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==November 7, 2017: ''The Baum Bugle'', Autumn 2017==
==November 13, 2025: ''The Baum Bugle'' Autumn 2025 Issue==
[[File:Bbugleautumn17.jpg|left]]The latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the International Wizard of Oz Club's journal, is making its way to members now. This issue looks back at ''The Lost Princess of Oz'', celebrating its centennial this year; and the recent NBC television series ''Emerald City'' and ''Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz'', among other topics.
[[file:Bbautumn25.jpg|right]] The latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of oz Club, is making its way to members now. This issue celebrates forty years of ''Return to Oz'', and includes a comprehensive checklist of collectibles from the 1985 Disney movie. Keep an eye on this space for future updates.
 
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In this issue:
* The front cover features the Fab Five as depicted in the new series ''Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz'', [https://www.boomerang.com/shows/dorothy-franchise/series/dorothy-series now streaming on the Boomerang website].
* Interim editor John Fricke talks about the issue and what he's been doing this year, including aiding the Smithsonian Institution in [http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/help-reunite-dorothy-and-scarecrow restoring and preserving the Ruby Slippers] in his "From the Editor" column.
* New Club President Jane Albright outlined her relationship to Oz and the Club in her first column, "Oz Is Us", which includes:
** The appointment of Sarah Crotzer as the new ''Bugle'' editor, starting with the Spring 2018 issue.
** The publication of [http://shop.ozclub.org/category.sc;jsessionid=4CBF3C1F0488B027D3FF7CEFD0F4DCCC.p3plqscsfapp001?categoryId=6 ''Bibliographia Baumiana''], a bibliographic compendium of L. Frank Baum's non-Oz works (that has been in the works for a couple of decades now).
* Among the latest treasures and tidbits uncovered by Jay Davis for "Oz and Ends":
** Funko's Vynl line includes [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B073YD35BS/thewonderwizardo/ a set of Dorothy and the Scarecrow].
** LEGO minifigs of the Wicked Witch of the West and two flying monkeys are part of [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B06XRX1GQX/thewonderwizardo/ ''The LEGO Batman Movie'' Ultimate Batmobile Kit] (!!!).
** Organic Studios' [http://www.organicsstudio.com/our-inks/the-masters-of-writing-series/ Masters of Writing series of author-inspired inks] introduces L. Frank Baum Emerald Green.
** The Nickelodeon series ''Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn'' has an Oz-themed episode, [http://www.organicsstudio.com/our-inks/the-masters-of-writing-series/ "The Wizard of Quads"].
** The 1987 anime series ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' is [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B072ZPQ421/thewonderwizardo/ available in episode format on home video] at last!
** The closure of the Great Movie Ride, with its Wicked Witch of the West and other Oz characters, at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios park.
** ''Wicked'' surpassing ''The Phantom of the Opera'' to become Broadway's second highest grossing musical ever (only ''The Lion King'' is ahead of it).
** New Oz stage productions:
*** ''The Wizard of Oz'' from Starlight Village Players in Orinda, California.
*** ''The Bricklayers of Oz'' by the Dance Crash Company of Chicago.
*** ''West End Bares'' Oz-themed nude revue ''Ruby Strippers'' in London's West End.
** Judy Garland's children, Liza Minnelli and Lorna and Joey Luft, fulfilled a promise made to their mother by having her body reinterred in a new pavilion at the [http://www.hollywoodforever.com/ Hollywood Forever cemetery] in Los Angeles. Judy had been at the Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.
** Big Fish unveils their latest Oz-themed computer game, [https://www.bigfishgames.com/games/18170/bridge-to-another-world-escape-from-oz/?pc ''Escape from Oz''], for the Mac and PC.
* "''Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz…please meet Lyman, Frank, and Wilhelmina" looks behind the scenes at [https://www.boomerang.com/shows/dorothy-franchise/series/dorothy-series Boomerang's new Oz cartoon] (which the ''Bugle'' will review in the Winter 2017 issue).


More will be included in this report soon.
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==''Wicked'' and ''Wicked: For Good'' Accolades and Awards==
With high profile movie releases, naturally ''Wicked'' and ''Wicked: For Good'' will receive acclaim during the film award seasons. Here, then, we will keep track of awards presented to the ''Wicked'' movies and their cast and crew, plus nominations for awards to be given later. Keep an eye on this list or the Wikipedia pages for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accolades_received_by_Wicked_(2024_film) ''Wicked''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicked%3A_For_Good#Accolades ''Wicked: For Good''] as more news comes in.


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The awards are presented here in the chronological order they were presented:
* September 27, 2024: International Cinematographers "Manaki Brothers" Film Festival, SUMOLIGHT Creative Energy Award: Alice Brooks (Cinematographer) and Dave Smith (Gaffer)
* November 18, 2024: Heartland Film Festival, Truly Moving Picture Award: ''Wicked''
* November 23, 2024: The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage, Production Designer Award: Nathan Crowley
* December 4, 2024: National Board of Review
** Best Film: ''Wicked''
** Best Director: Jon M. Chu
** Spotlight Award: the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
* December 5, 2024: American Film Institute Awards, Top 10 Films of the Year: ''Wicked'' (alongside nine other movies)
* December 8, 2024: Washington DC Area Film Critics Film Critics Association
** Best Feature: ''Wicked''
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
* December 8, 2024: Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards
** Best Picture: ''Wicked''
** Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande (tied with Zoe Saldaña for ''Emilia Pérez'')
** Best Director: Jon M. Chu
** Best Casting: Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
** Best Marketing Campaign: ''Wicked''
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
* December 9, 2024: Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Actress Award—Film: Cynthia Erivo
* December 9, 2024: Michigan Movie Critics Guild, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* December 9, 2024: Atlanta Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* December 9, 2024: San Diego Film Critics Society
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* December 13, 2024: African-American Film Critics Association, Innovator Award: Paul Tazewell
* December 13, 2024: Las Vegas Film Critics Society
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
** Best Family Film: ''Wicked''
* December 15, 2024: St. Louis Film Critics Association, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* December 16, 2024: Phoenix Film Critics Society
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
* December 16, 2024: Seattle Film Critics Society, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* December 16, 2024: Iowa Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande (tied with Isabella Rossellini in ''Conclave'')
* December 16, 2024: Southeastern Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* December 21, 2024: Nevada Film Critics Society
** Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
** Best Visual Effects: Pablo Helman
* December 28, 2024: Digital Spy Readers Awards, Most Anticipated Movie of 2025: ''Wicked: For Good''
* December 30, 2024: TiBS Editors Choice Awards:
** Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
** Best Director: Jon M. Chu
** Best Ensemble: ''Wicked''
* January 2, 2025: Capri Hollywood-International Film Festival Award, Best Sound: ''Wicked''
* January 2, 2025: Critics Association of Central Florida
** Best Cast: ''Wicked''
** Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Sound Design: ''Wicked''
* January 3, 2025: Palm Springs International Film Festival
** Creative Impact in Acting Award: Cynthia Erivo
** Rising Star Award: Ariana Grande
* January 3, 2025: Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* January 4, 2025: DiscussingFilm Global Critic Award, Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
* January 5, 2025: Golden Globe Awards, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: ''Wicked''
* January 10, 2025: Music City Film Critics Association, Best Music Film: ''Wicked''
* January 10, 2025: Minnesota Film Critics Association, Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
* January 12, 2025: Puerto Rico Critics Association
** Best Comedy/Musical: ''Wicked''
** Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
* January 13, 2025: North Dakota Film Society, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* January 13, 2025: Hawaii Film Critics Society
** Best Art Direction: ''Wicked''
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Visual Effects: ''Wicked''
* January 14, 2025: Portland Critics Association, Best Supporting Performance (Female): Ariana Grande
* January 16, 2025: North American Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* January 24, 2025: Denver Film Critics Society, Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Female: Ariana Grande
* January 26, 2025: Satellite Awards
** Best Supporting Actress—Motion Picture: Ariana Grande
** Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Sound: ''Wicked''
** Make-Up Award: ''Wicked''
* January 27, 2025: Online Film Critics Society, Technical Achievement Award — Choreography: ''Wicked''
* February 6, 2025: Costume Designers Guild Awards, Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Paul Tazewell
* February 7, 2025: Set Decorators Society of America, Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film: Lee Sandales and Nathan Crowley
* February 7, 2025: Critics' Choice Movie Awards
** Best Director: Jon M. Chu
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
* February 7, 2025: AACTA Awards, Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film: ''Wicked''
* February 9, 2025: Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Virtuoso Award: Ariana Grande
* February 9, 2025: AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, Best Screenwriter: Winnie Holzman
* February 12, 2025: Artios Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Big Budget Feature (Comedy): Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Ryan Bernard Tymensky, Tamsyn Manson
* February 13, 2025: Dorian Awards
** Supporting Film Performance of the Year: Ariana Grande
** "We're Wilde About You" Rising Star Award: Jonathan Bailey
** Galeca LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer: Cynthia Erivo
* February 15, 2025: Art Directors Guild Awards, Excellence in Production Design for a Fantasy Film: Nathan Crowley
* February 15, 2025: Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild
** Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture: Frances Hannon, Alice Jones, Nuria Mbornio, Johanna Nielsen, Branka Vorkapic
** Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture: Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth, Sim Camps, Gabor Kerekes
* February 16, 2025: BAFTA Film Awards
** Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
* February 17, 2025: Black Reel Awards
** Outstanding Soundtrack: ''Wicked''
** Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* February 17, 2025: Latino Entertainment Journalists Society
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* February 22, 2025: NAACP Image Awards
** Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
** Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album: ''Wicked: The Soundtrack''
* February 23, 2025: Online Film and Television Association
** Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Adapted Song: "Defying Gravity"
* February 23, 2025: Golden Reel Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing–Feature Motion Picture: Catherine Wilson, Robin Baynton
* February 28, 2025: International Cinematographers Guild Publicists Awards, Maxwell Weinberg Award for Motion Picture Publicity Campaign: ''Wicked''
* March 2, 2025: Academy Awards
** Best Costume Design: ''Wicked''
** Best Production Design: ''Wicked''
* March 11, 2025: Queerties
** Drama Movie: ''Wicked''
** Film Performance: Jonathan Bailey
** Next Big Thing: ''Wicked: For Good''
* March 14, 2025: American Cinema Editors Awards, Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical: Myron Kerstein
* March 17, 2025: iHeartRadio Music Awards, Favorite Soundtrack: ''Wicked: The Soundtrack''
* April 22, 2025: Webby Awards, Variety and Reality, General Video and Film: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Inn_IA-MA&ab_channel=Variety ''Wicked'' Stars Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Break Down Viral "Holding Space" Interview]
* June 9, 2025: The BET Awards, Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
* June 21, 2025: Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards:
** Favorite Movie: ''Wicked''
** Favorite Movie Actress: Ariana Grande as Glinda
** Favorite Song from a Movie: "Defying Gravity"
* July 3, 2025: Astra Midseason Movie Awards, Most Anticipated Film: ''Wicked: For Good''
* August 5, 2025: Las Culturista Culture Awards, Harshest Truth About ''Wicked'': Phannee not realized, we don't get into his gay story (What was that like? Was it hard coming out or was Pfannee born wealthy? Prequel idea about this.)
* October 19, 2025: Middleburg Film Festival, Creative Collaborators Award: Alice Brooks (cinematographer) and Myron Kerstein (editor), ''Wicked: For Good''
* October 26, 2025: Savannah Film Festival, Vanguard Director Award: Jon M. Chu
* November 3, 2025: ''People'' Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive: Jonathan Bailey
* November 4, 2025: Media Access Awards, Christopher Reeve Acting Award: Marissa Bode
* November 19, 2025: Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Music Themed Film, Biopic, or Musical: ''Wicked: For Good'', Jon M. Chu


==August 5, 2017: The L. Frank Baum Memorial Award==
''Wicked'' and ''Wicked: For Good'' have the following nominations for forthcoming awards:
This evening, the International Wizard of Oz Club presented it's highest award, the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, to Scott Cummings. Cummings served as editor of the Club's journal, ''The Baum Bugle'', for many years, producing some of its most memorable issues. He is also a tireless researcher who keeps finding out new things about Oz, and frequent con chair (including this year's National Oz Convention in the Chicago area). Congratulations, Scott!
* February 1, 2026: The Grammy Awards
** Best Compilation Album for Visual Media: ''Wicked'' soundtrack
** Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: ''Wicked'', John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
** Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, "Defying Gravity"
** Best Instrumental Composition: John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, "Train to the Emerald City"


