Voting Station

Roger Edens

Please vote to return to collections.

Composer

The Resume

    (November 9, 1905-July 13, 1970)
    Born in Hillsboro, Texas
    Musical arranger, film composer
    Known for his long-term associations with Judy Garland and Arthur Freed
    Major creative force in the 'Freed Unit' responsible for musicals released during the 'Golden Age' of Hollywood
    Won Academy Awards for Best Score for 'Easter Parade' (1948) 'On the Town' (1949) and 'Annie Get Your Gun' (1950)
    Also composed music for 'Broadway Melody of 1938,' 'Babes in Arms,' 'Strike Up the Band,' 'Little Nellie Kelly,' 'Ziegfeld Girl,' 'Take Me Out to the Balle Game,' and 'A Star is Born'
    Associate Producer for 'Funny Face,' 'Singin' in the Rain,' 'The Band Wagon,' 'Meet Me in St. Louis,' 'The Harvey Girls,' 'An American in Paris,' and 'Funny Face'
    Portrayed by John Benjamin Hickey in 'Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows' (2001)

Why he might be annoying:

    He was divorced.
    He was rumored to have been involved with 'Funny Face' writer Leonard Gershe.
    When he was part of the original Freed Unit, it was derisively nicknamed the 'Fairy Unit' and 'Freed's Fairies' on the MGM lot (its propensity for acquiring known gay talent was a badly kept secret).
    He wrote four original songs for 'The Wizard of Oz' - including a welcome song for Munchkin Land - all of which went un-used.
    He determined that Shirley Temple didn't have the vocal strength to handle the part of Dorothy after hearing her sing at an unofficial 'Oz' audition, urging Freed to forget her and go for Garland instead.
    He went uncredited for many of his film jobs (usually acting as a silent associate producer' or vocal arranger).
    Leonard Gershe even once joked about the status, saying: 'No one was ever quite sure what Roger did, but whatever he did was crucial to the picture.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was of Scots-Irish descent.
    He worked as a piano accompanist for ballroom dancers before going to work as a musical conductor on Broadway.
    Ethel Merman was his protege, and he helped her develop her trademark brassy Broadway vocal arrangements.
    He was involved with some of the greatest movie musicals of all time.
    He received eight Oscar nominations, winning three in consecutive years.
    He was the uncredited author of Judy Garland's show-stopping 'Born in a Trunk' number in 'A Star is Born.'
    He penned the 'You Made Me Love You' song which Judy Garland sang to Clark Gable - first at his private Birthday party and later in 'Broadway Melody' - which many credit to have brought her to the studio's attention.
    He shared a birthday with Kay Thompson and the two were known for their dual lavish star-studded birthday bashes.
    He conceptualized the famous opening shot for 'The Sound of Music.'
    He personally chose William Warfield for the Joe role in the 1951 'Show Boat' remake (and would stage/direct the 'Ol Man River' number, going uncredited as usual).
    Lorna Luft later said of him: 'Roger was the only person in my mother's life that she completely trusted. Some of my happiest childhood memories are of [him] sweeping me up into his arms at social gatherings.'

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying