Judy Garland Enshrined In Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Remains Moved Earlier This Year 50 Years After Her Death
On June 10, Judy Garland would have turned 95-years-old, and her family commemorated her life and death by laying her in a mausoleum named after her at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Judy Garland’s family and friends honored her memory with a private memorial service on Saturday. The mausoleum has been called the Judy Garland Pavilion, a fitting ode to a woman whose character in The Wizard of Oz epitomized courage and hope.
Earlier this year, Inquisitr reported that Judy Garland’s remains were moved from New York to Hollywood nearly 50 years after her death.
Judy Garland was initially buried at the Ferncliff Cemetery in 1969, nearly 50 years ago. Her body was moved at the request of Liza Minelli, Judy Garland’s daughter, who at the time in January 2017 was going to have her mother’s remains reinterred in the Beth Olam section of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles. Garland’s remains were flown from JFK Airport to Los Angeles on Thursday, January 26, 2017. She initially was laid to rest in New York at the request of Judy’s third husband, Mickey Deans. Judy Garland’s children said that their mother wanted to be buried alongside her family in Hollywood.
In an Associated Press exclusive, a spokeswoman for the estate of Judy Garland said that Judy was buried in the Judy Garland Pavilion on her 95th birthday. Publicist Victoria Varela mentioned that Judy’s children, Liza Minelli and Joe and Lorna Luft, brought their mother’s remains “home to Hollywood.” The private memorial service was attended by Judy Garland’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The family of Judy Garland released a statement where they expressed their gratitude to Judy’s “millions of fans around the world for their constant love and support.”
The Judy Garland Pavilion will be the final resting place of Liza Minelli, Lorna and Joe Luft, as well as other family members, according to Noelle Berman, who is the Hollywood Forever Cemetery spokeswoman.
Fans will remember Judy from Hollywood’s Golden era. Born Frances Ethel Gumm, Ms. Garland changed her name and set off to Hollywood in the quest to make her dreams a reality. She started her acting career in 1930, but her big break came in 1936 with the movie Pigskin Parade.
But it is the role of Dorothy Gale that elevated Ms. Garland to the status of legendary icon. The Wizard of Oz catapulted Judy into unheard of stardom and fame. Remembered in particular for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” it seemed that Judy Garland was also chasing her own personal rainbow.
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLiza/photos/a.10150623474909765.402842.182432504764/10151911812229765/?type=3&theater
With the fame, came drugs. It is often reported that Ms. Garland died on the lavatory due to an accidental barbituate overdose, but it was a fact that Judy had 20 doctors who supplied her with drugs, according to the Telegraph.
Judy Garland’s ex-husband and father to Joe and Lorna, Sid Luft talked about Garland’s drug abuse in his memoirs.
“She was a pill taker and nobody could stop her. She couldn’t think straight, and she certainly wouldn’t listen to me. I watched my friend Dean Martin squander his talent and drink himself to death. I couldn’t stop Dino, and I couldn’t stop Judy.”
But that doesn’t stop him singing her praises either.
“Judy Garland was a very rare mix of shattered nerves and insecurities, self-destructiveness, and suicidal tendencies but also a true genius.
“She was to me the greatest talent who ever lived.”
In Judy’s own words, she too wanted to stay like Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz.
“I wanted to stay like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Life wasn’t as complicated then. But I can’t help growing up. No one can. Time won’t stop and life won’t stand still.”
[Featured Image by Brad Barket/Getty Images]
