Post by conwention on Jul 2, 2012 18:28:43 GMT -5
Location - Lancaster California 1930
Characters
Frank Gumm - Judy's father
Ethel Gumm - Judy's mother
Mary Jane - Judy's oldest sister
Virginia - Judy's second oldest sister
Norma - Judy's aunt on her mothers side
Muggsie ( Ina Mary Ming ) - Judy's best childhood friend
Art Freed - Owner of the Jazz cafe
Babe, baby ( Frances Gumm ) - Judy Garland
Judy lived in Lancaster from 1927 to 1933.
Judy is eight years old in this story with Muggsie at ten.
I'm going to use both the names Judy ( from our point of view ) and Babe ( from the other characters point of view ) in this story.
Judy's nickname as a child was Babe.
TWO LOVERS
( Saturday afternoon )
Judy was taking a sip of Bourbon from her fathers hand blown cut edged glass tumbler that he left on the piano. She was allowed. Even a puff or two from his cigarette was OK. After all, it was father daughter weekend where just about anything went. This was three days of non stop work, action and fun as Judy had her father all to herself ( her mother, sisters and aunt Norma were in Los Angeles for shopping and seeing shows ). The front parlor room that Judy was in was a shambles and pig sty of dirty dishes, records and sheet music strewn about, half eaten food and full ashtrays with Judy's vacuum tube radio continuously softly playing in the background. Baby! ( her father called from another room ) wheres that record of your mothers, the one with that Italian fella on it who wont shut up. I got it out here papa, Babe called back. Honey I want you to talk the lyrics the way this fella does on the wedding section of this opera when you sing the Lonesome Road at the theater this afternoon. Daddy, momma wanted me to sing those lullaby songs today. Frank looked real serious and held Babes shoulder and said " Baby, your mother is a good woman, God bless her, but when your chopin wood, you don't expect the cook to sweep up the sawdust. This was a southerners way of saying something nonsensical when they didn't want to offend someone. Judy was very familiar with this Tennessean dialect and took to it like a duck to water. She looked down and pouted and with the popping huh! of a laugh said ( in her resonated musical speech pattern with her silly playing dumb expression on her face ) I see, only the chickens would order molasses with their biscuits. Exactly honey, Frank said. Now come on and try this song. After the slow intro to the song the room was awash with the rich tone of Judy's voice. Having heard Babe sing all her short life, Frank was always in awe of the palate of colors that Babe could paint on every word and syllable that she sang. Someone else without her genius of mind would struggle to keep up with the tempo of music providing only one color, but everything seemed to move in slow motion for Babe and the colors and feelings attached to each word were infinite, never repetitive and always entertaining. With the tempo building Judy actually raised and stood up on the piano seat next to her father as her singing and body language became more excited and uninhibited, creating a big grin on Franks face, nothing was held back, no thought of saving anything for that days performances.
( We jump back to last night. Fri. Judy performing at the family theater ) Scat baby scat, her father was calling out from the darkened piano pit in front of the stage as Judy improvised " Oh ra ta ta, Oh Ra tu tay " She was on a hot streak and being pushed on by the audience as Mrs Goverman on the piano ( filling in for Ethel ) and Frank furiously discuss musical direction and judge audience reaction as Babe hears the uptempo intro to one of her favorites " South Bound Momma ", Naughty notes coming out of Babes throat, full grown women in the audience with fingers pressed to their lips as they silently shake their heads. Each phrase Babe was singing was knocking her audience back in their seats. The consistency of the power and depth of each word was amazing. Babe was a teacher, even if you knew nothing of music you knew it couldn't be done any better and you grew more and more confident as you listened to her that she could do no wrong. But it just wasn't her singing. Its the way she moved. She was like a robot stalking the stage " although there was no word for a robot in 1930 " her movements flowed like mercury. She was just a funny looking girl. Had plenty of reason to be sullen or depressed but this brunettes will to please, to charm, was super human with no clue to where this powerfull desire came from. Babe would take this secret to her grave, ensnaring her devotees with her mystery until the end of time. Babe gets to do all the grown up songs tonight with passionate love, betrayal, heart break and sin, her leathery voice filling the theater. Its a blistering performance but Babe and her father couldn't quite capture the feel of the deep spiritual roots of the south. Oh well, it will give the two musicians something to ponder later that night, over coffee and peach strudel at the Jazz cafe.
