Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

A31
PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 8 June 2018
Last surviving 'Wizard of Oz,' munchkin Jerry Maren dies

By JOHN ROGERS as the "Lollipop Kid" who dancing at a show at a
Associated Press sang and danced his way Connecticut hotel in 1938
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jerry to front and center before when MGM talent scouts
Maren, the last surviving the film's star, Judy Garland saw the diminutive teen-
munchkin from the clas- as Dorothy, and then, with ager actor and invited
sic 1939 film "The Wizard of a flourish, handed her an him to Hollywood to join
Oz" and the one who fa- oversized lollipop. the munchkin cast. Having
mously welcomed Dorothy Maren said he ad-libbed dreamed since childhood
to Munchkin Land, has died that lollipop handoff in an of a being a Hollywood film
at age 99. early take and the director actor, he jumped at the
Maren died May 24 at a liked it so much he told him chance. He would later re-
San Diego nursing home, to keep doing it. call being paid $50 a week
his niece, Stacy Michelle Just before the presenta- for the role, twice what his
Barrington, told The Associ- tion he danced between father was making.
ated Press on Wednesday. two other Lollipop Kids as He'd go on to appear in
In an entertainment career they moved toward Gar- dozens of other films, TV
that spanned more than land singing, "We represent show and commercials.
70 years, he portrayed The the Lollipop Guild, the Lol- Among them was another
Hamburglar and Mayor lipop Guild, the Lollipop film classic in its own right,
McCheese in McDonald's Guild. And in the name of "The Terror of Tiny Town," a
commercials, appeared in the Lollipop Guild, we wish traditional Western but with
scores of films and TV shows to welcome you to Munch- a little people cast. Other
and made personal ap- kin Land." films included "Under the
pearances as Little Oscar More than half a century Rainbow," the 1981 sendup
for Oscar Mayer hot dogs. later he'd adlib the song's of the making of "The Wiz-
But it was his role as one of lyrics, concluding, "We wish ard of Oz," and "Hello, Dol-
the Lollipop Kids in "The Wiz- to welcome you to Smithso- ly!"
ard of Oz" that always held nian Institute," as he helped He appeared on TV in epi-
a special place in his heart. lead the unveiling of a 2006 sodes of "Seinfeld," ''The
He would show up regu- exhibition of the movie's Twilight Zone," ''The Beverly
larly at film conventions, memorabilia at Washing- Hillbillies," ''Bewitched," ''The
munchkin gatherings and ton's Smithsonian Institution. Wild Wild West," ''Mary Hart-
other events honoring the In this Sept. 24, 2009 file photo, Jerry Maren attends the "Wizard "He was a very sweet per- man, Mary Hartman," ''Lou
cast over the years. of Oz" 70th Anniversary Emerald Gala in New York. son and he was very ap- Grant" and "Julia," among
"I've done so many things in Associated Press proachable if you were a others.
show business but people fan," his niece said Wednes- But Maren's connection to
say, 'You were in The Wiz- "But then I realized," he 4-feet-3 (1.3 meters), was day. "He was the kind of "The Wizard of Oz" never
ard of Oz?' It takes people's added, "Geez, it must have one of more than 100 little person who would always faded.
breath away," he told writer been a hell of a picture, people recruited to play take time to talk to you." Maren was preceded in
Paul Zollo during a 2011 in- because everyone remem- munchkins in the movie. Born Gerald Marenghi in death by his wife, Elizabeth
terview for the publication bers it everywhere I go." He stood out from almost Boston on Jan. 24, 1919, Maren. The couple had no
North Hollywood Patch. Maren, who stood just all the others, however, Maren was singing and children.q

Shannon Shaw's Nashville venture a genuine tear-jerker

By PABLO GORONDI ditional instrumental layers like it on the rest of the al-
Associated Press (Wurlitzer, cornet, vibra- bum. It feels like a teaser,
Shannon Shaw, "Shannon in phone, glockenspiel, Mel- like Shaw jumping a de-
Nashville" (Easy Eye Sound) lotron) resulting in smooth- cade into 1970s-style sing-
She may have smashed a er, deeper foundations for er-songwriter fare. Some-
few herself, but judging by Shaw's coarsely expressive thing to consider for the
her first solo album, Shan- and utterly believable vo- next one, maybe.
non Shaw has had her cals. Still, there are soulful songs
heart broken in 17 places. The ballads and leisure- a-plenty here. Strings el-
At least. ly-paced strolls through evate the drama on "Fred-
The singer and bass player heartbreak and its many dies 'n' Teddies," while
has teamed up again with ramifications and articula- "Broke My Own" is Shaw at
Dan Auerbach of the Black tions — from slightly comi- her most Amy Winehouse-
Keys, who also produced cal ("Lord of Alaska") to ish. Auerbach regulars and
"Onion," the recently re- outright tear-jerking ("Love Nashville veterans Gene
leased fifth album by Shan- I Can't Explain) — are won- Chrisman (drums) and Bob-
non & the Clams — Shaw's derful vehicles for Shaw's by Wood (keyboards) are
band that combines and simple but effective narra- splendid throughout, like
updates sounds mostly tives. There are also hints at the whole band, but es-
from the '50s and '60s. family history but she's not pecially on "Cryin' My Eyes
"Shannon in Nashville" stays out to embarrass anyone. Out" and the Latin-tinged
anchored in that founda- The echoing acoustic gui- "Leather, Metal, Steel."
tional era but, maybe as tar arpeggio leading into Heartbreak, you've done This cover image released by Easy Eye Sound shows "Shannon
part of its tip of the hat to opener "Golden Frames" your part on "Shannon in in Nashville," by Shannon Shaw.
Dusty Springfield's "Dusty in is 18 seconds of bliss but Nashville." Now please stay Associated Press
Memphis," there are ad- there's really nothing else away from her.q