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Let the JOY-OZ news be spread: OZ-STRAVAGANZA! is JUST ahead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know that isn\u2019t at all the way \u201cYip\u201d Harburg put it in his \u201cMunchkinland\u201d lyric in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer\u2019s THE WIZARD OF OZ movie. Back then, however, he was \u201conly\u201d proclaiming the passing of the Wicked Witch of the East; WE\u2019RE here today to herald the annual OZ-STRAVAGANZA!, upcoming in Chittenango, NY, across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, June 2,3, and 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That favored hamlet (just a few miles east of Syracuse) is ever-more renowned as the birthplace of L. Frank Baum, \u201cRoyal Historian of Oz\u201d and the man who discovered the magical land and its celebrated denizens and locales. Just pause for a moment and consider who and what that includes: such personages as Dorothy Gale, Toto, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, the Wonderful Wizard, Glinda, Princess Ozma, Jack Pumpkinhead, the Patchwork Girl, the Woozy — ad infinitum. Plus such scenic treasures as the Emerald City, the Yellow Brick Road, Munchkinland, and all the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every spring for 46 years, Chittenango has celebrated its native son and his incomparably uplifting contributions to the happiness and hearts of all ages: quite literally billions of readers, moviegoers, theater patrons, fans, collectors, and historians. This year will be no exception, and the festival will be highlighted by several very special guests; the writers and artists of the OZ \u201cAlley;\u201d extraordinary new additions to the All Things Oz Museum & Gift Shop; the illustrious Oz parade; the writing and coloring and costume contests; and, of course, the vendors and auctions and rides. (Oh, my!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Topping the list of attractions is BETTY ANN BRUNO, one of the original Munchkins of the MGM film. She was only seven years old in 1938, but her already-advanced dancing talent won her a costumed and terpsichorean spot on the Culver City soundstage amidst the 124 \u201clittle people\u201d who made up most of the jubilant townsfolk welcoming Judy Garland\u2019s Dorothy to Oz. Now, eighty-five years [!] later, BETTY ANN triumphantly returns to Oz via Chittenango. Our\u00a0OZ-STRAVAGANZA! audiences couldn’t get enough of her last year, whether onstage or off. She sold out copies of her\u00a0new memoir,\u00a0THE MUNCHKIN DIARY: MY PERSONAL YELLOW BRICK ROAD<\/strong>, as fans clamored to read more about OZ and hear about her major adult careers in investigative journalism, television, broadcasting, work for the CIA, and as the founder of her own and ongoing dance company. BETTY takes the stage on Saturday night to discuss all of the above — and in addition to that (you can trust me on this one) NO ONE will want to miss Sunday afternoon\u2019s reprise of her hula demonstration and class. Two dancing friends from her troupe are coming all the way from California to join her onstage for that; be THERE at 1 p.m.!<\/p>\n\n\n On Friday evening, our headliner is (just above) GABRIEL GALE, innovative artist, creator, and a brand new, Ozian \u201cRoyal Historian.\u201d That latter declaration is beautifully borne out by his deluxe book, THE ART OF OZ, and by AGES OF OZ, his series of novels for children (and people who used to be children). GABE will share the latest news of his projects and adventures; Oz AND Broadway fans will be thrilled to hear about his just-completed trip to England and visit behind-the-scenes and on the sets of a two-part motion picture now in production. (Hint: It\u2019s based on a nonpareil Broadway musical also set in the Land of Oz \u2013 and that Stephen Schwartz\/Winnie Holzman triumph celebrates its 20th<\/sup> anniversary this year!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to BETTY ANN\u2019s appearance on Saturday, GABE will also open the presentation that evening, leading a discussion about the MGM WIZARD OF OZ movie and all the VERY peculiar lies and legends that have grown up about it in recent years. I\u2019ll be taking his questions and clarifying and explaining (and\/or demolishing where I can!) the social media \u201cgozzip.\u201d Questions from the audience will be uber welcome, too! (Wanna talk shoes? 😊 )<\/p>\n\n\n Anyway, please bring your inquiries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the Friday and Saturday evening programs \u201claunch\u201d at 6 o\u2019clock in the First Presbyterian Church, 118 Arch Street, immediately adjacent to OZ Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While discussing schedules and times, here are a couple more to note right now. The Oz Parade kicks off down Genesee Street at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The All Things Oz Gift Museum (219 Genesee Street) offers special OZ-STRAVAGANZA! hours: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tours are given on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. \u2013 4 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; admission is $9. (Children 10 years old and under are admitted free of charge, as are active members of the military and their families, and All Things Oz members. They also offer an AAA discount.)