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==July 26, 2017: June Foray, 1917-2017==
==October 8, 2025: Robert A. Baum, 1942-2025==
Perhaps the greatest and most prolific of voice actors, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Foray June Foray] passed away today at the age of 99 (only 54 days short of her 100th birthday). Although still working well into her nineties, Foray had been in declining health the last two years, particularly after a 2015 auto accident. Anyone who has ever watch cartoons probably has heard her voice. Among [http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/June-Foray/ her many, many roles] were Lucifer the Cat in ''Cinderella'' (her first voiceover job) and Grandmother Fa in ''Mulan'' for Disney; Granny, Witch Hazel, and Miss Prissy for Warner Bros.; Splinter and Knothead in the ''Woody Woodpecker'' cartoons; Cindy Lou Who in ''How the Grinch Stole Christmas''; and stints in shows ranging from ''Mr. Magoo'' to ''The Simpsons''. She was even [https://youtu.be/s_evUn1c7bQ the voice of Betty Rubble in the original pilot for ''The Flintstones''], and Talky Tina in the "Living Doll" episode of ''The Twilight Zone'' (a take-off on her earlier work as the voice of the original Chatty Cathy doll). She will probably be best known, however, for her work with Jay Ward, where she voiced Nell in ''Dudley Do-Right'', Ursula in ''George of the Jungle'', Marigold in ''Tom Slick'', and Rocky the Squirrel and Natasha Fatale in ''The Bullwinkle Show''. Among her credits was the 1967-68 MGM anthology series [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Off_to_See_the_Wizard ''Off to See the Wizard''], in which June was the voice of Dorothy (as seen in the clip below) and the Wicked Witch of the West, alongside fellow voiceover icons Mel Blanc, Daws Butler, and Don Messick.
[[file:Robert_A_Baum_Jr.webp|300 px|center]] Robert A. "Bob" Baum, great-grandson of L. Frank Baum and an important Oz scholar in his own right, passed away today at the age of 83. His generosity in sharing his family's collection and history has been a boon to Oz in many ways. Museums, documentaries, and Oz festivals and conventions have all been enhanced by Bob's donations. He was a consultant on the 1990 television movie ''The Dreamer of Oz'', a biopic of his great-grandfather, and even recreated Frank's home office on set using items from his own collection. He served the International Wizard of Oz Club as a director and contributor to ''The Baum Bugle'', as well as frequent convention guest. The [https://www.lulu.com/shop/bob-baum-and-don-abbott-and-rob-lauer-and-autumn-rose-frodelius/oziana-2022/paperback/product-pv4dmd.html?q=oziana+2022&page=1&pageSize=4 2022 issue of ''Oziana''], the Club's literary magazine, was a collection of Bob Baum's fanciful stories about his family history. He and his wife, Claire, would sometimes appear at events as L. Frank and Maud Baum to tell stories about their lives. For his many contributions, he was awarded the Oz Club's highest honor, named after his great-grandfather, in 2002.
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Among her other achievements, she started the Hollywood chapter of the Association Internationale du Film d'Animation (which later made her the recipient of its first June Foray Award); helped create [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annie_Award the Annie Awards], which she later won two of; lobbied the Oscars to include a category for animated features; and has won the Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award, the Inkpot Award, and both an Emmy and the Governor's Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.


She was often compared to the equally prolific Mel Blanc, but the legendary cartoon producer Chuck Jones (who was in charge of the animated segments of ''Off to See the Wizard'') said, "June Foray is not the female Mel Blanc. Mel Blanc is the male June Foray."
(Information courtesy Jane Albright on Facebook. Photo courtesy [https://oz.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_A._Baum_Jr. The Oz Wiki].)


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==July 1, 2017: The 2017 Winkie Award==
==September 21, 2025: Elaine Merk Binder, 1930-2025==
[[File:John Fricke Winkie 2017.jpg|right|300px]]OzCon International gave its highest award tonight, for contributions to the convention and Oz in general, to John Fricke. The award-winning author and Oz and Judy Garland expert has contributed to many programs and events at the convention for over thirty years, despite being an infrequent visitor to the west coast. Congratulations to John!
Elaine Merk Binder, one of the last remaining actors who played a Munchkin in ''The Wizard of Oz'', passed away today at the age of 94. Born in Colorado, she appeared as an extra in several movies in the '30s, including an ''Our Gang'' short. She was one of a dozen young girls who filled in the ranks of background female Munchkins after Judy Garland's Dorothy arrives in Oz. But after 1940 she left show business, and went on to earn degrees in education and music. She appeared in the 2024 documentary series ''Memories of Oz'', reminiscing about making the movie.


(Photo courtesy Sam Milazzo.)
(Information courtesy [https://variety.com/2025/film/news/elaine-merk-binder-dead-munchkin-wizard-of-oz-1236525749/ ''Variety''] and [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5285756/ IMDB].)
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==May 27, 2017: ''The Baum Bugle'', Spring 2017==
==August 8, 2025: ''The Baum Bugle'' Spring 2025==
[[File:Bbspring17.jpg|center|800px]]Now back from the printers and making its way to members mailboxes is the Spring 2017 issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club. If you have not received this issue yet, you're not a member of the Club for 2017, so [http://shop.ozclub.org/category.sc;jsessionid=76688A88A1E8564A683CB8E847A850CD.qscstrfrnt03?categoryId=8 renew (or become a member for the first time) now!]
[[file:Bbspring25.png|400 px|right]] The latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is now making its way to members. This issue celebrates the release of ''Wicked'' (Part 1).


In this issue:
In this issue:
* The wraparound cover presents highlights of the St. Louis Municipal Opera's productions of ''The Wizard of Oz'' from 1992 (on the left/back cover), featuring Phyllis Diller as the Wicked Witch of the West, and the 2016 production on the right/front cover.
* The front cover reprints the publicity shot of ''Wicked'' stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande recreating the original poster design for the ''Wicked'' stage show.
* New (and returning) interim editor John Fricke talks about his connections to Oz and the ''Bugle'' in "From the Editor".
* The inside covers reprint Anton Loeb's endpaper design for the 1950 book adaptation of ''The Wizard of Oz''.
* Outgoing Club president Carrie Hedges gives some final reflections in her final "OZervations" column.
* The table of contents includes Mark Manley's ''Wicked'' tribute painting, "The Melting Occurred at the Thirteenth Hour".
* Short items covered in "Oz and Ends":
* In "Letters", Oz Club President Ryan Bunch looks back at how the ''Bugle'' covered the path ''Wicked'' has taken from page to stage to screen, and ''Bugle'' editor Sarah K. Crotzer looks at how this issue's features came about.
** NBC's cancellation of the ''Emerald City'' television series.
* In "The Bugle Bulletin":
** The debut of [https://www.boomerang.com/shows/dorothy-franchise/series/dorothy-series ''Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz''] on Boomerang.
** The National Library Service (NLS) has [https://www.loc.gov/nls/new-materials/book-lists/wicked-and-the-wizard-of-oz/ a large collection of Oz materials] for the blind and print disabled.
** A man in Essex buying a pair of Ruby Slippers for his wife off eBay—a giant pair that had been used in a display outside of Harrod's in 2009!
** "Beyond the Shifting Sands" remembers recently passed Oz contributors Jean Marsh, Stephen J. Teller, Jack Van Camp, and Sally Roesch Wagner.
** The forthcoming publication of [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0008252564/thewonderwizardo/ ''Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz''] by Michael Morpurgo.
* Sarah K. Crotzer reacts to the ''Wicked'' film in "What Is This Feeling?"
** New Line Cinema has bought a pitch for a ''Wizard of Oz''-themed horror story from Mike Van Waes. (Don't panic, it hasn't even entered pre-production yet, and may never make it to the screen.)
* "What the Papers Said" looks at a number of reviews of ''Wicked'' from around the world.
** Rifftrax puts its own unique commentary to the 1969 kiddie matinée movie [http://www.rifftrax.com/the-wonderful-land-of-oz ''The Wonderful Land of Oz''].
* "Wicked Wares: Toys, Plushes, and Cinema Exclusives" by Jane Albright looks at a variety of ''Wicked'' movie collectibles.
** New [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B06VVFBMBK/thewonderwizardo/ ''Wizard of Oz'' nesting dolls].
* David Diket looks at the history and evolution of Wicked Witch of the West dolls in "My Beautiful Wickedness" and "David's Timeline of Beautifully Wicked Dolls".
** A $1,000 reward being offered for the missing Oz-themed stepping stones and headstone of a deceased Oz fan in Georgia.
* Karyl Carlson looks back at how she started creating [https://karylsozdolls.com/ custom Oz dolls] in "The Dollmaker of Oz".
** Judy Garland's original 1939 single version of "Over the Rainbow" and the original 1975 Broadway cast recording of ''The Wiz'' were both inducted into the [https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/recording-registry/complete-national-recording-registry-listing/ National Recording Registry].
* It's been twenty-five years since the last installment, but Carl Rexroad continues his look at political cartoons themed around ''The Wizard of Oz'' in "The Editorial Cartoons of Oz, Part 1: 125 Years Later, ''The Wizard of Oz'' Still Drives Political Debate".
** John R. Neill's original drawing for the chapter head of Chapter 3 of ''Tik-Tok of Oz'' recently sold at auction for $3,800
* William STillman looks at the history of one of the bestselling Oz adaptations in "75 Years of Anton Loeb's ''The Wizard of Oz''".
* Sarah Crotzer examines what went wrong with television's latest visit to Oz in "Last Night When We Were Young: An Autopsy of NBC's ''Emerald City''".
* In "Oz in the Arts", Robert Lamont reviews [https://wizmusical.com/ the recent Broadway revival of ''The Wiz''] (now on tour).
* "Entering the New '[https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1481469711/thewonderwizardo/ Ages of Oz': An Interview with Gabriel Gale" looks at the new book series and its creator.
* In "The Bugle Review":
* John Fricke continues his look at the many versions of ''The Wizard of Oz'' presented by the St. Louis Municipal Opera in "Magical, Musical Muny (Part Two): How a Blend of Baum and MGM First Came to the Stage…and Endured".
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0063377012/thewonderwizardo/ ''Elphie: A Wicked Childhood'' by Gregory Maguire], reviewed by Alan Wise.
* Five Oz fans reflect on how they discovered Oz and how it's affected their lives in "Adventures in Oz".
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DNKY21JB/thewonderwizardo/ The blu-ray release of ''Wicked''], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
* "The MGM Scrapbook" returns, and goes "Back to the Beginning…" examining the history of scholarship and fandom surrounding The Movie, as well as Arthur Freed's notes from a meeting, early in 1938, looking at possible casting and other ideas, and the matte painting of Dorothy and her friends approaching the gates of the Emerald City.
** [https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/21442/double-critical-llc ''Adventules in Oz: Campaign Setting'' and ''Beasts & Beings'' role-playing campaign books], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
* "The Oz Bookshelf" reviews and lists several recently published books:
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CSYB4B12/thewonderwizardo/ ''Wicked: The Game'' by Spin Master], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/163140704X/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus'' by L. Frank Baum, newly illustrated by Eric Shanower], reviewed by Jane Albright.
* Michael Gessel remembers a recently deceased long-time Oz fan in "The Lifelong Scholar: Stephen J. Teller's Journey from Kansas to Oz".
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0399186212/thewonderwizardo/ ''Short'' by Holly Goldberg Sloan], reviewed by Angelica Carpenter.
* The back cover shows the Tonner Doll versions of Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1535364459/thewonderwizardo/ ''Adult Coloring Book: Wonderful Wizard of Oz''].
 
