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==September 6, 2014: ''The Baum Bugle'', Autumn 2014==
==July 25, 2026: The L. Frank Baum Memorial Award==
[[File:bbautumn14.jpg|left]]The latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the thrice annual journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is now finding its way into members' mailboxes. To commemorate the centennial of the publication of ''Tik-Tok of Oz'', the Oz book of 1914, this issue celebrates the life and times of Tik-Tok, the clockwork man. More details about the issue will be posted here in the coming days.
Today, the International Wizard of Oz Club awarded its highest honor, the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, to Cindy Ragni. Ragni has served the Club for many years on the Board of Directors and contributed many articles to the Club's journal, ''The Baum Bugle''.


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==September 5, 2014: Geoffrey Holder, 1930-2014==
==June 20, 2026: The Winkie Award==
[[File:Geoffrey Holder.jpg|right]]Geoffrey Holder, the acclaimed actor, dancer, choreographer, and painter died today, at the age of 84. Born in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1930, he emigrated with his family to the United States as a boy, but he never lost his distinctive accent. As a movie actor, his roles included Willy Shakespeare in ''Doctor Doolittle'' (1967), the Sorcerer in ''Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)'', Baron Samedi in the James Bond film ''Live and Let Die'', Punjab in ''Annie'', and the narrator in ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory''. He was also known for a series of ads for 7-Up, touting it as "The Un-Cola". In 1974 Holder was contracted to design costumes for an African-American musical stage version of ''The Wizard of Oz'', and then stepped in to direct when the original director bowed out. After it hit Broadway in 1975, ''The Wiz'' would win seven Tony Awards, including two for Holder for Best Costume Design and Best Direction of a Musical. He also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design.
Although there is no OzCon International this year, its highest honor, the Winkie Award, was announced tonight. This year's honoree is Paul Dana, who has helped out the convention behind the scenes in many ways over the past few years, especially as its registrar.


(Information courtesy [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/07/arts/geoffrey-holder-dancer-choreographer-and-man-of-flair-dies-at-84.html ''The New York Times'']. Image courtesy [http://www.people.com/article/geoffrey-holder-dies People.com].)
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==April 30, 2026: ''The Baum Bugle'' Spring 2026==
The Spring 2026 issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, has now been published and is on its way to members' mailboxes around the world. We will have a complete rundown of this issue soon.


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==August 9, 2014: The 2014 Winkie Award==
==April 13, 2026: Valerie Lee, 1931-2026==
Tonight, during its grand awards banquet, the Winkie Convention (for Oz fans on the west coast) presented its highest honor, the Winkie Award, to Susan Johnson. Johnson was honored by her fellow Winkies for all of her behind-the-scenes work at the conventions for many years, notably assisting during the auction.
Valerie Lee, who was one of the children who played a Munchkin in the background of ''The Wizard of Oz'', passed away today at the age of 94. We will have updated information soon.
 
([https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/valerie-lee-dead-munchkins-wizard-of-oz-our-gang-1236562703/ ''The Hollywood Reporter''].)


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==June 7, 2014: The 2014 L. Frank Baum Memorial Award==
==March 22, 2026: Anna-Maria Cool 1956-2026==
Tonight, the International Wizard of Oz Club bestowed its highest honor, [http://ozclub.org/about-us/l-frank-baum-memorial-award-winners/ the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award], to Gregory Maguire. Maguire's new vision of Oz, from his ''Wicked Years'' cycles of books, has brought a new vision to Oz and brought in many new readers. The first book in the series, ''Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West'', is the basis for the award-winning and popular musical ''Wicked''. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Website extends its congratulations to Maguire for a well-deserved award.
Anna-Maria Bernardes Basom, the comics artist who worked using the name Anna-Maria B. Cool, passed away today after losing a battle with cancer. She was 69. She also illustrated ''The Hidden Prince of Oz'' and ''Toto of Oz'' for the International Wizard of Oz Club. We will have updated information soon.
 
([https://www.beckwithmortuary.com/obituaries/anna-maria-basom Beckwith Mortuary].)


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==June 3, 2014: Jerry V. Tobias==
==March 16, 2026: Gina Wickwar 1944-2026==
Jerry Tobias, an early member of the International Wizard of Oz Club and Oz collector and researcher, passed away today after a brief illness. Born in 1929, he was a lifelong Oz fan who attended some of the Oz Club's earliest Oz conventions and contributed to the auctions. He served as editor-in-chief of ''The Baum Bugle'' from 1973 to 1977 and oversaw some of its biggest changes, including staples, typesetting, and a table of contents.
Virginia "Gina" Wickwar, the author of two Oz books for the International Wizard of Oz Club and a long-time Club contributor, passed away today at the age of 81. We will have updated information here soon.


(Information courtesty [http://ozclub.org/about-us/l-frank-baum-memorial-award-winners/jerry-v-tobias/ the International Wizard of Oz Club].)
([https://www.lanzafuneralhome.com/obituaries/Virginia-Wickwar?obId=47767905 Lanza Funeral Home].)


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==May 17, 2014: ''The Baum Bugle'', Spring 2014==
==March 15, 2026: Matt Clark, 1936-2026==
Yes, it's on its way at last to members of the International Wizard of Oz Club who have paid their dues for 2014. We're talking, of course, about the spring 2014 issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the Club's triannual journal of all things Ozzy.
[[file:Matt_Clark.webp|right]]Matt Clark, the actor whose many roles included Uncle Henry in ''Return to Oz'', passed away today at the age of 89. Clark's career spanned fifty years, and he was best known for his appearances in Westerns. Other movie roles included ''In the Heat of the Night'', ''The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean'', ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension'', ''Back to the Future Part III'', ''Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh'', and ''A Million Ways to Die in the West''. On television, he appeared in many made-for-TV movies and miniseries, and was a guest on shows that included ''Ben Casey'', ''The Rat Patrol'', ''Death Valley Days'', ''Bonanza'', ''The Waltons'', ''Kung Fu'', ''Little House on the Prairie'', ''Grace Under Fire'', ''Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman'', ''Lonesome Dove'', ''The Jeff Foxworthy Show'', ''Walker: Texas Ranger'', and ''Chicago Hope''.
 
(Information courtesy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Clark_(actor) Wikipedia]. Photo courtesy [https://oz.fandom.com/wiki/Uncle_Henry_(Novels) The Oz Wiki].)


