Some Things Wicked This Way Comes

Wicked fans.........hold on to your hats (or tiaras if your among the more Galindafied)!!!!!! Barnes and Noble has a line of Wicked merchandise. A tote bag, 2009 planner, 2009 calendar, journals, pen sets and three puzzles. I'm hearing Barnes and Noble will have a Wicked display September 10th. I'm also hearing there will be a t-shirt.

http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?SRT=R&WRD=wicked&DREF=1249

http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?SRT=R&WRD=wicked&DREF=1513

http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?SRT=R&WRD=wicked&DREF=1325

Gregory Maguire's third book in the Wicked saga A Lion Among Men will hit stores October 14.
Coming next month is Defying Gravity: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz from Godspell to Wicked by Carol de Giere. Original Glinda Kristin Chenoweth is penning her memoirs, A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith in Stages, to be released next spring.

Other forthcoming Wicked items include perfume and a For Good waterglobe.

On September 12th, the Broadway Bear Glinda in her Popular dress will be shown with props and costumes from Wicked. The bear will be auctioned in February 2009.
http://www.wizardofozfestival.org/

Road to Oz: New Children's Biography of Baum

http://www.amazon.com/Road-Oz-Twists-Turns-Triumphs/dp/0375832165/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219683554&sr=1-2

More Tonner Dolls!

Wow, they just keep coming!! This however, is the final release. Now added to the line are
Chassé down the YELLOW BRICK ROAD, a Dorothy ballerina, and 2008 Basic Wicked Witch of the East. Robyn Bodine emailed me a Tonner article a few weeks ago and it mentioned the Dorothy ballerina. They were still working on her costume so I assumed I had until next year. Personally, I'm very excited. Since I started seeing the Disney ballerinas years ago, I wanted a Dorothy ballerina. Enough of my girlish blathering. Here's the dolls!!

http://tonnerdoll.com/wizofoz.htm#2008fh

Be sure to scroll down for lots more Oz news. The Charming Tails Collection, A Dorothy Bratz doll, a figurine of Karl Slover from the Yellow Brick Road Shop in Indiana, and the McDonalds Happy Meal toys. It's a great time to love Oz isn't it??? More surprises are sure to be in store so please keep checking back.

Bratz Dorothy - Updated

Oh my goodness, how cute is this??!! Just some freak thing I happened to come across today. Unfortunately, I know nothing about Bratz, but I believe she'll retail for around $9.99. As of now, I don't know where to find her, but I wanted to get the word out. She could be at Target, WalMart, Toys R Us, Kmart, wherever Bratz are sold it seems like. Once I get more info, I'll update this post. You'll want to look for Bratz Babyz Storybook Collection. Phoebe in Dorothy's Lil Joke.

I did some searching yesterday and I found last year's Storybook Collection styles at Toys R Us. The other stores didn't have a lot of Bratz merchandise but with the holidays approaching that could change. I received an email from the company today and was told they could not comment on merchandise that has not been formally introduced. Odd, because the photo above is from Bratz.com

Updated August 28 After being told by the company that they can not give info on dolls that haven't been released yet, I've been told by two different people these dolls have been out for months. Someone found one in the bargain aisles at WalMart for $6.99. Another person that is a Bratz collector as well as an Oz collector said the doll has been out since February. I searched last night for one for my collection and came up with nothing.

Hallmark Halloween Card

So far one new Halloween card has turned up at Hallmark stores. It costs $1.99. The Wicked Witch Musical birthday card has been re-worded for Halloween and the color scheme has been changed to reflect the holiday. It's available at WalMart and Hallmark stores. The Wicked Witch Halloween card from last year at select WalMarts seems to be more widely available this year. I saw it at my WalMart and it wasn't in this section of the country last year.

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb for the info on the musical card.

Lots and lots of new Oz news and I'm sure more will continue pouring in so please keep checking back. Scroll down to see news of the Happy Meal toys updated with a peek at some color photos and a new figurine from Michael Roche and the Yellow Brick Road store, not to mention the uber cute Charming Tails figurines.

