Was Judy Garland the most talented performer who ever lived?

Posted: 6/21/14 at 10:56pm

Singer, actress, dancer-first rate in all three areas. Died on June 22, 1969- forty five years ago Sunday.
Yes. She was.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 12:29am

Yes.

[Luscious]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 12:42am

There will never be another like her.


Smile for Judy

Updated On: 6/22/14 at 12:42 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 1:42am

Ever lived? I don't know enough about every performer who ever lived. But I do like Judy. Updated On: 6/22/14 at 01:42 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 10:43am

Yes, because singing:

http://youtu.be/N1mHUC_Roy0


Yes, because acting:

http://youtu.be/GirOMCxZSm4


Yes, because dancing:

http://youtu.be/mtvhMLqTKq0

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 10:50am

Through all the hundreds of thousands of performers who have ever existed, it's impossible to find a way to objectively quantify their abilities, crunch the data and interpret the results, and reach an incontestable verdict on who was the best. Yet despite suspect research methodology, the answer is obviously YES.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 11:10am

If it's about the most talented performer who ever lived, I'd have to say Idina Menzel (I mean have you seen her in If/Then??? My God, she's amazeballs). Some might want to go old school and say Celine Dion and I can totally understand that. I mean could Judy ever sell out a 4000 seat theater in Vegas at top dollar, 140 nights a year for 5 years straight? Could she? COULD SHE? Don't get me wrong, Judy was decent too for her time and if you like that kind of thing.

[Jane2]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 11:22am

I'm throwing Wayne Newton into the mix. Everyone knows the song Danke Shoen! please.

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 12:51pm

Yeah Fisherman Bob but can she act on film and dance?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 12:54pm

I think Angela Lansbury belongs in the conversation.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 12:58pm

No. She was ONE OF the most. Not THE MOST...

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 1:26pm

I'm gonna say Shecky Greene.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 1:32pm

She can do no wrong, in my book.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 1:33pm

Lea Michele would disagree with this.
Updated On: 6/22/14 at 01:33 PM

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 1:45pm

"I'm gonna say Shecky Greene."

I'll see your Shecky Greene and raise you Jan Murray and Shelley Berman.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 1:54pm

Why hasn't Jean Smart been mentioned yet in this thread?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 3:47pm

Judy Garland died on this day in 1969. She was 47.

And Meryl Streep was born on this day in 1949. She is 65.

The queen is dead. Long live the queen.

Updated On: 6/22/14 at 03:47 PM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 3:53pm

WHEN WILL MERYL MAKE A JUDY BIOPIC??????

Posted: 6/22/14 at 4:09pm

Obviously I was being hyperbolic, but no one named can compare with Judy as a triple threat. Joey got it exactly right- there might be handful that can sing or dance or act as well as she did but NO ONE can do all three like she did. And it's folly to even compare Celine Dion.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 4:22pm

PJ, I think you mean Meryl is 65.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 4:38pm

"Obviously I was being hyperbolic"

Obviously, I wasn't being serious about Celine Dion especially when I started my comments with Idina Menzel. I actually can't stand Celine. It can't be argued however that Celine is pretty popular. I didn't make up the data I listed nor did I mention she's done subsequent engagement in Vegas with similar results.

"no one named can compare with Judy as a triple threat. There might be handful that can sing or dance or act as well as she did but NO ONE can do all three like she did"

Who gets to decide what the definition of talented is anyway? Does it only mean singing, dancing and acting on film? Who decided that? George Carlin and Richard Pryor completely redefined a whole genre. Because Carlin didn't dance in his act, does that mean he can never be viewed as being as talented a performer as Judy? What about Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Whitney Houston, Paul McCartney, Al Jolson, Michael Jackson? You don't think any of them were/are as, if not more talented than Judy? A lot of people would disagree with you. Did you evaluate every performer who has ever performed in any of the 195 other countries to see if there is a legendary triple threat overseas that has never cared about coming to the U.S. and so is largely unknown to those in the U.S. theater community but just as talented as Judy?

She's certainly a legend. Why not just commemorate her passing. Why do you feel the need to proclaim her THE MOST TALENTED EVER to validate her legacy?

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 5:16pm

For stage, screen, and television, as well as musical, drama, and comedy, all encompassing a 70-year career, I'll stick with Lansbury.

[Gorlois]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 5:33pm

Judy Garland is a legend.

But, if we're all just throwing out our favorite divas...






Julie Andrews - 'The Saga of Jenny' Updated On: 6/22/14 at 05:33 PM

Posted: 6/22/14 at 5:47pm

Why call her the most talented performer who ever lived? To spark discussion. Or because she was.

Six of one...

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/22/14 at 6:19pm

Fixed. I thought I had typed 65.

Updated On: 6/22/14 at 06:19 PM