Feminist Lessons from Judy
Feminist lessons from Judy Garland begin swirling for anyone just learning about her incredible TV series. In 2019, I interviewed Garland scholar Angela Ingersoll about the 1963-64 series, The Judy Garland Show. Ingersoll is a Chicago-based award winning singer and actor who interprets Garland’s legacy for audiences around the world.
My research for our conversation was informed by Coyne Steven Sanders’ 1990 book, Rainbow’s End: The Judy Garland Show and other works. Along with Ingersoll’s observations, I discovered Judy Garland’s feminist legacy. In our multi-episode podcast series, Angela and I examined the feminist lessons from Judy Garland’s early 1960s popularity. We delved into how Garland’s persistence, defiance, and storytelling offer modern insights into women’s roles in the entertainment industry.
Judy’s famous December 1963 performance of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” following the Kennedy assassination is a story of standing up to network executives. Ingersoll also highlighted Garland’s difficulties in the late 1950s which led to her immense celebrity of the early 1960s. Feminist lessons from Judy revolve around her fight for creative control and her unparalleled audience connection.
Only in the last few years have we really come to know Hollywood’s darkest secrets about ageism, racism, and sexism. From a feminist perspective and with benefit of hindsight, Judy’s story feels like a tough, tough lesson about show biz’s cutthroat nature.
Enjoy these podcast episodes with featured guest Angela Ingersoll
Feminist Lessons from The Judy Garland Show
Iconic Guests and Duets of The Judy Garland Show
Wild Network Demands: The Judy Garland Show Falters
