyone she could, so she begins the song with a tribute to Jeanette McDonald, who sang the song after one of the San Francisco earthquakes and became famous. You could see how she loves to sing - she jumps, 

she skips, she hopped like a kid - so happy to be singing and making her audience happy, which made her happy. I guess I would show this one if it were up to me

8 - Her life continued to be complicated with her dependence on her pills, & her need for money, as she never paid much attention to money. She only paid attention to making her audience happy. For her last Judy Garland show (It was only on for one year) she filmed Here’s to Us. She would often get dressed in a clown outfit just to make her audience happy - that’s what made her happy! Here is that video. She handed out champagne to the audience members and gave a bottle of milk to her two children - that was Judy Garland. She didn’t forget a thing.

9 - Toward the end of her life things were not so good. A man by the name of John Meyer, who was only 28, went to visit a friend in New York City and who is lying on the couch - none other than Judy Garland. She had no money and was sleeping on a friend’s couch. He took her to his parents’ apt on Park Avenue where they stayed in his childhood bedroom for a while and then they went to Boston. He wrote a few beautiful songs for her. Here is my favorite called Till After the Holidays - she sang it on the Johnny Carson show.

10 - MC - Well the show could go on for another 10 hours and still not be finished, but I think we’re finished now. I hope everyone had a good time. I hope you have fallen in love with Judy Garland! People said Judy Garland didn’t have concerts, she had seances. She would end many of her concerts with no shoes and no microphone and sing Over the Rainbow at the edge of the stage. People cried it was so powerful! So that is how we’ll end the show - please join in singing that beautiful song. What famous star wants to sing this like Judy - no shoes, no mic - just singing the most beloved, popular song of all time. Once again as a sing a long!         

Oh Boy - Yipppe - A Wowie Powie Kazowie (if u ask me)

Proposed by donald weiss 12-30-24

dweiss5348@aol.com

917 923-2441 (prefer texts)

DonaldWeissIdeasForChange.com - A real & lasting peace between Israel &

     The Palestinians

DonaldWeissPhotosAndArt.com - some pieces up

SculpturesByPolles.com - Nathanael wants to move to MOMA

Nathanael is a 9 ft marble sculpture created by Dominique Polles.  It took him 5 years to finish.  He chose marble from  the Carera quarry as this was the same marble Michelangelo used for The David.  He had something serious in mind & wanted to create what I call "The Modern Day David".  In an artistic way, he presented the male with "emphasis" on the phallus, most important to most males!  The sculpture was shown in The Bagatelle Gardens in Paris.  Polles is one of a select few sculptors whose work has been shown there.  Others include Henry Moore & Bottero.  The sculpture was purchased as the "focal point" for Sugar Hill Art Center for the Grand Opening on Oct. 12, 2001 (bad timing!).  The Art Center was in an apt. house I owed on Broadway & 151 St. in Manhattan & consisted of 4 retail store galleries with a duplex in 1 up to a "converted" 4 BR apt.  This was GalleryDonaldWeiss.  Each  gallery had it's own name with most of the art coming from France. Nathanael was shown in that Gallery.  Besides the 3 other retail store galleries, I created a 14,000  Roof Garden/Sculpture Park.  

After 9/11, it was complicated completing all the work to finish the ArtCenter.  This included competing the Roof Garden, finishing all sheetrock necessary for the galleries, new storefronts for all the stores, flagpoles around the building +++!  Many artists became reluctant to send their art because all of it was with a minimal down  payment & the balance on contingency.  I managed to get all the art, including Nathanael which was installed a few days. before the opening.  I had a steel plate placed at the front of the gallery with concrete blocks underneath to support the 5 ton sculpture.  It is a complicated schulpture to move!  The Grand Opening could not be changed because I had purchased 50 tickets for Broadway shows on Friday night - I was hoping to "make a statements"!  Naturally, everyone invited came & we had a rally in Times Sq. before I handed out the tickets.  There was a large crowd Saturday & Sunday with a buffet lunch on the roof.  I had to hire someone for each galley (they were not connected) who were on commission. I hired a paid Gallery Director to oversee all.  No sales!  I was not easy getting people out after 9/11 & coming to Harlem to look at art was not on the top of anyones list. My Director had some wonderful follow up shows in GalleryDonaldWeiss.  The original show was about 50 oils of Moreno Pincas + Nathanael.  His work was up for a few months & I returned many of the pieces as nothing sold.  The next show was Danny Simmons, a fine artist & the brother of Russel Simmons. Lots of limos on Opening night, but, again, no sales.  The 3rd show included Frank Bowling.  The galleries were closed & opened only by appointment except GalleryDonaldWeiss where my Director sat.  After about 1 year with no sales, I closed the Art Center & moved Nathanael to storage.

There are many youtubes for Dominique Polles, including his recent 1 person show in The Louvre Museum Garden.