Menu
The Judy Garland Show (1963–1964)
In 1962, CBS secured the rights to broadcast Judy Garland’s musical variety series in a groundbreaking $24 million agreement — one of the most significant television contracts of its era. From June 1963 through March 1964, 26 one-hour episodes were videotaped at CBS Television City in Hollywood, California.
The series captured Judy Garland at her physical and vocal peak, delivering once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and historic duets with the biggest stars of the era. Then-rising star Barbra Streisand delivered a memorable duet with Garland prior to filming Funny Girl, earning her first Emmy nomination. Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli, appeared at just 17 years old, alongside legendary guests including Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Count Basie, Mickey Rooney, Ethel Merman, Bob Newhart, Donald O’Connor, Steve Allen, Jane Powell, Peter Lawford, Vic Damone, and Jack Jones.
Ownership & Restoration
In 1998, music producer Darryl Payne entered into an agreement with Michael Sidney Luft to acquire the rights to all 26 episodes of The Judy Garland Show. Payne continues to own and preserve these rare recordings.
Pioneer remastered the original master tapes in Dolby Digital 5.1 and widescreen format following a major digital restoration. Payne invested over $350,000 to digitize and restore the series using modern technology.
As Payne stated:
“You get Judy Garland. She’s singing, she’s dancing. You get all the biggest stars of that era.”
Today, the collection remains one of the last major 1960s television series not owned by a major network or film studio — a true preservation of classic entertainment history.
Judy Garland Contract & Production Details
Garland’s four-year agreement called for 26 weekly broadcasts. Her corporation, Kingsrow Enterprises, was paid $140,000 per episode, while Garland personally earned between $25,000 and $30,000 per show. Kingsrow Enterprises retained ownership of the master tapes, allowing the series to be sold into syndication.
Interest in Garland’s legacy surged again when Renée Zellweger portrayed her in the 2019 biographical film Judy, earning an Academy Award for her performance.
CBS TV – The Judy Garland Show
Number | Taping date | U.S. air date | Guests | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | June 24, 1963 | December 8, 1963 | Schlatter | ||
2 | July 7, 1963 | November 10, 1963 | Schlatter | Featured a dance interpretation of Soul Bossa Nova by Quincy Jones. | |
3 | July 16, 1963 | November 17, 1963 | Liza Minnelli, Soupy Sales, The Brothers Castro, Jerry Van Dyke | Schlatter | |
4 | July 23, 1963 | October 13, 1963 | Lena Horne, Terry-Thomas, Jerry Van Dyke | Schlatter | |
5 | July 30, 1963 | December 15, 1963 | Tony Bennett, Dick Shawn, Jerry Van Dyke | Schlatter | George Schlatter’s final episode as producer (in both production order and broadcast order). |
5A | August 2, 1963 (scheduled) | N/A | Nat “King” Cole, Jack Carter, Jerry Van Dyke | This episode was scripted but never taped. | |
6 | September 13, 1963 | October 27, 1963 | Steve Lawrence, June Allyson, Jerry Van Dyke | Jewison | |
7 | September 20, 1963 | September 29, 1963 | Donald O’Connor, Jerry Van Dyke | Jewison | |
8 | September 27, 1963 | October 20, 1963 | Jewison | ||
9 | October 4, 1963 | October 6, 1963 | Jewison | Streisand was nominated for an Emmy award for her guest appearance. | |
10 | October 11, 1963 | March 1, 1964 | Ray Bolger, Jane Powell, Jerry Van Dyke | Jewison | Originally scheduled to air November 24, 1963; postponed due to continuing coverage of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Jerry Van Dyke’s final episode (in both production order and broadcast order). |
11 | October 18, 1963 | January 5, 1964 | Steve Allen, Jayne Meadows, Mel Tormé | Jewison | |
12 | November 1, 1963 | November 3, 1963 | Jewison | ||
13 | November 8, 1963 | December 1, 1963 | Jewison | Norman Jewison’s final episode as producer (in production order). | |
14 | November 30, 1963 | December 29, 1963 | Colleran | ||
15 | December 6, 1963 | December 22, 1963 | Jack Jones, Lorna Luft, Joey Luft, Liza Minnelli, Mel Tormé, Tracy Everitt | Colleran | The Christmas Special episode. |
16 | December 13, 1963 | January 12, 1964 | Ethel Merman, Shelley Berman, Peter Gennaro | Colleran | |
17 | December 20, 1963 | January 19, 1964 | Colleran | ||
18 | January 14, 1964 | January 26, 1964 | Colleran | Dance interpretation of the song The Nitty Gritty featuring Robert Banas would go viral in the 2010s. | |
19 | January 17, 1964 | February 2, 1964 | Louis Jourdan, Kirby Stone Four, Ken Murray | Colleran | |
20 | January 24, 1964 | February 9, 1964 | Lorna Luft, Joey Luft | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert” America the Beautiful Concert |
21 | January 31, 1964 | February 16, 1964 | Diahann Carroll, Mel Tormé | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert” |
22 | February 14, 1964 | February 23, 1964 | Jack Jones, Ken Murray | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert” |
23 | February 21, 1964 | March 8, 1964 | N/A | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert: Music From the Movies” |
24 | February 28, 1964 | March 15, 1964 | Vic Damone | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert” |
25 | March 6, 1964 | March 22, 1964 | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert” | |
26 | March 13, 1964 | March 29, 1964 | N/A | Colleran | “Judy Garland in Concert” |
