“There Was More Than a Love Affair: ” Inside Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney’s Unbreakable Bond

Judy Garland traveled down the yellow brick road and became a mega Hollywood star. The actress, known among other things for her terrific performance in The Wizard of Oz, was one of the greatest shining stars of the Golden Hollywood age. At the same time, many other prominent actors were making their way into the world of cinema. One was Mickey Rooney – with whom Judy Garland had a unique relationship.

Mickey and Judy became great friends, and through the years, the two worked together many, many times. However, at the same time, as rumors about a romantic relationship came to light, the onscreen power couple created an unbreakable bond that lasted decades.

This is all you need to know about Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney’s story – and what made him go to the press and say that she was a liar.

First, Judy Garland wasn’t born “Judy Garland.”

Her name at birth was Frances Ethel Gumm, and she was welcomed to the world on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 

Judy Garland – early life

As a young girl, she was called “Baby Gumm.” Her parents were vaudeville professionals, and as a result, Garland also became familiar with the stage at a very young age. 

She sang “Jingle Bells” when she was just two at her first public performance. Soon after, she began performing with her two older sisters, forming the group the “Gumm Sisters.”

Garland knew from the beginning that she wanted to be a movie actress, singer, and dancer when she grew up. In reality, this was something she’d been told by her mother, Ethel. 

Ethel pushed all three of her children into show business, and the results weren’t pretty. Nevertheless, Ethel had a vision and a plan for her daughters, regardless of if the girls wanted to accommodate her or not. 

However, it soon became apparent that Judy was the one with the most talent, and so she got most of the recognition. 

Speaking with Barbara Walters in 1967, Garland said her mother was a “mean” stage mother.

Drilled by “mean mother”

“She was very jealous because she had absolutely no talent,” she said. “She would stand in the wings, and if I didn’t feel good, she’d say, ‘You get out and sing, or I’ll wrap you around the bedpost and break you off short!’ So I’d go out and sing.”

When Judy was only four years of age, she, her sisters, and her mother moved to California. Rumors said that her father’s affairs with others might have affected Ethel’s decision. As for Judy’s career, this turned out to be a great move.

California was the center of show business at the time. Sure, music would come to move its “capital” to New York in the 1960s – then back to California in the ’70s – but during the ’20s, California, especially Los Angeles, was the place to be. 

“As I recall, my parents were separating and getting back together all the time. It was tough for me to understand those things, and, of course, I remember clearly the fear I had of those separations,” Garland recalled of the time.

Judy was already a performer when her family moved to California. Of course, some of the places they visited weren’t particularly appropriate for children, but that wasn’t anything Garland’s mother concerned herself with.