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1365331768/thewonderwizardo/ ''After Th'Oz: A Collection of Mostly Fictional Afterthoughts on the Land of Oz'' by Ron Bexley, Jr.]
Also included with this issue:
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/194139308X/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop'' by Richard M. Isackes and Karen L. Maness].
* This issue's Oz craft is a miniature version of the Emerald City Express train from the ''Wicked'' movie.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1626923949/thewonderwizardo/ ''Color the Classics: The Wizard of Oz: A Coloring Book Trip Down the Yellow Brick Road'' by Jae-Eun Lee].
* And in the final (for now?) issue of ''The Emerald City Gazette'', the newspaper for younger Oz fans (of all ages), Bungle and Toto stroll through the Emerald Palace to ensure that those pesky nomes are finally gone for good.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/153079224X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy and the Four Corners of Magic''] and [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1535317159/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy and the City of Green Glass''] by Red Reyna, the first two thirds of the Topaz Road Trilogy.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0991184238/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy Jones: A Jazz Age Trip Through Oz'' by Claudia Helena Ross].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1466318155/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy, Part 1: The Heart and the Demn'' by Jaime Bice].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1944251693/thewonderwizardo/ ''En Otro Oz: Poems'' by Chantel Acevedo].
** A new edition of [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1593931077/thewonderwizardo/ ''Hollywood's Babe: Dancing Through Oz'' by Caren Marsh-Doll] (Judy Garland's stand-in during production of The Movie).
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/148111638X/thewonderwizardo/ ''If I Only Had a Brain: A Modern-Day Journey to "Oz"'' by Colette A. Finney].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1534668977/thewonderwizardo/ ''Lacy Sunshine's Oz Coloring Book'' by Heather Valentin].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0692670394/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Librarian Book 1: Little Boy Lost'' by Eric Hobbs].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/194573101X/thewonderwizardo/ ''My Besties of Oz Coloring Book'' by Sherri Baldy].
** ''Nomes of Oz'' by James C. Wallace ii and Amanda D. Wallace.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1504339967/thewonderwizardo/ ''Oh, My God! Moving Beyond the Emerald City'' by Javier J. Farias].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1532875037/thewonderwizardo/ ''TheOther Wizard of Oz'' (Shadow of Oz Volume 3) by Nick Damon].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1536999830/thewonderwizardo/ ''Oz Sucks'' by Becky Pourchot].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1682564347/thewonderwizardo/ ''Quoting Matilda: The Words and History of a Forgotten Suffragist'' by Susan Savion].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1533068801/thewonderwizardo/ ''There's No Place Like Home: Hope and Help on Your Journey Toward Heaven'' by Chris Lohrstorfer].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1365158926/thewonderwizardo/ ''Tinker Smith and the Conspiracy of Oz'' by Solitaire Parke].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1524606391/thewonderwizardo/ ''Toto's Tale'' by Shannon K. Mazurick].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1945987103/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wastelands of Oz'' (Return to Oz Volume 1) by by Kasey Hill].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1523932686/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz: The 1903 Musical Comedy: Complete Book and Lyrics''].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1535230282/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz as a Parable'' by Steve Adams].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/2733839241/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz Big Picture Book''' adapted by Anouk Filippini and illustrated by Elodie Coudray].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1454920939/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz Coloring Book'' by Fabiana Attanasio].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1530056772/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz Coloring Book'' by Nora Begona].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/069262340X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Woe Is Oz Adult Coloring Book, Volume 1'' by Ethan Tarshish].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1523679921/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful Andrew of Oz: A "Color with Me" Adventure'' by Keith White, Jr.]
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1533367876/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful Wizard of Bacon'' by Anonymous Connoisseur of Bacon].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1539384918/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Zombies of Oz'' by Dan Aitken].
* "The Magic Picture" sees Scott Cummings looking at the "Over the Rainbow: Toys from the Land of Oz" exhibit at [http://www.toyandminiaturemuseum.org/ The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures] (still running, through August 20) in Kansas City, Missouri.
* "In Memoriam" remembers the life of longtime, devoted Oz fan and Oz Club member [http://ozclub.org/about-us/l-frank-baum-memorial-award-winners/robin-olderman/ Robin Olderman].


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==April 30, 2017: ''Lost in Oz: Extended Adventure'' wins three Emmy Awards==
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[[File:LSOZ_BoxArt-m.jpg|center|400px]]The Amazon Prime series, ''Lost in Oz'', hasn't even come out in its entirety yet, but already it is an award winner. The second outing of the series, [https://smile.amazon.com/Lost-in-Oz-Extended-Adventure/dp/B00Z89OAFY// ''Extended Adventure''], a compilation of the first three episodes, today won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Animated Program, beating out ''Milo Murphy's Law'', ''Dragons: Race to the Edge'', ''LEGO Satr Wars: The Freemaker Adventures'', and ''The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show''. If that weren't enough, the day before it also won two awards at the Creative Arts awards, for technical achivements. ''Lost in Oz: Extended Adventure'' won the awards for Outstanding Sound Mixing—Animation and Oustanding Sound Editing—Animation. (It had also been nominated for Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series or Special and Outstanding Writing in an Animated Program, but it lost both awards to ''Trollhunters''.)


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==July 19, 2025: Crotzer Wins L. Frank Baum Memorial Award==
This evening, Sarah K. Crotzer was presented the L. Frank Bam Memorial Award for her contributions to Oz. She has been a tireless Oz researcher and writer, with a special interest in the history of Oz games. She is also the current editor of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, and recently became the longest-serving editor in Club history.


==April 26,2017: Merle "Robin" Olderman, 1944-2017==
Also presented tonight were the Club's annual prizes for writing and art. This year's winners are:
[[File:1988RobinOlderman.jpg|center|400px]]
* The Fred Otto Prize for Fiction:
** First place, Jesse Jury for "Four Friends of Oz"
** Second place, J. L. Bell for "Who's Got the Button?"
* The C. Warren Hollister Prize for Non-Fiction:
** First place, Rachel Graham for "An Essential Quickening: John R. Neill and the Art of Oz"
** Second place, Cynthia Ragni for "Project Ozma"
* The Rob Roy MacVeigh Prize for Art:
** First place, Jime Wimmer for "Dorothy and the Cyclone"
** Second place, Rob Lauer for "Ruth and Her Friends in Oz"


Merle "Robin" olderman, a longtime member of and contributor to the International Wizard of Oz Club and its conventions, passed away today at the age of 72 in Kansas City, Missouri. A retired Houston English teacher, Robin joined the Inetrnational Wizard of Oz Club in 1969, but was reluctant to attend a convention until talked into it by fellow member Jim Haff in 1974—and she never stopped. Robin was a mainstay at all three of the Club's regional conventions, as well as the National Convention when it started, and helped out with auctions, plays, and anywhere else she could. She also became an active leader within the Club, serving many stints on the board of directors, contributing to ''The Baum Bugle'' and other Club publications, editing ''The Oz Game Book'', and serving as editor of the Club's literary magazine, ''Oziana'', for fifteen years. For her many contributions, Olderman received the Club's highest honor, the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, in 1988. Predeceased by her husband Jeff in 2009, she is survived by her two daughters and their families.
----


(Image of Robin Olderman with her L. Frank Baum Memorial Award courtesy [http://ozclub.org/ the International Wizard of Oz Club].)
==June 21, 2025: The Winkie Award==
Tonight, OzCon International gave its highest honor, the Winkie Award, to Sam Milazzo. The award recognizes all of the contributions Sam has made to the convention over the past few years, with presentations, panels, and generally helping out.


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==March 7, 2017: ''The Baum Bugle'', Winter 2016==
==May 6, 2025: ''The Baum Bugle'' Winter 2024==
[[File:Bbwinter16.jpg|left|300px]]Now back from the printers and making its way to members mailboxes is the Winter 2016 issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club. This issue celebrates one hundred years of the novel ''Rinkitink in Oz''.
[[File:Bbwinter24.png|400 px|right]]
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It may be slipping back in the calendar a bit, but the latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is making its way to members' mailboxes now.


In this issue:
In this issue:
* The front cover is a painting by [danielhornestudios.com Daniel Horne] which graced the cover of a 1995 edition of ''Rinkitink in Oz''.
* All four covers celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of ''The Wiz'':
* Scott Cummings reflects on ''Rinkitink in Oz'' and how its themes still resonate today in "From the Editor".
** The front cover features Stephanie Mills and Hinton Battle in [https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/0599e600-5cf5-0130-4cf7-58d385a7b928 a 1974 publicity shot for the musical].
* Oz Club President Carrie Hedges talks Club business, including [http://www.lulu.com/shop/baum-l-frank/oziana-2016/paperback/product-22894952.html this year's edition of ''Oziana''], [http://ozclub.org/join-the-club/ membership renewal], and this summer's [http://ozclub.org/register-2017-national-convention/ forthcoming Oz conventions] in "OZervations".
** The inside front cover shows several costumes from the play on exhibit at [https://www.si.edu/museums/african-american-museum the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture].
* In "Oz and Ends", Jared Davis has found all kinds of Oz information and products, including:
** The inside back cover features production art for the play by Tom John.
** Oz art and costumes going under the gavel at recent auctions.
** The back cover reproduces a new work, [https://artsofimagination.org/the-wiz-at-50/ ''The Journey from Home: Revisiting ''The Wiz'' at 50''], also by Tom John.
** The premiere of ''Dorothy and the Lost Prince of Oz'' at the Tulsa Ballet.
* In "Letters", Oz Club President Ryan Bunch reflects on fifty years of ''The Wiz'' and invites members to [the 2025 edition of the Club's annual convention in Aberdeen, South Dakota], while ''Bugle'' editor Sarah K. Crotzer also looks back at ''The Wiz'', as well as other anniversaries celebrated in this issue.
** A 2017 concert tour for a holographic Judy Garland.
* News items highlighted in "The Bugle Bulletin":
** Cover artist Daniel Horne other works include a Cowardly Lion bust.
** ''Wicked'' wins two Academy Awards, with [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZtKj5-xE1I&ab_channel=Oscars Paul Tazewell becoming the first Black man to win the Oscar for Best Costume Design].
** [https://storiarts.com/search?type=product&q=Wizard+of+Oz Oz fashion accessories] from storiarts.com, and [https://mondotees.com/products/wizard-of-oz-pin-set ''Wizard of Oz'' enamel pins] at mondotees.com.
** The latest auction of a pair of Ruby Slippers shatters all records for the price paid for any kind of movie memorabilia.
** [http://iconcoins.com/product/wizard-of-oz/ A ''Wizard of Oz'' coin] from Icon Coins, and [https://www.iompost.com/stamps-coins/collection/christmas-pantomimes-by-christopher-biggins/ an Oz stamp] issued by the Isle of Man.
** Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande team up to [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eedVl_LGwE4&ab_channel=PhVolleyball open the Oscars telecast with a medley of music from Oz movies].
* John Fricke looks at the development and evolution of presenations of ''The Wizard of Oz'' at the St. Louis Municipal Opera, the country's longest running municipality-owned outdoor theater, in "Magical, Musical Muny (Part One)".
** Recently passed Oz contributors remembered in "Beyond the Shifting Sands":
* Peter E. Hanff looks at the development and publication of Baum's unpublished manuscript ''King Rinkitink'' as his tenth Oz book, ''Rinkitink in Oz''. (A side bar by Joe Bongiorno looks at the Club's ''Rinkitink'' centennial contest, to write a new non-Oz ending for ''King Rinkitink''.)
*** [https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=Baum&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&kn=Greg%20Hildebrandt&ref_=search_f_hp&sts=t&tn=The%20Wizard%20of%20Oz Greg Hildebrandt] and [https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=Baum&cm_sp=SearchF-_-home-_-Results&kn=Graham%20Rawle&ref_=search_f_hp&sts=t&tn=The%20Wizard%20of%20Oz Graham Rawle], both of whom illustrated ''The Wizard of Oz''.
* "The Oz Illustrator" looks at various interpretations of ''Rinkitink in Oz'' and its characters from around the world, and in several media.
*** Legendary composer and arranger Quincy Jones, who was an instrumental part of how ''The Wiz'' sounded in movie theaters.
* "Oz Under Scrutiny" looks at reviews of ''Rinkitink in Oz'' from when it was first published in 1916.
* "Awards and Honors" announces Oz Club President Ryan Bunch as the recipient of the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, the Club's highest honor, for 2024.
* Examined in "The Magic Picture":
* "They Call My Name: An Interview with George Faison" looks at the life and career of the choreographer. His credits include the original Broadway production of ''The Wiz''.
** OzCon International 2016, the fifty-third straight west cast convention, held in Portland, Oregon.
* "The ''Wiz'' That Wasn't" by Sarah K. Crotzer digs into the casting process for the original company of ''The Wiz'' and reveals who else tried out, or was at least considered, for the major rolls. (There are some definite surprises!)
** The National Oz Convention 2016, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
* "The ''Wiz'' That Was" by Sarah K. Crotzer looks at ''The Wiz'' costumes held by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
* Reviewed (or at least mentioned) in "The Oz Bookshelf":
* Crotzer also considers Grampa's game leg and the game you play with it in "A Few Inessential Thoughts About the Game of Scrum".
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062280740/thewonderwizardo/ ''Yellow Brick War''] and [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062403974/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 2''] by Danielle Paige, reviewed by Dee Michel.
* "Coming and Going" looks at a few short thoughts about ''Grampa in Oz''.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1626922632/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the Marvelous Land of Oz''] manga adaptation, illustrated by Kriss Sison and reviewed by Sam Milazzo.
* "Oz Under Scrutiny", once again compiled by Scott Cummings, looks at what the press of 1924 thought of ''Grampa in Oz''.
** [http://www.harperwave.com/books/?kw=Wizard+of+Oz ''All I Need to Know I Learned from The Wizard of Oz''] by Peter Guzzardi.
* In part two of the interview "Journey to the ''Annotated Wizard'' with Michael Patrick Hearn", the author of ''The Annotated Wizard of Oz'' recounts the aftermath of the book's original 1973 publication.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1941758312/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Battle for Oz''] by Jeyna Grace.
* L. Frank Baum's great-granddaughter, Gita Dorothy Morena, solves the mystery of a Baum family treasure in "A Letter to Oz Enthusiasts from a Forgotten Baum Illustration".
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1519340478/thewonderwizardo/ ''Baum Ass Stories: Twisted Tales of Oz, Volume 1''] by Zeb Carter (and [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1544292619/thewonderwizardo/ ''Volume 2''] is already out, too).
* "Guaranteed For a Thousand Years", a wrap-up of recent Oz events, reports on the 2024 editions of OzCon International and Oz, The National Convention.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1620883198/thewonderwizardo/ ''Choose Your Own Oz''] by Tommy Jamerson.
* New products presented in "The Bugle Review":
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/151936038X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Coloring Books for Grownups: Wizard of Oz''].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DVQSJLLX/thewonderwizardo/ ''After Oz'' by Gordon McAlpine], reviewed by Mike Penick
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1514112388/thewonderwizardo/ ''Coloring Oz: An Amazing Coloring Adventure with Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz''].
** [https://hungrytigerpress.store/product/all-wound-up-the-making-of-the-tik-tok-man-of-oz/ ''All Wound Up: The Making of ''The Tik-Tok Man of Oz by Eric Shanower], [https://hungrytigerpress.store/product/the-tik-tok-man-of-oz-performance-script/ ''The Tik-Tok Man of Oz Performance Script'' by L. Frank Baum], and [https://hungrytigerpress.store/product/the-tik-tok-man-of-oz-piano-vocal-score/ ''The Tik-Tok Man of Oz Piano-Vocal Score'' by Louis F. Gottschalk and L. Frank Baum], reviewed by Atticus Gannaway.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1943250014/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Thief''] and [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1943250006/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Damage''] by Amanda Michelle Moon.
** [https://joetunes.ca/ ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', ''The Marvelous Land of Oz'', and ''Ozma of Oz'' complete audio books by the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/151732971X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy Gale: Vampire Hunter, Volume 2: Darkness Falls''] by Brandon Lee Spittle.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CST87Z4J/thewonderwizardo/ The ''Wicked'' edition of ''Monopoly''], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1503065782/thewonderwizardo/ '' Emerald Spectacles: The Hidden History of Oz, Volume 3''] and [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1517796423/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Glinda Letters: The Hidden History of Oz, Volume 4''] by Tarl Telford.
** A quartet of ''Wicked'' tie-in books ([https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0593896866/thewonderwizardo/ ''I Am Elphaba''], [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0593896882/thewonderwizardo/ ''I Am Glinda''], [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CZJQXCQY/thewonderwizardo/ ''Defying Gravity: The Illustrated Lyrics''] and a replica of [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CZJRSY9M/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Story of Oz & the Wonderful Wizard'']), reviewed by Atticus Gannaway.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/149351704X/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Evil of Oz''] by Ryan Fuller.
* "Adventures in Oz" sees Brady Schwind interviewing Tom John, the original scenic designer for ''The Wiz''.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1515290379/thewonderwizardo/ ''Minecraft Steve Adventures, Volume 2: The Wizard of Iz''].
 
