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!

This week marks the 7th anniversary of the passing of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. On July 27, 2003, legendary actor-comedian Bob Hope left us at the ripe old age of 100. His long career spanned a range of entertainment, from vaudeville, Broadway musicals, radio, television, and movies. But he was perhaps best known for entertaining American troops, in peace time and war time, for over 50 years.

Born in England, Bob Hope grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He began his career as a dancer and vaudeville performer, eventually making his way onto Broadway, appearing with big stars such as Ethel Merman and Fanny Brice. Hope rose to national fame with his own radio show in the late 30s, but no one could have anticipated the immense popularity of his blockbuster "Road" movies with Bing Crosby! He was a very busy guy--during his career, Bob appeared in more than 50 feature films, hosted the Academy Awards 18 times, and made 284 "Bob Hope Specials" for NBC!

But there was more to come. Hope's tradition of entertaining U.S. military troops around the world began during World War II. His wonderful "Christmas With The Troops" appearances began in 1948 and continued through Desert Storm in 1990. His half-century dedication to our armed forces was so appreciated, Congress passed a resolution in 1997 making him an honorary veteran. He received many other accolades throughout his career, including honorary knighthood granted by Queen Elizabeth. How very fitting for a man who will always reign supreme in the entertainment world, and in our hearts as well.

We really enjoy Bob Hope's Salute To The Troops - The Vietnam Years, and we know you will, too. Nine hours of celebrity-packed singing, dancing, and laughter on 3 DVDs, featuring the beloved Bob plus crowd-pleasing beauties Ann-Margret, Raquel Welch,and Jill St. John; the talented Lola Falana, Jim Nabors, and comedian Phyllis Diller; legendary astronauts Alan Shepard and Neil Armstrong; sports greats Rosie Grier and Johnny Bench, and many more.

Bob, you may be gone, but you will never, ever be forgotten.

Wow, it’s HOT outside! Just a quick walk from the car to the house can bring on a full-scale meltdown! And really, how much fun can you have outdoors if you are dying of thirst and gasping for breath? If you’re like me, and 90 degree temps aren’t your thing, here are a few ideas on how to have fun indoors til the thermometer drops a few degrees.

- Pull out a puzzle or a board game. The hours will slide by while you piece together a scene or immerse yourself in a game. Before you know, the sun will have set for another day.

- For real comfort, strip down to your skivvies and chill on the couch. Nothing like a loose-fitting pair of boxers to improve air flow! Then pop in a DVD and relive some of your favorite television and movie memories.

- Head to the kitchen and pour yourself a tall one. A cold bottle of water, tumbler of soda, or pilsner glass of your favorite brew tastes great on a hot day.

- In the mood for something more substantial? Mix up a mug of slush, a few sno-cones, or even a nice chilled dessert.

If all else fails, you can browse the Betty’s Attic website for holiday merchandise. Just the thought of dashing through the snow should bring a few shivers your way!

It's summer, and the great outdoors is calling! Think back to when you were a kid, and the things that made for a super summer day, and do them again! But this time, while you are reliving your favorite childhood memories, make new ones with the youngsters in your life. Plan an old-fashioned outing and make the most of the day from sun-up to sundown. Here are my suggestions for a fun-filled Betty's Attic kind of day:

Browse through the Betty Crocker Outdoor Cookbook and plan a tasty al fresco menu. Set up your picnic spread on top of the retro tablecloth with bright and colorful images of vacation hotspots. Don't forget the picnic condiment set! Does everyone have enough to drink? Offer up some thirst-quenching Fizzies beverages in a variety of flavors. Sno-cones from the Snoopy Sno-Cone Maker will keep young picnickers busy and refreshed.

While the kids are running around exhausting themselves playing games like Ultimate Frisbee, you can unwind with a few challenging hands of Canasta or the Wonders Of America puzzle. End the evening relaxing together beside the hazy glow of a flameless lantern. As you reminisce over the day's events, make sure to plan your next outing!

Rarely do we hear the words “comic book” and “one million dollars” in the same sentence, but that’s exactly what happened a few weeks back. A rare copy of the first comic book featuring Superman on the cover fetched the record-breaking price on a comic book auction site.

The issue, officially titled Action Comics No. 1, dates back to 1938 and originally cost 10 cents. (OK, all you math whizzes out there—what’s the profit margin on that?) The sale broke the previous record of $317,000 paid for another copy of the same issue.

We’re pretty fond of comic book memorabilia here, too! Take a look at our DC® and Marvel® goodies--although nothing we have even comes close to the million-dollar mark, we’re sure we have just the thing to add extra-special value to your collection.

The Monopoly Game has been around for quite awhile. It wasn't always called Monopoly, and the original version was quite different from the one we love to play today.

In 1904, a young woman named Lizzie Magie invented a game called The Landlord’s Game. The idea behind it was to show how property owners became rich at the expense of impoverished tenants. Her game was copied and revised many times, until finally it reached a gentleman by the name of Charles Darrow. At that point, Darrow redesigned the game again, giving it a different spin and more of the look we see today. He sold copies to his friends, and successfully convinced a Philadelphia department store to market his version. Word spread and the game started to fly off the store shelves. When Darrow realized he had a hit on his hands, he approached Parker Brothers about marketing the game nationally.

At first, Parker Brothers was reluctant because the game was very long and complex, but when they saw how people were snapping it up from the local department store, they decided to give it a try. So, in 1935, Parker Brothers bought out Lizzie Magie's original 1904 patent and began selling Darrow’s version (renamed Monopoly), which soon became the pastime rage of America. The 1935 version is basically the same one we play today, and it remains the best-selling board game of all time. It has been translated into more than 89 languages and has sold more than 250 million copies! The franchise is still going strong and continues to evolve with customized versions for sports fans, music enthusiasts, pet lovers, and more. Check out our selection for unique and exciting versions of this long-time classic.