In this issue:
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* The front cover reproduces Frederick Richardson's illustration of Fluff receiving the Magic Cloak from ''Queen Zixi of Ix'', which was included in the November 1905 issue of ''The Printing Art'' magazine with a tissue guard. (The back cover reproduces the text on the tissue guard.) This was an example of the length the publishers of ''St. Nicholas'' magazine went to for their serialization of ''Queen Zixi of Ix''.
* Craig Noble's "Letter from the Editor'" looks at this issue's theme of how Oz books are made.
* The results of the latest Club election are in! Carrie Hedges has retained her position as President, Jane Albright is the Club's new Vice President, and Ryan Bunch, Freddy Fogarty, and Stephen Teller were elected to the Board of Directors.
* Speaking of the President, Mme. Hedges talks about the coming year in Oz and the Club in her "OZervations" column.
* "Ozma's Honor Roll for 2013" acknowledges those members of the Club who have given above and beyond basic dues during the past year.
* In "Oz and Ends":
** With the publication of the collected edition of [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0785183884/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Emerald City of Oz''], Marvel's adaptations of the Oz books has come to their logical end.
** [http://youtu.be/RuTufHRxEts Pink's performance of "Over the Rainbow"] and other celebrations of the seventy-fifth anniversary of ''The Wizard of Oz'' at the Oscars get a mention (as well as the lack of acknowledgement of the Munchkin actors).
** Bert Lahr's script for ''The Wizard of Oz'' appears on [http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/archive/201301A34.html ''The Antiques Roadshow''] (with [http://youtu.be/o3CCIcruo1Q an exclusive web extra]).
** The Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda come to ABC's [http://abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time ''One Upon a Time''].
** Crowdfunding website Kickstarter is used to fund a new documentary, [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/75328422/who-stole-the-ruby-slippers ''Who Stole the Ruby Slippers?"], about the 2005 theft of a pair of Ruby Slippers used in The Movie from a museum in Minnesota.
** Coincidentally, about the same time, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/27/ruby-red-slippers-theft-_n_5045217.html a replica pair of Ruby Slippers was stolen from a hotel in Staten Island].
** More crowdfunding, as others turned to Kickstarter to fund [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/291042787/the-tik-tok-man-of-oz-stage-musical a production of ''The Tik-Tok Man of Oz''] at [http://www.ozconinternational.com/ this summer's Winkie Convention in San Diego], [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/illogicalassociates/the-shadow-of-oz-a-tarot-deck an Oz-themed tarot deck], and [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/420370544/polychrome-an-oz-based-novel a new novel about Polychrome].
** New Oz collectibles, many celebrating the seventy-fifth anniversary of The Movie, including new dolls from Madame Alexander, Tonner, and Mattel (more Oz Barbie dolls); new dog costumes from Rubie's; and color-changing mugs.
** New OZ exhibits at the University of Kansas, the West Bridgewater (Massachusetts) Library, and [http://www.sdc-arts.org/buell_current.html the Buell Children's Museum] in Pueblo, Colorado; plus a talk entitled "If I Only Had a Brain: Disability and Difference in the Oz Narrative" by [http://josheyler.wordpress.com/ Joshua R. Eyler] at Shippenburg University in Pennsylvania.
* Peter Hanff looks at the serialization of ''Queen Zixi of Ix'' in ''St. Nicholas'' magazine in "''St. Nicholas'' Magazine and ''Queen Zixi of Ix'': The Transofrmation of American Fantasy", and also provides a checklist of the ''Queen Zixi'' (and some select other) content of Volume XXXII of ''St. Nicholas''.
* Marc Berezin discovers a book that may have been influenced by the Oz books in "The Sincerest Form of Flattery: ''The Amazing Land of Wew'' and the Land of Oz".
* Another book that may have been influenced by Oz is examined by Holly Dennis-Lucas in "From Oz to the Moon: ''The Magical Land of Noom''" (writen by Johnny Gruelle, famous for creating Raggedy Ann and Andy).
* Michael O. Riley looks back on his adventures as an Oz short story publisher in part one of "The Story of the Pamami Press".
* Sophia Siobahn Wolohan Bogle presents another in her series about dealing with old books in need of repair in "Broken Book Options: Repair, Conserve, or Restore?"
* Kim McFarland recounts her adventures illustrating [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sherwood-smith/sky-pyrates-over-oz/hardcover/product-21394853.html ''Sky Pyrates Over Oz'', Sherwood Smith's conclusion to her Oz trilogy, in "The Oz Illustrator".
* Nate Barlow examines the latest Oz story to reach the big screen, ''The Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return'' in "Dorothy's Return to the Big Screen: An Animated Oz Story".
* A recently rediscovered newspaper publication of "Joan of Arc", illustrated by John R. Neill and possibly meant to be published as part of Reilly and Britton's "Children's Stories That Neve Grow Old" series, is reproduced.
* In "Oz in the Spotlight", David Moyer reviews a recent drama about the story of Nick Chopper in ''The Woodsman''.
* Reviewed in "The Oz Bookshelf":
** [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1608932575/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful World of Oz'' by John Fricke], reviewed by Alan Wise.
** [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0062278010/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion'' by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman], reviewed by Mark Griffin.
** ''The Patchwork Girl of Oz: A Musical Wonderment in Two Acts and Five Scenes'' by L. Frank Baum, a proposal for a stage dramatization of Baum's new Oz book of 1913 that was never produced, published by the Pamami Press and reviewed by Paul R. Bienvenue.
** Two more volumes in Peter Blystone's translations of Sergei Sukhinov's epic continuation of the Russian Magic Land ''Emerald City'' series, [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sergei-sukhinov/parcelius-the-alchemist/paperback/product-20947644.html ''Paracelius the Alchemist''] and [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sergei-sukhinov/battle-in-underground-land/paperback/product-20992472.html ''Battle in Underground Land''], reviewed by Alan Wise.
** [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sherwood-smith/sky-pyrates-over-oz/hardcover/product-21394853.html ''Sky Pyrates Over Oz'' by Sherwood Smith], the long-missing conclusion to her trilogy about Dori and Em in Oz, reviewed by Atticus Gannaway.
** Richard R. Rutter makes note of two new Korean editions of ''The Wizard of Oz''.
** Marcus Mébès has published a new edition of his poem, ''Sail Away to Oz'', which can be ordered [[mailto:baringer@gmail.com directly from the author].
* In a sadly extended look at those who have contributed to Oz and recently passed away, "In Memoriam" remembers Ruth Duccini, Shirley Temple Black, Arthur Rankin, Jr., and Lou Scheimer.
* This issue's "Ozmusements" presents a word search based on ''Tik-Tok of Oz''.


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==April 13, 2014: Mila Kunis wins at MTV Movie Awards==
==March 13, 2026: Michael Hague, 1948-2026==
Tonight, the MTV Movie Awards presented a box of golden popcorn to Mila Kunis, for her performance of Theodora, the Wicked Witch of the West, in ''Oz the Great and Powerful''. She won in the category of [http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2014/best-villain/ Best Villain], and she beat out four men in the category. (Check out her acceptance speech [http://www.mtv.com/videos/misc/1030678/mila-kunis-wins-best-villain-for-oz-the-great-and-powerful.jhtml right here].)
[[file:Michael_Hague.jpeg|left]]Michael Hague, the acclaimed fantasy illustrator, passed away today at the age of 77. Influenced by artists such as Arthur Rakham, W. Heath Robinson, N. C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Hal Foster, Hague had ambitions to become a children's book illustrator. He received his BFA in 1972 but had difficulty finding work. He eventually found work at Hallmark, where he illustrated his first book, a pop-up edition of ''Gulliver in Lilliput''. After striking out on his own, he started building a portfolio and a following. Over the course of his career, besides many original works, his works included new editions of ''Mother Goose'', ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'', ''Peter Pan'', ''The Hobbit'', ''The Wind in the Willows'', ''Beauty and the Beast'', ''The Night Before Christmas'', ''The Reluctant Dragon'', ''The Velveteen Rabbit'', ''The Secret Garden'', ''Little Women'', ''The Story of Doctor Dolittle'', ''Peter Rabbit'', ''The Nutcracker'', and tales by Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and Oscar Wilde. Oz fans, however, will know him for his 1989 edition of ''The Wizard of Oz''. Hague returned to the world of L. Frank Baum with a 2003 edition of ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus''.
 
(Information courtesy [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-authors/article/99941-obituary-michael-hague.html ''Publishers Weekly''] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Hague Wikipedia]. Photo courtesy ''Publishers Weekly''.)
 
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==April 6, 2014: Mickey Rooney==
==March 4, 2026: Lyle Conway, RIP==
[[File:jbto_scarecrow.jpg|frame|left|alt=Mickey Rooney as the Scarecrow|The Scarecrow, voiced by Mickey Rooney, in ''Journey Back to Oz'']] [[File:Mickey Rooney Wizard.jpg|frame|right|alt=Mickey Rooney on stage as Professor Marvel|Mickey Rooney as Professor Marvel, with Jessica Grové as Dorothy, in the 1998-99 touring stage show production of ''The Wizard of Oz'']] Mickey Rooney, one of Hollywood's greatest actors, whose career spanned more than eight decades, passed away today. Born Joseph Yule, Jr. on September 23, 1920, he debuted in his parents' vaudeville show as a toddler. He eventually made it to Hollywood, where he became one of the biggest box office stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He appeared in many films with his pal "Joots", Judy Garland, and the pair worked together on stage during the original New York showing of ''The Wizard of Oz'' in 1939 at the Capitol Theater. Rooney would become more closely associated with Oz twice, first as the voice of the Scarecrow in the 1974 animated movie ''Journey Back to Oz'', opposite Joots' daughter, Liza Minnelli. He later played both the Wizard and Professor Marvel in a touring stage version of ''The Wizard of Oz'' in 1998 and 1999, which included an extended run at Madison Square Garden. Mickey Rooney is survived by his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlin Rooney, eight children, two stepchildren, nineteen grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren.
[[file:Lyle_Conway.webp|300 px|right]]Lyle Conway, the puppeteer whose work with Jim Henson included creating and operating many well-known movie puppets, passed away today at an undetermined age. Influenced as a child in Chicago by the television series ''Kukla, Fran and Ollie'' and the original film version of ''King Kong'', Conway attended the Art Institute of Chicago before striking out for Hollywood. After working as a social worker and toy designer, he found his way to Jim Henson and his Creature Shop, where he sculpted a new Miss Piggy Muppet for the final season of ''The Muppet Show'' and ''The Great Muppet Caper'', and created Lyle the Dog, who was named for him. He then went on to design puppets for ''The Dark Crystal'' and ''Dreamchild'' before striking out on his own. He was reunited with his old Creature Shop colleague Frank Oz, who was directing the musical film version of ''Little Shop of Horrors''. Conway designed Audrey II, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Saturn Award. He had a rare onscreen appearance in ''Blade'', and came back to the Creature Shop to design the titular characters in the film version of ''Where the Wild Things Are''. But for Oz fans, his biggest contribution was designing Jack Pumpkinhead, Billina, and the Gump for Disney's 1985 movie ''Return to Oz''. Besides operating the Gump, he also provided his voice and cast Brian Henson as the performer and voice for Jack Pumpkinhead.


(Information courtesy [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rooney Wikipedia] and [http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-mickey-rooney-20140407,0,7494293,full.story#axzz2y6xMQNkx the Los Angeles Times].)
(Information courtesy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Conway Wikipedia]. Photo courtesy [https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Lyle_Conway Muppet Wiki].)


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==February 2, 2026: ''The Baum Bugle'' Winter 2025 Issue and ''Oziana'' 2025==
[[file:Bbwinter25.jpg|300 px|left]]The year's final issue of ''The Baum Bugle'' is back from the printers and off to members of the International Wizard of Oz Club.<br clear=all>


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In this issue:
* The front cover presents frames from the newly-restored version of the 1914 movie ''His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz'', highlighting Vivian Reed's portrayal of Ozma.
* The inside front cover reproduces an illustration of Ozma and some of her friends from Dick Martin's 1984 collection ''An Oz Picture Gallery''.
* "Letters" sees Oz Club President Ryan Bunch singing the praises of the community fostered by the Club, while ''Bugle'' editor Sara Krotzer talks about the influence of Ozma on culture, as well as this issue.
* In "The Bugle Bulletin", more articles from the history of the ''Bugle'' are available on [https://ozclub.org/ the Club's website], and child Munchkin Elain Merk Binder is remembered in "Beyond the Shifting Sands".
* "Awards and Honors" lauds Sarah Crotzer as the first sitting editor of ''The Baum Bugle'' to receive the Club's highest honor, the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, in a tribute penned by her old friend Nick Campbell.
* Nate Barlow learns about the ins and outs of ''His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz'' as he recounts "Restoring the Scarecrow, or How I Learned to Stop Dreaming and Restore a Film".
* Entomologist JoVonn G. Hill explains how he named a newly-discovered bright green Mexican grasshopper ''Ozmacris peninsulae'', after Ozma's transformation in ''Ozma of Oz'' in the article "The Emerald Grasshopper of Baja".
* Leighton Suen looks at Ozma as a transgender icon in "Born a Girl, and Also a Princess", the 2024 winner of the C. Warren Hollister Prize for Non-Fiction.
* English castles in [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpgtvnMy5R0&t=156s Kent], [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSFyCVFph5c Oxfordshire], and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3oNpaTFjrs&t=159s North Yorkshire] incorporate ''The Wizard of Oz'' into their Christmas celebration, and the ''Bugle'' has photos to prove it.
* Cynthia Twohy Ragni takes a look at astronomical history in "Project Ozma, the First Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence", the 2025 runner-up for the C. Warren Hollister Prize for Non-Fiction.
* In "Oz Under Scrutiny", Scott Cummings collects reviews of ''The Lost King of Oz'', celebrating its centennial in 2025.
* A reprint of a 1926 profile of Ruth Plumly Thompson from ''The Guide to Nature''.
* "Coming and Going" by Sarah Krotzer has tidbits about ''The Lost King of Oz''.
* Barbara Arnstein has a holiday surprise in "Halloween Oz Magic: An Ozzy Encounter".
* A new Oz artist answers questions in "Puffin Along the Yellow Brick Road: An Interview with Steven Lenton".
* "Oz in the Arts" sees Toby Sutton-Long visiting the holiday presentation at Blenheim Castle in Oxfordshire.
* In "The Bugle Review":
** [https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0241736528/270 ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''], ''The Marvellous Land of Oz'', and ''Ozma of Oz'', newly illustrated by Steven Lenton, reviewed by Nick Campbell.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CVBVH1LP/thewonderwizardo/ ''Dorothy's Friends from Oz''] by Robert J. Evans and illustrated by Jhunny Moralde.
** [Dunkiton_Press ''Dunkiton Press'' #33: Swinderella] by Ruth Plumly Thompson and edited by Ruth Berman.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0D9G6T1DD/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Hidden Magic of Oz: An Untold Story of Courage, Truth, and Cheese''] by Richard L. Baum and L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Leopé.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DHH39DBN/thewonderwizardo/ ''Margaret Hamilton: From Cleveland, Ohio to the Land of Oz''] by Don Billie.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DPY36JJT/thewonderwizardo/ ''Meadowfoam of Oz''] by Josie Ann Tyler.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0D9YMFWKD/thewonderwizardo/ ''Prisoners of Oz''] by David M. Keyes.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DQ428V3C/thewonderwizardo/ ''Toto and the Cheshire of Oz''] by Ron Glick.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CL3BP76V/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wizard of Oz: The Official Cookbook''] by Elizabeth Fish, Elena P. Craig, and Emma Carlson Berne.
* "Adventures in Oz" sees Gregory Hall writing about his latest composition in "''Marvelous: A Musical Opera'': Our Sequel to Oz".
* In "Jack Van Camp: Bringing Stability and Celebration to Oz", John Fricke remembers the recently deceased past Treasurer and board member of the International Wizard of Oz Club and 1981 laureate of the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award.
* The inside back cover reproduces the original art, without words, of Steven Lenton's new Oz book covers.
* The back cover is a painting of Ozma by Vincent Myrand.


==February 12, 2014: Sid Caesar==
Also included with this issue is the Club's latest craft project, an Ozma paper doll.
[[File:Sid Caesar.jpg|frame|alt=Sid Caesar as the Wizard|An animated Sid Caesar as the Wizard in ''Dorothy in the Land of Oz'']] Sid Caesar, one of the earliest of American television stars and considered by many to be one of the funniest comedians of all time, died today at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 91. Best known in the 1950s for ''Your Show of Shows'' and ''Caesar's Hour'', he would later portray the Wizard, who narrated the animated television special ''Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz'' (later released on home video as ''Dorothy in the Land of Oz''). He would use his affinity for dialects and accents to voice a second character, the mince pie U. N. Crust, which was brought to life by the Powder of Life.


(Detailed information of Caesar's life can be found at [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/arts/television/sid-caesar-comic-who-blazed-tv-trail-dies-at-91.html ''The New York Times''].)
[[file:Oziana_2025.jpg|400 px|right]]Also available now is the 2025 issue of ''Oziana'', the Club's annual literary anthology. It is available for sale to anyone, even if they're not a member of the Club, through [https://www.lulu.com/shop/jl-bell-and-scott-b-blanke-and-nathan-m-dehoff-and-catherine-lombardi/oziana-2025/paperback/product-v8m6mke.html?page=1&pageSize=4 Lulu.com]. In this issue:
* The front cover illustration is by Rob Lauer.
* Opposite the table of contents is "Tales of the Land of Oz", an illustration by Stephen Smith.
* "The Royal Joust of Oz" by Scott B. Blanke, with illustrations by Rob Lauer, sees a new spell cast on Prince Corum, turning him back into Sir Hokus of Pokes. Only winning a joust can restore him, but he's going to need help from his friends in the Emerald City.
* "The Piglets and the Tin Soldier" by J. L. Bell, illustrated by David Valentin, has Captain Fyter escorting the Nine Tiny Piglets back to their old family farm in the Munchkin Country. Of course, it's not as smooth going as anyone suspects.
* "The Low Mare of Oz" by Nathan DeHoff, with illustrations by Rob Lauer, shows a visit by Betsy Bobbin and Hank to Troth to see real horses in Oz. They end up encountering many other Oz horses along the way.
* "The Tin Man of Oz in Where's My Oil Can?", written and drawn by Mel Vavaroutsos, shows how the Scarecrow helped Nick Chopper solve a personal problem.
* "The Missing Key" by J. L. Bell, illustrated by David Lee Ingersoll, finds Tik-Tok's key missing, and he can't think, talk, or move until it can be found. Naturally, it's not as easy as his friends think it will be.
* "The Bricks" by Catherine Lombardi, with illustrations by Bridget Elmore, sees Phil, a bricklayer on the Yellow Brick Road, tell the story of how he saved the Tin Woodman from a horrible fate.
* In "A Catastrophic Celebration in Oz" by Scott B. Blanke, illustrated by Mel Vavarounsos, Dr. Pipt and Margolotte throw a small party to celebrate the anniversary of her coming back to life after being doused with the Liquid of Petrifaction. But during the course of events, an old bottle of the liquid is unearthed, and it spills on Ozma, the Wizard, and the Sawhorse!


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==February 10, 2014: Shirley Temple Black==
==November 13, 2025: ''The Baum Bugle'' Autumn 2025 Issue==
[[File:Temple.jpg|center|frame|Shirley Temple in her room in 1937. Note the row of Oz books behind her on the bottom shelf.]]
[[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.
Shirley Temple Black, the Depression's biggest box office draw, died today at her home in Woodside, California, at the age of 85. Although a lifelong fan of the Oz books, she was passed over for the part of Dorothy in the famous 1939 film version of ''The Wizard of Oz'' when her studio, 20th Century Fox, would not loan her out to MGM. (Assistant Producer Arthur Freed was not impressed with her singing, anyway, and was still pushing for Judy Garland to play the part.) This was fine with Temple, as she didn't want to play Dorothy, she wanted to ''meet'' Dorothy! Although she retired from acting at age 22, she would return to the profession in the 1950s as host and star of the television series ''Shirley Temple's Storybook'', adapting fairy tales and other classic stories. She finally got to appear in an Oz story with the show's 1961 version of ''The Land of Oz'', in which Temple played both Ozma and Tip.
 
