It’s not every day you get one Hollywood legend spilling the tea on another, but in 1977, author John Fricke—a true wizard when it comes to all things Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz—got lucky. He found himself in the company of Lucille Ball, the queen of comedy herself, who shared some unexpected insights about Garland. Now, this wasn’t just any random conversation—it happened during a road trip from the airport to a theater where Lucille's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, was starring in Bye Bye Birdie. Talk about a star-studded moment!
A Chance Encounter with Two Legends
John Fricke, who has penned books like Judy: A Legendary Film Career and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated History of the American Classic, wasn’t just a casual fan of Judy Garland. He was a theater publicist with a passion for all things Garland. Back in 1977, his job took him to Milwaukee, where he was tasked with picking up Lucille Ball from the airport. Now, you might think that driving a Hollywood icon around would be intimidating, but for John, it was a golden opportunity to learn something new.
During the drive, Lucille Ball opened up about her own journey in comedy. She admitted that while her daughter, Lucie Arnaz, was naturally funny both on and off-screen, Lucille herself felt that her humor was often scripted. “Lucy wasn’t naturally funny?” John recalls, laughing. “I almost drove off the road when she told me, ‘You know who was really funny?’ And she said it with such conviction, ‘Judy Garland.’ I knew it, of course, but I played along, asking, ‘Really?’ I was dying to jot this down on the steering wheel but managed to keep my cool.”
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Lucille Ball's Respect for Judy Garland
Lucille Ball didn’t hold back when it came to praising Judy Garland. She said, “Judy Garland was the most naturally funny woman in Hollywood. In fact, Judy Garland made me look like a mortician.” That’s a bold statement coming from Lucille Ball herself, and it speaks volumes about Garland’s comedic genius. It wasn’t just Lucille who noticed this; Geoffrey Mark, author of The Lucy Book: A Complete Guide to Her Five Decades on Television, also chimed in, saying, “There wasn’t an actor in Hollywood who wasn’t aware of the wit of Judy Garland. She had the ability to look at a situation, size it up, and immediately find a bon mot or witticism.”
John Fricke elaborates, “What Lucille Ball said is a great quote, but it’s also the truth. You can see it in Judy’s concerts, her TV appearances, and even her movies. There was just a wonderful way that she could read a line, whether it was dry or something broader. She worked a lot with Bing Crosby on radio, and he said she was unquestionably the most talented person with whom he ever