<\/p>\n\n\n The Museum offers some amazing, new, and glorious Oz items this year. How about an opportunity to see \u2013 up-close and for real \u2013 \u201ca real, truly\u201d costume from one of the extraordinary professional companies of WICKED, as \u201cbuilt\u201d for and worn onstage by an Academy Award\/\u201cOscar\u201d-winning actress? 😊 (I won\u2019t bait you beyond that: just come along and be dazzled by Patty Duke\u2019s Madame Morrible garb!) In the same realm of wickedness, All Things Oz premiers the Margaret Hamilton autographed photos-and-correspondence collection of Paul Miles Schneider. A life-long fan of the Oz books and 1939 film, Paul became pen pals with the famous Wicked Witch of the West when he was a second grader \u2013 shortly after they met in person. (Paul\u2019s Ozzy passion has also manifested itself in three outstanding books for young readers: SILVER SHOES, THE POWDER OF LIFE, and THE MAGIC BELT. His generosity in sharing his Hamilton treasures is pretty much way over the rainbow!) Finally, the Museum also debuts the autographed Jim Shore sketches that evolved into some of the most admired and collectible Enesco Wizard of Oz figurines; AND the Original Lion\u2019s Club Artwork from years of their fishing derby . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n . . . and BETTY ANN BRUNO\u2019s Munchkin hat, specifically recreated from its original MGM design for her \u2018replica\u201d festival appearances!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our annual Artists & Authors\u2019 Alley talent pool will hold forth in the Celebrity Tent of OZ PARK, and once again, OZ-STRAV! is delighted to play host to a happy gathering of majorly gifted scribes and skilled \u201cillustratives.\u201d On this year\u2019s roster: the ebullient and prolifically Ozzy Ron Baxley, Jr.; \u201cpin-up Oz\u201d aficionado (comics, graphic novels, fantasy, and the LEGEND OF OZ\/WICKED WEST series) Tom Hutchison; Julienne La Fleur, artist and author of LESSONS FROM OZ; artist\/caricaturist Jim Coon; and first-timer Oz writer\/\u201cromanticist,\u201d K. A. Silva.<\/p>\n\n\n Throughout the weekend, young and old will have the opportunity to pose with OZ-STRAVAGANZA!\u2019s remarkable, official, and wondrously wardrobed costumed characters. Designer Shawn Ryan, who executed their amazing apparel, will be on hand to oversee their presentation of his work, and he\u2019ll be joined by Jeff Sadecky, their make-up artist and Shawn\u2019s co-envoy of Dorothy & Company.<\/p>\n\n\n Bottom line: There\u2019s never enough space to do justice to the OZ-STRAVAGANZA! participants, volunteers, and local and regional support factions. They and their constituents make it all possible, however \u2013 as do YOU and your presence, partaking, and exultation! So please come on along for three days of amusements, rides, food, vendors, crafts, auctions, displays, all kinds of contests, Oz celebrities, Oz artists and authors, Oz collectibles, Oz treasures, and Oz souvenirs. The full schedule for the weekend and further details may be found at: www.oz-stravaganza.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n And as ever, I am grateful to everyone in Chittenango \u2013 and everyone coming to Chittenango \u2013 for letting me be part of something that has permeated my life on a daily basis for the last 67 years. I hope to see, meet and\/or reunite \u2013 a week from this weekend . . . in OZ!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by John Fricke Let the JOY-OZ news be spread: OZ-STRAVAGANZA! is JUST ahead! I know that isn\u2019t at all the way \u201cYip\u201d Harburg put it in his \u201cMunchkinland\u201d lyric in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer\u2019s THE WIZARD OF OZ movie. Back then, however, he was \u201conly\u201d proclaiming the passing of the Wicked Witch of the East; WE\u2019RE here today … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/allthingsoz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/ChittenangoMay2023Gabe.jpg\")
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Finally, yours truly gets to launch Friday evening\u2019s festivities with a reminder of the very basic and beloved roots of Oz. Chittenango\u2019s descriptive mantra labels it \u201cWhere Oz All Began.\u201d With that in mind, I\u2019m going to look back at Baum\u2019s original creation of THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ book \u2013 and how he and phenomenally decorative illustrator W. W. Denslow teamed to produce both the very first \u201cAmerican fairy tale\u201d and a product whose fanciful story-telling, pictorial design, and elaborate color work forever changed children\u2019s literature and the publishing thereof. Here\u2019s one of Denslow\u2019s 24 full-color plates from the first edition of OZ in 1900 to underscore that statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/allthingsoz.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/DenslowPlateMeetingLionCropped-778x1024.jpg\")
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