Festive fall greetings! Today's post is all about Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz. Above, we see a hilarious Thanksgiving comic, in which Dorothy asks for the Thanksgiving stuffing and ends up with the Scarecrow's stuffing. Hilarious! So, within our post, you will see various activities that you can do to bring the Land of Oz into your living rooms this Thanksgiving from parades to books and comics to multimedia videos. There is a wide plethora of things to do this Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz, so let's get going. First up, we will keep the comic train rolling with this lovely Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz comic concerning the Wogglebug, Jack Pumpkinhead, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Thanksgiving bird. Produced around 1904, a series of comic strips was released entitled, "Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz". The comic strips followed the adventures of our favorite characters from the Marvelous Land of Oz book as they experience different components within life. If you remember from the book, our heroes ended up flying the Gump outside of Oz and into our world and this comic strip gives us a spin-off look into what could have happened during that brief period of flying across from Oz. The comic above was created on November 20, 1904 (around Thanksgiving) and in it, there is a comic where our heroes are trying to find a Thanksgiving bird to eat for the holiday, but end up with the wrong bird. Good going, Wogglebug! After having a couple introductory laughs, what would Thanksgiving in Oz be without some food that is inspired by the movie and the book. In the book on the left, Monica Bayley has taken inspiration from the regions of Oz, based in the book, and created a huge variety of Ozian-themed dishes. So, for instance, the book contains Quadling (red) inspired dishes and Munchkin (blue) inspired dishes. The book on the right, Sarah Key, Jennifer Newman Brazil, and Vicky Wells use the movie as inspiration for this cookbook. It uses the sepia Kansas as an inspiration for different breakfast recipes as Aunt Em would cook them up. Each book is a wonderful addition in making Oz come to the Thanksgiving table this holiday. So, however you choose to get inspired this Thanksgiving, check out one of these great cook books. After the table is set and as you gather around the Thanksgiving table, a good poem is always a good idea. Above is a poem written by the second Royal Historian of Oz, Ruth Plumly Thompson, and it was originally published in November 1919 in the Philadelphia Public Ledger. The poem describes a Thanksgiving parade one night in the Town of Sleep and I think it is a great Ozian touch to celebrate Thanksgiving. If you are interested in another of her Thanksgiving poems, check out the other one published here. That poem is about a ghost Pilgrim ship that landed at Rock Candy Cove the day before Thanksgiving. Additionally, many poems were published years ago in a series of fan-created pamphlets made back in the early 2000s called The Dunkiton Press (inspired by the Town of Dunkiton from The Road to Oz book). It was created by Oz member, Ruth Berman, and in issues 16 and 18, Berman celebrated Thanksgiving in Oz with some more Thanksgiving poems and activities, so that is definitely worth checking out and you can find more information here (as well as how to get your own copy of these wonderful collectibles). As you finish up the dinner, it will be time for some fun family-friendly TV viewing and the first on the list is the TV Special, "Dorothy in the Land of Oz", which premiered in 1980. It tells the story of Dorothy visiting the Land of Oz during the Thanksgiving holiday while explaining to all what the holiday is about and also bringing Aunt Em and Uncle Henry to enjoy the festivities in Oz. It is a cute video to watch and is really fun to experience a holiday in the land of Oz other than Christmas or Halloween. If you are interested in the book based on this special, you can get a copy here. Next up is a short episode from the 1961 TV show, Tales from the Wizard of Oz, which took a more bleak comedic approach to the land of Oz. In this episode, our heroes are looking to catch a Thanksgiving bird, but then Socrates the Scarecrow and Dandy the Lion end up befriending the turkey. Check it out for yourself to see how this plays out. Will they be able to cook the turkey or invite it to dinner? In addition to those videos, there are plenty of recordings out there from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade that feature The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, and Wicked appearances, so feel free to check those out videos to add to your Thanksgiving in Oz viewing playlist. As always, if you find one that you want to share with others, feel free to post it in the comments sections. A great place to start might be the very first appearance in 1939, check it out here. I would love to see a montage of all the Wizard of Oz videos at the parade in one video like how the Oz Club did below in their history of Wizard of Oz appearances but in one compilation video. Anyways, for more information (and additional pictures), check out the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Wiki page to experience more Wizard of Oz on Thanksgiving. Of course, this time of year always sees the annual television viewings of the MGM's The Wizard of Oz on either TNT, TBS, digitally, or however you can get access to it; it is always worth a see. At the end of the day, I hope you have enjoyed our Thanksgiving in Oz, where we had some laughs, tasted some good Ozian treats, and sat down with the family for a good story. As always, if there was something additional that you found out there that you would love to share, feel free to post in the comments. Before I leave you, feel free to check out this week's Oz Talk video on Thanksgiving in Oz below. So, as we leave our year of obscure, I also hope you have enjoyed experiencing different aspects of the Land of Oz outside the normal, mainstream Wizard of Oz film; and, as we move into our second year, we will be looking at the Magic of Oz each month along with some continued fun with the Wicked activities. So, until next, we'll be seeing you somewhere over the Vinkus.