Charming Tails Wizard of Oz Update!

The Hamilton Collection brings us this adorable new set of Wizard of Oz figurines. Cute little forest critters from the Charming Tails line pay homage to the Wizard of Oz. Five figurines in all including the 'Emerald City' display piece. They are priced at $19.95 each plus shipping. The order number for this series is: 905665. Please call 800-458-1925 to place your order. I hear they have already gotten more orders than expected so the first piece in the collection, Dorothy, may be on back order. Thanks to Pam Riedinger and Jim Whitcomb for the ordering info and again to Pam Riedinger for the photo.

The Charming Tails figurines have since shown up on the Collectibles Today site

http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-905665.jsp?_wizard+of+oz/_prod/_/_/_36/_/_/_Y&endeca=true

Oz news is really pouring in, so please keep checking back. I'm hearing news of yet another Barbie line, Oz shirts are showing up at Kohls, the Happy Meal toys start next month, new items from the musical Wicked are expected very soon. Who knows what other surprises are in store for us? And be sure to scroll down for all of the most recent info including a new figurine from Michael Roche and the Yellow Brick Road.

Happy Meal Toys September 12!! Updated !

Sharp Everything Oz founder, (and earlier riser than me), found that the Oz Happy Meal Toys are up next after Star Wars and means the promotion will start September 12th the first day of the Indiana Wizard of Oz festival. As if festival attendees didn't have enough excitement already. Welll, for the rest of us that can't travel to IN, it looks like the Oz fest is coming to us! Hopefully some nice photos of the toys will turn up soon. Word of these toys leaked out in May when presales started showing up on eBay.

http://www.happymeal.com/en_US/index.html#toys


Please scroll down to see a very special collectible coming from Michael Roche and the Yellow Brick Road Shop in Chesterton, IN.

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb for finding some pre-sales on eBay that picture the FABUL'OZ new toys. I think these are 10 times better than last years' set and I can't wait to see them in person!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/2008-MCDONALDS-MADAME-ALEXANDER-12-pc-SET-WIZARD-OF-OZ_W0QQitemZ170253948016QQihZ007QQcategoryZ2521QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

New Roche Figurine from the Yellow Brick Road

Karl Kosiczsky was born September 21 1918 and was a seemingly average child until the age of four when he stopped growing. Karl endured a few grueling, feeble minded attempts to force him to grow, but thankfully saner heads prevailed before serious injury occurred. In 1927, Karl accepted a job with the famed Singer Midget Troupe under the tutelage of Leo Singer. They eventually made their way to the United States and performed in almost every state even spending 3 years in Hawaii. In 1938, MGM Studios contracted Leo Singer to provide the little people needed to inhabit Munchkinland in the Wizard of Oz. Enough little people couldn't be found and some played multiple parts to fill in the gaps. Karl was the first trumpeter to herald the arrival of the Mayor of Munchkinland, a soldier, a sleepyhead, and one of the Munchkins urging Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road.

At the time of the filming of the Munchkinland sequences Karl was 21 years old and stood 3 feet tall. He’s since grown to 4 feet 4 inches. Karl doesn’t have many memories of Judy Garland, but states she was very nice as were all of the principal cast members. Time went on and Karl parted ways with Singer in 1943. Karl found a new home in the Slover household and became not only an employee of their carnival business but a member of their family. Karl legally changed his name to Slover when he became an American citizen. The Munchkins were largely ignored until the early 1980s when Oz mania was starting to take root and they were approached for personal appearances and interviews. Their celebrity has been steadily gaining and there’s no ebb in sight. In November 2007, Karl attended the Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony honoring the Munchkins with their own, long overdue, Hollywood star. Karl Slover delights in regaling fans, be it an audience of one or hundreds, with his memories of Oz, his amazing life and his infectious giggle. Despite his early adversity, Karl is one of the gentlest, warmest human beings and expresses no regrets.

