Oh, man, I remember watching The Wizard of Oz every year as a kid. My sisters and I would gather in the living room with our blankets, pillows, and more than enough snacks to last through this epic adventure.
The film was released on August 25, 1939, and received near-universal acclaim. However, it did not air successfully on television until 1959, when its popularity exploded, and the movie became an annual event that aired early enough for most children to watch. From then on, The Wizard of Oz was a night that families looked forward to until the yearly tradition ended in 1991. And God forbid something happened to make your family miss it – you had to wait an entire year to get another chance to see it.
I never knew that the author, L. Frank Baum was born just a few hours from my hometown. Once I discovered that Chittenango, New York, celebrated him, and this fabulous story throughout the year, I knew I had to jump in my car and see what it was all about.
Don’t overlook the sidewalks – they’re painted like yellow brick roads. And signs depicting characters from the Wizard of Oz are everywhere. Stop for a bit in this charming village, incorporated in March 1942, and you may find them looking for their brains, hearts, courage, or homes in and around every corner, nook, and cranny.
The “All Things Oz Museum” is located on the main street running through town, in an old building displaying a colorful banner across the front. A dedicated group of volunteers operates it, curating over 16,000 pieces of fantastic memorabilia owned by the International L. Frank Baum & All Things Oz Historical Foundation. Of course, only a small portion of the collection is on display. The docent we spoke with said that at any given time, visitors can view between 1,200 and 1,600 items. So, plan to spend some quality time there!
The collection boasts items from around the world. Some were gifts, others came from online sales, while others were donations to help bolster the rare and obscure items found here. Have you seen the museum’s set of 4 children’s clothing hangers? In the 1930s, one might have sold for a nickel, but not today. Today, the hangers' value is so high that they’re stored in a UV-protected glass case, which costs about $7,000 itself!
“People from all 50 states and over 30 countries have come to look through our items and share stories of how their families enjoyed the magic and wonder of The Wizard of Oz,” the volunteer shared. I laughed and told her how “Follow the Yellow Brick Road” was stuck in my head for days after, how I always screeched in spine-tingling delight at the sight of those flying monkeys, and how I’d become emotional at the end of the movie, when Dorothy made it home again. It didn’t matter how many times I watched it with my sisters, the feeling and the tears held the same poignancy. Was it a dream? Had it actually happened? I remember tossing and turning at night, wondering over it.
We learned that Buddy Ebsen was the second person slated to play the Tin Man in the 1939 film, but had to be removed from the part due to complications with the makeup: “The aluminum powder used in the makeup coated his lungs, and he ended up in the hospital.” Years later, he did a great job in The Beverly Hillbillies, playing Jed Clampett, and in the TV drama Barnaby Jones – I watched him religiously in both of those.
In the museum, original props and costumes from movies and musicals are on display, with cases holding rare collectibles. You can also view autographs by Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, and Judy Garland. Who didn’t love the munchkins? The characters were adorable, and their costumes are highlighted in one section of the museum.
I never knew there were 14 Wizard of Oz books written in two series by the author, or that “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was the first of many books to introduce both children and adults to iconic personalities like Dorothy and the Wicked Witch of the West.
I stayed at a nearby hotel for the night, as I wanted to attend the “Oz-Stravaganza,” an annual event held each June. The celebration features a parade – one of the longest I’ve ever attended - and characters from Hollywood and Broadway make an appearance. The three-day event showcases the birth of Baum in a town many have never heard of. This year, it takes place from June 6 to 8, marking the 48th edition of the longest-running and largest Wizard of Oz-themed festival in the world. According to the website, special guests of the beloved occasion include the great-granddaughter of L. Frank Baum, the granddaughter of Judy Garland, the world’s preeminent Oz and Judy Garland historian/author, and Oz illustrator, among others. It’s as if the museum comes to life inside and outside the building, enveloping the village for the weekend.
“Meinhardt Raabe was the munchkin who declared the Wicked Witch was 'really, most sincerely dead,’” our guide stated. I jumped in to say I loved that line in the movie! The kid in me laughed at the memory. “He’s the one who reached out to organizers and became the first munchkin to visit Chittenango,” our guide continued. Over the years, he reached out to others, and eventually, there were seven (out of 16 survivors at the time) who became part of the celebrations honoring the writer. In Chittenango, munchkins were like family.
Jerry Maren, the last of the Munchkins, passed away in 2018 from a long illness. He was a member of the Lollipop Guild, which danced and sang in front of Dorothy right before she headed off to see the Wizard. Maren was the munchkin who handed her the lollipop as he welcomed her to Munchkinland. It was one of my favorite scenes in the movie, seeming so full of adventure for what was ahead.
Sometimes, a story can let memories (good or bad) bubble to the surface. In this case, visiting the museum triggered a flood of childhood memories, most of which involved my sisters and me reacting to special movies, such as The Wizard of Oz. As I shut down the computer and packed everything up to leave the library, where I’d been working on this piece, I found myself wandering to the children’s section and asking the counter person for help. When I finally walked away, I was holding an unabridged version of L. Frank Baum’s first book, ‘The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.’ My excitement in reading it for the 1st time, at 66, was very real. Lions and Tigers and Bears can do that to you!
If you go, visitor information:
Address: Exit 34 off the NY State Thruway
219 Genesee Street, Chittenango, NY, 13037
(315) 687-7772
Parking: I’ve never had a problem parking on the street in front of the museum
Hours: Closed on Monday and Tuesday
Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Admission: $12 donation per person
Children 10 and under are free
This is a Blue Star Museum – Active-duty military families are always admitted free of charge.
* * *
Theresa St. John is a freelance travel writer, photographer, and videographer based in Saratoga Springs, New York. She is interested in WWII history, museums, food, slavery, the Underground Railroad, interviewing interesting people, restaurant reviews, local travel, anything ghost-related, and the Erie Canal, among other things. Theresa loves to travel and sinks her feet into the moments of places she visits. Her photography essays, along with the written word, help tell the story to readers everywhere.