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Well, we have officially made it to our final month in our year of obscure and I sure hope that discovering these fun, obscure pieces of Oz has inspired you to find your own obscure moments or collectibles in Oz so you can share them below in the comments. Now, a big component in the world of Oz is family and since November is a month where families start gathering together for the holidays (and the famous November meal), I figured we could definitely take a look at different characters in the Oz books and their identifiable families through Baum's and Maguire's worlds (as well as some media adaptations). First up, of course, is our heroine, Dorothy Gale. So, with Dorothy's family tree, there were a couple of pieces that I had to gather first to begin construction of this family tree (as seen above). The first piece of information comes in the first book when we are introduced to her aunt and uncle. The next piece comes from the third book, when we are told her last name and it is implied that her aunt and uncle share the last name. In the fourth book, we are told that Dorothy has family related to Aunt Em; and, finally, in Emerald City of Oz, we learn that Dorothy's mother was Henry's sister; which means that Dorothy is related on Henry's side. Now, with that information and the stories presented in media adaptations over the years, I was able to connect quite a few dots in Dorothy's family tree, including the names of Dorothy's mother and father, who have always remained unknown in Baum's books. The first mention of both of her parents anywhere (at least to my knowledge) is said in Oz the Great and Powerful (2013), where they are named "Annie and John Gale" (whom I have chosen for Dorothy's family tree). In 2017, NBC's Emerald City called out the "Dr. Roberto" as Dorothy's father and her mother was called "Jane Andrews", but was adopted by Henry and Em Gale. Another version I know out there is in Amazon Prime's Lost in Oz, Dorothy's mother's name is Evelyn Gale but no mention of her father since he is deceased at the start of the show. So, for the sake of putting together this family tree, I wanted to stick to a more singular structure that told just the main branches of Dorothy's family tree and stick to versions that seemed simple unlike the alternate Oz versions, which became confusing real quick. Furthermore, since pets are family, we can not forget Dorothy's pets as Toto was not Dorothy's only pet. Billina the Yellow Chicken, Eureka the kitten, and Imogene the Cow have been known to belong to Dorothy in various books and stories over the years; and yes, and you are seeing that correctly, Dorothy married her second cousin in The Oz Kids stories. It was awkward. Anyways, if you want more information on Dorothy's family tree, check out the "Family Tree" section of her Oz page. Now, when it comes to Dorothy's friends (Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion), there's not a lot of family members to note. But, we do get to meet some sons and daughters in such shows as The Oz Kids. Feel free to check out my post on The Oz Kids if you are unaware of this old-fashioned animated TV show. So, Scarecrow's family is limited to his son, Scarecrow Jr. and girlfriend, Scraps (The Patchwork Girl). Scarecrow Junior's origins were not stated in the series; however, it could have been very similar to the Scarecrow's beginning with a Munchkin farmer (except in this case, the Scarecrow put him together and brought Scarecrow Jr. to life with the magic of Oz). Also, since the farmer put the Scarecrow together, he could be seen as a "father figure" to the Scarecrow, which would make him related to Scarecrow and Scarecrow Jr. Scraps has very little connection to Scarecrow's family except that they were love interests for the length of the lives. Scraps is also called "Auntie Scraps" in the Oz Kids saga by all the kids (pictured above right). So, she has some familial relations to the Scarecrow family. Nonetheless, if you would like more information on Scarecrow Jr, check out this site; and, if you want to learn how Scraps and Scarecrow met, feel free to check out that story in "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" book (on audio, e-book, or physical copy). Tin Man's family is also vague