The Wizard Of Oz Anniversary Is Upon Us!
Seventy-one years ago this weekend, a tornado dropped young Dorothy Gale into the magical Land of Oz, out of the pages of L. Frank Baum’s book and onto the silver screen. Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15, 1939, where it was well-received.
The story of the girl from Kansas has long been the favorite of many, but nothing compares to the undying admiration shown by the residents of Wamego, Kansas, who have “adopted” Dorothy and turned her tale into a virtual way of life. Oz-themed names appear all over town, from street signs, to restaurants, hair salons, the local winery, and more. The town’s highlight is the annual “OztoberFest” festival, which traditionally has included a special stage production and autograph sessions featuring original Munchkin actors and actresses.
Thanks to its love of everything Oz, Wamego is now a bona-fide tourist town, with its own museum that displays 25,000 pieces of Oz memorabilia throughout the year. Items include life-sized replicas of the film’s characters, pictures of Judy Garland from her Dorothy days, numerous props and posters from the movie, and a pair of “ruby” slippers made of Swarovski crystals.
But, as beloved as this unforgettable film classic has become, it took home only one Oscar and one special award recognizing Judy Garland’s performance as a juvenile actress. That year, the Academy Awards were dominated by another 1939 Victor Fleming film you may remember: Gone With The Wind. But that’s another story for another day, my dears!








































