International Wizard of Oz Club members gather to celebrate our love for Oz & it's Royal Historians. Those unable to attend are encouraged to visit a public Oz festival this year for a fun weekend with fellow Oz fans. See our Oz Events Listing for more information!
Upcoming Conventions:
The Oz Film Manufacturing Company's film "The Magic Cloak of Oz" will be shown in a longer version than has been previously available. Constantine Grame has composed a score for this film, and he will accompany it for the first public performance of this version in over eighty years. David Moyer will report on the recently restored version of part of OFMC's "The Last Egyptian." This is appropriate because 2008 is the centenary of the publication of Baum's book.
2008 is also the centenary of "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz," so there will be a showing of Rob Roy MacVeigh's illustrated version of that book.
Baum's greatest financial success was the musical "The Wizard of Oz" that opened in 1902 and played for over a decade. Although this has been since overshadowed by the MGM movie, Constantine Grame revived it in a production in 2006. This production will be shown, preceded by a panel discussion of the play with Grame, David Maxine and Stephen Teller.
Gina Wickwar will talk about her writing and revising of the 2007 IWOC publication "Toto of Oz," originally written in the 1960's and not published for over forty years.
Stuart Kerr, author of the comic book series "OZ" will speak about his writing of the series and its new incarnation as graphic novels.
Bill Thompson will conduct the famous Oz Club auction; Peter Schulenburg will conduct a collectors round table, and Richard Smyers will discuss ballooning with the Wizard of Oz.
An Ozzy Show and Tell will open the program; anyone with something to show should contact Stephen Teller (steller@pittstate.edu), home address: 1610 S. Olive, Pittsburg, KS 66762.
2008 Winkie Convention July 11-13
(Downloadable Registration Form)
(Preview of Winkie Auction
Items)
The 2008 Winkie Convention will be held at Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, July 11-13.
The Convention Theme is Dorothy in
Earthquake Land, in honor of the centennial of Dorothy and the
Wizard in Oz, originally published in 1908.
Help celebrate the 100
Anniversary of Dorothy Gale’s famous visit to California and the
remarkable adventures that befell shortly after her arrival in the
earthquake-prone Golden State. 2008 marks the Centennial of the
original publication of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.
Expanding our appreciation of all things Oz, will be celebrated author Michael Buckley, whose delightful tales of the Sisters Grimm incorporate aspects of Oz and its characters in surprising new ways in his best-selling, imaginative, humorous, and delightful new series. Winkie leader, Stan Sieler describes the books thus: “The main characters are Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, descendants of the Brothers Grimm. In the series, fairy tales are real, although most fairy tale characters are confined to an area around the town of Ferryport Landing, not far up the Hudson River from New York City. We see Sabrina and Daphne introduced to Ferryport, adapt to their new surroundings, and engage in the family business of fighting evil, along with their grandmother and a reformed Big Bad Wolf. Buckley invokes Oz references in every novel, ranging from Daphne disguising herself as the Tin Woodman, to the use of the silver slippers (which look a bit red in some lights). Indeed, some Oz characters appear in the series, including Glinda (one of the three witches in the town), and the Wizard of Oz himself!” The award-winning author will help us understand his remarkable vision of the world of fairy tales and its intersection with our own. Publisher Harry N. Abrams has produced the volumes with handsome cover art and fine cloth bindings, with imaginative illustrations by Peter Ferguson. The sixth volume in the series is scheduled for publication on May 2008, so will be still quite new at the Winkie Convention.
Special presentation will also be made by Judy Bieber, who will explore “Other Americas Than Ours,” as she discusses L. Frank Baum’s America and Americans in some of his lesser-known works, emphasizing his non-fantasy titles written for adolescents and adults. Drawing from her knowledge of Baum and her own background in Latin American history, this talk will explore an aspect of this larger work—how Baum portrayed the Americas south of the border. Here’s your chance to learn more about those pseudonymous best sellers like The Fate of a Crown and Sam Steele's Adventures in Panama!