matter (and something I am not fully complete in my understanding); however, what I do know is that Tin Man, who used to be Nicholas Chopper, a Munchkin woodsman, was in love with a Munchkin woman, Nimmee Amee. The two do not get married to him in the end of that story. However, in The Oz Kids, Tin Boy (pictured above center) was Tin Man's son and there is no known origin story for him; however, I am guessing, it is similar to Tin Man's story except Tin Boy was actually put together by the Tin Man and came to life through the same magic that put him together (or there was an unknown child that Nimme Amee had that she never told Tin Man about?!?). Additionally, Captain Fyter, a tin soldier introduced in The Tin Woodsman of Oz book by Baum, can be seen as an unintentional brother (-in-arms) since they were made by the same tinsmith. Furthermore, the tinsmith can be seen as the Tin Man and Tin Soldier's unintentional father. Maguire states nothing about Tin Man's family in the Wicked saga. For more about Tin Boy, check out his site here and for more information on Captain Fyter, check out Baum's book, The Tin Woodsman Of Oz. In an alternate world the SyFy's miniseries, Tin Man, Wyatt Cain was the "Tin Man", a law enforcement officer, who had a wife and son in that story. So, be sure to check out that mini-series on TubiTV. Lastly, the Cowardly Lion's family is also just as limited as the others; however, there are some notable figures to name such as his children, Boris and Bela, as identified in The Oz Kids TV show. Boris is Lion's first born of his two twin children and Bela is a few minutes younger and the two are constantly notating that fact. The mother is unknown; but, I have a theory about who that may be. In the Wicked saga, the third book to be precise, Maguire identifies a female "Hungry Tiger" equivalent called Muhlama H'aekeem. This princess and the Lion, called Brrr in these stories have sex once and it is quite intense (and quite detailed for animal sex). Now, it makes me wonder, is she Boris and Bella's mother? Who knows? Also, in the Maguire saga, the Lion has a pet glass cat called Shadowpuppet, who hangs out with him quite a bit and only Lion can understand him. Furthermore, in Maguire's saga, Lion did have a family at one point, but was taken away from them and caged for a science experiment at a well-known Ozian university. So, if you would like to learn more about Muhlama H'aekeem, check out her Oz page as well as Boris and Bela's Oz page. Other notable families of Oz include The Wicked Witch of West, Glinda, and of course the writer of Oz books, L. Frank Baum. Since we do not have time to get into each of these families, feel free to click on each character name above to learn more on each family of Oz. Now, when your families come to visit, it would be a good time to check out some of these more obscure family films. Let us start with Funky Fables (imaged above left), a modified animated version of The Wizard of Oz. It is a cute story that includes a lot of elements from the book (and the movie). Another more obscure family-friendly film is The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz (imaged above right), which takes a space-themed approach to the Wizard of Oz story. This film used the Japanese TV series and truncated many of the episodes into a 75-minute feature film. So, if you click each of the images above, you will be taken to an online version of the film. Additionally, there are a couple of family of Oz-themed episodes from two different Ozian TV shows. The first is a quick episode of the Tales of the Wizard of Oz, which is appropriately entitled, "The Family Tree". So, feel free to check that out. The second is a clip from an episode from Boomerang's Dorothy and the Wizard and Oz, featuring Glinda's mean twin sister, Melinda the Mean. Oh goodness, what could possibly happen! Well, that ought to do it for our exploratory discussion about the Families in the Land of Oz. Of course, there are plenty of characters with other families and I welcome your comments on your favorite families in the Land of Oz. Also, feel free to share your own creations of family trees in Oz. But, until next, when we get to see what Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz is like, we'll be seeing you somewhere over the Vinkus.
