Judy Garland is best known today for her role as Dorothy in the classic movie The Wizard of Oz, but she had a long and successful career that began on the vaudeville stage. Garland’s journey started on December 26, 1924, when she was only two years old. Her father owned the New Grand Theater in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, which helped pave the way for her entry into performance. She began her career there under the stage name “Baby Frances.”

During her first performance, she sang three songs while tap dancing with her sisters. Her final number was a solo rendition of “Jingle Bells,” and it quickly became clear that the toddler loved to perform and craved the audience’s attention. According to the story, after finishing the song, she began singing it again and again, refusing to leave the stage until her father had to come onstage and carry her off!

Garland continued performing with her sisters throughout her childhood. As a young adult, she was invited to audition for movie roles and landed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. In addition to her iconic role in The Wizard of Oz, she gained recognition for her performances in the musical drama A Star is Born and the legal drama Judgment at Nuremberg. Furthermore, she became famous for recording the classic Christmas song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” Throughout her career, Garland won numerous awards for her film roles and music.