Mark your calendars for the
2011 OZtoberFest!
October 1 & 2, 2011
2011 Key Features:
  
The individuals who portrayed the Munchkins in "The Wizard of OZ" in 1939 were youngsters, teenagers and young adults.
Today there are only a few of these wonderful people still with us. We will welcome several of the original Munchkins to OZtoberFest 2011. Most are in their mid 80s but remain full of energy and enthusiasm for the film that made them familiar around the world.
This year we will welcome back our friends Margaret Pellegrini, Karl Slover, and Myrna Swenson. Margaret was the Flower Pot and Cry Baby Munchkin and has attended the festival many times. Karl was the 1st trumpeteer and a Sleepyhead Munchkin. Myrna is beloved munchkin Clarence Swenson's widow and she is estatic to share stories and memories of Clarence with fans again.
The Munchkins will sign autographs and photos at the Columbian Theatre at specific times during OZtoberFest. See the schedule of events or times and locations of Munchkin appearances.
*Limit of THREE items per person.
There IS an additional charge of $5.00 for entrance to the Munchkin Autograph Sessions. With this pass, entrance to the session is guaranteed.
*The Munchkins charge an additional fee per autograph.
Robert Baum has spent the first few years of his retirement traveling the world, re-enacting the life of L. Frank Baum, his great-grandfather. The celebrated author (L. Frank) began as a storyteller and great-grandson’s re-enactments are a delight to Baum fans of all ages.
Mr. Baum has also loaned the OZ Museum numerous artifacts from
his personal family collection that will be on exhibit for the first time. This will give OZtoberFest particiapants a rare glance into the life and family of L. Frank Baum.
Robert and Clare will be presenting in the Swogger Gallery of the Columbian Theatre on Saturday. They will also be available there throughout the weekend to answer questions and sign autographs.
Roger Baum is the great-grandson of Oz author, L. Frank Baum. An author in his own right, Roger has written and published many children’s books.
His first book, Dorothy of Oz, is currently in production as a full length, animated feature film starring the voice talents of Lea Michelle of Glee as Dorothy, Patrick Stewart as Tugg, Kelsey Grammer as the Tin Woodman, Oliver Platt as Wiser, Martin Short as the Jester, Dan Aykroyd as Scarecrow, Jim Belushi as Lion, Megan Hilty as China Doll Princess and Hugh Dancy as Marshal Mallow. Roger has two new manuscripts that are set to be released in 2011.
Many of Roger’s books are available in Auntie Em’s Gift Shop and be sure to join us for Storytime in the OZ Museum Theater.
Click here for more information on Dorothy of Oz
Michael Siewert is back again with a partial showing of his national touring exhibit, Judy Garland The Dressing Of A Legend, at the OZ Museum.
Michael Siewert has amassed the largest collection of Judy Garland memorabilia in the world. He began collecting when he fell in love with "Dorothy" at the age of six years old. His exhibitions have allowed him to meet and spend time with many of Judy's family, colleagues and friends. He comes prepared with many great stories about Judy Garland and his collecting tactics. You will not want to miss this special event! Michael is also going to have his brand new coloring book available for purchase.
Michael will be presenting in the OZ Museum on Saturday. He will also be available in the Museum throughout the weekend to answer questions and sign autographs.
Click here to visit Michael Siewert's website.
John Fricke is the author of three books about the history of The Wizard of Oz and three books about Judy Garland. The latest of these, Judy/A Legendary Film Career, was published this month by Running Press. The beautiful hardcover volume includes over 500 illustrations in its 352 pages and includes a detailed history of all of Judy's film appearances -- including, of course, The Wizard of Oz.
Additionally, John is the recipient of two television Emmy Awards as co-producer and co-writer of the American Masters and Biography documentaries about Garland. He received a Grammy Award nomination for his liner notes for the EMI compact disc release, Judy Garland/25th Anniversary Retrospective. Earlier this summer, he was co-curator and consultant (respectively) for the Film Society of Lincoln Center and The Paley Center during New York City's "Summer of Judy." Their four-week celebration featured John as emcee and host for screenings of thirty-two full-length movie programs, as well as excerpts from -- or complete versions of -- almost forty TV appearances, all centered on the talents of the "world's greatest entertainer" from her screen debut at age seven until her final concerts forty years later.
John can be heard on the commentary tracks of such Garland film DVDs as The Wizard of Oz, Meet Me in St. Louis, Easter Parade, For Me and My Gal, The Pirate, Babes in Arms, and Girl Crazy. He wrote the deluxe booklets that accompany the Blu-ray Oz and A Star is Born dvds, as well as the Mickey Rooney/Judy DVD box set. Among his many compact disc booklets, John has written and compiled all eight of the acclaimed Savoy Jazz releases of "rare recordings from The Judy Garland Show."
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OZtoberFest 2011 Presentation:
The Very Best of Judy Garland! Her genuine fans, followers, and audiences of all ages have always preferred to hear the happy, exciting, uplifting stories about (and memories of) Judy Garland -- perhaps because they instinctively realize that those anecdotes most accurately reflect her humor, personality, heart, and soul. In this lecture-and-video presentation, historian and Wamego “regular” John Fricke recounts dozens of never-before-publicly-told tales about Judy, drawn from his new, 550-picture coffee table book, JUDY: A LEGENDARY FILM CAREER.