In this issue:
 
* The wraparound front cover reproduces the art, by Josh Kirby, for a 1985 British ''Return to Oz'' jigsaw puzzle.
* The inside front cover has photos, taken by Tricia Trozzi, of the New York premiere of ''Return to Oz'' in June of 1985.
* In "Letters", Oz Club President and ''Bugle'' editor Sarah K. Crotzer discuss their encounters and memories of ''Return to Oz''.
* In "The ''Bugle'' Bulletin:
** The only known manuscript of "Over the Rainbow" is now in the Library of Congress.
** Documentarian Jeffrey McHale is taking his latest movie, ''It's Dorothy!'' around the film festival circuit.
** "Beyond the Shifting Sands" remembers recently passed Oz luminaries:
*** Robert A. Baum, Jr., the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum and a noted Oz scholar and historian in his own right.
*** Dr. Richard R. Rutter, a major collector and Winkie Convention attendee, who was especially known for his extravagant Oz costumes.
*** Drew Struzan, the celebrated movie poster artist whose works included ''Return to Oz''.
* Sarah K. Crotzer looks back at the life and career of the actress known in Oz circles as Princess Mombi from ''Return to Oz'' in "So…! The Many Heads of Jean Marsh".
* Tricia Trozzi looks back at what she was doing on June 21, 1985—attending the gala premiere of ''Return to Oz'' at Radio City Music Hall—in "Movie Memories".
* Original ''Return to Oz'' reviews are collected in "What the Papers Said: 1985 Edition, A Collection of Contemporaneous Media Opinions of ''Return to Oz''".
* Robert B. Luehrs contemplates one of L. Frank Baum's earlier characters in "The Pundit of Oz: Some Random Thoughts Concerning the Woggle-Bug".
* Sarah K. Crotzer updates previous ''Bugle'' checklists with "The Ultimate ''Return to Oz'' Merchandise Checklist", a full-color insert.
* Carl Rexroad continues on from an article in a previous issue with "The Editorial Cartoons of Oz, Part 2: Modern Times with ''The Wizard of Oz''".
* Jane Albright peeks behind the curtain of the latest iteration of ''The Wizard of Oz on Ice'' in "Melt the Witch, Not the Ice".
* Noted in "The Bugle Review":
** [https://cloverpress.us/collections/prose-books/products/oz-collection-kabumpo-in-oz ''Kabumpo in Oz'' by Ruth Plumly Thompson, newly illustrated by Sara Richard] and reviewed by Atticus Gannaway.
** [https://scriveningspress.com/book/a-hundred-magical-reasons/ ''A Hundred Magical Reasons'' by Laura DeNooyer], reviewed by J. L. Bell.
** [https://insighteditions.com/products/wicked-grimmerie-collectible-hardcover-journal ''Wicked: The Grimmerie Collectible Hardcover Journal''], reviewed by Atticus Gannaway.
** Three games in which Oz characters appear: [https://www.amazon.com/Lookout-Games-LK0101-Gingerbread-House/dp/B07JH62HXN ''Gingerbread House''], [https://horribleguild.com/eu/product/similo-fables/ ''Similo: Fables''], and [https://gamefound.com/en/projects/gabe-barrett/storybook-saga-solo-game-of-the-month ''Storybook Saga''], all reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
* The inside back cover reprints a 1985 Japanese ad for ''Return to Oz'' merchandise from Nakajima Toys.
 
Also included with this issue is the card game Don't Wear Mombi's Head, a set of cards to color, cut out, and play with.