( Late Fri night, the Jazz cafe, Mr Freeds audition )
Judy's laugh had bell like tones as she leaned back in her wooden chair with hands and knees raised. Mr Freed was auditioning for next weeks movie night, dancing around near the counter to an Al Jolson record. Ain't that just about the most disgusting thing you've ever seen, Frank said to Babe over his shoulder as her choking laugh with Judy's eyes closed and high squeals echoing in the cafe, Frank said " Art " stop it, your gonna make me sick. Judy started on the bass part of her vocal chords as she leaned forward now and saliva was beginning to run down her chin as Mr Freed was rollin around his big belly under his tee shirt, Frank said, What do you think honey? We could put him on during the news reel, Judy was choking now with big woofs of laughs as the tears were now flowing down her cheeks.
( Early Sunday morning ) Judy was laying on her fathers chest, scratching her nose while listening to a Western bluebird singing outside the window in the rose vines. She was thinking about that recurring dream she had about her ridding on her bike and not being able to stop no matter how hard she braked, with her muscles feeling like lead and not being able to move. She saw the clock on the dresser and panicked. Daddy! Wake up, its almost time to go to church. Aw baby, ( Frank said ) why dont you go without me. It wont do no good for a sinner like me to go. It would just be a waste of some good preachin. Judy said, daddy if you make me go alone there, the town folks are gonna start up those rumors again about me killin you and momma and then they wont allow me to be in the bake sale next week. Frank was wide awake now and said, your right honey. You get cleaned up and ready to go and I'll fix us some breakfast. It was a short walk to St. Paul's church. Just down Cedar ave one block " past Judy's grammar school " to Milling street. If Babe and her father had two hours to make the short trip they would use it all. Both charmers of the highest order, Frank with his jacket thrown over his shoulder and Judy dressed in a white dress of a heavy fabric, the hem below her knees, white shoes with a row of silver buttons running up the front of her dress, was running up and down the street with shouting and yelps of laughter as she visited and laughed with friends as Frank practiced " living the good life " a philosophy he learned at Swanee College and drenched his daughters in as he chatted with friends. When Judy and her father finally made it to St. Paul's many people were socializing on the lawn. Frank already slipping into his choir gown. Judy's pal " Muggsie " was in the choir also and they were yuckin it up before it was time to go in. Sitting in her favorite pew ( third from the front so she could be close to the choir ) Babe watched her father as he soloed through the hymn " thou are watched over " his resonate, powerful tone was way over the top. Babe looked around for shocked faces but only saw acceptance and awe. As her father always taught her, dont doubt and give it your all and others will believe in you. She would have her turn tonight at the theater as the devils fire burned in her as she listened to her father. There was a glaring mystery in Lancaster. None of the Gumm daughters ever joined the choir as would be expected. It could have been the choir gowns that were made by Ethel and that were rejected by the ministers wife that could have caused a rift between the Gumms and the church, or that a show business family singing in the choir wouldn't feel right, but there was another possibility. It started two years after the Gumms moved to Lancaster. There were several disturbing and unexplained incidents around Lancaster in those early days that led to whispers in Lancaster that one of the Gumm sisters was a witch and that the other two sisters were afraid she would burst into flames if she sang in the choir and to protect her they never would join. This mystery would get forgotten about in the commotion of the years ahead. The church service ended as it began, with talk and laughter.
( Late Sunday night, end of the weekend ) The Jazz cafe, which is a few doors up from the theater on Seirra highway had both its front and back entrances open to let the hot, night desert breezes blow through. Babe and her father were scrunched in there favorite booth next to the front window which afforded a good view of the comings and goings on Sierra outside and a view of the counter in the cafe. The juke box which was packed full of records that Judy and Muggsie sneaked out of the house from Ethel's vast collection was playing a sweet Tommy Dorsey song called " Dreams of You " Frank was drinking some Irish coffee with whip cream while Babe with a half filled Coke was dozing against Frank as she listened to Tommy's soft trombone. Mr Freed, the owner of the cafe asked, " How was the movie tonight Frank ? " Frank cheerfully said, big crowd, Lon Chaney film, good intermission. Tried out some music from the Gulf states. Ah, the kid here knocked em dead, some pretty, classy, traditional English show house feelings. Dont know where she learned about them. The juke box switched records and Richard Tauber began singing a operetta written by Wagner from Ethel's collection. Oh Francis, you are a bad girl , Frank sighed while taking a sip of his laced coffee. Judy stirred and with eyes closed while rubbing her nose said, I'm sorry papa and buried her face into his side and fell back asleep. conwention
Authors notes.
1. That stuff about a Witch - Just kidding, just havin a little fun. It is true that none of the Gumm sisters joined the choir and that is a mystery as to why not.
