Frank Gumm

Francis "Frank" Avent Gumm (March 20, 1886 – November 17, 1935) was an American vaudevillian and theatre manager. He was the father of the American actress, singer, and vaudevillian Judy Garland.

Early life Gumm was born on March 20, 1886, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States. He was the son of Clemmie (née Baugh) and William T. Gumm. After Gumm's mother died in 1895, his family faced poverty. His godfather, the millionaire George M. Darrow, discovered that Gumm was an exceptional vocalist and helped the boy earn a choral scholarship for college. The theatre showcased a variety of acts, including vaudeville performances, silent films, and live music. Gumm's daughters began performing together at the theatre as a vaudeville group known as The Gumm Sisters. Their early acts often featured a mix of singing, dancing, and harmonizing, with Ethel Gumm accompanying them on the piano.

In 1926, seeking better opportunities for the daughters' careers, the Gumms moved to Lancaster, California (which is located near Hollywood). The couple had three daughters: Mary Jane Gumm (born 1915), Dorothy Virginia Gumm (born 1917), and Frances Ethel Gumm (born 1922). The latter is better known as Judy Garland.

Gumm died from spinal meningitis on November 17, 1935, in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 49.