JUDY HOLLIDAY TRIBUTE PROGRAM
This is a 40 page program that was handed out to those attending the tribute banquet. It begins with a tribute by Garson Kanin that was originally printed in The New York Times six days after Judy's death:
JUDY HOLLIDAY (1921-1965)
That Judy.
She turned up in Philadelphia about twenty years ago (it seems like twenty years ago) and found herself involved in theater chaos: an uncertain show, an incapacitated star, and, in the lobby -- the nightmare sight of a long line at the box office doing a goldrush business in refunds.
She had not seen the play, nor read it, but understanding the situation, went to a room at The Warwick and locked herself in with the script.
Two hours later, we met in the lifeless auditorium.
"It's good," she said.
"Can you do it?"
"Yes."
"Will you?"
"Yes."
"Good," I said, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.
"The only thing is -- when?"
"What's today?" I asked.
"Wednesday?" she asked.
"I guess so." Desperation made me bold as I suggested, "How about Monday?"
"Wow."
""Try."
"Yes."
Max Gordon, that shrewdest of showmen, had other ideas -- such as opening on Saturday night when we would be more likely to have an audience. I agreed, but prevailed upon him to keep it dark.
Meanwhile, we rehearsed. Judy lost weight, and so did I, and so did the play. We lived on tongue-and-swiss-on-rye and coffee and faith.
On Saturday morning, I said, "Well, here it is Monday."
She produced her famous giggle and said, "Saturday."
"Max says it's Monday."
Judy shrugged. "He ought to know."
By 11:10 that night (imagine it -- Wednesday afternoon to Saturday) she was a star and I was a playwright.
It took courage, and Judy had all kinds of courage. In time to come, we were to see it displayed again and again -- in her work and in her life. Of all those who were harrassed in the ugly days of Red Channels and blacklisting, no one was more steadfast or less craven. Her behavior under pressure was a poem of grace.
Finally, in those last dreadful years -- she moved through fading time with the same radiance that had illuminated those hope-filled beginning years.
Judy was more than an entertainer, she was an actress, more than actress, she was a woman.
And now, stunned by the fact of her too soon death -- what lesson have we to learn? Only this -- that the length of a life is unrelated to its quality.
Judy, in a wink of God's eye, made a real thing of her span -- with shape and size, meaning and beauty. She took little, gave much and created an image.
Think of how many she reached, and of how much we are all diminished.
(See you, Judy.)
Garson Kanin
QUOTES FROM PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THE TRIBUTE
Irwin Donenfeld, chairman of the New York Committee:
Thank you for taking part in The World of Entertainment Pays Tribute to Judy Holliday and for helping a cause very close to me -- The American Medical Center at Denver.
For over 40 years my family has been allied with this famous Hospital. We know that here the ill and suffering receive the finest medical care available in the world today. We know that advances in research made here will help cancer victims everywhere.
Most important, we know that at the AMC love and hope are as important as any other therapy.
For all these reasons, we feel this Hospital is a fitting place for a memorial to Judy Holliday -- a dauntless and courageous woman whose love of humanity was expressed in her career and in her life.
David W. Garlett, President, Board of Trustees, American Medical Center:
Tonight The World of Entertainment Pays Tribute to the Memory of Judy Holliday. Soon her memory will be assured of permanent tribute with the creation of the Judy Holliday Memorial Wing at the American Medical Center at Denver.
The occasion that we all enjoy tonight and which we all helped make a success, is the propitious beginning of an alliance that will, we hope, bring new health and prolonged life to hundreds of victims of cancer.
My sincere welcome and gratitude goes to all here, most especially to the entire New York Committee without whose devoted participation this occasion could not be -- to it's dinner chairman, Arnold Krakower and to general chairman, Irwin Donenfeld. On behalf of all who will benefit from their generosity, I say thank you.
Joseph J. Braun, Executive Director, American Medical Center:
Tonight the first Judy Holliday Award will be accepted posthumously for Miss Holliday who died last summer of cancer. One aim of this dinner is to insure that this very courageous and wonderful woman did not die in vain; that the memory of her works and life will live on in an endeavor directed at ridding the world of the disease that took her life.
With the creation of the Judy Holliday Memorial Wing at the American Medical Center, this famous old Hospital will be able to increase its desperately needed services. With the increase in patient care will go inevitably, an increase in research. Those of us here tonight can look forward with some hope to a future brighter than the past; a future that with the aid of hospitals like the American Medical Center, may hold a world where the fear of dreadful diseases like cancer will be unknown.
CELBRITY AND CORPORATE PATRONS
Many of the pages in this program just contain the names of the celebrities and corporations who made financial contributions to enable the benefit. Here is a partial list of the more well-known patrons:
- Audrey Meadows
- Irwin Shaw
- Jackie Gleason
- Betty Comden & Adolph Green
- Anne Jackson & Eli Wallach
- Henry Mancini - Warmest regards
- Debbie Reynolds
- Irving Berlin
- Danny Thomas - In loving memory of a great artist and a great lady
- Henry Wallace
- Tennessee Williams
- Peggy Cass
- Sardi's Restaurant
- Jack Benny
- Abe Burrows
- Garson Kanin
- Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
- Capitol Records
- George Burns
- Lena Horne Hayton
- Johnny Mercer - In memory of a cute, dear girl
- Roy Rogers' Apple Valley Inn
- Publix Super Markets, Inc.
To see a complete list of the many politicians and celebrities who comprised the committees for the tribute to Judy Holliday click here.
Main |
New & News |
Biography |
Chronology |
Multimedia |
Articles |
FBI Files |
F.A.Q. |
Quotes
Film |
Theatre |
Music |
Radio |
Television |
Awards |
Trivia |
Books |
TV Schedule |
Links |
E-Mail