Are you ready for the spooks and ghouls? Are you ready for the skeletons and pumpkin (heads)? Do witches frighten you? Well, get ready because are looking at how Ozians celebrate Halloween and how you can join in the fun as well. Let's start with some darker, spookier books related to Oz like Halloween in Oz by co-authors Leo Moser and Carol Nelson. It tells a Halloween sequel story to the Wizard of Oz and uses many elements from The Marvelous Land of Oz within the story, even if it is not written by Baum and is intended to be the beginning of its own saga. It is a good book to keep it in mind for your Halloween in Oz festivities and if you are interested in this book (and its subsequent books), check out more information here. Of course, there are plenty of other darker sagas of Oz like the Wicked saga by Gregory Maguire or the Dorothy Must Die series (and its spin-offs) by Danielle Page. (Click on the image to hear the author read an excerpt) Each offering their own dark and creepy take on Oz for the spooky season. Of course, if you are not interested in those books, please feel free to check out the Oz Index for more Halloween in Oz inspired books. Now, as it is still our year of obscure, there is a book that many outside of the Oz community do not know exist but it was written by the same guy that illustrated The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), William Wallace Denslow and co-author Paul West. The book is called The Pearl and the Pumpkin (1904) and it tells that the story of young Pearl Pringle and her Halloween adventure. Now, this really has no foundation in the land of Oz except that Denslow was the co-author and the hero never visits the Land of Oz either. Furthermore, and very unfortunately, there have been no media adaptations made of this book; but, while you wait, definitely check out the spooky and creepy adventure of Pearl Pringle on Halloween night in this book. Also, feel free to create art or crafts inspired by the book and share them below. Now, when we think of horror in Oz, it does not really seem to go hand in hand; however, some of Baum's books had some pretty horrific and terrifying moments like Langwidere removing her head and replacing it with one from her collection (where did she get the heads from her collection and what has happened to the bodies?), the dragons in the underground caves, the evil Phanfasms or the ever-hungry Growliwogs that eat anything (including tin and flesh). Furthermore Maguire's Oz had an ancient witch, an evil wizard with his own tyrannical agenda (and military force), animal experimentation, and other very terrifying moments. So, however you see Oz, horror is not a new element in the Land of Oz and can definitely take on a life of its own as it did in these horror media adaptations that make you question what is really going on in the land of Oz and why is it seeping negatively into our world? Flying Monkeys (2011) is a movie that uses the concept of these bizarre creatures and plops them into our world. What if they came to our world and they were truly malicious, evil entities? This movie answers that question. Next, YellowBrickRoad (2013), all one word, is the name of a back alley roadway in a small town where supposedly an entire town disappeared on after watching MGM's The Wizard of Oz at the local theatre. Its gruesome and terrifying. It is a great story that will stick with you for a long time. Definitely check out their trailers by clicking on the movie posters above. You can see Flying Monkeys online through YouTube and YellowBrickRoad through an Amazon Prime subscription or rent it through Netflix or your local library. Also, since we are in our year of obscure, above is a independent video regarding zombies in the Land of Oz...oh my! Spiders, Bats, and Zombies! The series of four videos, all under the title, "Zombies in Oz", were done by the Vancouver Film School YouTube page. So, definitely check it out for yourself and watch them all for some spooky and creepy Halloween in Oz vibes. If you click on the Youtube symbol at the bottom right, it will take you to the list of other videos. Of course, if family friendly spooks are more your speed, there are a few creepy experiences that are offered currently. First and foremost, we all know that Disney's Return to Oz, which can currently be seen on Disney+, is a terrific Halloween film and it also happens on Halloween night. But, did you know that there were some behind-the-scenes documentaries made back in 2007. Well, if you click on the Return to Oz poster above left, you can check it out for yourself. It is a little over an hour and just gives you more insight to the making of this film. Also, the Oz Convention this year celebrated the 35th anniversary of Return to Oz with some great behind-the-scenes video (since it feels like very few already exist); but, this one is regarding the claymation process of the Nome King and how the Nome King was killed at the end of the movie. Go ahead and check it out here. Now, since are still in our year of obscure, it would be who of me if I forgot to mention this great Halloween story in Oz. It is from The Oz Kids TV series and in this episode, eerily called