(Detailed information of Temple's life can be found at [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/arts/shirley-temple-black-screen-star-dies-at-85.html?_r=0 ''The New York Times'']. More information about Shirley Temple and ''The Wizard of Oz'' can be found at [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-scarfone/the-truth-about-shirley-t_b_4779364.html ''The Huffington Post''].)
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==February 1, 2014: ''The Baum Bugle'' Winter 2013==
==''Wicked'', ''Wicked: For Good'', and ''Wicked: One Wonderful Night'' Accolades and Awards==
[[File:Bbuglewinter13.jpg|right]] The latest issue of ''The Baum Bugle'', the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, has been released, and is on its way to members. As this is the final issue for 2013, Club members who wish to keep receiving it and other Club benefits now need to renew.
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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In this issue:
The awards are presented here in the chronological order they were presented:
* The front cover features a portrait of illustrator and Oz researcher Dick Martin, surrounded by portraits of some of the characters he drew for ''Merry Go Round in Oz'', ''Yankee in Oz'', ''The Enchanted Island of Oz'', ''The Forbidden Fountain of Oz'', and his own ''The Ozmapolitan of Oz''.
* September 27, 2024: International Cinematographers "Manaki Brothers" Film Festival, SUMOLIGHT Creative Energy Award: Alice Brooks (Cinematographer) and Dave Smith (Gaffer)
* Craig Noble looks back on his first year as Editor in Chief of the ''Bugle'' in his "Letter from the Editor".
* November 18, 2024: Heartland Film Festival, Truly Moving Picture Award: ''Wicked''
* Oz Club President Carrie L. Hedges writes about two other Club publications, the calendar and [http://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=Oziana&categoryId=100501 ''Oziana''], in "OZervations".
* November 23, 2024: The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage, Production Designer Award: Nathan Crowley
* Noted in "Oz and Ends":
* December 4, 2024: National Board of Review
** The large number of Oz-themed television projects now in development, including ''Warriors of Oz'' at Syfy, medical drama ''Dorothy'' at CBS, ''Emerald City'' at NBC, and ''Red Brick Road'' at Lifetime. The recent Oz episode of ''Supernatural'' on the CW was also noted.
** Best Film: ''Wicked''
** Jeremiah Boehr's [http://lego.cuusoo.com/ideas/view/43978 ''The Road to Oz'' LEGO set] and the attempt to get it made and put on the market. (Sadly, after this issue went to press, LEGO announced that they would not be releasing this set.)
** Best Director: Jon M. Chu
** The box office take (and, in many markets, extended run) of the 3-D IMAX theatrical screening of the famous movie version of ''The Wizard of Oz''.
** Spotlight Award: the creative collaboration of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande
** The lawsuit filed by the estate of Jack Haley, Jr., against Warner Bros. for excluding the previous documentary, produced by Haley, on the new home video release in favor of a new, derivative work.
* December 5, 2024: American Film Institute Awards, Top 10 Films of the Year: ''Wicked'' (alongside nine other movies)
** Profiles of Oz fans Billy Ferguson on a [http://www.reelz.com/trailer-clips/71901/fan-addicts-bonus-webisode/ bonus webisode of the Reelz channel show ''FanAddicts!''], and [http://alumni.stanford.edu/get/page/magazine/article/?article_id=61576 Dick Rutter in ''Stanford Magazine''] for members of the Stanford Alumni Association.
* December 8, 2024: Washington DC Area Film Critics Film Critics Association
** [http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/exhibition/wonderful-world-oz-selections-willard-carrolltom-wilhite-collection The Oz exhibit currently on exhibit at the Farnsworth Art Museum] in Maine, and the whirlwind publicity tour Oz researcher and former ''Bugle'' editor and Club President John Fricke undertook publicizing his new book, [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1608932575/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful World of Oz''] (which in part ties in to the exhibit).
** Best Feature: ''Wicked''
** Another Oz exhibit, [http://www.buffalolib.org/content/now-display/rare-book-room/baum-exhibit this one at the Buffalo Library].
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
** The auction of a dress worn by Judy Garland in the early days of making The Movie, but ultimately not seen in the finished movie when the first few weeks' filming was scrapped. The dress was expected to sell for about $80,000, but finally sold for $300,000!
* December 8, 2024: Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards
** The announcement of [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sherwood-smith/sky-pyrates-over-oz/hardcover/product-21394853.html ''Sky Pyrates over Oz'' by Sherwood Smith], completing her trilogy of Oz books after poor sales and editorial decisions originally scrapped it. (The first two books were [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060296070/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Emerald Wand of Oz''] and [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0060296097/thewonderwizardo/ ''Trouble under Oz''].)
** Best Picture: ''Wicked''
** [http://bigstrawberry.com/product/the-wizard-of-oz-by-l-frank-baum/ A tablet/e-reader cover that looks like the first British edition of ''The Wizard of Oz''].
** Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
** [http://www.eventbrite.com/e/50-year-collection-of-judy-garland-wizard-of-oz-auction-march-29-2014-tickets-9491729017 The forthcoming auction of the collection of Elaine Willingham], who has been collecting Oz and Judy Garland memorabilia for over fifty years.
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande (tied with Zoe Saldaña for ''Emilia Pérez'')
* Atticus Gannaway presents a biography and appreciation of the cover subject in "A Quiet Artist: The Life and Work of Dick Martin".
** Best Director: Jon M. Chu
* David Maxine examines the papers of Eloise Jarvis McGraw, the late Royal Historian, and how she came to write the fortieth Oz book in "Grabbing the Brass Ring: The Writing of ''Merry Go Round in Oz''".
** Best Casting: Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey
* "Oz Under Scrutiny" looks at reviews of ''Merry Go Round in Oz'' upon its original publication in 1963.
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* In "Oz in the Spotlight":
** Best Marketing Campaign: ''Wicked''
** Freddy Fogarty reviews the 3-D IMAX theatrical release of ''The Wizard of Oz''.
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
** Ryan Jay looks at what it was like to cover the premiere of the 3-D IMAX ''Wizard of Oz".
* December 9, 2024: Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, Actress Award—Film: Cynthia Erivo
** David Moyer reviews ''The Wonderful Remix of Oz'', a recent reimagined state production in New York City; and the revue [http://www.thewonderfulwizardofsong.com/ ''The Wonderful Wizard of Song: The Music of Harold Arlen''].
* December 9, 2024: Michigan Movie Critics Guild, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
** Bill Campbell reviews a circus-themed production of ''The Wizard of Oz'', presented by Circus Juventus of St. Paul, Minnesota.
* December 9, 2024: Atlanta Film Critics Circle, Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* In "The Oz Illustrator", Anna-Maria Cool recounts her adventures in illustrating Oz characters in both comics and books, and in particular her favorite character, the Sawhorse.
* December 9, 2024: San Diego Film Critics Society
* In "Adventures in Oz", Walter Krueger writes the "Diary of a FanAddict", telling what happened when he [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx-gnZzfG48&feature=youtu.be appeared on the Reelz collecting show].
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* Friends, colleagues and fans remember Margaret Pellegrini, the Munchkin actress who passed away in August in "Margaret: The Magical Munchkin".
** Best Production Design: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
* "Multi-MediOz" sees Ryan Jay reviewing the home video releases of the seventy-fifth anniversary edition of ''The Wizard of Oz'' movie.
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* Reviewed in "The Oz Bookshelf":
* December 13, 2024: African-American Film Critics Association, Innovator Award: Paul Tazewell
** [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1611099048/thewonderwizardo/ ''Oz Reimagined'', edited by John Joseph Adams and Douglas Cohen], reviewed by Joe Bongiorno.
* December 13, 2024: Las Vegas Film Critics Society
** [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sergei-sukhinov/the-sorceress-villinas-secret/paperback/product-20714205.html ''The Sorceress Villina's Secret''], [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sergei-sukhinov/the-sorcerers-sword/paperback/product-20714222.html ''The Sorcerer's Sword''], and [http://www.lulu.com/shop/sergei-sukhinov/eternally-youthful-stella/paperback/product-20947627.html ''Eternally Youthful Stella''], all by Sergei Sukhinov and translated by Peter L. Blystone, volumes three, four, and five of Sukhinov's epic continuation of the Magic Land series, reviewed by Alan Wise.
** Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
** [http://wonderfulbooksofoz.com/shop/wizard-of-oz-books/nelebels-fairyland-pamami-press-l-frank-baum-2013-hand-bound-book/ ''Nelebel's Fairyland'' by L. Frank Baum], the second edition of this book published by Pamami Press, reviewed by Paul R. Bienvenue.
** Best Family Film: ''Wicked''
** [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0578124459/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Law of Oz and Other Stories'' by Paul Dana], reviewed by Mari Ness.
* December 15, 2024: St. Louis Film Critics Association, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
** A new edition of [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1605436828/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, with new illustrations by Gavin L. O'Keefe], reviewed by Dennis Anfuso.
* December 16, 2024: Phoenix Film Critics Society
* David L. Greene remembers Oz writer Hugh Pendexter III in "In Memoriam".
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
* The back cover is a portrait of Margaret Pellegrini, with a dedication of the issue to her.
** 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 18, 2025: British GQ Man of the Year: Cynthia Erivo (one of eighteen honorees)
* November 19, 2025: Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Music Themed Film, Biopic, or Musical: ''Wicked: For Good'', Jon M. Chu
* December 3, 2025: National Board of Review: Top 10 Films (one of ten, but not Film of the Year)
* December 4, 2025: American Film Institute Awards: Top 10 Films (one of ten)
* December 9, 2025: African-American Film Critics Association, Top Ten Films of the Year: ''Wicked: For Good''
* December 11, 2025: Astra Film Awards, Best Visual Effects: ''Wicked: For Good'', Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Anthony Smith, Dale Newton, and Paul Corbould
* December 15, 2025: San Diego Film Critics Society, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, ''Wicked: For Good''
* December 19, 2025: Las Vegas Film Critics Society, Top Ten Films of the Year: ''Wicked: For Good''
* December 28, 2025: Iowa Film Critics Association
** Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
** Best Song, "The Girl in the Bubble"
* December 29, 2025: The King's New Year's Honours List: Cynthia Erivo is named a Member of the British Empire (MBE)
* January 9, 2026: Astra Film Awards, Best Supporting Actress—Comedy or Musical: Ariana Grande
* January 16, 2026: American Cinematheque Tribute to the Crafts Awards, Choreography: Christopher Scott
* February 1, 2026: London Film Critics' Circle, Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation: Cynthia Erivo
* February 1, 2026: The Grammy Awards, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, "Defying Gravity"
* February 8, 2026: Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Kirk Douglas Award: Cynthia Erivo
* February 9, 2026: The Lumiere Awards, the Judy Garland Award: Jon M. Chu
* February 12, 2026: Costume Designers Guild Awards, Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Paul Tazewell
* February 16, 2026: Black Reel Awards, Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
* February 21, 2026: Set Decorators Society of America Awards, Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
* February 28, 2026: NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Cynthia Erivo
* March 8, 2026: The Saturn Awards
** Best Fantasy Film: ''Wicked: For Good''
** Best 4K Home Media Release: ''Wicked''
* March 10, 2025: Queerties
** Badass: Johnathan Bailey
** Drama Movie: ''Wicked: For Good''
** Film Performance: Cynthia Erivo, ''Wicked: For Good''


Also included as an insert is an announcement of the 2014 Oz Club Research Table, to be judged at the National Convention in Chittenango, in June. For more information or how to enter, write to [mailto:research@winkies.org research@winkies.org].
The television concert special ''Wicked: One Wonderful Night'' received six nominations for the 78th Prime Time Emmy Awards:
* Outstanding Variety Special (Prerecorded)
* Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming (Christopher Scott, "The Wizard and I")
* Outstanding Music Direction (Stephen Oremus)
* Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Special
* Outstanding Technical Design and Camera Work for a Special
* Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program
The Emmy Awards will be presented on September 14.


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==January 30, 2014: Arthur Rankin, Jr. and Hal Sutherland==
==October 8, 2025: Robert A. Baum, 1942-2025==
The world of animation recently lost two of its biggest names, both of whom had connections with Oz.
[[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.
* Arthur Rankin, Jr., died today at his home in Bermuda. He was 89. He is best remembered, alongside his associate Jules Bass, for ''Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer'' and numerous other animated holiday specials. They also made theatrical films (most notably ''The Last Unicorn'') and television series. One of their earliest shows was the 1960-61 series ''Tales of the Wizard of Oz'', which became the basis for the 1964 television special ''Return to Oz''. Rankin/Bass would return to the world of Oz for one of their last animated holiday specials, ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus'', based on the book of the same name by Oz creator L. Frank Baum. (Information courtesy Marc Berezin and [http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/05/business/arthur-rankin-jr-who-brought-rudolph-and-santa-to-tv-dies-at-89.html ''The Los Angeles Times''].)


* Hal Sutherland died January 16 of gallbladder disease. He was 85. With his partner, the late Lou Scheimer, Sutherland founded Filmation Studios in 1962 to produce animated series for television, which included such characters as Superman, Aquaman, Archie, Fat Albert, Lassie, and the Hardy Boys, as well as animated spinoffs of television series such as ''Gilligan's Island'' and ''Star Trek''. One of Filmations' few theatrical ventures was ''Journey Back to Oz'', released in the United States in 1974. (Information courtesy [http://www.cartoonbrew.com/rip/hal-sutherland-filmation-co-founder-and-director-rip-95357.html Cartoon Brew].)
(Information courtesy Jane Albright on Facebook. Photo courtesy [https://oz.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_A._Baum_Jr. The Oz Wiki].)