And our own perennial Winkie, Robin Hess, will guide us through an exploration of California earthquakes and which one is likeliest to have led Dorothy, Zeb, and the Wizard on their travels through the Land of the Mangaboos, the Country of the Wooden Gargoyles, the Beautiful Valley of Vo, and the gloomy Den of the Dragonettes. We hope that the Wizard himself may be on hand with his remarkable troupe of Nine Tiny Piglets to regale us yet again with feats of magic unexplainable to mere mortals. Popular program features at the Winkie Convention will include our traditional Oz Costume Parade and Contest, the enlarged Oz Collectibles Road Show, a seminar or two on collecting Oz books and related items, and the treasured Winkie Auction conducted by Club Auctioneer, Bill Thompson, featuring consignments by Larry Abramson from his collection, and a generous gift from Denise Minter, who donated the entire Oz collection of her late sister, Diane M. Wohlforth.
The 2008 Winkie Convention will be held at Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, on the Monterey Peninsula. Asilomar rates include two nights and all six meals in the price of accommodations. Special rates are also available for those who plan to stay elsewhere. Those new to Asilomar should know that July weather there can be breezy and cool (in the low fifties on occasion), so be sure to bring layers of clothing. Asilomar is part of the Asilomar State Beach, with 105 acres of wooded grounds, teeming with wild life, including Western mule deer. The beach is accessible by board-walk across the dunes, which have been restored to their native beauty. Tide pools are easy to explore during low-tide. The superb Monterey Bay Aquarium is nearby, and fine restaurants, antique, book, and art stores are numerous in the area, which includes the cities of Monterey, Pebble Beach, and Carmel. Summer accommodations are premium-priced in July, which makes the Asilomar rates particularly reasonable.
2008 National IWOC Convention October 10-12
(Downloadable color PDF flyer)
• The classic 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz always a favorite with fans and families, will be
featured with remarks by Oz writer, historian and past IWOC president, John Fricke.
• The Maid of Arran, author L. Frank Baum’s first theatrical success, will be performed as a live readers’ theater event.
• A MusicalOz Review offers a rich variety of highlights from more than 100 years of lively Oz and Baum stage and screen productions. Performed for us live by Josh Smith and Company.
• The Wonderful Women of Oz: Alison Lurie, Pulitzer Prize winning author, is known for her Oz interests and widely respected for her expertise both in children’s literature and women’s issues, Ms. Lurie appears Saturday as a special guest of the IWOC.
• Annual Gage Fund-raising Auction hosted by Tom Thomas at the elegant Wellington House—great food and drink, with one-of-a-kind Oz collectibles. Sunday afternoon.
• Robert A. Baum, great-grandson of the celebrated Oz author, and his wife Clare will introduce The Dreamer of Oz Friday afternoon. Enjoy their in-character performances as Frank and Maud, kids’ storytelling and other fun contributions to the event.
• Treasures from the Oz Collection of Syracuse University: Characterized by Mr. Hearn as “the best and deepest [Oz/Baum collection] ever donated to a public institution,” selected material will be featured in a special walk-through with the collection’s curator. The collections of Russell P. MacFall and Fred M. Meyer are the basis of this outstanding collection.
• Incredible, Edible Oz:
Dr. Sally Roesch Wagner, director of the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, teams with Oz collector Jane Albright for a review of Baum and Gage family recipes, cookbooks and fun food products tied to Oz.
• The Matilda Joslyn
Gage Home, where Frank and Maud were married, is in the midst of extensive restoration. Don’t miss the bedroom window pane where Susan B. Anthony scratched her name. There’s even an archeological dig underway in the back yard.
• Quilts of Oz: dozens of hand-made quilts featuring Oz themes and characters have been created for exhibit by area quilters to support the work of the Gage Foundation.
• Early Music of Oz: The Motto Sheet Music Museum in the Fayetteville Free Library will exhibit Oz-related sheet music from Club member collections, including rare selections, such as “The Maid of Arran,” on loan from Robert Baum.
• Through the Lens with L. Frank Baum: Baum often captured his area visits with both interior and exterior photography. Fascinating views of the Gage home through Baum’s own photos will be on display.
• Printed, self-guided area tours to Baum’s birthplace (Chittenango, NY, just 7 miles down the road), and other Syracuse-area sites will be available.
2009 Munchkin Convention
If you are wondering if there will be a Munchkin Convention,
I'm
here to say that not only is there merely going to be, but most
sincerely
there will be one........but not until July 31 - August 2, 2009.
Chris and Sharon, have retired the role, as directors. But it is my
honor
and privilege to be the new director. Keep an eye out for more details.
If you have any suggestions or ideas, they will be most greatly
welcomed.
Until then....Ozzily yours, Kathleen Sorbello Di Scenna -
discenna[at]dreamscape[dot]com