The London Palladium Audience Remember

Judy asked members of the British Fan Club to become "extras" on the days she was shooting at the Palladium during this movie and so we all took days off from work to be there. I guess I would consider those days sitting in the Palladium all day listening to the play backs and having Judy come out every now and again to check on technical details and chatting with the audience to be one of my special memories of her.

Judy also invited us to the recording studio one evening to hear her record several of the songs from the movie. She wanted to have us around her and we sat behind her. She wore a black dress and very high heeled shoes, which were quickly kicked off. She was very happy and jolly with us. Lovely memories....

Further Memories

Lorna Smith was in close contact with Judy during the making of I Could Go on Singing and the British Fan Club was invited to a recording session one evening with other invited guests. Much time has gone by since this occasion but I seem to remember standing with Lorna to greet Judy when she arrived with Dirk Bogarde. We looked over at the people sitting stiffly and quietly on the 3 or 4 rows of bleacher seats and Judy must have felt that they needed to relex. "Let's all go and have some refreshments," she insisted and off we all went into the other room. When the recording started Judy had her back to us (as she had when Lorna and I were at a recording studio on our own once, and she explained to us then that she didn't like to look into people's faces as she was recording-quite different to when she was in concert form.) Judy wore a straight black dress with very high heeled shoes, which were quickly kicked off as she started to sing. I honestly cannot remember all the songs except, I Could Go On Singing which she did several times. Unfortunately many of us had to leave before the end of the session to catch our trains home.

On other occasions the Club members were invited to become "extras" and be at the Palladium for filming. We all took days off from work and excited made our way to the threatre. Judy arrived in her usual comfortable gear of flat shoes, pants and shirt. She greeted the audience commenting that it must be boring, sitting and waiting or words to that effect, and left to get ready; coming back from time to time to rehearsal the staging-sometimes with her hair in rollers; then with her make-up on; then hair combed out; and finally wearing her custome. Liza, who was about 15 years old then, was on the stage, sometimes doing her mother's actions to Judy's voice singing Hello Blue Bird, which was in playback. Another day, we were at the theatre, perhaps it was for the filming of I Could Go On Singing because I remember Lorna and I shaking hands with Judy back stage and she was wearing the black dress. The younger children had just arrived and Judy was anxious to spend time with them.

Lorna Smith told me, when I was with her in 1997, about visiting Shepperton Studios around the time of Judy's birthday, with the usual flowers and presents from the club (Lorna had got Judy a broach/pin of a bluebird, which Judy loved.) The crew had bought a cake for Judy's birthday and Lorna was invited to the party, along with the children. Judy was very happy on that occasion and Lorna had her photograph taken with the family. Lorna laughed when she told me that within minutes of coming off the set and looking very glamorous, Judy had changed into a robe, managed to mess her hair up and looked her more natural self.

I have to admit that this movie is my favorite from the personal aspect of being there with Judy. A lovely memory which I am happy to share-she was a sweet soul.