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==January 16, 2014: Ruth Robinson Duccini==
==September 21, 2025: Elaine Merk Binder, 1930-2025==
Ruth Robinson Duccini, one of the last two living Munchkin actors from the famous 1939 film version of ''The Wizard of Oz'', passed away to day after a brief illness. She was ninety-five. Born in Rush City, Minnesota on July 23, 1918, Ruth Robinsin was working as a telephone operator and entertainer in Minneapolis when word got out about the casting call for ''The Wizard of Oz'', and her troupe drove to Culver City and all were hired. During production, she met Fred Duccini, another little person who had a good job at a nearby hotel and decided not to be in the movie, at the restaurant where the Munchkin actors regularly ate. After production wrapped up, she moved back to Minneapolis, but the outbreak of World War II saw her moving back to California to work as a riveter at Douglas Aircraft. Her size allowed her to work on the wings from the inside. There, she reunited with Fred, and they were married in 1943. They had two children, and when Ruth and Fred retired, the Oz circuit found them, and they made many appearances at Oz events around the country. Ruth only other movie was the 1981 movie, ''Under the Rainbow'', a satire of the making of ''The Wizard of Oz''. Ruth Duccini was predeceased by her husband in 1994, and is survived by her son, daughter, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The sole remaining little person to have played a Munchkin in ''The Wizard of Oz'' is now Jerry Maren.
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 the [http://www.latimes.com/obituaries/la-me-ruth-robinson-duccini-20140117,0,2097250.story#axzz2qbpZQihn ''Los Angeles Times''] and [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1581822693/thewonderwizardo/ ''The Munchkins of Oz'' by Stephen Cox].)
(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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==November 23, 2013: ''Oziana'' 2013==
==August 8, 2025: ''The Baum Bugle'' Spring 2025==
[[File:Oziana2013.jpeg|left]] The 2013 edition of ''Oziana'', the annual literary publication of the International Wizard of Oz Club, is now available to order. Editor Marcus Mébès has collected six stories with the theme of "Traditional Oz" for this issue.
[[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).  


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In this issue:
The stories are:
* 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 [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.
** "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 [https://karylsozdolls.com/ 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 [https://wizmusical.com/ the recent Broadway revival of ''The Wiz''] (now on tour).
* In "The Bugle Review":
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0063377012/thewonderwizardo/ ''Elphie: A Wicked Childhood'' by Gregory Maguire], reviewed by Alan Wise.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0DNKY21JB/thewonderwizardo/ The blu-ray release of ''Wicked''], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
** [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.
** [https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0CSYB4B12/thewonderwizardo/ ''Wicked: The Game'' by Spin Master], reviewed by Sarah K. Crotzer.
* 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.


* "Foiled by the Iffin: Another Adventure of the Computer Wizard of Oz" by Phyllis Ann Karr, illustrated by Dennis Anfuso. Karr continues her series of adventures from previous years' issues about the Computer Wizard, a very nice Oz villain who uses computers in his attempts to conquer Oz. He never succeeds, but this year he is trying to recruit the Reddies from ''Jack Pumpkinhead in Oz''. The story revisits many characters and places from that book.
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.


* "The Harvest Ball" by Gina Wickwar, illustrated by Luciano Vecchio and Marcus Mébès (Vecchio's full page illustration of the characters dancing has been colored and reused as the front cover). During the annual Harvest Ball, Jack Pumpkinhead comes up with a way to harmlessly enchant the corn maze to make it more challenging and interesting. But when it turns out that Glinda's away, one of her apprentices tries to do the job in her place, with problematic results.
<br clear=all>


* "Jinnicky Saves Christmas" by Nathan M. DeHoff, illustrated by Shawn Maldonado. While flying about in his jinnrickasha on Christmas Eve, the Red Jinn stumbles across a plot by some disgruntled elves to sabotage Santa's annual trip to deliver presents. Well, Jinnicky can't just sit by and do nothing, can he?
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* "The Love-Bug of Oz", written and illustrated by Ed McCray. Mombi and the Nome King are both searching the Wicked Witch of the West's old castle for some overlooked magic that hasn't already been collected. When the Nome King finds a love bug in a jar, he decided to go to the Emerald City and cause some mischief. Mombi follows him, hoping to get in on things as well.
==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.)


* "The Way of a Lion" by Jared Davis, illustrated by Sam Milazzo. A young lion cub hopes to grow up and become like his father. But when a disaster takes away both of his parents, he must grow up quickly without any guidance, and worries that he will never be as good as other lions. Winner of the 2013 Fred Otto Award for fiction at this year's Winkie Convention.
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* "Witches of the West" by Darrell Spradlyn and Marcus Mébès, illustrated by Spradlyn. The Wicked Witch of the West, in an effort to consolidate and expand her power, pays a visit to Gloma, the ruler of the Black Forest (as seen in ''The Wishing Horse of Oz''). As Gloma is a good witch and wants to be left alone, it does not go well. One of Spradlyn's illustrations is colored and used as the back cover.


''Oziana 2013'' can be ordered from [http://www.lulu.com/shop/gina-wickwar/oziana-2013/paperback/product-21313902.html Lulu.com].
Three horror-themed takes on Oz are currently in the works:
* [https://bloody-disgusting.com/exclusives/3919064/return-to-oz-with-gale-yellow-brick-road-poster-by-creepy-duck-design-exclusive/ ''Gale: Yellow Brick Road''], about Dorothy's granddaughter Emily being drawn into a nightmare version of Oz, had a limited release in February 2026.
* ''Dorothy: The Haunting of Oz'' is in post-production and looking for a 2026 release.
* ''Wicked of Oz'' was announced for a release right before ''Wicked: For Good'', but was quietly withdrawn and is now awaiting another possible release.
If any of these go into general release, they'll appear on this website's events page.


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==October 18, 2013: Lou Scheimer==
''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].
Lou Scheimer, the former producer and main driving force at the Filmation animation studio, passed away today after a brief illness. He was just shy of his eighty-fifth birthday. His studio was responsible for such Saturday morning cartoon shows as ''Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids'', the animated ''Star Trek'', ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' and its spin-off, ''She-Ra, Princess of Power'', and series featuring DC Comics heroes Superman, Batman, and Aquaman. Filmation also made movies, however, one of which was the animated sequel ''Journey Back to Oz''.


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==Rumor Control==
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]).
(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.)


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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:
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 [http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/aug/06/eddie-redmayne-wizard-of-oz-author-l-frank-baum here] and [http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/eddie-redmayne-to-play-author-l-frank-baum-in-biopic-road-to-oz-268 here].)
*''Dark Oz 3-D'', based on the old Caliber comic book.
*''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 [http://www.templehillent.com/ Temple Hill].
*A non-musical, faithful adaptation of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' from New Line and [http://www.templehillent.com/ Temple Hill].
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*[http://www.independentstoriesinc.com/WonderfulWizard.htm ''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.
*[http://www.independentstoriesinc.com/WonderfulWizard.htm ''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.
*[http://valleywind.com/legendofoz/ ''Legend of Oz''], a modern retelling of ''The Wizard of Oz'' from Valley Wind Productions in Ottawa.
*[http://valleywind.com/legendofoz/ ''Legend of Oz''], a modern retelling of ''The Wizard of Oz'' from Valley Wind Productions in Ottawa.
*Yes, it looks like a film version of ''Wicked'' is currently in pre-planning at Universal. But this is a long way off, and a lot can happen. However, the success of the play most likely means that there will be a film version some day. Winnie Holzman, who wrote the book for the play, has already been tapped to write the script.
*[http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2010/06/16/are-the-polish-brothers-planning-their-own-trip-to-oz/ ''Oz''], a new telling of ''The Wizard of Oz''.
*[http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2010/06/16/are-the-polish-brothers-planning-their-own-trip-to-oz/ ''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.
*A still unnamed horror movie set in the 1920s with Dorothy meeting Alice in Bedlam Asylum.
*[http://www.ozlandthefilm.com/ ''OzLand''], with the protagonists wandering post-apocalyptic America and finding a copy of ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''.
*[http://variety.com/2013/film/news/afm-film-sharks-toons-up-animas-feature-save-oz-exclusive-1200806821/ ''Save Oz''], an animated movie from Mexico about a winged monkey who decides to defeat the Wicked Witch on his own terms, with a little help from some of Oz's greatest heroes.
*[http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/berlin/european-film-market/mcnamara-to-direct-young-santa/5066468.article ''Young Santa'']., based on L. Frank Baum's book ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus'' and directed by Sean McNamara.
*[http://www.screendaily.com/festivals/berlin/european-film-market/mcnamara-to-direct-young-santa/5066468.article ''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.
*Not entirely Oz, strictly speaking, but the Judy Garland biography ''Get Happy'' may be made into a movie, featuring Anne Hathaway as Garland.