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1511568607/thewonderwizardo/ ''No Wizard Required: Twenty Spiritual Lessons I Learned from The Wizard of Oz''] by B. A. McCormick.
Also included with this issue:
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/069240953X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Reflections of Yellow Brick''] by Roxas James.
* A registration form for [https://www.ozclub.org/oz-in-aberdeen-a-convention-to-remember/ the 2025 editino of Oz, the National Convention] in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1492608718/thewonderwizardo/ ''Spelled''] by Betsy Schow.
* A flyer for one of the Club's latest publications, [https://www.ozclub.org/product/bibliographia-baumiana/ ''Bibliographia Baumiana''].
** ''Tails of Oz'' by James C. Wallace II and Amanda D. Wallace.
* This issue's craft is a melting Evillene, based on the original Broadway run of ''The Wiz''.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1505673682/thewonderwizardo/ ''Toto's Tale''] by Michael Gershowitz and Kris Keppeler.
* And in the latest issue of ''The Oz Gazette'', the newsletter for younger Oz fans (of all ages):
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0692542558/thewonderwizardo/ ''Toto's Tale and True Chronicles of Oz''] by Sylvia Patience.
** Editor-in-Chief Katie Jones, with assistance from the Head of Security the Gump, updates readers on the hunt for Nomes and the Glass Cat.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1517497698/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz Gangster Style''] by Stuart Hampton.
** The Scarecrow's book column looks at other books puplished in 1924, like ''Grampa in Oz''.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0991294270/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz Guide to Correctional Nursing: This Isn't Kansas Anymore, Toto!''] by Lorry Schoenly.
** Based off of the article speculating what scrum might be like in ''The Baum Bugle'', the Patchwork Girl presents the board, pieces, and rules for Camette, a simplified (for space reasons) version of the game Camelot.
* Dramatic productions reviewed in "Oz in the Spotlight":
** Finally, a little bit of verse from…the Glass Cat?
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00Z89OAFY/thewonderwizardo/ The ''Lost in Oz'' pilot and ''Lost in Oz: Extended Adventure''] from Amazon, reviewed by Sarah Crotzer.
 
** ''The Adventures of Tik-Tok, Man of Oz'', a nemw play presented in Bangkok, Thailand (a photo from the show features on this issue's back cover).
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** [http://www.chasingrainbowsthemusical.com/ ''Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz''], a musical about young Judy Garland.
----
* And finally, Ozmusements asks readers to match quotes by the Nome King with which book he said them in.


Club members are advised that this issue is the final one in their 2016 membership, and are urged to renew their memberships as soon as possible to ensure they keep getting their ''Bugle''s.
==May 5, 2025: Mattydale, New York, to Honor L. Frank Baum==
Mattydale, New York, will honor native son L. Frank Baum and his greatest work, ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', on May 17. Mattydale was the site of Baum's childhood home, Roselawn, and the city will commemorate Baum's birth and the 125th anniversary of the publication of the first Oz book with a historical marker at the site. The marker will be at 2601 Brewerton Road, which will soon be the site of a community center.A reception will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Kreuger Funeral Home.


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(Information courtesy [https://cnycentral.com/news/local/mattydale-celebrates-125-years-of-the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz-with-historical-marker CNYCentral].)


==December 28, 2016: Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, RIP==
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[[File:under_the_rainbow_movie_1981_carrie_fisher_1.jpg|left|250px]][https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Fisher Carrie Fisher], the actress and author best known for her iconic role of Leia Organa in the ''Star Wars'' movies, passed away yesterday. Fisher was sixty years old. She had been rushed to a hospital in Los Angeles four days after suffering a medical emergency on a flight from London. Among her ''other'' roles was Annie Clark in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_the_Rainbow ''Under the Rainbow'']. Her character worked at MGM in 1938 and was responsible for chaperoning several dozen little people who were staying at a hotel in Culver City during production of a new musical movie, ''The Wizard of Oz''.


Per Fisher's wishes, as she wrote in her memoir ''Wishful Drinking'', we are printing a line that she wanted in her obituary, referring to Leia's lack of undergarments in the original ''Star Wars'' movie:
==April 13, 2025: Jean Marsh, 1934-2025==
<center><blockquote>''"I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra."''</blockquote></center><br clear=all>
[[File:Jean_Marsh.jpeg|left]]
Jean Marsh, OBE, the lauded British actor, passed away today from complications of dementia. She was 90. Born July 1, 1934 in Stoke Newington, London, she studied dance, singing, and acting before beginning her professional career in the 1950s. Among her movies were ''Cleopatra'', ''Jane Eyre'' (1972), ''Frenzy'', ''The Eagle Has Landed'', and ''Willow''. She was probably best known for her television work, however, in shows in both the United States and the United Kingdom, including appearances in ''The Twilight Zone'', ''The Saint'', ''Doctor Who'', ''I Spy'', ''Adam Adamant Lives!'', ''UFO'', ''The Waltons'', ''Hawaii Five-O'', the ''9 to 5'' series, ''The Love Boat'', ''Murder, She Wrote'', and the 1990s revival of ''The Tomorrow People''. But she is best known for co-creating, with Eileen Atkins, the period drama ''Upstairs, Downstairs'', about the servants in a great house. Marsh also starred in the show as maid Rose Buck, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1975 as well as other awards. When the BBC revived the show in 2010, Marsh was the only actor to return. Marsh and Atkins also created the series ''House of Elliott'' in 1991, which she did not appear in. For her services to drama, Marsh was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. For Oz fans, however, as well as many movie-going kids in the 1980s, she will always be known for her dual role as Nurse Wilson and Princess Mombi in the 1985 Disney film ''Return to Oz''.


[[File:0825wizardofoz02.jpg|right|250px]]In a cruel twist of fate, Fisher's mother, iconic actress and singer Debbie Reynolds, died today, only one day after her daughter. She was rushed to the hospital after suffering a massive stroke while planning Carrie's funeral with her son. Reynolds was 84. Best known for playing Kathy Selden in MGM's ''other'' biggest musical ever, ''Singin' in the Rain'', Reynolds was also an avid collector of Hollywood costumes and other memorabilia, in the hopes of eventually opening a museum. She started her collecting at the famous 1970 MGM auction where she never even got the chance to bid on the Ruby Slippers there. She did, however, eventually procure a test pair of Ruby Slippers, not actually used in the film, with toes curled up at the front like the silver shoes in W. W. Denslaw's original illustrations from ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''. Reynolds also acquired a dress, worn by Garland, that was also tested but not used in The Movie. The museum never materialized, and Reynolds sold off most of her collection, including the "Arabian Slippers" in 2011.
(Information courtesy [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c045dk29xqqo the BBC] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Marsh Wikipedia].)


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==March 18, 2025: Saliterman, Ruby Slipper Thief, Dies==
Charges against Jerry Hal Saliterman, who had pled guilty to playing a part in the 2005 theft of the Ruby Slippers from the Judy Garland Museum, have been dismissed when prosecutors informed the court that he had died the day before. Saliterman's defense attorney, John Brink, confirmed the passing. The 77-year-old Saliterman had been hospitalized with lung disease and other ailments, and his most recent court appearance, in January, had been a remote feed from his hospital room. At that time, he changed his initial plea to guilty of charges of theft of a major artwork and witness tampering.


==November 30, 2016: ''Oziana'' 2016==
(Information courtesy [https://apnews.com/article/stolen-ruby-slippers-wizard-of-oz-death-b82e6ed5049d2f11cf9a38b38e5eb463 The Associated Press].)
[[File:Oziana2016_cover.jpg|right|500px]]The latest issue of the International Wizard of Oz Club's annual fiction anthology, ''Oziana'', has now been published and is available for sale at [http://www.lulu.com/shop/baum-l-frank/oziana-2016/paperback/product-22894952.html lulu.com]. This is the biggest issue of ''Oziana'' ever, and the entire contents are devoted to celebrating the centennial of ''Rinkitink in Oz'', published in 1916. The book, however, was originally written around 1905 as a non-Oz adventure, ''King Rinkitink''. Baum dusted off the story, added Oz characters in the last few chapters, and turned it into his annual Oz book. The original manuscript has been lost, so the International Wizard of Oz Club sponsored a contest to provide a new ending for ''King Rinkitink'', starting with a new chapter 20. This edition of ''Oziana'' publishes all of the entries in the contest.


The entries are:
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* "Suggested Ending to ''Rinkitink in Oz''" by Susan Johnson
* "An Epilogue to ''Rinkitink in Oz''" by Aaron Solomon Adelman
* "A New Ending for ''Rinkitink in Oz''" by Dennis Anfuso
* "A New Ending for ''Rinkitink in Oz''" by Jared Davis
* "The Rinkitink Conspiracy in Oz" by Baruch Adelman
* "The Adventures of King Rinkitink" by Andrew Heller (the grand prize winner!)
* "''King Rinkitink in Oz'', An Ending and a Beginning" by George Van Buren
* "A New Ending for ''King Rinkitink''" by Nicholas M. Campbell
* "Wrapping Up ''Rinkitink''" by Christopher M. Diket
* "The Adventures of ''King Rinkitink''" by Robin Hess
* "''Rinkitink''" by Karen Diket
* "''King Rinkitink'' Restor'd" by John W. Kennedy and Eleanor M. Kennedy
* "''King Rinkitink'' Conclusion" by Sarah Hadley
* "Ending Chapters of ''King Rinkitink''" by Mariah B'Forre
* "Concluding ''King Rinkitink''" by Maggie Lockett


And the winning entry will soon be published, edited into the original text, as ''King Rinkitink'' by L. Frank Baum and Andrew Heller. Watch for that coming to a website near you!
==January 3, 2025: Saliterman to Plead Guilty to Hiding Ruby Slippers==
Jerry Hal Saliterman, accused of theft of a major artwork and witness tampering in connection with the 2005 theft of the Ruby Slippers in Minnesota, now plans to plead guilty to the charges in a court appearance on January 10. It is not currently known how Saliterman is connected to Terry John Martin, who pled guilty to stealing the slippers in 2023. Saliterman originally pled not guilty when first charged in March of 2024, but his age (77) and poor health may have resulted in a deal that allows him to stay out of jail like Martin.