The Yellow Brick Road

Oz purists sometimes scoff at the MGM movie for “dismissing” Dorothy’s adventures as a dream. But it’s a marvelous dream that an estimated billion people have enjoyed along with Dorothy. There’s a lot to be had from our dreams if we’re only willing to believe. Case in point: The Yellow Brick Road Shop in Chesterton, Indiana.

Jean Nelson opened The Yellow Brick Road Shop, so named after dreaming of the Wicked Witch, in 1978 as a doll shop. After a deluge of inquiries regarding Oz merchandise, Jean made the monumental decision to seek out Oz collectibles for her shop. She had no inkling at the time what an impact such a simple idea would have. Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch herself, visited the shop in 1980 and was so impressed by Jean’s personal collection, she suggested an Oz museum. In 1981, the shop evolved into the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop and Museum.

Around this time, Chesterton and the surrounding areas of Northwest Indiana suffered multiple factory closings and lay offs resulting in a depressed economy and low morale overall. Jean Nelson’s generous nature propelled her into action. She invited munchkin Parnell St. Aubin and his wife Mary Ellen to attend an afternoon Wizard of Oz event in 1982. The St. Aubin’s helped Jean recruit more munchkins and the festival grew by leaps and bounds. A quaint three hour afternoon affair expanded into a mammoth three day festival jam packed with ozzy celebrities and activities to enthrall the young and young at heart. Jean’s efforts in bringing the last surviving cast members of the MGM film to the forefront have earned her the title “Mother of the Munhkins.” Jean Nelson retired in 2000 and the Yellow Brick Road Shop fell under the new ownership of Marilyn Zengler who works tirelessly to continue Jean’s extraordinary vision.

The Oz festival relocated to nearby Valparaiso in 2006, but festival attendees still flock in droves to the Yellow Brick Road’s Munchkinland Market Days.

http://www.wizardofozfestival.org/

http://www.yellowbrickroadonline.com/

Michael Roche Wizard of Oz Figurine Collection

Dave Grossman Creations commissioned award winning artist Michael Roche to sculpt Wizard of Oz characters to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MGM movie. The series of cold cast marble figurines began with Dorothy & Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. The hand painted sculptures ranging in height from from 5 3/4" to 8 1/4" were also produced as smaller figurines and Christmas ornaments. In 1990, Glinda, the Wizard, and the Wicked Witch of the West were added to the line. Due to their popularity these figurines are getting harder to find, but the Wicked Witch is especially difficult to locate because so many were damaged in shipping when the crystal ball broke loose from it's confines.

Dave Grossman opted to discontinue the series, but Michael Roche has been steadily producing limited edition Oz figurines of his own accord starting with the Mayor of Munchkinland and a winged monkey in 1992. The Lollipop Boy and the Coroner followed in 1994 and 1996 respectively. Michael Roche has been a staple of the Yellow Brick Road's Munchkinland Market Days since 1995. A munchkin townslady figurine modeled after the beloved Margaret Pellegrini was commissioned by the shop in 2006. This year the Yellow Brick Road and Michael Roche are proud to present Karl Slover as The Trumpeter. Karl has been a festival favorite for many years and this limited edition figurine is sure to sell out. The pre-sale price is $119.96 until September 15. After that date, the regular price will be $149.95. You can order The Trumpeter online or during Munchkinland Market Days September 12 - 14.

http://www.yellowbrickroadonline.com/new-introduction-by-michael-roche.html

Congratulations Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop and Museum on your 30th Anniversary!!!!!!!!! Thank you Jean Nelson for sharing your dream to make the dreams of thousands come true and thank you Marilyn Zengler for picking up the torch for future generations to travel over the rainbow and follow the Yellow Brick Road.

Michael Roche figurine and Yellow Brick Road Store photos courtesy of the Yellow Brick Road

Be sure to scroll down for more Oz. Lots of news coming in!