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*[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-horizon-turn-oz-fantasy-420517 ''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.
*[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/warner-horizon-turn-oz-fantasy-420517 ''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.
*[http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/cbs-developing-wizard-of-oz-themed-medical-drama-from-timbermanbeverly/ ''Dorothy''], an Oz-themed medical drama in development at CBS
*[http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/cbs-developing-wizard-of-oz-themed-medical-drama-from-timbermanbeverly/ ''Dorothy''], an Oz-themed medical drama in development at CBS
*[http://www.deadline.com/2013/08/nbc-buys-wizard-of-oz-drama-from-matt-arnold-as-frank-baums-classic-becomes-the-hottest-tv-property-this-season/ ''Emerald City''], a "modern" Oz series in development at NBC, which was originally picked up for the 2014-15 season. The order was later cancelled, however.
*[http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Tim-Kring-Developing-Wizard-Oz-Drama-Dorothy-Must-Die-CW-58899.html ''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.
*[http://www.cinemablend.com/television/Tim-Kring-Developing-Wizard-Oz-Drama-Dorothy-Must-Die-CW-58899.html ''Dorothy Must Die''], in which Dorothy has returned to Oz and become a dictator, in development at the CW.
*''Warriors of Oz'', a post-apocalyptic version in development at Syfy.
*''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.
* 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.
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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 [http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31184 stories like this]...
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 [http://www.aintitcool.com/node/31184 stories like this]...
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It seems the [http://www.hash.com/2007web/ Hash, Inc.], animated production of [http://wiki.hash.com/index.php?title=Main_Page_Two ''The Tin Woodman of Oz''] was successful enough that they're going ahead with their next production, ''The Scarecrow of Oz''. This one even has test footage on YouTube, which looks something like this:
<html><center><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0PN379JK76g&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0PN379JK76g&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></center></html>
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A [http://www.toonzentertainment.com/toonzEntertainment/santa-claus.html computer animated production of Baum's 1902 book ''The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus''] is currently in the works. The producers are Hyde Park Entertainment, Toonz Entertainment, and Gang of 7 Animation. As with all movie projects, a lot can happen before release, which could cause them be delayed, or not to appear at all. Keep an eye on this website's news and events pages for details if they get closer to actually coming out.


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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.)
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*''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 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 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 Bollywood adaptation of ''The Wizard of Oz'' in India.
*A movie version of American McGee's (later cancelled) ''Oz'' video game.
*A movie version of American McGee's (later cancelled) ''Oz'' video game.

Latest revision as of 17:18, 26 July 2026

(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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July 25, 2026: The L. Frank Baum Memorial Award

Today, the International Wizard of Oz Club awarded its highest honor, the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, to Cindy Ragni. Ragni has served the Club for many years on the Board of Directors and contributed many articles to the Club's journal, The Baum Bugle.

June 20, 2026: The Winkie Award

Although there is no OzCon International this year, its highest honor, the Winkie Award, was announced tonight. This year's honoree is Paul Dana, who has helped out the convention behind the scenes in many ways over the past few years, especially as its registrar.

April 30, 2026: The Baum Bugle Spring 2026

The Spring 2026 issue of The Baum Bugle, the journal of the International Wizard of Oz Club, has now been published and is on its way to members' mailboxes around the world. We will have a complete rundown of this issue soon.

April 13, 2026: Valerie Lee, 1931-2026

Valerie Lee, who was one of the children who played a Munchkin in the background of The Wizard of Oz, passed away today at the age of 94. We will have updated information soon.

(The Hollywood Reporter.)

March 22, 2026: Anna-Maria Cool 1956-2026

Anna-Maria Bernardes Basom, the comics artist who worked using the name Anna-Maria B. Cool, passed away today after losing a battle with cancer. She was 69. She also illustrated The Hidden Prince of Oz and Toto of Oz for the International Wizard of Oz Club. We will have updated information soon.

(Beckwith Mortuary.)

March 16, 2026: Gina Wickwar 1944-2026

Virginia "Gina" Wickwar, the author of two Oz books for the International Wizard of Oz Club and a long-time Club contributor, passed away today at the age of 81. We will have updated information here soon.

(Lanza Funeral Home.)

March 15, 2026: Matt Clark, 1936-2026

Matt Clark.webp

Matt Clark, the actor whose many roles included Uncle Henry in Return to Oz, passed away today at the age of 89. Clark's career spanned fifty years, and he was best known for his appearances in Westerns. Other movie roles included In the Heat of the Night, The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai Across the 8th Dimension, Back to the Future Part III, Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, and A Million Ways to Die in the West. On television, he appeared in many made-for-TV movies and miniseries, and was a guest on shows that included Ben Casey, The Rat Patrol, Death Valley Days, Bonanza, The Waltons, Kung Fu, Little House on the Prairie, Grace Under Fire, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Lonesome Dove, The Jeff Foxworthy Show, Walker: Texas Ranger, and Chicago Hope.

(Information courtesy Wikipedia. Photo courtesy The Oz Wiki.)


March 13, 2026: Michael Hague, 1948-2026

Michael Hague.jpeg

Michael Hague, the acclaimed fantasy illustrator, passed away today at the age of 77. Influenced by artists such as Arthur Rakham, W. Heath Robinson, N. C. Wyeth, Howard Pyle, and Hal Foster, Hague had ambitions to become a children's book illustrator. He received his BFA in 1972 but had difficulty finding work. He eventually found work at Hallmark, where he illustrated his first book, a pop-up edition of Gulliver in Lilliput. After striking out on his own, he started building a portfolio and a following. Over the course of his career, besides many original works, his works included new editions of Mother Goose, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Hobbit, The Wind in the Willows, Beauty and the Beast, The Night Before Christmas, The Reluctant Dragon, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Secret Garden, Little Women, The Story of Doctor Dolittle, Peter Rabbit, The Nutcracker, and tales by Aesop, Hans Christian Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and Oscar Wilde. Oz fans, however, will know him for his 1989 edition of The Wizard of Oz. Hague returned to the world of L. Frank Baum with a 2003 edition of The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus.

(Information courtesy Publishers Weekly and Wikipedia. Photo courtesy Publishers Weekly.)


March 4, 2026: Lyle Conway, RIP

Lyle Conway.webp

Lyle Conway, the puppeteer whose work with Jim Henson included creating and operating many well-known movie puppets, passed away today at an undetermined age. Influenced as a child in Chicago by the television series Kukla, Fran and Ollie and the original film version of King Kong, Conway attended the Art Institute of Chicago before striking out for Hollywood. After working as a social worker and toy designer, he found his way to Jim Henson and his Creature Shop, where he sculpted a new Miss Piggy Muppet for the final season of The Muppet Show and The Great Muppet Caper, and created Lyle the Dog, who was named for him. He then went on to design puppets for The Dark Crystal and Dreamchild before striking out on his own. He was reunited with his old Creature Shop colleague Frank Oz, who was directing the musical film version of Little Shop of Horrors. Conway designed Audrey II, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Saturn Award. He had a rare onscreen appearance in Blade, and came back to the Creature Shop to design the titular characters in the film version of Where the Wild Things Are. But for Oz fans, his biggest contribution was designing Jack Pumpkinhead, Billina, and the Gump for Disney's 1985 movie Return to Oz. Besides operating the Gump, he also provided his voice and cast Brian Henson as the performer and voice for Jack Pumpkinhead.

(Information courtesy Wikipedia. Photo courtesy Muppet Wiki.)

February 2, 2026: The Baum Bugle Winter 2025 Issue and Oziana 2025

Bbwinter25.jpg

The year's final issue of The Baum Bugle is back from the printers and off to members of the International Wizard of Oz Club.

In this issue:

  • The front cover presents frames from the newly-restored version of the 1914 movie His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz, highlighting Vivian Reed's portrayal of Ozma.
  • The inside front cover reproduces an illustration of Ozma and some of her friends from Dick Martin's 1984 collection An Oz Picture Gallery.
  • "Letters" sees Oz Club President Ryan Bunch singing the praises of the community fostered by the Club, while Bugle editor Sara Krotzer talks about the influence of Ozma on culture, as well as this issue.
  • In "The Bugle Bulletin", more articles from the history of the Bugle are available on the Club's website, and child Munchkin Elain Merk Binder is remembered in "Beyond the Shifting Sands".
  • "Awards and Honors" lauds Sarah Crotzer as the first sitting editor of The Baum Bugle to receive the Club's highest honor, the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award, in a tribute penned by her old friend Nick Campbell.
  • Nate Barlow learns about the ins and outs of His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz as he recounts "Restoring the Scarecrow, or How I Learned to Stop Dreaming and Restore a Film".
  • Entomologist JoVonn G. Hill explains how he named a newly-discovered bright green Mexican grasshopper Ozmacris peninsulae, after Ozma's transformation in Ozma of Oz in the article "The Emerald Grasshopper of Baja".
  • Leighton Suen looks at Ozma as a transgender icon in "Born a Girl, and Also a Princess", the 2024 winner of the C. Warren Hollister Prize for Non-Fiction.
  • English castles in Kent, Oxfordshire, and North Yorkshire incorporate The Wizard of Oz into their Christmas celebration, and the Bugle has photos to prove it.
  • Cynthia Twohy Ragni takes a look at astronomical history in "Project Ozma, the First Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence", the 2025 runner-up for the C. Warren Hollister Prize for Non-Fiction.
  • In "Oz Under Scrutiny", Scott Cummings collects reviews of The Lost King of Oz, celebrating its centennial in 2025.
  • A reprint of a 1926 profile of Ruth Plumly Thompson from The Guide to Nature.
  • "Coming and Going" by Sarah Krotzer has tidbits about The Lost King of Oz.
  • Barbara Arnstein has a holiday surprise in "Halloween Oz Magic: An Ozzy Encounter".
  • A new Oz artist answers questions in "Puffin Along the Yellow Brick Road: An Interview with Steven Lenton".
  • "Oz in the Arts" sees Toby Sutton-Long visiting the holiday presentation at Blenheim Castle in Oxfordshire.
  • In "The Bugle Review":
  • "Adventures in Oz" sees Gregory Hall writing about his latest composition in "Marvelous: A Musical Opera: Our Sequel to Oz".
  • In "Jack Van Camp: Bringing Stability and Celebration to Oz", John Fricke remembers the recently deceased past Treasurer and board member of the International Wizard of Oz Club and 1981 laureate of the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award.
  • The inside back cover reproduces the original art, without words, of Steven Lenton's new Oz book covers.
  • The back cover is a painting of Ozma by Vincent Myrand.

