Pioneer Entertainment is proud to present The Judy Garland Show Christmas Special. See Judy with the three most important people in her life; her children. Guests include Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft, Joey Luft, Mel Torme, Ja... more »ck Jones and Tracy Everitt. Songs include: Over the Rainbow, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Consider Yourself, Where is Love, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells, and two Christmas medleys.« less
"We really enjoyed this tape! The quality was actual quite good, clear images (in B&W). This hour long show features the original commericals that likely aired with the special-an added treat. (I'm quite certain the cereal commerical features Marion Ross). The show itself features Judy and her 3 children (Liza, Lorna & Joe) as well as special guest Mel Torme and Jack Jones. Judy doesn't do alot of singing, but when she does, it's wonderful. It's really neat to watch a wholesome family special that aired in 1963. As one reviewer said, "they don't make them like this anymore" - and they don't! A real treat for any Judy Garland fan. Though not listed on the box, Judy closes the show with "Over The Rainbow" with Lorna and Joe at her side. Knowing the troubles that plagued the family through the coming years, this is a real special memory for Judy and her fans...."
A Heart-Warming Special With Judy & Family!
David Von Pein | Mooresville, Indiana; USA | 11/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This special Christmas installment of the sensational 1963-1964 "Judy Garland Show" is quite possibly the best of the series. For anybody who can remember watching this program when it originally aired on CBS-TV on Sunday night, December 22, 1963, I'm guessing that each one of you has a bit of a lump in your throat when re-watching this excellent DVD today, because you can no doubt recall very vividly the times in which it aired for the first time: exactly one month after our President (John F. Kennedy) had been killed in Dallas.
This Garland entry was then (and probably still is) kind of a bittersweet memory, coming so close to one of America's worst tragedies in our history. I can feel some of 1963 come right through the screen when I watch this Christmas show. It's just THERE, and it comes through (at least for me).
Judy and company do a standout job in comforting a distressed nation during this 1-hour party. Guests Jack Jones and Mel Torme are also on hand to add to the festive atmosphere, along with Judy's three children, Liza, Joe, and Lorna.
I know from reading various books that Christmas time was indeed very special to the Garland clan....and that fact really shines through during this program! The love these 4 had for one another is very evident. This point is driven home with force at the very end of this show, when Judy sits down, with pajama-clad Joe & Lorna by her side, and sings "Over The Rainbow", with the two kids snuggling ever-closer to their famous mom. A great end to a fine Christmas treat.
This program shines on DVD, but don't entirely dismiss the idea of getting this great show on VHS tape as well. The VHS version looks pretty good too (considering, of course, the limitations that exist on that video format).
Plus -- the "LaserLight" VHS edition (with the red box and the holly & berries on the cover) contains the original CBS-TV commercials that aired on the December night the show was broadcast for the first time in 1963. The VHS running time is 59 minutes, so you know nothing has been cut at all. The inclusion of the TV ads, in my opinion, is a good one. Being able to see the old TV commercials of the era brings back even more memories of the 1960s. The DVD version does not have these commercials included. But, of course, the DVD's picture quality is better than the VHS.
Judy Garland's legend and enormous talent lives on with Pioneer Artists' splendid series of DVD-Video programs spotlighting this one-of-a-kind superstar. Thanks, Pioneer, for giving us these wonderful DVDs! And thank you, Judy .... always!"
Christmas Treasure
M. Seavey | Hollywood, California | 12/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I had first bought this on VHS from a girl at work 10 years ago through Avon. The quality was poor but I figured that's all that's available. I had seen some of the old shows on PBS and they all looked and sounded the same. POOR But when I saw the DVD I was overwhelmed. Superb quality both audio and video. The clairity, detail and crispness of the black and white image is unsurpassed. The auido is also excellent with no apparent hiss. This disc makes watching B&W a new experience-Remember, this was taped during the last days of B&W TV and it seems the B&W technology was mastered. I have watched this over and over again. The performances are all up to par by todays standards. A great Christmas treasure at a reasonable price."
A wonderfull Christmas Gift
Bob Waskiewicz | Wintersville, Ohio United States | 11/11/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I became a fan of Judy Garland in 1975.I was a teenager,and my cousin got me hooked on "Judy at Carnegie Hall." I wanted to know more about this great talent besides "The Wizard of Oz." This was before VCR's,so I had to look in the TV guide to see if any of her movie's were showing.I couldn't find anything usually. Then a week before Christmas I was sleeping on the couch,and "Judy Garlands Christmas Special" was on.What a Wonderfull Christmas Gift.Its fantastic to see all of Judy's children together,singing,dancing,and having a ball.My Favorite part is when Judy sings "The Christmas Song," with Mel Torme,the writer of the song,and she makes a mistake,and Mel says,"Close."This is the first time Judy sang,"Over the Rainbow," on her show.You can really see the love she had for her children.This video is a must buy for all of Judy Garland's fan's."
THIS ONE ALWAYS MAKES IT A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sean Orlosky | Yorktown, IN United States | 05/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This absolutely perfect Christmas show is a wonderful treat for late-night viewing on Christmas Eve. We see Judy Garland in the autumn of her years still with the gun-ho spirit she always possessed and visibly passed on to her children: daughter Liza performs a delightfully vivacious song-and-dance duo with Tracy Everett to "Steam Heat", daughter Lorna sings a spirited "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town", and son Joey sits on a piano and wistfully sings "Where Is Love?". To add to the magical night of entertainment at "the Garland house" Judy invites some friends over to help celebrate the holidays: Jack Jones, who sings with her and Liza a medley of wonderful old Christmas tunes, and solo, a charming rendition of "Lollipops and Roses". Mel Torme sits next to her on a piano bench and croons "The Christmas Song". But the most touching drop of pure magic comes at the end of the show, Judy sitting on a couch, cuddling her beloved youngest children, kissing and hugging them, singing "Over the Rainbow" with all the hope and love any woman could ever have. Buy this one, it's absolutely perfect for Christmas. It's charming, sentimental, and always entertaining. Have a very Merry Christmas with Judy, Liza, Lorna, Joe, and all their friends with "The Judy Garland Christmas Show"."