''Wizard of Oz'' fans come to Garden State
By DANIELA FLORESAssociated Press WriterAugust 12, 2006, 6:22 PM EDT
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. -- A fan of "The Wizard of Oz" since she was a little girl, 35-year-old Denise Rubinetti said there's no chance her toddler sons won't become fans themselves. "We watch it almost every other day," the Livingston resident said while clutching onto a red bag adorned with the phrase "Click your heels" and a pair of ruby slippers.
Rubinetti wore her own version of Dorothy's slippers _ white flip-flops with red sequins _ but there were plenty of ruby heels to be clicked Saturday during the 39th annual Munchkin Convention of the International Wizard of Oz Club. The three-day event, which started Friday and features lectures and many other public events, celebrates the 150th birthday of L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its numerous follow-ups. Among those attending the many events held Saturday were dozens of members of the International Wizard of Oz Club, said Chris Warkala, 46, a Lawrenceville resident who has been organizing the event with his wife, Sharon, for the last few years. Lila Solomon, 5, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., had a caricature drawn of herself as the Tin Man, her favorite "Wizard of Oz" character because of his kindness, and took pictures with a group of performers dressed up as Dorothy and her friends. "I was afraid the movie was going to be too scary" for her, Lila's mother, Vandy Solomon, 39, said. "But no it's not," said Lila, who was dressed as Dorothy herself. Convention attendees also got a chance to meet Clarence Swensen, 88, who played a munchkin soldier in the movie. Swensen, who lives in Austin, Texas with his wife of 61 years, said he makes between 12 and 15 appearances a year and enjoys meeting fans because "it's the public that makes the picture." One fan happy to meet Swensen was Matthew Makar, a 28-year-old filmmaker from New York City whose documentary, "The Yellow Brick Road," was screened at the convention Saturday. The film, which has been shown on HBO and Cinemax, follows a group of disabled actors as they put together a performance of "The Wizard of Oz." Fans also were able to look through Oz memorabilia, including old books and collectible items, participate in an auction and meet with authors and illustrators. Kansas native David Anthony said had dreams about what would have happened if Dorothy's adventure had not turned out to be a dream. The 40-year-old Anthony, who now lives in Deerfield Beach, Fla., decided to write down his ideas and has a trilogy of books coming out soon. "It's good to see Oz is alive and well _ and not just in Kansas," he said, commenting on his first visit to the convention. Gina Wickwar, who will be 62 next week, has been a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club since 1965 and even wrote her master's thesis on Baum's books. Asked what she enjoyed most about the Oz legacy, the Logan, Utah resident cited the lessons people can learn from it. "They're different people and different creatures, but they all have their worth and everyone is respectful of the differences," said Wickwar, who had her own Oz book published after winning a contest celebrating the centennial of Baum's first book. Michael Patrick Hearn, 56, author of "The Annotated Wizard of Oz," had his own take on what makes the story a favorite after so many years. "That there is this alternate world where everything seems to work out for the best," the New York City resident said. "Where good conquers evil."
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--ozconvention0812aug12,0,7861080.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey
WEST WINDSOR, N.J. -- A fan of "The Wizard of Oz" since she was a little girl, 35-year-old Denise Rubinetti said there's no chance her toddler sons won't become fans themselves. "We watch it almost every other day," the Livingston resident said while clutching onto a red bag adorned with the phrase "Click your heels" and a pair of ruby slippers.
Rubinetti wore her own version of Dorothy's slippers _ white flip-flops with red sequins _ but there were plenty of ruby heels to be clicked Saturday during the 39th annual Munchkin Convention of the International Wizard of Oz Club. The three-day event, which started Friday and features lectures and many other public events, celebrates the 150th birthday of L. Frank Baum, author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and its numerous follow-ups. Among those attending the many events held Saturday were dozens of members of the International Wizard of Oz Club, said Chris Warkala, 46, a Lawrenceville resident who has been organizing the event with his wife, Sharon, for the last few years. Lila Solomon, 5, of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., had a caricature drawn of herself as the Tin Man, her favorite "Wizard of Oz" character because of his kindness, and took pictures with a group of performers dressed up as Dorothy and her friends. "I was afraid the movie was going to be too scary" for her, Lila's mother, Vandy Solomon, 39, said. "But no it's not," said Lila, who was dressed as Dorothy herself. Convention attendees also got a chance to meet Clarence Swensen, 88, who played a munchkin soldier in the movie. Swensen, who lives in Austin, Texas with his wife of 61 years, said he makes between 12 and 15 appearances a year and enjoys meeting fans because "it's the public that makes the picture." One fan happy to meet Swensen was Matthew Makar, a 28-year-old filmmaker from New York City whose documentary, "The Yellow Brick Road," was screened at the convention Saturday. The film, which has been shown on HBO and Cinemax, follows a group of disabled actors as they put together a performance of "The Wizard of Oz." Fans also were able to look through Oz memorabilia, including old books and collectible items, participate in an auction and meet with authors and illustrators. Kansas native David Anthony said had dreams about what would have happened if Dorothy's adventure had not turned out to be a dream. The 40-year-old Anthony, who now lives in Deerfield Beach, Fla., decided to write down his ideas and has a trilogy of books coming out soon. "It's good to see Oz is alive and well _ and not just in Kansas," he said, commenting on his first visit to the convention. Gina Wickwar, who will be 62 next week, has been a member of the International Wizard of Oz Club since 1965 and even wrote her master's thesis on Baum's books. Asked what she enjoyed most about the Oz legacy, the Logan, Utah resident cited the lessons people can learn from it. "They're different people and different creatures, but they all have their worth and everyone is respectful of the differences," said Wickwar, who had her own Oz book published after winning a contest celebrating the centennial of Baum's first book. Michael Patrick Hearn, 56, author of "The Annotated Wizard of Oz," had his own take on what makes the story a favorite after so many years. "That there is this alternate world where everything seems to work out for the best," the New York City resident said. "Where good conquers evil."
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newjersey/ny-bc-nj--ozconvention0812aug12,0,7861080.story?coll=ny-region-apnewjersey