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(Information courtesy [https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/minnesota/articles/2025-01-03/man-accused-of-hiding-stolen-wizard-of-oz-ruby-slippers-plans-to-plead-guilty-attorney-says ''U. S. News and World Reports''].)


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==November 25, 2016: ''The Baum Bugle'', Autumn 2016==
==December 13, 2024: The Baum Bugle's Celebratory 200th Issue==
[[File:Baum_Bugle_Autumn_2016_Cover_sm.jpg|right|px=300]]The latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is now in the mail and making its way to members.
[[File:Bbautumn24.jpg|center|800 px]]
The Autumn 2024 issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz, has come back from the printers and is on its way to members' mailboxes. This is the two hundredth issue of the ''Bugle'', so the journal celebrates itself, for once.


In this issue:
In this issue:
* To commemorate sixty years of the famous MGM film version of ''The Wizard of Oz'' on television, the front cover reproduces the cover of the 1956 album taken directly from The Movie's soundtrack, while the back cover is Norman Rockwell's portrait of Judy Garland, used by Singer for its sponsorship of the 1970 broadcast of The Movie, the first after the death of Judy.
* The wraparound cover pays tribute to the first illustrated cover of the ''Bugle'' (for the May 1959 issue), showing many different illustrators' versions of the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman
* Former editor Craig Noble pens his official farewell letter, not having the chance to do so earlier, while interim editor Scott Cummings also has some thoughts in the temporarily retitled "From the Editors" column.
* The inside front cover reproduces Maxfield Parrish's cover for the January 1917 issue of ''Metropolitan''.
* Club President Carrie Hedges urges members to renew—and lists the benefits of doing so, including receiving [http://www.lulu.com/shop/baum-l-frank/oziana-2016/paperback/product-22894952.html the 2016 edition of ''Oziana'']—in her "OZervations" column.
* In "Letters", Oz Club President Ryan Bunch reflects on winning the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award during a hurricane, while ''Bugle'' editor Sarah K. Krotzer looks at the production of this issue within the overall history of the journal.
* In "Oz and Ends":
* In "The Bugle Bulletin":
** The local airing and subsequent streaming of the play [http://thewoodsmanplay.com/ ''The Woodsman''].
** The Club opens its archive with reprints of selected articles from past issues of [https://www.ozclub.org/publications/the-baum-bugle/ ''The Baum Bugle''].
** A [http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Sweded sweded] version of ''The Wizard of Oz'' at the [https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaSwededFilmFest/ Virginia Sweded Film Festival].
** The town of Salina, New York breaks ground on a new community center at the site of Rose Lawn, the Baum family estate. The center will include a Baum-themed museum.
** [http://thebuildersassociation.org/prod_oz.html ''Elements of Oz''] at the 3LD Art and Technology Center in New York.
** Gregory Maguire's writing another book set in his version of Oz. [https://bookshop.org/p/books/elphie-a-wicked-childhood-gregory-maguire/21025444 ''Elphie''], coming out March 25, 2025, will recount tales of the childhood of Elphaba, who will later become the Wicked Witch of the West.
** The forthcoming NBC series [http://www.nbc.com/emerald-city ''Emerald City''].
** The stolen pair of Ruby Slippers, now recovered, are on tour and will go up for auction in December.
** The forthcoming exhibit "Over the Rainbow: Toys from the Land of Oz" at the [http://toyandminiaturemuseum.org/ National Museum of Toys and Miniatures] in Kansas City.
** The latest revival of ''The Wiz'' surpasses one hundred performances on Broadway.
** An exhibit of banned children's books, including a first edition of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'', at [https://www.udayton.edu/libraries/ the Roesch Library at the University of Dayton].
** The release of the first ''Wicked'' movie is moved up to November 22, 2024.
** A performance of "There's a Lady Bug A-Waitin' For Me" from the failed 1905 musical ''The Woggle-Bug'' in a revue in Minnesota this past summer.
** ''Marvelous: A Musical Opera'' based on ''The Marvelous Land of Oz'' premieres in Sisterville, West Virginia on April 5, 2025
** Going up for auction:
** "Beyond the Shifting Sands" recognizes the passing of Ken Page, who understudied for Ted Ross in the original Broadway production of ''The Wiz'' before taking over the role himself.
*** Original illustrations by Anton Loeb for a 1950 abridgement of ''The Wizard of Oz'' ($2,125 and $1,875).
* One of the original charter members of the International Wizard of Oz Club, Ruth Berman, looks back on how it all started in "A Gleam in Justin's Eye: Oz Club Origins".
*** The "Witch Remover" prop wielded by the Cowardly Lion in The Movie ($95,000).
* In "In Search of Snow White: The Unrealized Dream of Maxfield Parrish and L. Frank Baum", Scott Cummings looks at a second Parrish-Baum collaboration that ultimately never came to be, a book and stage play of ''Snow White'' in the late 1910s.
*** A prop version of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' used in the movie ''Inkheart'' ($100).
* Peter E. Hanff looks at how one man changed the ''Bugle'' from a humble newsletter to a comprehensive journal in "Martin's Marvels: Dick Martin's Graphical Contributions to the History of ''The Baum Bugle''". Accompanying this article is a color supplement of ''Bugle'' covers Martin contributed to, including examples of color separations; and "A Checklist of Cover Art for ''The Baum Bugle'' by Dick Martin".
*** An autographed copy of Baum's 1908 novel ''The Last Egyptian'' ($2,125).
* J. L. Bell examines the development of cartography in the Oz books in the award-winning "The Inspiring Maps of Oz".
** The new video games [https://www.ozbrokenkingdom.com/ ''Oz: Broken Kingdom''] and [https://www.zynga.com/games/wizard-oz-magic-match ''The Wizard of Oz: Magic Match''].
* "Keepers of the Record" presents reminiscences of three previous ''Bugle'' editors:
** Linda Medley, the comic book writer/artist who created the award-winnig ''Castle Waiting'', has art cards with her own interpretations of the Oz characters for sale in [https://www.etsy.com/shop/LindaMedleyArt her Etsy shop].
** "A Brief Reminiscence of My ''Bugle'' Editorship, 1996-2000" by William Stillman.
** Liztech Jewelry and this year's addition to their [http://liztech.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=category&virtuemart_category_id=14&Itemid=476 ''Wizard of Oz'' collection], a Flying Monkey.
** "Notes from an Old ''Bugle'' Editor" by Michael Gessel.
** The Oz book reading blog Burzee, at https://burzee.wordpress.com/.
** "The Call of a ''Bugle''—and Where It Led" by John Fricke.
** A library in Kiev, Ukraine, with an avid corps of Oz fans.
* "How It Began (Again)" looks at some mocked-up dummy pages, created by Dick Martin, for the Spring 1979 issue of the ''Bugle''.
** [https://society6.com/product/l-frank-baum_duvet-cover#s6-4498663p38a46v343 An L. Frank Baum duvet cover], available from Studio6 (and while you're there, check out the other products they have emblazoned with Baum's face).
* The inside back cover reproduces the earliest known map of Oz, a slide from the 1908 multimedia show ''The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays''.
** Gene Wilder's family reporting that, when he passed away, he was listening to [https://youtu.be/hc2rTt74Qys Ella Fitzgerald's version of "Over the Rainbow"].
 
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00MJEVR0M/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Original Melting Witch''], a new toy now for sale.
Also included with this issue:
* John Fricke celebrates sixty years of the famous film version of ''The Wizard of Oz'' on television in "Timeless Appeal: ''The Wizard of Oz'' Comes to Television Sixty Years Ago".
* The craft project is a map of Oz to color.
* Scott Cummings delves into history with "The Wonderful Wizard of Menlo: Thomas Edison's Contributions to Oz". The article even reprints a letter Edison wrote to Ruth Plumly Thompson.
* In Issue No. 20 of ''The Oz Gazette'', the newsletter for younger Oz fans (of all ages):
* In an article about his writings first printed in 1902, L. Frank Baum tells the world "What Children Want", countered by a 1912 interview headlined, "Lose Taste for Fairy Tales".
** Editor-in-Chief Katie Jones and Number Nine outline efforts to clean up the Emerald City after the Nome King's recent occupation, and reveal the Gump as the new Head of Security.
* The creator of [https://vimeo.com/179988212 a new video tribute to Oz] sits down for an interview in "''The Oz Project'': An Interview with Sean Barrett".
** Polychrome reveals a puzzle where weather-related clues help you to unscramble Oz place names.
* Anne F. Walker reflects on her love of Oz particularly Baum's final book, in the "Adventures in Oz" article "Locating ''Glinda of Oz''".
** Scraps opines on issues of writing Oz poetry.
* Taking advantage of the large number of vintage newspapers now available online, "The Great Book of Records" looks at Oz-themed department store ads in Philadelphia in 1920 and Rochester in 1922.
** The Scarecrow gives story recommendations:
* Traveling around the country, "The Magic Picture" reports on recent Oz events, including:
*** [https://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Meg-McLaren-illustrator-Sam/dp/1405286296/ ''The Wizard of Oz'', adapted by Meg McLaren and Sam Hay]
** Oz Con South 2016 (Houma, Louisiana), reported by David and Karen Diket.
*** "Dorothy and the Mushroom People" by Eric Shanower, from [https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/salt-sorcerer-stories/author/shanower-eric/used/ ''The Salt Sorcerer of Oz and Other Stories].
** Oz-Stravaganza! 2016 (Chittenango, New York), from David Moyer.
*** [https://bookshop.org/p/books/snow-queen-hb-hans-christian-andersen/6431554?ean=9780062209504 ''The Snow Queen'' by Hans Christian Andersen].
** "The Wonderful World of Oz" museum exhibit (Davenport, Iowa), as told by Scott Cummings.
** And throughout the issue, mysterious figures seem to be scouting out the country for nefarious purposes. But is someone scouting them out in turn?
* The roll of the winners of the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award expands by two with the announcement of this year's winners, William Stillman and Jay Scarfone.
 
* In "Multi-MediOz", Ryan Jay reviews the new movie [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B01ARYG1BK/thewonderwizardo/ ''Ozland''].
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* Mentioned in "The Oz Bookshelf":
 
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1467124524/thewonderwizardo/ ''Images of Modern America: The Land of Oz'' by Tim Hollis], reviewed by Atticus Gannaway.
==December 7, 2024: Ruby Slippers Auction Sets New Movie Memorabilia Record==
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1502855348/thewonderwizardo/ ''After Ozz'' by Bart Baker].
[[File:Ruby_Slippers_2024.jpeg|right|400 px]]
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1502432595/thewonderwizardo/ ''Bad Wizard'' by James Maxey].
The most notorious pair of Ruby Slippers used during production of the famous 1939 film version of ''The Wizard of Oz'' went up for auction today, and the final price shattered all records for the price paid for a piece of movie memorabilia. Of the four pairs of Ruby Slippers known to still exist, this pair, "The Traveling Shoes", were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered in 2018, when they acquired a new nickname, "The Stolen Pair". They were ultimately returned to owner Michael Shaw who decided it was time to sell them. Estimated to go for at least $3,000,000, online bidding reached $1,550,000 before live bidding on site at Heritage Auctions began. The estimate was quickly surpassed, and when bidding ended, the final bid was $28,000,000, far outpacing any previous price for movie memorabilia. With commission and other fees, the total final price paid was $32,500,000. The Ruby Slippers alone surpassed the previous record for an entire movie memorabilia auction, the $22,800,000 that Debbie Reynolds' collection was sold for in 2011.
** A new edition of [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486783332/thewonderwizardo/ ''Denslow's Night Before Christmas'' from Dover Publications].
 