2. People and things I made up for the story - The Lonesome Road / Mrs Governman / South bound Momma / Disturbing and unexplained incidents / Judy and Muggsie sneaking out records / Dreams of You / Mr Freed
3. Frank Gumms sexual pursuits of young men was the single most destructive force to the Gumm family.
4. There is a photo of Frank and Muggsie in the St. Paul choir in the book " Young Judy "
Characters
Frank Gumm - Judy's father
Ethel Gumm - Judy's mother
Mary Jane - Judy's oldest sister
Virginia - Judy's second oldest sister
Norma - Judy's aunt on her mothers side
Muggsie ( Ina Mary Ming ) - Judy's best childhood friend
Art Freed - Owner of the Jazz cafe
Babe, baby ( Frances Gumm ) - Judy Garland
Judy lived in Lancaster from 1927 to 1933.
Judy is eight years old in this story with Muggsie at ten.
I'm going to use both the names Judy ( from our point of view ) and Babe ( from the other characters point of view ) in this story.
Judy's nickname as a child was Babe.
TWO LOVERS
( Saturday afternoon )
Judy was taking a sip of Bourbon from her fathers hand blown cut edged glass tumbler that he left on the piano. She was allowed. Even a puff or two from his cigarette was OK. After all, it was father daughter weekend where just about anything went. This was three days of non stop work, action and fun as Judy had her father all to herself ( her mother, sisters and aunt Norma were in Los Angeles for shopping and seeing shows ). The front parlor room that Judy was in was a shambles and pig sty of dirty dishes, records and sheet music strewn about, half eaten food and full ashtrays with Judy's vacuum tube radio continuously softly playing in the background. Baby! ( her father called from another room ) wheres that record of your mothers, the one with that Italian fella on it who wont shut up. I got it out here papa, Babe called back. Honey I want you to talk the lyrics the way this fella does on the wedding section of this opera when you sing the Lonesome Road at the theater this afternoon. Daddy, momma wanted me to sing those lullaby songs today. Frank looked real serious and held Babes shoulder and said " Baby, your mother is a good woman, God bless her, but when your chopin wood, you don't expect the cook to sweep up the sawdust. This was a southerners way of saying something nonsensical when they didn't want to offend someone. Judy was very familiar with this Tennessean dialect and took to it like a duck to water. She looked down and pouted and with the popping huh! of a laugh said ( in her resonated musical speech pattern with her silly playing dumb expression on her face ) I see, only the chickens would order molasses with their biscuits. Exactly honey, Frank said. Now come on and try this song. After the slow intro to the song the room was awash with the rich tone of Judy's voice. Having heard Babe sing all her short life, Frank was always in awe of the palate of colors that Babe could paint on every word and syllable that she sang. Someone else without her genius of mind would struggle to keep up with the tempo of music providing only one color, but everything seemed to move in slow motion for Babe and the colors and feelings attached to each word were infinite, never repetitive and always entertaining. With the tempo building Judy actually raised and stood up on the piano seat next to her father as her singing and body language became more excited and uninhibited, creating a big grin on Franks face, nothing was held back, no thought of saving anything for that days performances.
( We jump back to last night. Fri. Judy performing at the family theater ) Scat baby scat, her father was calling out from the darkened piano pit in front of the stage as Judy improvised " Oh ra ta ta, Oh Ra tu tay " She was on a hot streak and being pushed on by the audience as Mrs Goverman on the piano ( filling in for Ethel ) and Frank furiously discuss musical direction and judge audience reaction as Babe hears the uptempo intro to one of her favorites " South Bound Momma ", Naughty notes coming out of Babes throat, full grown women in the audience with fingers pressed to their lips as they silently shake their heads. Each phrase Babe was singing was knocking her audience back in their seats. The consistency of the power and depth of each word was amazing. Babe was a teacher, even if you knew nothing of music you knew it couldn't be done any better and you grew more and more confident as you listened to her that she could do no wrong. But it just wasn't her singing. Its the way she moved. She was like a robot stalking the stage " although there was no word for a robot in 1930 " her movements flowed like mercury. She was just a funny looking girl. Had plenty of reason to be sullen or depressed but this brunettes will to please, to charm, was super human with no clue to where this powerfull desire came from. Babe would take this secret to her grave, ensnaring her devotees with her mystery until the end of time. Babe gets to do all the grown up songs tonight with passionate love, betrayal, heart break and sin, her leathery voice filling the theater. Its a blistering performance but Babe and her father couldn't quite capture the feel of the deep spiritual roots of the south. Oh well, it will give the two musicians something to ponder later that night, over coffee and peach strudel at the Jazz cafe.
( Late Fri night, the Jazz cafe, Mr Freeds audition )
Judy's laugh had bell like tones as she leaned back in her wooden chair with hands and knees raised. Mr Freed was auditioning for next weeks movie night, dancing around near the counter to an Al Jolson record. Ain't that just about the most disgusting thing you've ever seen, Frank said to Babe over his shoulder as her choking laugh with Judy's eyes closed and high squeals echoing in the cafe, Frank said " Art " stop it, your gonna make me sick. Judy started on the bass part of her vocal chords as she leaned forward now and saliva was beginning to run down her chin as Mr Freed was rollin around his big belly under his tee shirt, Frank said, What do you think honey? We could put him on during the news reel, Judy was choking now with big woofs of laughs as the tears were now flowing down her cheeks.
