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| The first page as it appeared in the original "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book. I received a paperback copy in the 1970s. |
“Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas
So begins The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Although it is now over one hundred and twelve years, since this treasured book was published, the simplicity, honesty and heart in the opening paragraph speak to children and adults now, in the same way they did long ago.
Soon, Dorothy will leave the gray world in Kansas
Although L. Frank Baum would write many children’s books after this great work, none would be more successful or beloved than The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
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| Copy on the collector stamps page, slightly bent. |
In 1937, the men at MGM film studios bought the book as a property for a little girl named Judy Garland. Prior to this time, the story had been turned into a stage play, and two silent films had been made, But while people were interested in them, nothing had struck gold the way the book had. This time the producers at MGM had much grander plans. The Wizard of Oz would be a musical, and even more exciting, with the advent of Technicolor, some inspired soul decided that Kansas
Of course, I had always heard that the studios tried to get Shirley Temple for the role of Dorothy. While working on my book, “From Tennessee to Oz,” John Fricke clarified this matter for me. The Wizard of Oz had always been meant for Judy. She was the only one that Arthur Freed and others wanted, but when the big money men in New York
No one then dreamed that with the advent of television, VHS and then DVD and BlueRay how popular this film would be and how many versions of it would be released. Now, seventy-three years after the film was released, people are still buying copies of the film, going to see it in theaters and the memorabilia for it, especially the ruby slippers, is among the most recognized items in the world!
The money men who didn’t want Judy Garland would probably have been overwhelmed and full of disbelief had someone at that time shown them a crystal ball into the future.
Yes, Judy Garland truly was Dorothy and it is difficult to imagine anyone else playing the role and having the effect she had and still does have. Her simplicity and beauty of spirit is unparalleled. Most fans of Judy Garland first saw her in this role. It is a role that has ensured her immortality.
In addition, we cannot forget any of the wonderful players in this film: Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, who it is said was a dear, sweet lady, certainly scared us all. Her opposite, Billie Burke was truly a fairy tale character of goodness as Glinda. We all love Frank Morgan as the Wonderful Wizard, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Jack Haley as the Tin Man and Bert Lahr as that very unusual Cowardly Lion. And we must not forget the very hardworking, Terry, as Toto, Dorothy’s dearest friend. In L. Frank Baum’s book he says that everything was gray in Kansas
Though I was always a fan of The Wizard of Oz and the great Judy Garland, until 1995 when I first attended the Judy Garland Festival in Grand Rapids , Minnesota Grand Rapids
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| Munchkin Margaret Pellegrina in the kitchen of the Judy Garland Birthplace with Carissa Farina, dressed to play Baby Gumm. In the back, you can see Meinhardt Raabe, Coroner. Taken June 1997. |
As I was coming out of the theater, two little boys in front of me were talking. One said, “Should we go see the Munchkins now?” “Okay,” said the other. I had just watched a film made in 1939, but in that moment the fifty-six years between the film’s making and the present were gone because we were going to meet the Munchkins! How amazing. We walked out of the theater, and there they were, all in costume.
During the years I attended The Judy Garland Festival, I was so fortunate to meet these lovely people, who were ever gracious and aware of their part in history. I have fond memories of meeting and speaking with Margaret Pellegrini (Sleepy Head), Jerry Marin (the Lollipop Guild member who handed the lollipop to Dorothy), and Meinhardt Raabe, the Coronor, as well as their lovely spouses and family members. In later years, I would also get to meet one of the soldiers, Clarence Swensen, and one of the trumpeters, dear Karl Slover, who sadly left us last year. Right to the very end of his ninety plus years, he went to every Oz event.
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| With the amazing Caren Marsh Doll around 2001. |
Another very special person I got to meet was Carin Marsh Doll, a dancer at MGM who was also one of Judy’s stand-ins in the film. At one Festival, Carin gave lessons in skipping down the yellow brook road properly, just as she had done. What a thrill that was!
It has also been a great honor to meet the great grandsons of L. Frank Baum, Robert Baum, who looks very much like his great grandfather and has given presentations with his wife, portraying him, and Roger Baum. Like their great grandfather, both gentlemen are authors!
All these years, it has been a treasure to meet the people connected with The Wizard of Oz and to be reminded of the messages of the book and film. Like the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, we are reminded that we all have brains, heart and courage, we just have to find them and believe in them. And like Dorothy, while adventures are wonderful, we need to remember and treasure our homes and the people we love.
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| With cast members (Munchkins) from The Wizard of Oz l. to r. Ruth Duccini, Karl Slover, Jerry Marin, Magaret Pellegrini and (seated) Meinhardt Raabe. Taken in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, 2001 |
For those of you who love The Wizard of Oz, and would like to know more about them, here are a list:
The Chesterton Oz Festival in Indiana.
The Wizard of Oz Festival in Wamego , Kansas
http://www.oz-stravaganza.com
And finally, there is The Judy Garland Museum
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