Land of Oz Animated Musical Collection

Bradford Exchange

Wizard's State Fair Balloon opens to reveal Dorothy & friends rotating around the Emerald City. 7" tall. $59.98 plus $8.99 shipping. Payable in two installments of $29.99

Amazing Hawthorne Village Sculpture

We're Off to see the Wizard Masterpiece Edition

13" tall rotating sculpture with 25 characters in 12 different movie scenes. The piece also lights up and plays "We're Off to See the Wizard" Limited to 5000 pieces. Priced at $149.95 plus $19.95 shipping. The $149.95 is payable in monthly installments of $29.99 WOW!!!!! This is probably one of the best Oz pieces we've ever seen. Please enlarge the photos for a better look.

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb and Lou from the Everything Oz Club for info and photos.

Books, Calendars, and Puzzles

Books

A Lion Among Men by Gregory Maguire
http://www.amazon.com/Lion-Among-Men-Three-Wicked/dp/0060548924/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217976168&sr=8-1

Before the Yellow Brick Road: The Life of Billie Burke by Grant Hayter-Menzies
http://solongletty.tripod.com/billieburke/

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb for the heads up on the above books.

Wicked's original Glinda, Kristin Chenoweth is working on her autobiography for an April '09 release. A Little Bit Wicked:
Life, Love, and Faith in Stages
http://www.amazon.com/Little-Bit-Wicked-Faith-Stages/dp/1416580557/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218068138&sr=1-1

Wonderful Wizard of Oz comic from Marvel Comics December release
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17609

Wizard of Oz Jigsaw Puzzle book by Sian Bailey
http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Oz-Jigsaw-Book/dp/0230531822/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212726548&sr=1-9

More Puzzles

Wizard of Oz Storybook puzzle by Bill Bell. This puzzle may also be sold at Toys R Us
http://www.gamesandjigsaws.com/product_info.php/Wizard_Of_Oz_Storybook_Jigsaw_Puzzle

Linda Sunshine, editor of the All Things Oz book will have a puzzle and book of notecards early next year.

Calendars

Andrew McMeel Publishing
http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-Oz-2009-Wall-Calendar/dp/0740774298/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218068742&sr=1-11

Europe 1
http://www.amazon.com/Wizard-2009-Calendar-Square-DAZ547/dp/1843377713/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218068742&sr=1-1

Thanks again to Jim Whitcomb for the Linda Sunshine and calendar info. Please keep checking back. I'll be making more updates over the next few days.

Doll Update, New Winkie!!!

New additions to the Annalee line

Petworks was founded in 1998 to develop email software. The art director of the company is also an ardent doll lover so Momoko the fashion doll was born in 2001. Every year the Close Clipped Sheep division of Petworks creates higher end collector dolls. They are more expensive than the mass produced Momokos, but the Close Clipped Sheep dolls are more popular. Several dolls and a clothing collection are announced yearly. The 2008 Spring/Summer collection was inspired by The Wizard of Oz. I believe there are six dolls planned. The dolls and clothing released so far are shown below. Tin Girl and the Cowardly Lion were introduced in June and very quickly sold out from the company and many doll shops. Dorothy is the anniversary doll that will debut at the 7th anniversary Momoko convention and will be sold at dolls shops mid August. The individual Oz dolls are priced at 19,000 yen or approximately $176.50. The Over the Rainbow 7 doll set will be sold only at the anniversary convention this month.

Clothing line: V neck summer sweaters, lace camisoles, and classical booties

And now the piece d'resistance...............from the Tonner Doll Company....................one of the most incredible renditions of the Winkie Guard, EVER!
http://www.tonnerdoll.com/2008TonnerSite/2008Images/2008%20Fall-Holiday/OZ/WINKIE.jpg
He's going to be a super fast seller, no doubt in my mind. The Glinda and Wicked Witch ballerinas are almost sold out from Tonner. You can order these great dolls from Karen Owens okstryland@aol.com But do so quickly. They won't last.