Song of the Day: 'Happy Days Are Here Again' by Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand

 

Although things will undoubtedly get worse before they get better, just knowing the end of the reign of stupidity is near is enough to warrant this song of the day. Thank you to everyone who played a part in trying to restore our democracy. There's a lot of work ahead, but it's comforting to know that we'll be in good hands during the Reconstruction era ahead.

Page 1 Roundup (12/03)

The Daily News: First snowfall exposes some salt spreaders on fritz as NYC hit with light spritz

  FBI labels FaceApp a ‘potential counterintelligence threat,’ will assess whether Russia has used it to attack U.S. elections

Father murders 9-year-old son, donates three of his organs

Your breakfast is served: Philippe Belanger in a royal blue Speedo

Fathom: Make the Yuletide gay with Judy

Deadline: Alexander Payne takes on reimagining of ‘Babette’s Feast,’ with script by the hilarious Guy Branum! 

Towleroad: Anti-gay pastor sexually assaulted multiple aspiring priests and young men in hotel rooms before forced resignation (ICYMI)

Los Angeles Times: Border Patrol threw away migrants’ belongings. A janitor saved and photographed them

The Randy Report: Elizabeth Warren's emotional moment with LGBTQ teen

Trump's golf habit has cost taxpayers $115 million

New York Post: Sex with Prince Andrew was quick and ‘disgusting’: Virginia Roberts Giuffre

Google removes 300 Donald Trump ads for ‘violating company policy’

Daughter of police chief in Starbucks cup scandal says he’s ‘absolutely a pig’

Rita Hayworth has met her match

The Washington Post: Of course not. It doesn't jibe with what he read on InfoWars ... this is the U.S. attorney general, folks

The New York Times: I should probably have more compassion for opioid addicts but "Intervention" forever changed my point of view

In Trump's twisted America, the people who prosecute war criminals get their medals taken away, and the war criminals get to retire with full pension and honors

Trump is widening his losing trade war, adding metal tariffs to Brazil and Argentina

Yet Katie Hill immediately resigns

Sanctions may have fueled Iran protests, but have yet to further U.S. goals (analysis)

The Wall Street Journal: The knottiest problem: What to do with a closet full of old ties?

Buttigieg won’t be ‘Mayor Pete’ for long, a possible plus as Iowa race heats up

Judy Garland Dies at 47

Judy Garland was before my time. But I’m pretty certain no movements will ever be started if Britney Spears dies on a toilet in nine years. RIP, fragile lady.



Judy sings the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" on Dec. 13, 1963, in commemoration of the death of President John F. Kennedy. 

Page 1 Roundup (06/15)

The Daily News: New York attorney general sues President Trump, his kids and his charity -- charges foundation broke law to enrich him

This seems more fitting ...

Liza Minnelli does 'not approve nor sanction' Renee Zellweger playing mom Judy Garland in upcoming biopic

Pink News: Gay World Cup fan left with brain injuries after brutal attack -- but remember: Putin's a 'good man'

New York Post: New York’s attorney general on Thursday filed a lawsuit against Trump, alleging he illegally used money from his charitable foundation to pay off his creditors, decorate one of his golf clubs and help his presidential campaign

Page Six:  Journalist behind ‘S–tty Media Men’ list is shopping book

New York: No one wants to work at the White House so it’s having a job fair

Mother Jones: San Francisco’s first black female mayor defies the liberal litmus test

The New York Times: Democrats find vindication, and new agony, in report on Comey

 Trump has repeatedly claimed that the Justice Department tried to protect Hillary Clinton -- a watchdog’s report says otherwise

The Washington Post: Even House Republicans are considering allowing immigrant children to be detained alongside their parents

The Wall Street Journal: The utimate démarche: France wants to oust English from the EU

Song of the Day: 'Judy's Turn to Cry' by Lesley Gore

My friend Chip dug up this 1970s Wonder Woman comic that featured a very thinly disguised Judy Garland character called "Julie Gabriel," which seemed like the perfect excuse to post this wonderful sequel of a song ...

Judy Garland Is Dead at 47

Always fascinating/creepy to realize you're the same age someone really famous was when they died. Read Judy Garland's NYT obit HERE.

Gale Warning

With thanks to Bruce!

Goodbye, Yellow Brick Road

Some sad news from the land of Oz. Margaret Pellegrini, one of the original Munchkins from the 1939 classic movie "The Wizard of Oz," has died. She was 89. Just two of the original 124 Munchkins are still living.

The Associated Press reports:

Pellegrini suffered a stroke Monday at her Glendale home and died Wednesday at a Phoenix-area hospital, said Ted Bulthaup, a Woodbridge, Ill., resident who owns a Chicago theater where Pellegrini and other Munchkins have made special appearances. Bulthaup said he learned of Pellegrini's death from her relatives. Pellegrini has said she was 16 when "The Wizard of Oz" was filmed. She played one of the "sleepy head" kids and wore a flowerpot on her head in the movie. Later, Pellegrini was a guest speaker at grade schools across the Phoenix metropolitan area for many years.  

She usually appeared in costume and told stories about her time as a Munchkin, The Arizona Republic reported. She also told children that the "Wizard of Oz" movie was a moral lesson. "There are two roads in life that you can take — the wrong road and the right road," she said. "And remember, there really is no place like home." When asked by the newspaper if the Munchkins had sung for the movie, Pellegrini shook her head. The real singers were "adults, dubbed in," she said. "They just played the record faster so their voices would sound high."

RIP, Margaret. And thanks for a lifetime of memories.

Judy and Liza Go Grocery Shopping

A trip to the Piggly Wiggly was never this much fun! (This is really brilliant.)

 

(With thanks to Steve!)

Tired Old Queen at the Movies: 'The Harvey Girls' (1945)

No Tired Old Queen would be complete without an affection for Judy Garland, and this week Steve Hayes does not disappoint:

Judy Garland is a waitress on a mission in George Sidney's riotous "The Harvey Girls" (1945). Co-starring John Hodiak, Angela Lansbury, Cyd Charisse, Ray Bolger, Virginia O'Brien and everybody's favorite bold-as-brass chaperon, Marjorie Main, the Harvey Girls set out to bring civilized dining to the old west and tame a few cowpokes in the process. With music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer and Harry Warren, it has all the color, singing, dancing and spectacle that made MGM the number one studio for movie musicals during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It also features the Academy Award winning song "The Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe," which I defy anyone to keep from humming for days once they've heard it. Judy, fresh from her triumph in "Meet Me in St. Louis" is funny, warm and adorable as a gal with enough gumption to single-handedly tame a town. Angela Lansbury is her match as the bad saloon girl with the heart of gold. So, "park yer carcass," settle back and let MGM and Judy Garland show you how it's done in "The Harvey Girls."

Judyism Is a Way of Life

On the heels of the 10-year anniversary of the heinous murder of Matthew Shepard comes "Judy and Me," a new off-Broadway show about a teenage boy who is abused by both his father and classmates because of his sexual identity and how he finds solace in listening to his Judy Garland records. The show -- which I haven't seen yet but hear is fantastic -- stars Christopher Brick and legendary Garland impersonator Peter Mac and is playing at St. Luke's Theatre, 308 W. 46th St. 

For complete details, please visit www.judyandme.com.