On paper, the career of Judy Garland is the stuff of dreams. She is one of her generation’s most acclaimed actors. And her breakthrough performance in The Wizard of Oz made Garland a household name as a kid. But we now know that child stardom can lead to a lot of negative consequences for those who achieve it. And the performer’s experience with early fame was defined by trauma more than any sense of enjoyment.
Judy Garland’s childhood is a prime example of the dark allure of Hollywood
Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm, came from a family of entertainers. Her mother, Ethel, was a vaudeville performer and her father, Frank, owned a local movie theater. Judy started performing with her two sisters when she was 2. The trio continued to sing and dance together on the vaudeville circuit for years, often with Ethel providing the soundtrack on the piano.
