Hello and welcome to Prism of the past a semi-weekly series all about historical events, people and situations from the fascinating to the forgotten.

I'm the alibi-notty and today I wanted to talk about Judy Garland and her tragic history in the movie industry

I've already talked about Shirley Temple in a separate episode and I think that both Shirley Temple and

Judy Garland stories can serve as examples of how glamorous old

Hollywood was not really as glamorous as it seems. Today's episode will mention sexual assault,

though I will warn you all again when that moment arises.

In the meantime let's start with who Judy Garland was at an early age before her rise to

stardom. And of the past. And the The And one through the through the land.

Judy Garland was born Francis Ethelgum on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Francis hadn't been wanted by her parents at the time. They contacted a family friend and

medical student, Marcus Rabwin, to ask for advice about terminating the pregnancy.

However, abortion wasn't permitted at the time, and Rabwin told Frank and Ethel Gumm that it was not only illegal but it could put Ethel's life at risk.

And so Francis Gumm was born. Judy's parents were vaudevillans, in other words, performers.

Vaudeville could be burles comedy, song and dance,

theater, you name it.

Judy's parents loved the stage, and they wanted her to love it too.

By the age of two and a half,

Judy made her theatrical debut in Grand Rapids singing jingle barrels.

As she would later state, quote, the only time I felt wanted was when I was a kid,

when I was on stage performing, end quote. The family's life in Grand Rapids didn't last though and by

1926 they were moving to California. Some of my sources don't mention why,

whereas others claim that this was because rumors were spreading about Frank's

...