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Page 18 The Antique Shoppe August, 2019
1939 MGM promo photo of principal
performers in The Wizard of Oz, “SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE”
plus their literary inspiration.
From left: Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion); Jack Design Trends of the Mid-20th Century
Haley (Tin Man); Judy Garland (Dorothy);
Frank Morgan (The Wizard); Ray Bolger
0(Scarecrow) & Toto, too! By Donald-Brian Johnson

This Month’s Feature—

Off To See The Wizard:

The Wizard Of Oz Turns 80

On August 15th, the movie In any other year, Oz would
that never seems to grow old have towered over its cinematic
celebrates a major milestone. competitors – but this was 1939,
For 80 years, Oz has entranced and strong competition included the
audiences with its optimistic year’s powerhouse, Gone With The
promise: you may live on a Wind. Even boffo box office couldn’t
dusty Kansas farm, but with cover the production’s expense. Only
just a dash of magic (and a with re-releases did The Wizard of Oz
cooperative tornado), you too turn a profit. . .and only with a move “I Have A Feeling We’re Not in Kansas
might make it “over the from the big screen to the little one Anymore”, Snowbabies Guest Collection,
eady for some wizardly word rainbow”. did it achieve iconic status. 1998. 9” h., $30-50.
Rgames? Then just fill in the The reasons for the appeal of Oz Eyes opened wide at the terrors
blanks: are many. There’s the spot-on casting of the tornado. Giggles ensued when
“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in (can you imagine anyone more wide- the Cowardly Lion growled “Put ‘em
____ anymore!” up – put ‘em up”. . .and faces were
“I’ll get you, my pretty, and your eyed than Judy Garland’s Dorothy? hidden in pillows, when the Wicked
Wickeder than Margaret Hamilton’s
___ ___ , too!” Wicked Witch?) The Arlen & Witch let loose with her dastardly
“Oh Auntie Em—there’s no place like ____!” Harburg score included the instant cackle. In the days of just three major
smash ballad “Over the Rainbow”. networks (and no DVDs), seeing The
And when it came to spectacle, there Wizard of Oz right in the comfort
were lavish costumes, colorfully of your own living room was - well-
detailed sets, and eye-popping simply wonderful.
special effects (The Kansas tornado! Oz quickly became an annual TV
The Flying Monkeys! The melting staple. For the generations whose
Witch!) first exposure to the movie was on
Then there was that underlying ↑ The land we’d all like to visit: “Oz”, TV, The Wizard of Oz was just as
tug-at-your-heartstrings message: you its logo depicted in stained glass. 4 exciting. . .just as unforgettable, as it
really don’t know what you’ve got, 1/2” h. x 4” l. $40-50. must have been at its 1939 premiere.
until – suddenly – you don’t have it Original Oz memorabilia can be
anymore. In other words, “there’s no ↓Dorothy and the gang, prohibitively pricey. For the collector,
immortalized
place like home”. as an ornament. the most affordable Oz souvenirs
Commemorative plate issued in 1989, China, 2001. are those produced in later years,
celebrating the 50th anniversary of capitalizing on the movie’s enduring
The Wizard of Oz. The Hamilton Collection, 3 1/4” h. $5-10. pop culture appeal. Manufacturers
9-1/4” d., $20-30. have churned out enough snow
globes, plush toys, ornaments,
Whether you’re young or young- collector plates and the like, to line
at-heart, I’ll bet the answers came to the Yellow Brick Road from here
you right away. Those are snippets to the Emerald City; very few top a
of dialog from MGM’s The Wizard hundred dollars.
of Oz. (Just in case you happen to Continued →
be visiting from another planet, the
missing words are “Kansas”, “little
dog”, and “home”.)

Do you remember where you were
on November 3, 1956? Well, at 9 pm
across America, plenty of pajama-
clad baby-boomers were curled up
in front of their TVs, breathlessly
San Francisco awaiting the first-ever TV broadcast
Music Box Co. release, of The Wizard of Oz. Ordinarily,
depicting the “Wizard’s Workshop
behind the curtain”. The tune played? “We’re Off they’d be in bed by now — but their
to See the Wizard”, of course! 6-1/2” h. $40-50 folks had given in to CBS publicity,
Oz cookie jar, with Dorothy menaced by the which implored, “let the kids stay up “Dorothy & Company — Off To See the
Wicked Witch. Warner Brothers Studio Store, to watch this brilliant musical fairy Wizard”. Boyds Bears & Friends, “The Bear-
1998. 12” h. $60-75. tale.” stone Collection”, 2000. 4-1/2” h., $15-20.