1970
John Fricke
John Fricke was an Oz enthusiast from a very early age. He began attending the Oz Conventions in his early teens, and combined a passion for Baum and Oz with enormous admiration for Judy Garland and the MGM film version of The Wizard of Oz.
John earned his degree in Journalism at Northwestern University, and his writing skill has been a mainstay ever since. He is also a talented singer, who has performed in theaters and clubs throughout the country as well as at all three main regional conventions of the Oz Club. John has been a frequent contributor to The Baum Bugle, and served as its Editor-in-Chief in the 1980s. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Oz Club President.
Among his published books are The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History, Judy Garland: World’s Greatest Entertainer, and 100 Years of Oz: A Century of Classic Images from the Wizard of Oz Collection of Willard Carroll. In addition, he has written liner notes, served as consultant and narrated Oz and Garland documentaries, and interviewed numerous individuals who were directly connected with production of the MGM movie.
