There's No Place Like Home: One of four authentic pairs of ruby slippers used in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" will soon be a permanent fixture at the planned Oscars museum. more ›

There's no place like... Beverly Hills. The famous ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" have clicked heels thrice and landed in not Oz nor Kansas, but the wonderful land of Los Angeles. Worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 classic film, the slippers will display at Solange-Azagury Partridge in Beverly Hills from November 14 through November 15. more ›

A few pieces from the extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia put up for auction by actress Debbie Reynolds has already been sold off, bringing in big bucks. Pieces sold already include two dresses worn in films by Marilyn Monroe, one worn by Judy Garland in one of her most famous roles, and the hat right from Charlie Chaplin's head. more ›

John Fleck's whirlwind one-man show about two women -- his mom and Judy Garland -- is currently playing at Skylight Theatre is Los Feliz. Fleck's narrative concurrently enacts Garland's last performance in Los Angeles and sentimental moments with his own mother, Josephine, near the end of her life after an Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. The performance features multi-media, a rare Garland recording, and audience participation. more ›

How is it that every Pixar film is an absolute gem, yet every other animated movie from every other large American studio is just okay? Oh right -- John Lasseter. I watched The Wizard of Oz plenty of times when I was a kid, and I admire it as an important film in the American film canon...but...would I ever watch it again? Probably not. Man, Jennifer Aniston just can't seem to pick good movies in which to star, huh? Management was a dud despite the presence of the great Steve Zahn (see him in Rescue Dawn and Safe Men). Away We Go has more of an Eggers feel to it than a Mendes stamp, huh? Does anyone not like John Krasinski? more ›

Local singer/songwriter Audra Mae played a highly impressive set Tuesday night at the Silver Lake Lounge. Simply put, the girl has heavenly pipes. The bio on the myspace describes her voice as a cross between Patsy Cline and Janis Joplin, which is no light praise, but it really is the best description. Having caught a good show a couple years ago, with just her and a guitar, it was fun to see the difference that time and a full band of excellent musicians can make. more ›

When you have a huge music collection and you listen almost all the time, there tends to be a few artists that you come back to over and over. In our house, full of CD's, concert DVD's, and iPods a few artists reign supreme: The Beatles, Elvis Costello, and Loudon Wainwright III. Loudon's music can make you feel, make you smile, and make you think-- he is a master storyteller. Often listed with the... more ›

Sunday night was in a word, magical. Rufus Wainwright transformed the Hollywood Bowl into a beautiful tribute to Judy Garland. At one point he thought he felt a drop of rain, but unlike Judy's 1961 performance at the Bowl, the weather remained cool and cloudburst free. The audience showered Rufus and his guests, his mother Kate McGarrigle, his sister Martha Wainwright, and Judy Garland's daughter Lorna Luft with love and affection and a few standing... more ›

This Sunday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m., it's Rufus Wainwright Sings Judy Garland night at the Hollywood Bowl. Following his acclaimed 2006 tribute to Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall concert, Rufus Wainwright will be performing that famous set at the Hollywood Bowl with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and a handpicked quartet paying tribute to Judy's famous follow-up show at the landmark venue in Los Angeles. And you can be there too! To win a... more ›

When the Hollywood Bowl schedule listed "Rufus Wainwright sings Judy Garland", I thought this is a show I don't want to miss. Now that his website says that this is the last time he will recreate the famous 1961 Carnegie Hall show, I have started packing my picnic basket. As I sit here listening to tracks from his CD "Release the Stars", I am counting down the days until Sunday. In addition to his... more ›

The Cocoanut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel was the place to go for live entertainment in Los Angeles. Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Judy Garland, Sammy Davis Jr., and Merv Griffin were among the many legends to perform there. This weekend Pink Martini will recreate the nightclub's magic at The Hollywood Bowl. Merv Griffin was to have performed at these concerts. Now the evening will include a tribute to him. The one and only Carol... more ›

Summer may be coming to an end, but the Hollywood Bowl will be still be there for you. Rufus Wainwright will be performing the famous set from Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall concert on Sunday, September 23. Bright Eyes, alongside the LA Phil, will play on Saturday, September 29. You have a chance to win and be at one of these concerts with a nice Bristol Farms picnic basket compliments of LAist. No crazy... more ›

One of Indie rock's rising stars, Ferraby Lionheart, is out with his new full length eleven song album Catch the Brass Ring and is playing Hotel Cafe tomorrow night. Before we go see this folksy pop singer songwriter, LAist interviewed Ferraby about his name, his love for Judy Garland, and where he hangs out in LA. more ›

Rock & Roll Heaven more ›

In the swashbuckling 1940 Zorro movie, called The Mark of Zorro, the handsome Tyrone Power plays the hero; he was so impressive, even the actor playing his nemesis swooned. Basil Rathbone said, "Power was the most agile man with a sword I’ve ever faced before a camera. Tyrone could have fenced Errol Flynn into a cocked hat." We've never seen Power's Zorro, and now we think we really should. On the big screen. more ›

The Los Altos was built in the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst for his mistress, actress Marion Davies, who of course got the penthouse apartment. Once glamorous, it is rumored to also have been home to starlets Clara Bow, Judy Garland and Bette Davis. But the Los Altos, like so many other grand buildings on Wilshire Blvd, fell on hard times. Some sources say it started to go to seed during the Depression (although Judy was 17 in 1939, when the Depression officially ended. Maybe she lived there with her mom). In any event, by the time of the LA unrest/riots in 1992, the Los Altos was a wreck: outdated electrical and plumbing systems, a failing roof, and a hole, they say, that went clear from the 5th floor through to the lobby. more ›

Los Angeles has many hidden treasures, but nothing in this town is as precious as the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Located at the edge of Echo Park on Glendale Blvd, the theater has entertained several generations of Southern Californian children. You never forget seeing a Bob Baker Marionette show. Unfortunately, Bob doesn’t sell videotapes of the shows due to issues involving music clearance rights so seeing the show live is your only opportunity to taste the magic. more ›