The Return of Mombi, the Oz Kids have to deal with Mombi being brought back from some spooky place of oblivion. I'm sorry, what?!? Mombi comes back?!? Yup, they have quite the harrowing experience as Mombi captures those that banished her in the first place and its up to the Oz Kids to save their parents. Feel free to check it out below by clicking on the VHS cover above right. Below is another Halloween in Oz special brought to you by Boomerang and the TV show Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz called "Dorothy's Halloween Special". It is a two-part story about how Dorothy, her friends, and the various denizens of Oz learn about Halloween and its sweet (and scary) traditions. You will find the special under the "Halloween Favorites" playlist on the Boomerang app or online. It is definitely hilarious to watch how the different heroes understand how Halloween works and hats off to the hand-made costumes or are they magically created? Either way, they are great! Of course, what would Halloween in Oz be without an Halloween in Oz party? Well, we have got you covered! The International Wizard of Oz Club is putting on their inaugural Halloween in Oz virtual bash and it is airing this October 30 (Wicked Day!). Here you will find all the information and activities scheduled for October's special virtual Oz Convention as it bound to have spooky fun, activities, and games. A side note for the IWOC is that in October, they will be putting together a new online series called "Oz Talk", where five very influential Ozian fans talk all things Oz. How terrific! I love that the club is bringing Oz into a new era of technological experiences. Well, as we come to the end of our Halloween in Oz experience, which is far from over and definitely returning next year, we see that October is bringing some amazing treats from the Land of Oz; and, speaking of treats, I have included some fun Halloween in Oz resources ("treats") from other Oz blogs that have included spooky activities as well. The first is a link to a popular Oz blog today by a renowned Oz fan, Eric Gjovaag (pronounced g-yo-vag), that focuses on Ozian comics; however, the link takes you to his "31 days of Halloween in Oz" series, which is super great and fun to check out. The second is linked to some spooky fan videos that were made by a renowned Oz fan, Sam Milazzo, back in 2009 and 2010. So, be sure to check out that out by clicking the banner below. Additionally, The Royal Blog of Oz does their own Oz-themed podcast, with some spooky episodes included, so feel free to check that out as well, if you have time. Now, if something was not mentioned, do not fret, there is always next year; but, for now, feel free to comment anything Halloween in Oz you would like to share; and, however you plan on celebrating Halloween this year, definitely make plans to include some Ozian Halloween activities in the spooky month of October. It is sure to be a good year to experience the spookier side of Oz as well as experience a new side of Oz as well. So, we'll be seeing you somewhere over the Vinkus and have a spooky and terrifically Ozzy Halloween.
Hey all! So, October is here! Wow, how time flies and the final months of the year are upon us and boy, are they some of the funnest months in the year, in my opinion! From the spooky of October to the food of Thanksgiving and the jolly good spirit of Christmas, its terrific. So, to kick off the month of October and the fall festiveness, I will putting a suggested activity list together below that celebrates our favorite pumpkin(head) in Oz, JACK PUMPKINHEAD! Now, Jack's story begins in the second Oz book, The Marvelous Land of Oz (pictured on left), when he was put together by Tip to scare Mombi. Mombi did get scared and eventually put the power of life on Jack Pumpkinhead, which brought him to life. But, what became of our squash-based hero? Be sure to check it out in either of the two books below. Jack continues to make appearances in future Baum books as well as other Oz books down the line, including Maguire's saga, so he's a notable character to get to know in the land of Oz. Now, if pictures and visuals are more your style, then be sure to check out the comic book adaptation of the same book, written by Eric Shanower and illustrated by Skottie Young (picture on right). Now, since we are still in our year of obscure, then we can also explore the book, Tales Told in Oz written by G. Maguire, which includes a Jack Pumpkinhead character in one of the stories. It is still part of the Wicked book series but is used a reference book, very similarly to how J.K. Rowling wrote the Hogwarts Library books. These "fairy tale" stories are referenced frequently in the main Wicked books and there are a total of five short stories included here in this book. In my opinion, I enjoyed the book; but, definitely check it out for yourself from your local library, as it seems to be unattainable to purchase currently. Furthermore, if you are still not convinced and need a little more information about the book, check out this site for more information about it. Its a small square book and it has many spooky elements for the Fall season like witches, skeletons, and