** The first four volumes of the ''Steampunk Oz'' series by Steve DeWinter and S. D. Stuart:
Other Oz items available in the auction:
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/161978033X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Forgotten Girl'' (Season 1, Episode 1)].
* One of Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West hats, and the only one known to carry Hamilton's name inside, earned the second highest price for an item from ''The Wizard of Oz'', $2,930,000
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1619780356/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Legacy's World'' (Season 1, Episode 2)].
* Producer Mervyn LeRoy's script from the MGM art department, $50,000
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1619780372/thewonderwizardo/ ''Emerald Shadow'' (Season 1, Episode 3)].
* The screen door from the Gale farmhouse, $37,500
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1619780399/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Future's Destiny'' (Season 1, Episode 4)].
* Judy Garland's blonde wig from the first week of shooting, $30,000
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1499109202/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Fall of Munchkinland'' by Christopher Blake], the first volume of the series "The War on Oz".
* The MGM contract for songwriters Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, $23,125
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/150277321X/thewonderwizardo/ ''Getting to Oz: The Personal Journey Home to Your True Self'' by Dr. Deborah Khoshaba].
 
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1501032976/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Giant Chinchilla of Oz'' by Andrew J. Heller].
Other items of interest at the auction included a sceen-used Jumanji board game from the eponymous movie; a crate used to hold bombs in the original 1933 version of ''King Kong''; a hoverboard from ''Back to the Future II''; Kevin's scarf, coat, hat, and mittens from ''Home Alone''; Wilson, Tom Hanks' volleyball co-star in ''Castaway''; and a screen-used golden ticket from '' Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory''.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1482766213/thewonderwizardo/ ''Hidden Symbols in the Wizard of Oz: Ancient Inspiration for America's Timeless Story'' by Benjamin Blankenbehler].
 
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1502445492/thewonderwizardo/ ''Holka Polka: A Fary Tale Mystery from the Land of Oz'' by D. M. Larson].
(Information and image courtesy [https://www.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/dorothy-s-ruby-slippers-from-the-wizard-of-oz-sell-for-32.5-million-at-heritage-auctions-to-become-world-s-most-valuable-movie-memorabilia.s?releaseId=5122&ic=hero-www-dorothyRubySlippers-resultsLearnMore-7388-120724 Heritage Auctions].)
** [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sp-maldonado/images-of-oz/paperback/product-21759410.html ''Images of Oz'' by S. P. Maldonado].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1941084249/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Munchkins of Oz: Legends, Myths, and Realities'' by Stephen Hoover].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0615951090/thewonderwizardo/ ''Murder, Most Sincerely: A Romantic Backstage Mystery'' by Beverly Nault].
** [http://www.lulu.com/shop/andre-jeanjacques/new-oz/paperback/product-21425574.html ''New Oz'' by Andrew Jeanjacques].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1480909807/thewonderwizardo/ ''Oz: The Final Journey'' by the Enchanted Hearts].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/069232500X/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Oz Omnibus of Talking City Tales'' by Ron Baxley, Jr.].
** The Wizard of Oz: Dark Witch Rising series by Mike LaMontagne:
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1491221747/thewonderwizardo/ ''Rainbow's Emissary'' (volume 1)].
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1502719444/thewonderwizardo/ ''Witch Hunt'' (volume 2)].
*** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1502855348/thewonderwizardo/ ''Paradise Lost'' (volume 3)].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1942128002/thewonderwizardo/ ''Realizing Emerald City: Find Your True Power on the Yellow Brick Road'' by Lydia Scott].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0991984056/thewonderwizardo/ ''Revenge of the Dark Witch: The Illustrated Screenplay'' by Patrick Lemieux].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1500335576/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Royal Grandmother (and Granddaughter) of Oz'' by Richard Fullmer].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1502521962/thewonderwizardo/ ''There's No Place Like Home: An Emma Frost Mystery'' by Willow Rose].
** A new edition of [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0143108549/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wisdom of Oz: Using Personal Accountability to Succeed in Everything You Do'' by Roger Connors and Tom Smith].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1620081318/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz: Am Over-the-Rainbow Celebration of the World's Favorite Movie'', edited by Ben Nussbaum].
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1480350621/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Life According to Oz'' by David J. Hogan].
** ''The Wogglebug's Book of Manners'' by Cynthia Hanson.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1505561515/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful Alice of Oz'' by Ron Glick] (volume 3 in the Oz-Wonderland series).
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1539384918/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Zombies of Oz'' by James C. Sanders].
* Reviewed in "Oz in the Spotlight":
** [https://youtu.be/O1YEYOTUxcg Todrick Hall's ''Straight Out of Oz''] (review by Dewey Davis-Thompson)
** ''Glinda of Oz'' by Youth Theatre Northwest of Mercer Island, Washington (review by Eric Gjovaag)
* Karen Owens remembers Jean Nelson, owner of the Yellow Brick Road gift shop and driving force behind the late, lamented Chesterton Oz Festival in Indiana in "In Memoriam".
* And in "Ozmusements", an Oz word scramble celebrating one hundred years of ''Rinkitink in Oz''.


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==Rumor Control==
==Rumor Control==
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There is now a release date for the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical version of ''Wicked'': December 20, 2019. This is still subject to change, but an announced date is a good sign. Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book of the play, is working on the script, and the composer, Stephan Schwartz, is arranging the music (and probably writing a new song or two). No casting announcements have been made yet.
''Dorothy'' is in development for Prime Video, with executive producers Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, and Gina Matthews. You can see the initial report on this [https://deadline.com/2025/08/gwen-stefani-blake-shelton-wizard-of-oz-prime-video-1236497977/ right here].


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Reports of Jerry Maren's death on February 29, 2016, are false. The last little person to play a Munchkin in The Movie, he is still alive and kicking and, unlike the reports saying it, does not have cancer.
The latest Oz projects to be announced in Hollywood: ''Cheshire Crossing'', the graphic novel by Andy Weir and Sarah Anderson, optioned by Amblin Partners (see [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/amblin-michael-de-luca-tackling-martian-author-s-fantasy-graphic-novel-cheshire-crossing-1255011 this report]); and an animated musical adaptation of the book ''Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz'', where the story is told from Toto's point of view, to be produced at Warner Bros. (see [https://deadline.com/2020/10/toto-the-dog-gone-amazing-story-of-the-wizard-of-oz-animated-pic-in-the-works-at-warner-bros-1234596757/ this source]).


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*''Lost in Oz'', a series that was to feature Melissa George as a Kansas university student who is whisked to Oz sixty years after the events of ''The Wizard of Oz'' (The Movie) and helping to spearhead a rebellion against the new Wicked Witch of the West. Although developed for the WB and a pilot film produced, it was never picked up, nor the pilot shown. (But keep an eye out on auction sites, as a bootleg DVD sometimes shows up…)
*''Lost in Oz'', a series that was to feature Melissa George as a Kansas university student who is whisked to Oz sixty years after the events of ''The Wizard of Oz'' (The Movie) and helping to spearhead a rebellion against the new Wicked Witch of the West. Although developed for the WB and a pilot film produced, it was never picked up, nor the pilot shown. (But keep an eye out on auction sites, as a bootleg DVD sometimes shows up…)
*A telelvision miniseries based on Gregory Maguire's novel ''Wicked'', with Demi Moore in the title role. (There are stories that the people developing this version later pushed their involvement into the musical version now playing on Broadway and elsewhere.)
*A television miniseries based on Gregory Maguire's novel ''Wicked'', with Demi Moore in the title role. (There are stories that the people developing this version later pushed their involvement into the musical version now playing on Broadway and elsewhere.)
*''The O. Z.'', a hip-hop flavored re-telling of ''The Wizard of Oz'' for Fox. Among the rumored Dorothy's at one point were Brandy, Mya, and the late Aaliyah. Justin Timberlake, John Leuizamo, and Little Richard were mentioned for other parts.
*''The O. Z.'', a hip-hop flavored re-telling of ''The Wizard of Oz'' for Fox. Among the rumored Dorothy's at one point were Brandy, Mya, and the late Aaliyah. Justin Timberlake, John Leuizamo, and Little Richard were mentioned for other parts.
*''Surrender Dorothy''. Drew Barrymore as Dorothy's great-granddaughter coming to Oz, and battling the Wicked Witch of the West's granddaughter. (Rumors of this recently resurfaced, but were quickly squelched. This project is dead.)
*''Surrender Dorothy''. Drew Barrymore as Dorothy's great-granddaughter coming to Oz, and battling the Wicked Witch of the West's granddaughter. (Rumors of this recently resurfaced, but were quickly squelched. This project is dead.)

Latest revision as of 17:41, 6 December 2025

(I will update this page when there is news to tell. Any news older than a year is dropped at the next update. If you have news to report, please e-mail me.)

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(For more Oz news, check out The Daily Ozmopolitan. For the latest Oz not-quite-news, see the Rumor Control section of this page.)

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November 13, 2025: The Baum Bugle Autumn 2025 Issue

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The latest issue of The Baum Bugle, the journal of the International Wizard of oz Club, is making its way to members now. This issue celebrates forty years of Return to Oz, and includes a comprehensive checklist of collectibles from the 1985 Disney movie. Keep an eye on this space for future updates.


Wicked and Wicked: For Good Accolades and Awards

With high profile movie releases, naturally Wicked and Wicked: For Good will receive acclaim during the film award seasons. Here, then, we will keep track of awards presented to the Wicked movies and their cast and crew, plus nominations for awards to be given later. Keep an eye on this list or the Wikipedia pages for Wicked and Wicked: For Good as more news comes in.

The awards are presented here in the chronological order they were presented:

