Wonderful World of Oz with John Fricke November 14
The Camden Public Library is participating in the nation-wide celebration of all things Oz by hosting the world’s leading expert on The Wizard of Oz, John Fricke, on Thursday evening, November 14 at 7:00 pm. Fricke is the author of “The Wonderful World of Oz: An Illustrated History of an American Classic,” being published in November by Down East Books. Fricke’s presentation will be a very entertaining evening, as well as being the Maine launch of the new book. There will be several new 3D DVDs of The Wizard of Oz for door prizes, provided by Warner Home Entertainment. The Owl & Turtle Book Store will also have books on hand for purchase at this free event.
In his new book, Emmy Award-winning producer Fricke celebrates the 75th anniversary of MGM’s The Wizard of Oz, along with all other aspects of L. Frank Baum’s classic series of “American Fairy Tales.” The picture book chronologically travels through more than eleven decades of Oz books, productions, and memorabilia. Fricke is widely regarded as the preeminent Oz and Judy Garland historian, and his latest book makes its debut in conjunction with several major events in the greater Oz community. Foremost among these is the exhibit, also entitled “The Wonderful World of Oz,” at The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland opening in October, 2013 and running through spring 2014. The art for the book and the items for the Farnsworth show have been drawn from the holdings of Willard Carroll and Tom Wilhite, which comprise the most comprehensive Oz collection in the world.
In addition to John Fricke’s appearance on November 14, the library will produce “A Wicked Event” on November 21 at the Camden Opera House with Gregory Maguire, author of the “Wicked” series which inspired the Broadway musical. Tickets are available at the Camden Public Library and online atwww.librarycamden.org. The library will also display the original Tik-Tok Robot from the Oz collection of Tom Wilhite and Willard Carroll, as well as iconic life-size Oz cutouts, posed for photos throughout the month.
Fricke’s The Wonderful World of Oz details the entire 114-year arc of Oz: from the publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900 to the 2013 film, Oz The Great and Powerful. Concurrent with the book and exhibition, Warner Home Video will debut its latest deluxe DVD release of the legendary Garland motion picture, The Wizard of Oz. For the film’s 75th anniversary, the studio has remastered the 1939 musical in 3D and will market it in a variety of lavish packagings with a host of additional features.
L. (Lyman) Frank Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz became an instant sensation upon its 1900 publication. Eventually translated into hundreds of foreign languages, the Land of Oz ultimately became a worldwide phenomenon. Oz’s greatest success, however, came with the 1939 film starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, in which she made the Academy Award-winning song “Over the Rainbow” a national hit and a touchstone of popular culture.
Included in the Farnsworth exhibition will be the most complete surviving costume (worn by the green Lollipop Guild munchkin), one of Dorothy’s pinafores and blouses, examples of the many illustrated versions of Baum’s books (including the finest known copy of the first edition, first state “green imprint” of Baum’s initial book in the series), rare and one-of-a-kind posters from the various motion picture and stage productions, and a remarkable array of other Oz memorabilia from the Willard Carroll / Tom Wilhite Collection. Among the major pieces to be displayed is the hourglass that the Wicked Witch of the West uses in the 1939 film to show Dorothy “how much longer you have to be alive.” Margaret Hamilton, who played the witch, lived during her later years on Cape Island, off Newagen, Maine.
According to Wikipedia, Fricke has served as lecturer/moderator and/or master of ceremonies at all the major Oz and Baum festivals, celebrations, and conventions, from Frank Baum’s hometown in Chittenango, New York, to Chesterton, IN; Wamego, KS; Judy Garland’s birthplace in Grand Rapids, MN, and at conventions, conferences, and symposia everywhere from New York to Chicago to California. He is an active member – past president and past editor – of The International Wizard of Oz Club, frequently appearing on programs at Club events. He portrayed Tik-Tok in the first (and so far only) presentation of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz since its original run in 1913, at Oz Club presentations in 1982 and 1984.
He has discussed Baum, Oz, Garland, or all three on literally hundreds of international media outlets including the NBC-TV Today Show, the A&E cable network Breakfast With the Arts, the syndicated Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and National Public Radio. He has appeared on many occasions as spokesman for Warner Bros., Turner Entertainment, Rhino Records, Capitol Records, and MGM/UA Home Video.
Story sponsor
