Happy Birthday John Fricke!

Today John Fricke is 55. John Fricke is the world renowned author and expert on The Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland. I first met John in June of 1989 at the Judy Garland Fesival in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. He had just produced a great documentary, Judy Garland: The Concert Years, and was a featured guest speaker at the event. John was and is, one of the most personable and articulate people I have ever met. A group of us befriended him and spent evenings watching rare Judy Garland television appearances back at his hotel room using my old clunky VHS camrecorder. John would give us a history about the appearance and speak of Judy with great knowledge and reverence. Over the years John and I became friends and I have a special place in my heart for this man. Happy Birthday John!


There is an interesting biography and interview with John here and another here.

Recommended Books by John Fricke:

The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History
Judy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer
100 Years of Oz : A Century of Classic Images
Judy Garland: A Portrait in Art & Anecdote