ABSTRACT
At Chicago’s Oriental Theatre in 1934 headliner George Jessel introduced the singing act as “the Garland Sisters” because their surname was getting laughs from the audience. By the following year the sisters were consistently using Garland for their act’s name, and Frances took a different first name, becoming “Judy Garland,” known as the little girl with a powerful grown-up voice. Judy Garland was a mainstream star during her lifetime but is considered a cult figure today. Most famously, she is a gay icon, the result of several intersecting factors. Garland’s camp performances on film and delivery of some songs on stage involved more than her simply being funny. Garland fandom, then, is multifaceted, which also contributes to her cult status even if some mainstream viewers and listeners now consider her a “niche” taste.