pumpkin (heads). Of course, if movies and media are more your style, there are few recommendations of how to have fun with Jack Pumpkinhead this fall during our year of obscure. First up, is one that I really could not stop laughing with and that was the RiffTrax's The Wonderful Land of Oz (pictured below left). Now, if you did not know, RiffTrax does hilarious commentary over different movies, which is very similar to what MST3K does. They even have a channel on the PlutoTV app. So, you can see it for free for yourself how they roll. Surprisingly, they also did a commentary to the MGM film as well. But, back to the The Wonderful Land of Oz movie. It is a musical adaptation of The Marvelous Land of Oz book and includes the incomparable Jack Pumpkinhead. In my opinion, I did not think the movie was that terrible, but I definitely recommend watching it with the RiffTrax version. Of course, watch the movie first without the commentary, if you haven't seen it; then, go back and watch the version with the RiffTrax commentary. Its wildly funny! So, you can watch the RiffTrax movie on TubiTV online or with the app, whichever you have. You can also purchase the movie here from RiffTrax (and check out others while you are at it) if you are putting together a collection. You can also find the movie without the commentary online through YouTube or some other video platform or you can just purchase the regular movie through Amazon, if you would like. Other notable (and more obscure) movies that feature Jack Pumpkinhead include Shirley Temple's The Land of Oz (pictured above right) in 1960, The Marvelous Land of Oz, a children's play that aired on television in 1981 (pictured below left), and the animated TV movie Journey Back to Oz (1974), all of which I highly recommend checking out. Now the two productions below can be viewed online through YouTube here (play) and here (movie). Of course, both are available for purchase as well. The Shirley Temple movie is also available for purchase or is available online as well. Maybe check out your local library and see if they have it as well. All of these movies are super cheesy, super C-rated, and incredibly corny, so be sure to get ready for silly and odd just as the residents of Oz are expected to be. Next, GAMES OF OZ. So, when it comes to games about the Land of Oz including Jack Pumpkinhead, there's a couple options that you can check out. First, there is the old school Return to Oz game (on Commodore 64), which can be played on a computer emulation platform and is fairly easy to set up. But, here's what you need to do:
Now, puppets are a huge staple in the World of Oz and there are so many ways you can include Jack Pumpkinhead in your world of puppetry. A great inspiration is Jack Pumpkinhead puppet that we know from Disney's Return to Oz (1985). That entire figure was constructed from puppetry and human movement and if you want to know how the process went down, check out the interview here with Brian Henson. Of course, you can always just get your own Jack Pumpkinhead marionette, if you have the money, as its not cheap, or you could do what I do and use it as inspiration and create my own puppet from the materials from Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Another great craft is coloring pages and I have a few coloring pages of our favorite Pumpkinhead below. These were supplied from an old Return to Oz website, where you can find more coloring pages for free. Of course, you can always purchase the Return to Oz coloring book online, if you want more pages to color, or if you are building a collection. Before we end, I will leave you with one more option for how to bring Jack Pumpkinhead into your world this fall. Now, if you remember, Ruth Plumly Thompson was the second Royal Historian of Oz and she wrote a book called Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz. It tells the story of Philadelphia resident Peter Brown, who goes on an adventure with Jack Pumpkinhead. Oh, what kooky things will happen? Also, if you would like to also learn more about RPT, as I call her, check out my other At-Home post, where I discuss all things RPT. Another great book that was obscurely written by L. Frank Baum was a series of booklets called "The Little Wizard Stories" that were intended to reboot the Oz series back in the day and get people back into the books again. One of the book he wrote in that series is called "Jack Pumpkinhead and The Sawhorse" (imaged below, right). If you would like to hear that story read aloud, click here, or check out your local library. Well, that it do it for our At-Home with Jack PUmpkinhead and I sure hope you had fun with me and our good "not a melon" head, Jack Pumpkinhead. If you would like to know more about this complex and completely underrated character, check out his Oz page and learn more. But, please comment below as to what was your favorite part of At-Home with Jack Pumpkinhead as well as comment if something that was not mentioned here is a favorite of yours so you can share with others. Now, without further ado and until next time, we will be seeing somewhere over the Vinkus when Halloween comes to Oz. SPOOOOOOOOKKKKYYYYY!