Also included with this issue is the Club's latest craft project, an Ozma paper doll.

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Also available now is the 2025 issue of Oziana, the Club's annual literary anthology. It is available for sale to anyone, even if they're not a member of the Club, through Lulu.com. In this issue:

  • The front cover illustration is by Rob Lauer.
  • Opposite the table of contents is "Tales of the Land of Oz", an illustration by Stephen Smith.
  • "The Royal Joust of Oz" by Scott B. Blanke, with illustrations by Rob Lauer, sees a new spell cast on Prince Corum, turning him back into Sir Hokus of Pokes. Only winning a joust can restore him, but he's going to need help from his friends in the Emerald City.
  • "The Piglets and the Tin Soldier" by J. L. Bell, illustrated by David Valentin, has Captain Fyter escorting the Nine Tiny Piglets back to their old family farm in the Munchkin Country. Of course, it's not as smooth going as anyone suspects.
  • "The Low Mare of Oz" by Nathan DeHoff, with illustrations by Rob Lauer, shows a visit by Betsy Bobbin and Hank to Troth to see real horses in Oz. They end up encountering many other Oz horses along the way.
  • "The Tin Man of Oz in Where's My Oil Can?", written and drawn by Mel Vavaroutsos, shows how the Scarecrow helped Nick Chopper solve a personal problem.
  • "The Missing Key" by J. L. Bell, illustrated by David Lee Ingersoll, finds Tik-Tok's key missing, and he can't think, talk, or move until it can be found. Naturally, it's not as easy as his friends think it will be.
  • "The Bricks" by Catherine Lombardi, with illustrations by Bridget Elmore, sees Phil, a bricklayer on the Yellow Brick Road, tell the story of how he saved the Tin Woodman from a horrible fate.
  • In "A Catastrophic Celebration in Oz" by Scott B. Blanke, illustrated by Mel Vavarounsos, Dr. Pipt and Margolotte throw a small party to celebrate the anniversary of her coming back to life after being doused with the Liquid of Petrifaction. But during the course of events, an old bottle of the liquid is unearthed, and it spills on Ozma, the Wizard, and the Sawhorse!


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.

In this issue:

  • The wraparound front cover reproduces the art, by Josh Kirby, for a 1985 British Return to Oz jigsaw puzzle.
  • The inside front cover has photos, taken by Tricia Trozzi, of the New York premiere of Return to Oz in June of 1985.
  • In "Letters", Oz Club President and Bugle editor Sarah K. Crotzer discuss their encounters and memories of Return to Oz.
  • In "The Bugle Bulletin:
    • The only known manuscript of "Over the Rainbow" is now in the Library of Congress.
    • Documentarian Jeffrey McHale is taking his latest movie, It's Dorothy! around the film festival circuit.
    • "Beyond the Shifting Sands" remembers recently passed Oz luminaries:
      • Robert A. Baum, Jr., the great-grandson of L. Frank Baum and a noted Oz scholar and historian in his own right.
      • Dr. Richard R. Rutter, a major collector and Winkie Convention attendee, who was especially known for his extravagant Oz costumes.
      • Drew Struzan, the celebrated movie poster artist whose works included Return to Oz.
  • Sarah K. Crotzer looks back at the life and career of the actress known in Oz circles as Princess Mombi from Return to Oz in "So…! The Many Heads of Jean Marsh".
  • Tricia Trozzi looks back at what she was doing on June 21, 1985—attending the gala premiere of Return to Oz at Radio City Music Hall—in "Movie Memories".
  • Original Return to Oz reviews are collected in "What the Papers Said: 1985 Edition, A Collection of Contemporaneous Media Opinions of Return to Oz".
  • Robert B. Luehrs contemplates one of L. Frank Baum's earlier characters in "The Pundit of Oz: Some Random Thoughts Concerning the Woggle-Bug".
  • Sarah K. Crotzer updates previous Bugle checklists with "The Ultimate Return to Oz Merchandise Checklist", a full-color insert.
  • Carl Rexroad continues on from an article in a previous issue with "The Editorial Cartoons of Oz, Part 2: Modern Times with The Wizard of Oz".
  • Jane Albright peeks behind the curtain of the latest iteration of The Wizard of Oz on Ice in "Melt the Witch, Not the Ice".
  • Noted in "The Bugle Review":
  • The inside back cover reprints a 1985 Japanese ad for Return to Oz merchandise from Nakajima Toys.

Also included with this issue is the card game Don't Wear Mombi's Head, a set of cards to color, cut out, and play with.


Wicked, Wicked: For Good, and Wicked: One Wonderful Night 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 18, 2025: British GQ Man of the Year: Cynthia Erivo (one of eighteen honorees)
  • November 19, 2025: Hollywood Music in Media Awards, Music Themed Film, Biopic, or Musical: Wicked: For Good, Jon M. Chu
  • December 3, 2025: National Board of Review: Top 10 Films (one of ten, but not Film of the Year)
  • December 4, 2025: American Film Institute Awards: Top 10 Films (one of ten)
  • December 9, 2025: African-American Film Critics Association, Top Ten Films of the Year: Wicked: For Good
  • December 11, 2025: Astra Film Awards, Best Visual Effects: Wicked: For Good, Pablo Helman, Jonathan Fawkner, Anthony Smith, Dale Newton, and Paul Corbould
  • December 15, 2025: San Diego Film Critics Society, Best Costume Design: Paul Tazewell, Wicked: For Good
  • December 19, 2025: Las Vegas Film Critics Society, Top Ten Films of the Year: Wicked: For Good
  • December 28, 2025: Iowa Film Critics Association
    • Best Supporting Actress: Ariana Grande
    • Best Song, "The Girl in the Bubble"
  • December 29, 2025: The King's New Year's Honours List: Cynthia Erivo is named a Member of the British Empire (MBE)
  • January 9, 2026: Astra Film Awards, Best Supporting Actress—Comedy or Musical: Ariana Grande
  • January 16, 2026: American Cinematheque Tribute to the Crafts Awards, Choreography: Christopher Scott
  • February 1, 2026: London Film Critics' Circle, Derek Malcolm Award for Innovation: Cynthia Erivo
  • February 1, 2026: The Grammy Awards, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance: Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, "Defying Gravity"
  • February 8, 2026: Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Kirk Douglas Award: Cynthia Erivo
  • February 9, 2026: The Lumiere Awards, the Judy Garland Award: Jon M. Chu
  • February 12, 2026: Costume Designers Guild Awards, Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film: Paul Tazewell
  • February 16, 2026: Black Reel Awards, Outstanding Costume Design: Paul Tazewell
  • February 21, 2026: Set Decorators Society of America Awards, Best Achievement in Décor/Design of a Comedy or Musical Feature Film: Nathan Crowley and Lee Sandales
  • February 28, 2026: NAACP Image Awards, Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture: Cynthia Erivo
  • March 8, 2026: The Saturn Awards
    • Best Fantasy Film: Wicked: For Good
    • Best 4K Home Media Release: Wicked
  • March 10, 2025: Queerties
    • Badass: Johnathan Bailey
    • Drama Movie: Wicked: For Good
    • Film Performance: Cynthia Erivo, Wicked: For Good

The television concert special Wicked: One Wonderful Night received six nominations for the 78th Prime Time Emmy Awards:

  • Outstanding Variety Special (Prerecorded)
  • Outstanding Choreography for Variety or Reality Programming (Christopher Scott, "The Wizard and I")
  • Outstanding Music Direction (Stephen Oremus)
  • Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Special
  • Outstanding Technical Design and Camera Work for a Special
  • Outstanding Hairstyling for a Variety, Nonfiction or Reality Program

The Emmy Awards will be presented on September 14.

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.


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.)

Three horror-themed takes on Oz are currently in the works:

  • Gale: Yellow Brick Road, about Dorothy's granddaughter Emily being drawn into a nightmare version of Oz, had a limited release in February 2026.
  • Dorothy: The Haunting of Oz is in post-production and looking for a 2026 release.
  • Wicked of Oz was announced for a release right before Wicked: For Good, but was quietly withdrawn and is now awaiting another possible release.

If any of these go into general release, they'll appear on this website's events page.

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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