  • September 27, 2024: International Cinematographers "Manaki Brothers" Film Festival, SUMOLIGHT Creative Energy Award: Alice Brooks (Cinematographer) and Dave Smith (Gaffer)
  • November 18, 2024: Heartland Film Festival, Truly Moving Picture Award: Wicked
  • November 23, 2024: The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage, Production Designer Award: Nathan Crowley
  • December 4, 2024: National Board of Review
    • Best Film: Wicked
    • Best Director: Jon M. Chu
    • Spotlight Award: the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
  • December 5, 2024: American Film Institute Awards, Top 10 Films of the Year: Wicked (alongside nine other movies)
  • December 8, 2024: Washington DC Area Film Critics Film Critics Association
    • Best Feature: Wicked
    • Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
  • December 8, 2024: Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards
    • Best Picture: Wicked
    • Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
    • Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande (tied with Zoe Saldaña for Emilia Pérez)
    • Best Director: Jon M. Chu
    • Best Casting: Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey
    • Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
    • Best Marketing Campaign: Wicked
    • Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
  • December 9, 2024: Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Actress Award—Film: Cynthia Erivo
  • December 9, 2024: Michigan Movie Critics Guild, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
  • December 9, 2024: Atlanta Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
  • December 9, 2024: San Diego Film Critics Society
    • Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
    • Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
    • Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • December 13, 2024: African-American Film Critics Association, Innovator Award: Paul Tazewell
  • December 13, 2024: Las Vegas Film Critics Society
    • Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
    • Best Family Film: Wicked
  • December 15, 2024: St. Louis Film Critics Association, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • December 16, 2024: Phoenix Film Critics Society
    • Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
  • December 16, 2024: Seattle Film Critics Society, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • December 16, 2024: Iowa Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande (tied with Isabella Rossellini in Conclave)
  • December 16, 2024: Southeastern Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
  • December 21, 2024: Nevada Film Critics Society
    • Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
    • Best Visual Effects: Pablo Helman
  • December 28, 2024: Digital Spy Readers Awards, Most Anticipated Movie of 2025: Wicked: For Good
  • December 30, 2024: TiBS Editors Choice Awards:
    • Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
    • Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
    • Best Director: Jon M. Chu
    • Best Ensemble: Wicked
  • January 2, 2025: Capri Hollywood-International Film Festival Award, Best Sound: Wicked
  • January 2, 2025: Critics Association of Central Florida
    • Best Cast: Wicked
    • Best Production Design: Wicked
    • Best Sound Design: Wicked
  • January 3, 2025: Palm Springs International Film Festival
    • Creative Impact in Acting Award: Cynthia Erivo
    • Rising Star Award: Ariana Grande
  • January 3, 2025: Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
  • January 4, 2025: DiscussingFilm Global Critic Award, Best Production Design: Wicked
  • January 5, 2025: Golden Globe Awards, Cinematic and Box Office Achievement: Wicked
  • January 10, 2025: Music City Film Critics Association, Best Music Film: Wicked
  • January 10, 2025: Minnesota Film Critics Association, Best Costume Design: Wicked
  • January 12, 2025: Puerto Rico Critics Association
    • Best Comedy/Musical: Wicked
    • Best Production Design: Wicked
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
  • January 13, 2025: North Dakota Film Society, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • January 13, 2025: Hawaii Film Critics Society
    • Best Art Direction: Wicked
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
    • Best Visual Effects: Wicked
  • January 14, 2025: Portland Critics Association, Best Supporting Performance (Female): Ariana Grande
  • January 16, 2025: North American Film Critics Association, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
  • January 24, 2025: Denver Film Critics Society, Best Supporting Performance by an Actor, Female: Ariana Grande
  • January 26, 2025: Satellite Awards
    • Best Supporting Actress—Motion Picture: Ariana Grande
    • Best Production Design: Wicked
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
    • Best Sound: Wicked
    • Make-Up Award: Wicked
  • January 27, 2025: Online Film Critics Society, Technical Achievement Award — Choreography: Wicked
  • February 6, 2025: Costume Designers Guild Awards, Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Paul Tazewell
  • February 7, 2025: Set Decorators Society of America, Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film: Lee Sandales and Nathan Crowley
  • February 7, 2025: Critics' Choice Movie Awards
    • Best Director: Jon M. Chu
    • Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
    • Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
  • February 7, 2025: AACTA Awards, Audience Choice Award for Favourite Film: Wicked
  • February 9, 2025: Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Virtuoso Award: Ariana Grande
  • February 9, 2025: AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, Best Screenwriter: Winnie Holzman
  • February 12, 2025: Artios Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Casting – Big Budget Feature (Comedy): Bernard Telsey, Tiffany Little Canfield, Ryan Bernard Tymensky, Tamsyn Manson
  • February 13, 2025: Dorian Awards
    • Supporting Film Performance of the Year: Ariana Grande
    • "We're Wilde About You" Rising Star Award: Jonathan Bailey
    • Galeca LGBTQIA+ Film Trailblazer: Cynthia Erivo
  • February 15, 2025: Art Directors Guild Awards, Excellence in Production Design for a Fantasy Film: Nathan Crowley
  • February 15, 2025: Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild
    • Best Period and/or Character Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture: Frances Hannon, Alice Jones, Nuria Mbornio, Johanna Nielsen, Branka Vorkapic
    • Best Period and/or Character Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture: Frances Hannon, Sarah Nuth, Sim Camps, Gabor Kerekes
  • February 16, 2025: BAFTA Film Awards
    • Best Production Design: Wicked
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
  • February 17, 2025: Black Reel Awards
    • Outstanding Soundtrack: Wicked
    • Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • February 17, 2025: Latino Entertainment Journalists Society
    • Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
    • Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • February 22, 2025: NAACP Image Awards
    • Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
    • Outstanding Soundtrack/Compilation Album: Wicked: The Soundtrack
  • February 23, 2025: Online Film and Television Association
    • Best Production Design: Wicked
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
    • Best Adapted Song: "Defying Gravity"
  • February 23, 2025: Golden Reel Awards, Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing–Feature Motion Picture: Catherine Wilson, Robin Baynton
  • February 28, 2025: International Cinematographers Guild Publicists Awards, Maxwell Weinberg Award for Motion Picture Publicity Campaign: Wicked
  • March 2, 2025: Academy Awards
    • Best Costume Design: Wicked
    • Best Production Design: Wicked
  • March 11, 2025: Queerties
    • Drama Movie: Wicked
    • Film Performance: Jonathan Bailey
    • Next Big Thing: Wicked: For Good
  • March 14, 2025: American Cinema Editors Awards, Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical: Myron Kerstein
  • March 17, 2025: iHeartRadio Music Awards, Favorite Soundtrack: Wicked: The Soundtrack
  • April 22, 2025: Webby Awards, Variety and Reality, General Video and Film: Wicked Stars Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo Break Down Viral "Holding Space" Interview
  • June 9, 2025: The BET Awards, Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
  • June 21, 2025: Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards:
    • Favorite Movie: Wicked
    • Favorite Movie Actress: Ariana Grande as Glinda
    • Favorite Song from a Movie: "Defying Gravity"
  • July 3, 2025: Astra Midseason Movie Awards, Most Anticipated Film: Wicked: For Good
  • August 5, 2025: Las Culturista Culture Awards, Harshest Truth About Wicked: Phannee not realized, we don't get into his gay story (What was that like? Was it hard coming out or was Pfannee born wealthy? Prequel idea about this.)
  • October 19, 2025: Middleburg Film Festival, Creative Collaborators Award: Alice Brooks (cinematographer) and Myron Kerstein (editor), Wicked: For Good
  • October 26, 2025: Savannah Film Festival, Vanguard Director Award: Jon M. Chu
  • November 3, 2025: People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive: Jonathan Bailey
  • November 4, 2025: Media Access Awards, Christopher Reeve Acting Award: Marissa Bode
  • November 19, 2025: Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Music Themed Film, Biopic, or Musical: Wicked: For Good, Jon M. Chu

Wicked and Wicked: For Good have the following nominations for forthcoming awards:

  • February 1, 2026: The Grammy Awards
    • Best Compilation Album for Visual Media: Wicked soundtrack
    • Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media: Wicked, John Powell and Stephen Schwartz
    • Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, "Defying Gravity"
    • Best Instrumental Composition: John Powell and Stephen Schwartz, "Train to the Emerald City"

October 8, 2025: Robert A. Baum, 1942-2025

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Robert A. "Bob" Baum, great-grandson of L. Frank Baum and an important Oz scholar in his own right, passed away today at the age of 83. His generosity in sharing his family's collection and history has been a boon to Oz in many ways. Museums, documentaries, and Oz festivals and conventions have all been enhanced by Bob's donations. He was a consultant on the 1990 television movie The Dreamer of Oz, a biopic of his great-grandfather, and even recreated Frank's home office on set using items from his own collection. He served the International Wizard of Oz Club as a director and contributor to The Baum Bugle, as well as frequent convention guest. The 2022 issue of Oziana, the Club's literary magazine, was a collection of Bob Baum's fanciful stories about his family history. He and his wife, Claire, would sometimes appear at events as L. Frank and Maud Baum to tell stories about their lives. For his many contributions, he was awarded the Oz Club's highest honor, named after his great-grandfather, in 2002.

(Information courtesy Jane Albright on Facebook. Photo courtesy The Oz Wiki.)

September 21, 2025: Elaine Merk Binder, 1930-2025

Elaine Merk Binder, one of the last remaining actors who played a Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, passed away today at the age of 94. Born in Colorado, she appeared as an extra in several movies in the '30s, including an Our Gang short. She was one of a dozen young girls who filled in the ranks of background female Munchkins after Judy Garland's Dorothy arrives in Oz. But after 1940 she left show business, and went on to earn degrees in education and music. She appeared in the 2024 documentary series Memories of Oz, reminiscing about making the movie.

(Information courtesy Variety and IMDB.)

August 8, 2025: The Baum Bugle Spring 2025

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The latest issue of The Baum Bugle, the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is now making its way to members. This issue celebrates the release of Wicked (Part 1).

In this issue:

  • The front cover reprints the publicity shot of Wicked stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande recreating the original poster design for the Wicked stage show.
  • The inside covers reprint Anton Loeb's endpaper design for the 1950 book adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.
  • The table of contents includes Mark Manley's Wicked tribute painting, "The Melting Occurred at the Thirteenth Hour".
  • In "Letters", Oz Club President Ryan Bunch looks back at how the Bugle covered the path Wicked has taken from page to stage to screen, and Bugle editor Sarah K. Crotzer looks at how this issue's features came about.
  • In "The Bugle Bulletin":
    • The National Library Service (NLS) has a large collection of Oz materials for the blind and print disabled.
    • "Beyond the Shifting Sands" remembers recently passed Oz contributors Jean Marsh, Stephen J. Teller, Jack Van Camp, and Sally Roesch Wagner.
  • Sarah K. Crotzer reacts to the Wicked film in "What Is This Feeling?"
  • "What the Papers Said" looks at a number of reviews of Wicked from around the world.
  • "Wicked Wares: Toys, Plushes, and Cinema Exclusives" by Jane Albright looks at a variety of Wicked movie collectibles.
  • David Diket looks at the history and evolution of Wicked Witch of the West dolls in "My Beautiful Wickedness" and "David's Timeline of Beautifully Wicked Dolls".
  • Karyl Carlson looks back at how she started creating custom Oz dolls in "The Dollmaker of Oz".
  • It's been twenty-five years since the last installment, but Carl Rexroad continues his look at political cartoons themed around The Wizard of Oz in "The Editorial Cartoons of Oz, Part 1: 125 Years Later, The Wizard of Oz Still Drives Political Debate".
  • William STillman looks at the history of one of the bestselling Oz adaptations in "75 Years of Anton Loeb's The Wizard of Oz".
  • In "Oz in the Arts", Robert Lamont reviews the recent Broadway revival of The Wiz (now on tour).
  • In "The Bugle Review":
  • Michael Gessel remembers a recently deceased long-time Oz fan in "The Lifelong Scholar: Stephen J. Teller's Journey from Kansas to Oz".
  • The back cover shows the Tonner Doll versions of Glinda and the Wicked Witch of the West.

Also included with this issue:

  • This issue's Oz craft is a miniature version of the Emerald City Express train from the Wicked movie.
  • And in the final (for now?) issue of The Emerald City Gazette, the newspaper for younger Oz fans (of all ages), Bungle and Toto stroll through the Emerald Palace to ensure that those pesky nomes are finally gone for good.


July 19, 2025: Crotzer Wins L. Frank Baum Memorial Award

This evening, Sarah K. Crotzer was presented the L. Frank Bam Memorial Award for her contributions to Oz. She has been a tireless Oz researcher and writer, with a special interest in the history of Oz games. She is also the current editor of The Baum Bugle, the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, and recently became the longest-serving editor in Club history.

Also presented tonight were the Club's annual prizes for writing and art. This year's winners are:

  • The Fred Otto Prize for Fiction:
    • First place, Jesse Jury for "Four Friends of Oz"
    • Second place, J. L. Bell for "Who's Got the Button?"
  • The C. Warren Hollister Prize for Non-Fiction:
    • First place, Rachel Graham for "An Essential Quickening: John R. Neill and the Art of Oz"
    • Second place, Cynthia Ragni for "Project Ozma"
  • The Rob Roy MacVeigh Prize for Art:
    • First place, Jime Wimmer for "Dorothy and the Cyclone"
    • Second place, Rob Lauer for "Ruth and Her Friends in Oz"

June 21, 2025: The Winkie Award

Tonight, OzCon International gave its highest honor, the Winkie Award, to Sam Milazzo. The award recognizes all of the contributions Sam has made to the convention over the past few years, with presentations, panels, and generally helping out.

May 6, 2025: The Baum Bugle Winter 2024

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It may be slipping back in the calendar a bit, but the latest issue of The Baum Bugle, the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is making its way to members' mailboxes now.

In this issue:

Also included with this issue:

  • A registration form for the 2025 editino of Oz, the National Convention in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
  • A flyer for one of the Club's latest publications, Bibliographia Baumiana.
  • This issue's craft is a melting Evillene, based on the original Broadway run of The Wiz.
  • And in the latest issue of The Oz Gazette, the newsletter for younger Oz fans (of all ages):
    • Editor-in-Chief Katie Jones, with assistance from the Head of Security the Gump, updates readers on the hunt for Nomes and the Glass Cat.
    • The Scarecrow's book column looks at other books puplished in 1924, like Grampa in Oz.
    • Based off of the article speculating what scrum might be like in The Baum Bugle, the Patchwork Girl presents the board, pieces, and rules for Camette, a simplified (for space reasons) version of the game Camelot.
    • Finally, a little bit of verse from…the Glass Cat?


May 5, 2025: Mattydale, New York, to Honor L. Frank Baum

Mattydale, New York, will honor native son L. Frank Baum and his greatest work, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, on May 17. Mattydale was the site of Baum's childhood home, Roselawn, and the city will commemorate Baum's birth and the 125th anniversary of the publication of the first Oz book with a historical marker at the site. The marker will be at 2601 Brewerton Road, which will soon be the site of a community center.A reception will be held from 1:00 to 5:00 pm at the Kreuger Funeral Home.

(Information courtesy CNYCentral.)

April 13, 2025: Jean Marsh, 1934-2025

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Jean Marsh, OBE, the lauded British actor, passed away today from complications of dementia. She was 90. Born July 1, 1934 in Stoke Newington, London, she studied dance, singing, and acting before beginning her professional career in the 1950s. Among her movies were Cleopatra, Jane Eyre (1972), Frenzy, The Eagle Has Landed, and Willow. She was probably best known for her television work, however, in shows in both the United States and the United Kingdom, including appearances in The Twilight Zone, The Saint, Doctor Who, I Spy, Adam Adamant Lives!, UFO, The Waltons, Hawaii Five-O, the 9 to 5 series, The Love Boat, Murder, She Wrote, and the 1990s revival of The Tomorrow People. But she is best known for co-creating, with Eileen Atkins, the period drama Upstairs, Downstairs, about the servants in a great house. Marsh also starred in the show as maid Rose Buck, for which she won an Emmy Award in 1975 as well as other awards. When the BBC revived the show in 2010, Marsh was the only actor to return. Marsh and Atkins also created the series House of Elliott in 1991, which she did not appear in. For her services to drama, Marsh was made a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. For Oz fans, however, as well as many movie-going kids in the 1980s, she will always be known for her dual role as Nurse Wilson and Princess Mombi in the 1985 Disney film Return to Oz.

