Just a Couple of Swells



When Garland and Astaire

Danced together as a pair

In their film - Easter Parade

There's no doubt, it made ...



Confirmation of star-status of both

Although the only real genuine troth

Was enacted within the screen-tale

A story of a triangular affair paled ...

 

With Fred in love with Anne Miller

Judy inflamed by Lawford's filler

And the audience with the only true view

- Judy loves Fred, and Fred loves her, too



An irony not altogether lost in real life

For Judy never really held on as a wife

And packed it in on this date in sixty-nine

After her fifth marriage started to unwind



And it was this same date in eighty-seven

When Fred also made his way to heaven

There to join his old friend - co-star Judy

Who was always so gosh-darned moody



Making one sense the story played out 

Wasn't just a fairy-tale ... but a real rout

A couple of swells ... who shared love

But who never really ... could get above ...



- Tristram



© Christopher W. Thomas

9:35pm Tuesday, June 22nd, 1999



The First Swell



Fred Astaire - born Frederick Austerlitz

on May 10th, 1899 in Omaha, Nebraska

Died - June 22nd, 1987 in Los Angeles, CA



The Second Swell



Judy Garland - born Frances Gumm

on June 10th, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Died - June 22nd, 1969 in London, England



A couple more swells who also died on this date:



Maureen O'Sullivan - 1998 at 87 in Scottsdale, AZ

Mrs. Richard Nixon (Pat) - 1993 at 81 in Park Ridge, NJ