John will be presenting in the OZ Museum on Saturday. He will also be available in the Museum throughout the weekend to answer questions and sign autographs.
You will have the opportunity to meet the owner of the collection on exhibit, John Paul Cafiero.
Friar Johnpaul Cafiero, OFM s a Franciscan Priest of the Sacred Heart Province of Chicago/St. Louis. Born and raised in the New York Metro area, Friar Johnpaul is the oldest of an Italian/Polish Catholic family. He is a former police officer who has worked as a counselor and chaplain at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago. As a follower of St. Francis of Assisi, Friar Johnpaul’s love of the poor and outcasts is only surpassed by his love of the scripture. This comes through his many speaking and preaching engagements.
Johnpaul writes, "Why is Oz so special? I grew up in an alcoholic family – my grandfather and my dad. Dad was in the Navy and was away a lot. He always made it a point to get home for the annual TV showing of The Wizard of Oz. It was family night, with big chocolate chip cookies and hot chocolate. There wasn’t any fighting or loud shouting. It was just us together and enjoying each other’s company, hiding under our pillows when the Wicked Witch appeared. As I got older and Dad got sober (40 years now) I realized why Oz was so important. It was the place I could go, when “Kansas got crazy”. It was that place “over the rainbow … where troubles melt like lemon drops …”, it was a place of magic.
I have used the collection and the wisdom of Oz to do mentoring retreats with inner city kids in Chicago. We talk about friends on the yellow brick road of life, of haunted forests, wicked witches and flying monkeys – drugs, gangs, poverty, and violence. I ask them to look to the Wizard (God) for advice and the way home. I get them to see the magic in their own hands – ruby slippers. Yes Oz is a very special place for me, my family and all those “young at heart” in search of the magic in life. "
The OZ Museum hosts one of the broadest collections of OZ Memoribilia in existance. Come and explore over 100 years of OZ history, from the first edition L. Frank Baum books published in 1900 to the most current collectable pieces. Shop in the OZ Museum gift shop for everything from exclusive apparel to waterglobes and other unique collectables.
Bring your little Munchkin to the Water's Party Rental Munchkinland Kid's Activity Area and enjoy an inflatable, pedal tractor races, Penny Dig and more for only $10.00 for all day admission.
Special thanks to Water's Party Rental, Brilliant Beginnings Preschool, Farmer's Union Co-op, and Landmark Bank
Equipment provided by Tidalwave Entertainment
Saturday October 1, 2011:
11:00am Wamego High School Jazz Band
11:30am Wizard of Oz and Wiz Characters
12:00pm Hannah Conroy-Philbrook
1:00pm Munchkin Look-A-Like Contest (ages 12 and under)
2:30pm Kaw-lloween Classic Canoe Race Awards
3:00pm Dorothy Look-A-Like Contest (ages 12 and under)
5:00pm The Transients from Kansas City
Sunday October 2, 2011:
11:00am Music by the Stan Basgall Band
1:00pm Music by K-ROCK 101.5
Don't forget to check The Columbian Theatre Gift Shop for the Seventh Annual OZtoberFest Auction. Proceeds from the auction go to benefit the preservation and expansion of the OZ Museum.
2011 items will be listed as received. Auction opens Friday, September 30 and closes Sunday, October 2 at 2:00pm.
2011 Oztoberfest Auction items:
4 Tickets to Kauffman Stadium for a Royals Game
Queen Size Handmade Oz-Themed Quilt
Columbian Theatre Production poster, signed by cast
$500 Good Witch OZ Museum membership
$250 Dorothy OZ Museum membership
Bottle of wine courtesy of Oz Winery
Ornament signed by 2010 Special Guests
Tin Sign signed by 2010 Special Guests
Signed copy of the Wizard of Oz DVD
OZtoberFest souvenir items in signed bag
Custom Handmade Jewelry
Walk of Fame Star replica with signed certificate
Gifts and Coupon to Jersey Jack Pinball for Wizard of Oz Machine
Upon closing, auction items may be picked up and paid for at the OZ Museum. If items are not picked up, a shipping and handling charge will be applied.
For more information on auction items, please call the OZ Museum giftshop at 1-866-458-TOTO (8686).
Click your heels and join us for the 2nd Annual Ruby Slipper Run!
The run is a 10k race through Wamego and ending at the festival. And back again this year is the 2 mile Scarecrow Fun Run. The run starts at 7:00am with the Fun Run following at 7:15am.
Registration Forms can be found at: Wamego Chamber of Commerce
For more information visit Wamego Chamber of Commerce
Cycling event for all ages and abilities and net proceeds go to the WAM-SAG-MAN Trail
15 mile, 27 mile, and 58 mile routes available
Registration Forms can be found at: www.wam-sag-man.org/yellowbrickroadride.php
For more information, contact Jay Clark at jay.clark@wtcks.com
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