Judy Garland At Carnegie Hall Anniversary: Re-Live The Legendary Concert 51 Years Later

LISTEN: Re-Live Judy Garland's Carnegie Hall Performance, 51 Years Later

It was called "the greatest night in showbiz history," and remains an inspiration for dozens of present-day pop performers. Exactly 51 years ago on April 23, 1961, Judy Garland took the stage at New York's Carnegie Hall, resurrecting her then-flatlining career before a sold-out crowd that included celebs like Julie Andrews, Ethel Merman and Richard Burton, alongside her ever-faithful gay audience.

“All those queens couldn’t control themselves,” Frank Crapanzano recalled for Vanity Fair in 2011. "Everybody just stood in front of the stage."

Though no professional film footage exists (inconceivable in today's day and age), the live recording of Judy's incredible performance would stay on the charts for an incredible 94 weeks and nab five Grammy Awards, including Best Female Vocal Performance and Album of the Year.

Check out one of HuffPost Gay Voices' favorite numbers from the show above.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot