Stolen Ruby Slippers Found!

We have finally reached a conclusion for a remarkable story. This could be a movie! Hopefully we will get more details as the story unfolds.

 

 I wonder if we will ever find out who stole them. My guess comes after the break.

Ray Bolger and his faith based philsophy on "The Wizard of Oz"

In an overview about the production of The Wizard of Oz, Aleteia included a quote from Ray Bolger explaining his views of the spirituality of the story and the connection to it he shared with his mother.

My favorite [book growing up] was L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. “This book has a marvelous philosophy, Raymond,” Mother said. “It tells how we all need wisdom, love, courage and a home. The trouble is,” she added softly, “God has given each of us these gifts, but we don’t believe it. And so we roam the world searching for them when we have them within us all the time. Remember what the Bible says: ‘The kingdom of God is within you.’ [Luke 17:21] Keep those words with you always, Raymond.

Oz supercollector

Check out this video highlighting Oz superfan and collector Walter Krueger from Chicago.



ABC 7 News also has an additional video of the collection you can view here.

Still here....

Just waiting for something Ozzy to happen to post!

Warner Brothers developing animated feature starring Toto

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers is moving forward with an adaption of the children's book Toto, the Dog-Gone Amazing Story of The Wizard of Oz by author Michael Morpurgo.

The film will chronicle Dorothy's journey from Toto's perspective and is in the hands of Warner Animation Group.

Find out more information here and check back for updates as they become available.

New line coming from Mego

SyFy reports Mego, a company releasing popular toy action figures, and games in the  70's and 80's, is making a comeback this fall with plans to release a new line of products. The good news? The Wizard of Oz is one of their properties!

 There's no news yet on what the actual products will be, but they are due to hit Target stores and its website on July 29.

These dolls and action figures are highly sought after by collectors and this new line will likely be hotly anticipated. If you're interested act early to avoid paying E-Bay scalpers!

More information to come as it is available...

Tree carved to honor Dorothy namesake

A tree in a cemetery in Bloomington is being carved into a likeness of Dorothy and Toto in honor of the girl L. Frank Baum named Dorothy after and dedicated The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to.

Baum named famous character from his stories after his niece, Dorothy Gage, who passed away at a young age shortly after contracting a pneumonia like illness. Baum picked the name in part to try and cheer up his wife.



The cemetery will host a dedication ceremony when the carving is complete and the tree will be part of the Dorothy Gage Memorial Garden.

You can find out more about the story here.

Ghanaian Virgil Abloh And Louis Vuitton menswear connection

Created in partnership with Warner Brother's to celebrate the 80th anniversary. 

I love the left jacket but these will likely cost a pretty penny.

Interview with Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West

Broadway World has a fabulous interview with Ashleigh Thompson and Emily Perzan, Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West, respectively, in the touring production of The Wizard of Oz.

On the difference between the movie and stage show:

Ashleigh: I think in many ways we're very true to the movie. But one of the things that's different is some of our takes on the characters. There are some modern spins, and the choreography is modern-especially in Oz. The energy of it is more accessible for a modern audience, whereas the film tends to evoke the time in which it was made. In many ways our production is very traditional and respectful and paints a good picture of the movie, but it has its own life and modern take.

Emily: I would add that when you watch something in a movie, you're outside of that world. With our show, you are really in Oz, and you can dive into the emotions of the characters. That's something we focus on as actors-trying to bring the audience into it with us.

On the backstory of the witches:

Ashleigh: One of the first things the director and I discussed was that he wanted Glinda to represent Dorothy's mother, since in Kansas she doesn't have a mother. So, he wanted Glinda to be representative of the magical, kind, nurturing mother that she didn't have. Kalie had decided for Dorothy that her mother passed when she was little, so it's her vision of what her mother would have been had she lived. The director also wanted Glinda to behave as though she has all the power in her interactions with the wicked witch, so basically I just smile at her all the time. 

Emily: It's interesting because in our only encounter on stage together, Glinda really does hold all the power-she could take me down faster than I could take her down which is the opposite of how it is in Wicked. One part of Wicked that I do play off of is the wicked witch being misunderstood. She's seen as this almighty, evil character, but if someone killed your sister, stole your magic, etc. you'd be kind of mad. She is certainly misunderstood. There's a fun little scene in the stage version where you get to see a little more of that side of her. It's a scene where you see her trying to plot her revenge on Dorothy, and you get to see more of her backstory and her relationship with her flying monkeys and the Winkies. There's a feeling of loss that I try to carry through the show in terms of her losing her power and her sister.

Wizard of Oz train ride thrills children and adults alike

Check out this cool video for a glimpse of what the Wizard of Oz train ride is like. The Daily Commercial has an article interviewing several of the cast members. Here are a few words from the Wizard himself, Bob Wright:

“It has been just a really terrific experience for me. I get to work with a lot of extremely talented young people and then, I get to interact with the guests on the train as well as in the Emerald City and that is so much fun. It is just awesome. The people seem to love it.”

The Wizard of Metal

Check out this photo of metal residents of Oz on top of a metal shop found in Juneau, Alaska!

 

There's even Munchkins! Find out more here.

A word from a Munchkin

Love them or hate them, TMZ seems to have done something right, at least by Oz fans. They posted a short video of an actress who appeared in Munchkinland in The Wizard of Oz. Joan Kenmore is not a little person though, but was a six year old when filming!

Beech Moutain Featured on ABC News

ABC News has a nice little write up about the Land of Oz Theme Park. See the video below and check out some photos at the link.

 

Melinda the Mean

There's a new character hitting the land of Oz...did you know Glinda is a twin? I've heard of that in some other adaptions of Oz stories, and she's soon to make an appearance in Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. Check out the video!

In memory of Jerry Maren, rest in peace.

The Steam Engines of Oz available on Hoopla

The Steam Engines of Oz was released on Blu-ray yesterday, and if your library participates with the Hoopla app, you can stream it from them! You can also read the original comic and listen to the soundtrack score.

Find out more about Hoopla here.

Will you be watching this movie, and if you already have, what are your thoughts?

The Steam Engines of Oz reviews

Well, they aren't particularly magical:

Alienbee: "I liked the story and thought the voice cast did a good job with their characters but the computer animation was as basic as it gets. Everything has a minimalist look to it and I don’t know if that’s what they were going for."

Blu-Ray.com:  "The Steam Engines of Oz simply can't come close to capturing (and/or recapturing) the magic of the Oz universe, and its kind of weird animation style doesn't help to distract from some story and character deficits. Technical merits are fine for those considering a purchase."

And those were all I could find...would you be watching? I'm going to check it out...I enjoy seeing all different adaptions of Oz...

Wizard of Oz hits Ionia

If you're in Michigan you can visit an Oz festival next week!

Ionia is hosting a Wizard of Oz festival June 8 and 9, 2018. They will show the film in their historic downtown theater for 25 cents and are featuring a wide variety of activities for the whole family.

“There will be a lot of fun activities to make sure everyone has fun,” said Director of the City of Ionia Downtown Development Authority Linda Curtis. “It’s going to be a very fun weekend.”

Find out much more information here or by visiting the official Facebook page.

Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz movie title and poster art

Look what is now available from Boomerang! The movie is called The Wizard, the Witch, and the Crystal Ball and seems like it will provide some backstory to what happened to the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wizard before this continuation of the Oz story.

I am beyond excited...if anyone has seen it please let me know what you thought!

William Shatner on "The Steam Engines of Oz"

Closer Weekly published an interview in which William Shatner discussed his work on The Steam Engines of Oz, releasing June 5th. Unfortunately, when asked about the strengths of the movie, Shatner seemed to say it was not the animation. Shatner voices the Wizard.

"Part of the appeal is the adult knowledge that behind everybody lurks somebody else. That's as intriguing a truth as some of the stuff that I've done that I have no explanation for why they remain such perennials. Star Trek is one example, of course, but what is the reason that a couple of episodes of The Twilight Zone I've done are always among the most popular and played all the time?"
It's a charming story that I feel will hold the audience's imagination."

Read the full interview here.

Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz movie upcoming

According to Variety, season 2 of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz will launch with a movie special this memorial day! From their website:

After premiering on Boomerang in June 2017, the original series will kick off season two with a Memorial Day movie special. Season two premiere episodes will continue into 2019. After the Wicked Witch of the West’s defeat, Queen Ozma has appointed Dorothy the Princess of Emerald City. With her feet firmly grounded in her ruby slippers, Dorothy tackles her royal duties with enthusiasm, bravery and farm girl feistiness — ready to track down and put a stop to any problem that comes Oz’s way.

Lost in Oz Season 1 Part 2 preview

Here is the trailer for Season 1, Part 2 of Lost in Oz, premiering in June on Amazon Prime!
Official synopsis:

Winner of three Daytime Emmys including Outstanding Children’s Animated Program, Lost in Oz follows the story of Dorothy and Toto as they continue their magical adventures to find their way home in 13 new episodes. Working together with their friends, they must find their way out of the Deadly Desert and save Emerald City from the Nome Kingdom to have any chance of getting back to Kansas.

I'm really looking forward to the new episodes. They put an interesting twist on Oz and I love the scientific angle of the series, as well as picking out all the Oz references.

Will you be streaming?

Carmen Sandiego steals the Ruby Slippers!

Kalie Kaimann rendition of "Over the Rainbow"

Enjoy this rendition of Over the Rainbow by Kalie Kaimann, provided by the Chicago Sun Times.

New episodes of Lost in Oz coming in June

Mark your calendars! Lost in Oz returns with new episodes on Amazon Prime June 8th!

2019 Calendar

I'm always scouring the depths of the internet for Oz related news and merchandise, and it looks like this calendar will be released later this year for 2019. It's somewhat of a rarity to see merchandise based on the original illustrations from the book! This is a welcome change for me, as the calendars based on the movie tend to have the same images year after year.

You can preorder the calendar here.

Trailer Tuesday: The Wizard of Oz on tour

Enjoy this look at The Wizard of Oz National Tour!

Interview with Kari Wahlgren, voice of Dorothy in Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz

KCUR has a fabulous and extensive interview with Kari Wahlgren, voice of Dorothy (and Ozma!) in Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.

In the interview, they talk about Kari's Kansas upbringing, what playing Dorothy means to her, and how voice acting is different from other methods of performing.

Playing Dorothy:

It's been kind of a dream come true. There was something about this one that was very emotional. 

Getting at the heart of her character is the important thing. She has a very, very strong sense of friendship and loyalty. She's very compassionate.

On the freedom of voice acting:

You're not limited by what you look like or your age. I'm going through a phase right now where I play a lot of babies and grandmas on cartoons.

Listen to the full audio interview here, which includes a charming on the spot demonstration of Kari voicing Dorothy and Ozma.

The Vinyl of Oz: The Scarecrow of Oz

Ray Bolger returned to his most famous role as the Scarecrow in this release by Disney records in 1965 based on L. Frank Baum's book of the same name. In a modern twist, Glinda monitors the happenings in Oz via her magic television set!

Interview with Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz producer

Channel 24 recently conducted an interview with Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz producer Jeff DeGrandis, who discussed the shaping of the project, his favorite episode and character, and what messages he hopes the show will leave viewers with.

On similarities to other Oz projects and the original books:

Well for starters, it was key for us to have a clear vision of the design scheme, while remaining true to the original. It was imperative for us to do the original justice by retaining the power of the 1939 MGM that we all remember in our minds. We needed to be mindful of the characters, who they are from a personality perspective, how the characters engaged with one another as well as how they existed in each environment created.

On the message of the show:

I believe that the show is made for everyone. Everyone who sees the show, moms; dads; grandparents and younger kids, will be instantly attracted to the show, especially mothers. Moms and dads will love the show because it will remind them of when they saw the Wizard of Oz – a nostalgic moment in time. Memories will be sparked by the story lines, the characters and the music.
There is a very serious tone of compassion that runs throughout the series, which is evident in and amongst the characters especially between Dorothy and Wilhelmina.

Read the full interview here. 

Trailer Tuesday: Return to Oz

This week's trailer is for the much discussed Return to Oz, Disney's 1985 sequel.

This trailer refers to Mombi as a wicked queen, and has quite a splashy title card.

Interview with Roger S. Baum

USA Today recently featured an interview with Roger S. Baum.

Check out this highlight where he talks about the legacy of his great grandfather's writing and why he thinks Dorothy has endured over the years.



On the intent of the story:

“He just loved writing for children. There’s a handful of people that politicize so many things. That’s a pet peeve of mine, when someone wants to politicize Oz. It’s purely written for the enjoyment of children.”

On the significance of Dorothy:

"She's one of the very first women leaders in literature. That’s implied in the story itself."

Images from The Steam Engines of Oz

More images from The Steam Engines of Oz have been released. Check them out by clicking below.

New book releasing October 1

A new book, The Road to Oz, is set to be released October 1, 2018.

This release is described as a retelling of the making of the film, including previous adaptians and how they influenced the 1939 film, analysis of the original 1938 shooting script, and behind the scenes tidbits about the atmosphere of movie making in 1930's Hollywood.

The book is written by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman.

Read the full description below.

News Briefs

Here are several links to various stories about The Wizard of Oz in the news recently.

The Wicked Witch of the West's Crystal Ball is on display at Cornell University.

A review of different advertisements tying in to The Wizard of Oz.

Lots of discussion of the theme park reopening for select summer and fall dates.

Did you know...Liza Minnelli wore custom made Ruby Slippers to her wedding?

Ben Platt on his love for "The Wizard of Oz"

Tony award winner and star of Dear Evan Hansen and Pitch Perfect Ben Platt discovered his love for The Wizard of Oz when he was 4 years old. He recently spoke to People magazine about what the movie means to him.

I just loved the idea of going to this completely different world of unknown fantasy where the sky’s the limit. It made every day feel fantastical.
I wanted to be Dorothy really badly. I would wear red slippers around my house, had this blue jumper that was close enough to what she wore, and a giant yellow lab that I would [call] Toto.

On a related note, Ben also sang a cover of Judy Garland's "The Man that Got Away" you can hear below.

The Steam Engines of Oz Trailer

And...we have a trailer.

A celebration of Dorothy

I proudly present my first ever Youtube video, a tribute to some of the different Dorothy's through the years.

Please enjoy, share, and drop a comment.

Fabled Anthology Series

As Entertainment Weekly recently reported, Dorothy will be a character in a new anthology series titled Fabled, directed by Once Upon a Time's Jennifer Morrison. See the trailer below.

The first episode features Dorothy running into Alice from Alice in Wonderland.

Fabled will explore current social and political issues and is described as a modern fairy tale.

Dorothy's sanity is questioned in Fabled.

View the poster by clicking below.

The Steam Engines of Oz Teaser Video

No trailer yet, but here's a glimpse of some of the characters in The Steam Engines of Oz.

The Steam Engines of Oz is on Blu-Ray this June.

Hallmark 2018

Monkey Business - $34.99 - July 14

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - $17.99 - July 14

See the rest by clicking below!

Fantastic Journey to Oz

A Russian animated film based on the book of the same name, Fantastic Journey to Oz, is soon to be released in the United States. Check out the trailer below.

Release date to come.

Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz DVD Volume 2

Looks like we will soon have a new DVD release on our hands!

Warner Brothers is releasing volume 2 of Boomerang's new series, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.

The DVD will hit stores June 12, 2018 and contains 10 premiere episodes.

Here is the official description from Warner Brothers:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow is a vast and wondrous world, where adventures with Munchkins, Witches, and Flying Monkeys are just a hop, skip, and a jump down the Yellow Brick Road. Where an eight-year-old Kansas farm girl named Dorothy, embarks on heroic quests, armed only with a pragmatic, “can-do” attitude, an iconic gingham dress, a pair of magical Ruby Slippers, and the support of some very special friends.

Check out the cover art below.

Episode List:

1. Jinxed 
2. Rise of the Nome King
3. One-Winged Wally
4. Wand-erful
5. No Sleep Sleepover
6. Lion Catches a Bug
7. Tik Tok and Tin Man
8. If I Only Had Some Brawn
9. The Beast Royales
10. Time After Time

The Steam Engines of Oz

The Steam Engines of Oz is coming full speed ahead to Blu-Ray June 5, 2018.

It is based on the graphic novel of the same name and features the voices of Julianne Hough, Ron Pearlman, and William Shatner.

Plot synopsis:

A century after the Wicked Witch, the Emerald City is at the mercy of a once-revered hero, and salvation comes from the wrench of young Victoria Wright. Rediscover old friends and meet new heroes in this new tale set in the Land of Oz.

The voice cast looks decent, not loving the character design from what I see but I'll wait to see a full trailer. Who knows, maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised. 

The Vinyl of Oz: Peter Pan records

There have been numerous adaptions of the Oz stories over the years, in practically every medium, so I thought it would be fun to feature and discuss some of them here.

Our first entry is The Wizard of Oz by Peter Pan records.

Peter Pan records produced a large library of children's titles on vinyl throughout the 1950's through the 1970's, many of which contained a book to follow along with.

This version of The Wizard of Oz features the Silver Slippers in possession of the Wicked Witch of the West. Dorothy puts them on after melting the witch. Dorothy is blond in the inside illustrations and brunette on the cover.

Also note the songs featured, undoubtedly inspired by the MGM picture.

Kalie Kaimann interview

Check out this interview with Kalie Kaimann, currently playing Dorothy in the national tour of The Wizard of Oz.

 This is Kalie's first higher profile role...she came to the production after performing in community theater in her hometown and cites Judy Garland as an inspiration.

 Included in the video is a charming rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. (Pay no attention to the ham who is interviewing her).

 

Check out the official website for The Wizard of Oz on tour.

Superfriends in Oz

Summer is right around the corner, which means superhero movies, so why not, for our inaugrual post, enjoy this episode of Superfriends.

I stumbled upon this years ago on Boomerang (who incidentally is now home to Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz) and find it incredibly charming and a marriage between two of my favorite things, Oz, and Superman. 

Enjoy and leave your thoughts in the comments. 

Welcome

Welcome!

Thank you for dropping in. Stay tuned. There's more to come. Pages of Oz is your source for everything Ozzy, from news, to reviews, to just plain fun, celebrating all of Oz, including the 1939 classic.

Sit back, relax, hang onto your Toto's and tap your heels together 3 times.