(Information courtesy the BBC and Wikipedia.)


March 18, 2025: Saliterman, Ruby Slipper Thief, Dies

Charges against Jerry Hal Saliterman, who had pled guilty to playing a part in the 2005 theft of the Ruby Slippers from the Judy Garland Museum, have been dismissed when prosecutors informed the court that he had died the day before. Saliterman's defense attorney, John Brink, confirmed the passing. The 77-year-old Saliterman had been hospitalized with lung disease and other ailments, and his most recent court appearance, in January, had been a remote feed from his hospital room. At that time, he changed his initial plea to guilty of charges of theft of a major artwork and witness tampering.

(Information courtesy The Associated Press.)

January 3, 2025: Saliterman to Plead Guilty to Hiding Ruby Slippers

Jerry Hal Saliterman, accused of theft of a major artwork and witness tampering in connection with the 2005 theft of the Ruby Slippers in Minnesota, now plans to plead guilty to the charges in a court appearance on January 10. It is not currently known how Saliterman is connected to Terry John Martin, who pled guilty to stealing the slippers in 2023. Saliterman originally pled not guilty when first charged in March of 2024, but his age (77) and poor health may have resulted in a deal that allows him to stay out of jail like Martin.

(Information courtesy U. S. News and World Reports.)

December 13, 2024: The Baum Bugle's Celebratory 200th Issue

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The Autumn 2024 issue of The Baum Bugle, the journal of the International Wizard of Oz, has come back from the printers and is on its way to members' mailboxes. This is the two hundredth issue of the Bugle, so the journal celebrates itself, for once.

In this issue:

  • The wraparound cover pays tribute to the first illustrated cover of the Bugle (for the May 1959 issue), showing many different illustrators' versions of the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman
  • The inside front cover reproduces Maxfield Parrish's cover for the January 1917 issue of Metropolitan.
  • In "Letters", Oz Club President Ryan Bunch reflects on winning the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award during a hurricane, while Bugle editor Sarah K. Krotzer looks at the production of this issue within the overall history of the journal.
  • In "The Bugle Bulletin":
    • The Club opens its archive with reprints of selected articles from past issues of The Baum Bugle.
    • The town of Salina, New York breaks ground on a new community center at the site of Rose Lawn, the Baum family estate. The center will include a Baum-themed museum.
    • Gregory Maguire's writing another book set in his version of Oz. Elphie, coming out March 25, 2025, will recount tales of the childhood of Elphaba, who will later become the Wicked Witch of the West.
    • The stolen pair of Ruby Slippers, now recovered, are on tour and will go up for auction in December.
    • The latest revival of The Wiz surpasses one hundred performances on Broadway.
    • The release of the first Wicked movie is moved up to November 22, 2024.
    • Marvelous: A Musical Opera based on The Marvelous Land of Oz premieres in Sisterville, West Virginia on April 5, 2025
    • "Beyond the Shifting Sands" recognizes the passing of Ken Page, who understudied for Ted Ross in the original Broadway production of The Wiz before taking over the role himself.
  • One of the original charter members of the International Wizard of Oz Club, Ruth Berman, looks back on how it all started in "A Gleam in Justin's Eye: Oz Club Origins".
  • In "In Search of Snow White: The Unrealized Dream of Maxfield Parrish and L. Frank Baum", Scott Cummings looks at a second Parrish-Baum collaboration that ultimately never came to be, a book and stage play of Snow White in the late 1910s.
  • Peter E. Hanff looks at how one man changed the Bugle from a humble newsletter to a comprehensive journal in "Martin's Marvels: Dick Martin's Graphical Contributions to the History of The Baum Bugle". Accompanying this article is a color supplement of Bugle covers Martin contributed to, including examples of color separations; and "A Checklist of Cover Art for The Baum Bugle by Dick Martin".
  • J. L. Bell examines the development of cartography in the Oz books in the award-winning "The Inspiring Maps of Oz".
  • "Keepers of the Record" presents reminiscences of three previous Bugle editors:
    • "A Brief Reminiscence of My Bugle Editorship, 1996-2000" by William Stillman.
    • "Notes from an Old Bugle Editor" by Michael Gessel.
    • "The Call of a Bugle—and Where It Led" by John Fricke.
  • "How It Began (Again)" looks at some mocked-up dummy pages, created by Dick Martin, for the Spring 1979 issue of the Bugle.
  • The inside back cover reproduces the earliest known map of Oz, a slide from the 1908 multimedia show The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays.

Also included with this issue:

  • The craft project is a map of Oz to color.
  • In Issue No. 20 of The Oz Gazette, the newsletter for younger Oz fans (of all ages):
    • Editor-in-Chief Katie Jones and Number Nine outline efforts to clean up the Emerald City after the Nome King's recent occupation, and reveal the Gump as the new Head of Security.
    • Polychrome reveals a puzzle where weather-related clues help you to unscramble Oz place names.
    • Scraps opines on issues of writing Oz poetry.
    • The Scarecrow gives story recommendations:
    • And throughout the issue, mysterious figures seem to be scouting out the country for nefarious purposes. But is someone scouting them out in turn?

December 7, 2024: Ruby Slippers Auction Sets New Movie Memorabilia Record

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The most notorious pair of Ruby Slippers used during production of the famous 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz went up for auction today, and the final price shattered all records for the price paid for a piece of movie memorabilia. Of the four pairs of Ruby Slippers known to still exist, this pair, "The Traveling Shoes", were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005 and recovered in 2018, when they acquired a new nickname, "The Stolen Pair". They were ultimately returned to owner Michael Shaw who decided it was time to sell them. Estimated to go for at least $3,000,000, online bidding reached $1,550,000 before live bidding on site at Heritage Auctions began. The estimate was quickly surpassed, and when bidding ended, the final bid was $28,000,000, far outpacing any previous price for movie memorabilia. With commission and other fees, the total final price paid was $32,500,000. The Ruby Slippers alone surpassed the previous record for an entire movie memorabilia auction, the $22,800,000 that Debbie Reynolds' collection was sold for in 2011.

Other Oz items available in the auction:

  • One of Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West hats, and the only one known to carry Hamilton's name inside, earned the second highest price for an item from The Wizard of Oz, $2,930,000
  • Producer Mervyn LeRoy's script from the MGM art department, $50,000
  • The screen door from the Gale farmhouse, $37,500
  • Judy Garland's blonde wig from the first week of shooting, $30,000
  • The MGM contract for songwriters Harold Arlen and E. Y. Harburg, $23,125

Other items of interest at the auction included a sceen-used Jumanji board game from the eponymous movie; a crate used to hold bombs in the original 1933 version of King Kong; a hoverboard from Back to the Future II; Kevin's scarf, coat, hat, and mittens from Home Alone; Wilson, Tom Hanks' volleyball co-star in Castaway; and a screen-used golden ticket from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

(Information and image courtesy Heritage Auctions.)


Rumor Control

(Because of the many questions I am asked about possible forthcoming Oz projects or other bits of pseudo-news, I have added this section to answer some of these inquiries.)

Dorothy is in development for Prime Video, with executive producers Gwen Stefani, Blake Shelton, and Gina Matthews. You can see the initial report on this right here.

The latest Oz projects to be announced in Hollywood: Cheshire Crossing, the graphic novel by Andy Weir and Sarah Anderson, optioned by Amblin Partners (see this report); and an animated musical adaptation of the book Toto: The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of the Wizard of Oz, where the story is told from Toto's point of view, to be produced at Warner Bros. (see this source).

Okay, yes, word has leaked out that Warner Bros. tried to talk Robert Zemeckis into directing a remake of The Wizard of Oz, using the same screenplay as the famous 1939 Judy Garland version. Zemeckis already rejected the idea. This probably puts the idea on the back burner for a while, and based on the extreme negative reaction the idea got, I suspect it will stay there. Rumors of this have surfaced again, but appear to be the result of someone finding the old story and running it again.

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with all of the currently planned Oz movie and television projects. Bear in mind that at this stage, most of it is speculation and/or not even in pre-production, or possibly even a game of "Telephone". But here are some of the current Oz movies that could be coming to your local theater in the next few years:

  • The Road to Oz, a movie biopic about the life of L. Frank Baum and how he created Oz, starring Eddie Redmayne as Frank. (See reports here and here.)
  • Dark Oz 3-D, based on the old Caliber comic book.
  • A non-musical, faithful adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz from New Line and Temple Hill.
  • The Oz Wars, which would have the witches fighting for control of the Emerald City while the Wizard leads the resistance.
  • John Boorman's animated adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz seems to be on track for release — in France. Once it's released, an English-language release will likely come out soon afterwards. (However, in a recent interview, Boorman admitted that the project has stalled due to lack of funding.)
  • Oz: Return to the Emerald City was one of two possible competing projects at Warner Bros. This original sequel may now be shopped around to other studios, or turned into a novel.
  • The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a low-budget independent production from Barnyard Studios and Used Productions. This is very much a shoestring production, which is looking for money and actors. But its Kickstarter campaign to raise the last money it needed was a success, so it may be finished soon.
  • Legend of Oz, a modern retelling of The Wizard of Oz from Valley Wind Productions in Ottawa.
  • Oz, a new telling of The Wizard of Oz.
  • A still unnamed horror movie set in the 1920s with Dorothy meeting Alice in Bedlam Asylum.
  • Young Santa., based on L. Frank Baum's book The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus and directed by Sean McNamara.
  • How the Wizard Came to Oz, based on two books by Donald Abbott.
  • Not entirely Oz, strictly speaking, but the Judy Garland biography Get Happy may be made into a movie, featuring Anne Hathaway as Garland.

And it's not limited to movies any more. In development for television:

  • Red Brick Road, a television series continuation of The Wizard of Oz in the style of Game of Thrones. The latest word is that this is being developed for the Lifetime channel.
  • Dorothy, an Oz-themed medical drama in development at CBS
  • Dorothy Must Die, in which Dorothy has returned to Oz and become a dictator, in development at the CW. This would be based on the book series of the same name.
  • Warriors of Oz, a post-apocalyptic version in development at Syfy.
  • A Wicked television miniseries, based on the original book (not the stage musical). Salma Hayak was attached to this as a producer. When last heard of, it was under development at ABC.

No, Peter Jackson is not producing or directing a billion-dollar all-CGI remake of The Wizard of Oz for Warner Bros. How do stories like this get started? Oh, maybe in stories like this...

In recent years, there have been proposals for other Oz or related projects, none of which now appear that they will get off the ground. Among them:

  • Lost in Oz, a series that was to feature Melissa George as a Kansas university student who is whisked to Oz sixty years after the events of The Wizard of Oz (The Movie) and helping to spearhead a rebellion against the new Wicked Witch of the West. Although developed for the WB and a pilot film produced, it was never picked up, nor the pilot shown. (But keep an eye out on auction sites, as a bootleg DVD sometimes shows up…)
  • A television miniseries based on Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked, with Demi Moore in the title role. (There are stories that the people developing this version later pushed their involvement into the musical version now playing on Broadway and elsewhere.)
  • The O. Z., a hip-hop flavored re-telling of The Wizard of Oz for Fox. Among the rumored Dorothy's at one point were Brandy, Mya, and the late Aaliyah. Justin Timberlake, John Leuizamo, and Little Richard were mentioned for other parts.
  • Surrender Dorothy. Drew Barrymore as Dorothy's great-granddaughter coming to Oz, and battling the Wicked Witch of the West's granddaughter. (Rumors of this recently resurfaced, but were quickly squelched. This project is dead.)
  • Somewhere starring Elizabeth Taylor as Dorothy, now a grandmother, returning to Oz. The deaths of both Taylor and developer Rod Steiger means this is unlikely to ever happen.
  • Pamela West, where the Wicked Witch is the innocent victim and Dorothy (with Toto as a pit bull) is the evil interloper.
  • The Land of Oz (not based on the book of the same name), produced by Hallmark for NBC. This eventually became the basis for the Sci Fi Channel miniseries Tin Man.
  • The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus from Circa Pictures. It's no longer listed on their website.
  • The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus from Hyde Park Entertainment and Toonz Entertainment.
  • A Bollywood adaptation of The Wizard of Oz in India.
  • A movie version of American McGee's (later cancelled) Oz video game.
  • Geoff Ryman's Was.

If progress is made on any of these projects, such as actually going into production or a release date announced, the news will be posted as quickly as possible on this page. But at this stage, any of these going into production is very unlikely. (However, Tin Man was part of this list for some time before its eventual completion and broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel.)

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