It's Not Every Day You Meet a Screen Legend!

I had a really exciting afternoon. One of my all-time favorite movies is Meet Me in St. Louis, starring Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien. It's a musical that was released in 1944. The story centers around the Smith family and their father's plan to move them from their happy home in St. Louis to New York City. The movie features two of Judy's classics, The Trolley Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (my very favorite Christmas song.) Well, today they were having a special screening of the movie at Cinema 21 in NW Portland, with special guest, screen legend Margaret O'Brien. Judy plays Margaret's older sister in the movie. After a short introduction that included clips from some of Ms. O'Brien's other films, we watched an original 35mm film from the 40s. It was awesome! The first time I've seen Judy on the big screen. After the movie, we were treated to a question and answer session with Margaret.

Among some of the interesting things she said: Judy was fun to work with, they jumped rope and played jacks and hopscotch together. Margaret says she is still in touch with Liza (Liza's father Vincent directed Meet Me in St. Louis - it's how he and Judy met) and Judy's son Joey Luft. Margaret won an Oscar for her role in the movie, it was lost for awhile but was recovered at a scrap meet. Michael Jackson wanted to buy her Oscar. She wouldn't sell it to him, but Wacko Jacko did buy a dress she wore in the flick.

After the Q&A it was autograph time. I patiently waited for my turn, and finally I had the chance to tell Margaret O'Brien how much I loved her movie.

She wrote, "To AJ - What happy times. Have Yourself a Merry Christmas. Margaret O'Brien." It was a real thrill. If you've never seen the movie it's a great one to watch at Christmas-time. They show it on the cable stations quite often, and it's also out on DVD. Some people might find it corny, but I think it's a lovely film about family and simpler times.