( Early Sunday morning ) Judy was laying on her fathers chest, scratching her nose while listening to a Western bluebird singing outside the window in the rose vines. She was thinking about that recurring dream she had about her ridding on her bike and not being able to stop no matter how hard she braked, with her muscles feeling like lead and not being able to move. She saw the clock on the dresser and panicked. Daddy! Wake up, its almost time to go to church. Aw baby, ( Frank said ) why dont you go without me. It wont do no good for a sinner like me to go. It would just be a waste of some good preachin. Judy said, daddy if you make me go alone there, the town folks are gonna start up those rumors again about me killin you and momma and then they wont allow me to be in the bake sale next week. Frank was wide awake now and said, your right honey. You get cleaned up and ready to go and I'll fix us some breakfast. It was a short walk to St. Paul's church. Just down Cedar ave one block " past Judy's grammar school " to Milling street. If Babe and her father had two hours to make the short trip they would use it all. Both charmers of the highest order, Frank with his jacket thrown over his shoulder and Judy dressed in a white dress of a heavy fabric, the hem below her knees, white shoes with a row of silver buttons running up the front of her dress, was running up and down the street with shouting and yelps of laughter as she visited and laughed with friends as Frank practiced " living the good life " a philosophy he learned at Swanee College and drenched his daughters in as he chatted with friends. When Judy and her father finally made it to St. Paul's many people were socializing on the lawn. Frank already slipping into his choir gown. Judy's pal " Muggsie " was in the choir also and they were yuckin it up before it was time to go in. Sitting in her favorite pew ( third from the front so she could be close to the choir ) Babe watched her father as he soloed through the hymn " thou are watched over " his resonate, powerful tone was way over the top. Babe looked around for shocked faces but only saw acceptance and awe. As her father always taught her, dont doubt and give it your all and others will believe in you. She would have her turn tonight at the theater as the devils fire burned in her as she listened to her father. There was a glaring mystery in Lancaster. None of the Gumm daughters ever joined the choir as would be expected. It could have been the choir gowns that were made by Ethel and that were rejected by the ministers wife that could have caused a rift between the Gumms and the church, or that a show business family singing in the choir wouldn't feel right, but there was another possibility. It started two years after the Gumms moved to Lancaster. There were several disturbing and unexplained incidents around Lancaster in those early days that led to whispers in Lancaster that one of the Gumm sisters was a witch and that the other two sisters were afraid she would burst into flames if she sang in the choir and to protect her they never would join. This mystery would get forgotten about in the commotion of the years ahead. The church service ended as it began, with talk and laughter.
( Late Sunday night, end of the weekend ) The Jazz cafe, which is a few doors up from the theater on Seirra highway had both its front and back entrances open to let the hot, night desert breezes blow through. Babe and her father were scrunched in there favorite booth next to the front window which afforded a good view of the comings and goings on Sierra outside and a view of the counter in the cafe. The juke box which was packed full of records that Judy and Muggsie sneaked out of the house from Ethel's vast collection was playing a sweet Tommy Dorsey song called " Dreams of You " Frank was drinking some Irish coffee with whip cream while Babe with a half filled Coke was dozing against Frank as she listened to Tommy's soft trombone. Mr Freed, the owner of the cafe asked, " How was the movie tonight Frank ? " Frank cheerfully said, big crowd, Lon Chaney film, good intermission. Tried out some music from the Gulf states. Ah, the kid here knocked em dead, some pretty, classy, traditional English show house feelings. Dont know where she learned about them. The juke box switched records and Richard Tauber began singing a operetta written by Wagner from Ethel's collection. Oh Francis, you are a bad girl , Frank sighed while taking a sip of his laced coffee. Judy stirred and with eyes closed while rubbing her nose said, I'm sorry papa and buried her face into his side and fell back asleep. conwention
Authors notes.
1. That stuff about a Witch - Just kidding, just havin a little fun. It is true that none of the Gumm sisters joined the choir and that is a mystery as to why not.
2. People and things I made up for the story - The Lonesome Road / Mrs Governman / South bound Momma / Disturbing and unexplained incidents / Judy and Muggsie sneaking out records / Dreams of You / Mr Freed
3. Frank Gumms sexual pursuits of young men was the single most destructive force to the Gumm family.
4. There is a photo of Frank and Muggsie in the St. Paul choir in the book " Young Judy "