Behind The Scenes Secrets: The Wizard Of Oz

Beyond Exploitation, What About Groping?

You’ve already seen some of the evidence of how MGM exploited Judy Garland, but the most common refrain appears to be, “That’s how it was done back then.” That may be the reality of how young child stars were treated, but it certainly doesn’t make it right.

The other sickening reality is that Garland claimed that Louis B Mayer also took to groping her when she was in his office, saying that it made her sing from the heart. She was a 16-year-old girl, unaware that she could say “no” and forced to work an insane work schedule with adrenaline shots and Seconal downers to keep her going at that haphazard pace. She was always afraid her contract would be torn up, and she also said that Mayer’s word was “law” at her house.