- In 1933, the Gumm family moved to Silver Lake, a suburb of Los
Angeles, where Judy and Jimmie attended Lawlor's Hollywood Professional
School.
- On October 21, 1933, Judy and Mickey Rooney appeared in a Lawlor
recital together; it was their first professional association...
and they'd go on to be co-billed in ten Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer feature
films (between 1937 and 1948), to share the premiere taping of
her 1963 CBS-TV series, and to share countless benefit, radio,
and personal appearances.
- In 1934, the Gumm sisters traveled to Chicago where they appeared
at The Oriental Theatre. George Jessel, who headlined and emceed
the bill, decided to change their stage names to "The Garland
Sisters" because the audience laughed when he introduced them
as "The Gumm Sisters."
- To get away from the nickname "Baby," Frances chose to change
her own first name in the summer of 1935, taking the title of
the Hoagy Carmichael/Sammy Lerner song, "Judy," in its stead.
- In 1935, The Gumm Sisters' act broke up when Susie got married.
- In September 1935, when Judy was 13, she auditioned for M-G-M,
singing "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart." She was signed immediately
to a seven year contract.
- Also in 1935, Judy made her network radio debut on the "Shell
Chateau Hour."
- On June 12, 1936, just two days after her 14th birthday, she
recorded "Stompin' At The Savoy"/"Swing Mr. Charlie" with Bob
Crosby and His Orchestra for Decca in New York. This was the first
Judy Garland record to be released. In 1937, Decca signed her
to a long-term recording contract.
- In 1936, after the one-reel M-G-M short EVERY SUNDAY (with Deanna
Durbin), Judy made her feature film acting debut in PIGSKIN PARADE.
- In February 1937, Judy was asked to perform at an onset birthday
party for Clark Gable. She sang "Dear Mr. Gable" which led into
the song "You Made Me Love You." Her rendition created such a
sensation, it was written into her part in the already-scripted
BROADWAY MELODY OF 1938 (in which she played the daughter of the
great Sophie Tucker).
- In 1937, she made her first film appearance with Mickey Rooney
in THOROUGHBREDS DON'T CRY. They re-teamed months later for LOVE
FINDS ANDY HARDY; earlier in 1938, she also duetted with the legendary
Fanny Brice in EVERYBODY SING.
- In the late 1930s, Judy was a radio regular, singing on scores
of shows and assuming her status as the favorite of millions at
that time.
- She topped off the decade with the release of THE WIZARD OF
OZ in August 1939, followed by BABES IN ARMS in October. As a
result, she placed in the top ten box office stars for 1940 -
a position she held again in 1941 and 1945.
- On October 10, 1939, Judy placed her hand and footprints in
cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre with Mickey Rooney in attendance.
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