Since we begin our schooling in September (or August), what better way to go back to school than in the Land of Oz. Oz has tons of ways that schools is incorporated. So, let's check it out and explore Back to School in Oz! Well, hello there and Welcome to Back to School in Oz! I am your tour guide, Vinkus Ken, and we will be looking at how Ozians spend their time getting educated. First up, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz shows us what is like to go to Munchkin School, which weirdly feels a lot like a preschool. What is even greater in this episode is we get to see Aunt Em (or Emily), Uncle Henry, and Dorothy's old house (in classic sepia). Just remember, our Ozian Archives (also known as the Boomerang App) allows you see the entire episode and many other adventures that our famous Dorothy and her companions have here in the Land of Oz. But, for now, let's get our school day started. Now, we have started our school day and sung our "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" welcome song, we now are reading some Ozian books and then out of nowhere our Ozian teacher pronounces a "pop-quiz"! Oh-no, we have not studied! What do we do? Let's see how Dorothy handles her test and what she does in this situation, or episode called, "Ozian Exam". Ok, so now we know that Dorothy uses real-life experience to learn something new. But, what if we don't know how to get that real-life experience? Well, we do just as Dorothy did and use books to study and learn about the different schools in the Land of Oz and reflect on how school is discussed in the books, both in Baum's version and Maguire's version. School is first discussed in the Baum books in the fifth book (Road to Oz) in the series, when we are introduced to the college/university that the Wogglebug has built since first being introduced in the Oz stories (Marvelous Land of Oz), who was appointed as the Official Public Educator of Oz. At Professor Wogglebug's College of Art and Athletic Perfection, students take pills for the academics and spend most of their time working to perfect their athletic performance (see below, right). This is the only known school in Baum's world that I am aware of currently; and, if you want to experience the Wogglebug's College, check out the resources/activities section from a previous post of Poetry in Oz. The best part is you can test out the knowledge pills in the game, as discussed in the books, to see what they do and how they work their magical charm. You can also check out the Wogglebug's College in the TV show, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, in the episode, "Scarecrow Goes to College". It even shows one of the classrooms within this college (see below, left) In Maguire's world, there is one main University with multiple different colleges and academies. The University is called Shiz University and comprises of different colleges such as Briscoe College and Three Queens College amongst others. The academies for younger students are St. Prowd's and St. Florix. If you are interested in learning more about Shiz University, check out my post on the Wicked Years page, where I give a tour of the campus. This is the only area in Maguire's world, where you can get a formal education, so now we can enjoy free time in the school yard. But, if you would rather hang out in the library and read some more, then please enjoy my post on Poetry in Oz, where I reflect on the poetry in Maguire's books. Oh wow! School is out! But, what do we do now? Well, we need to see if there are any after-school activities like a STEM program. I wonder what Ozians can teach us about science and engineering. In the TV show, Lost in Oz, our modern-day Dorothy is an expert at all things science, so the actor behind Dorothy's voice from the show, demonstrates a thing or two about how to build your own Sand Boat to cross the Deadly Desert, which is mentioned in Baum's The Road to Oz first. I will definitely need to know that! Of course, another great after school activity is being in a theatre play and as you can suspect, there are tons of plays out there on the Wizard of Oz done by schools. But, since we are in year of obscure, we will be looking to the very first Wizard of Oz play done circa 1902. Oh wow! That is over 100 years ago! 118 years to be exact! Now, what is great is that you will find the script for the play below for you to read and practice. Then, when you are ready to perform it, ask for someone to film it and then share it with the Wizard of Oz club (or here in the comments). This was originally shared to me by The Daily Ozmapolitan, a weekly news source for Land of Oz fun in "the outside world" (our world, in case you didn't know) and it was a great story because there are so many fun new elements to explore along with so many familiar aspects as well in this old-timey theatre play. Now, as it is typical at the end of school is for teachers to give out homework, so in the spirit of homework (ugh!), here are some at-home activities from various websites to check out like fun packets of worksheets from Teachers Pay Teachers concerning the Wizard of Oz and put together by teachers. Also, please visit the IWOC page for Kids resources that bring Wizard of Oz fun; but, who are we kidding, we are all kids at heart! Furthermore, check out this site to see Wizard of Oz activities by subject. So, thank you for attending our Back to School in Oz and we hope enjoyed your visit! Without further ado, we must aboard our famous bubble machine and be on our way, so we hope to be seeing you somewhere over the Vinkus.
As with many animated shows in the 80s and early 90s, they decided to appeal to early elementary kids with shows like Muppet Babies and Baby Looney Tunes. So, why shouldn't Oz get the same treatment? As we approach its 25th anniversary of Oz Kids TV show (September 14, 2021), we will look to this very odd and obscure take on the Land of Oz and its stories. First, if you did not that that this show existed, scroll to the bottom of this post to watch. Although, if you have seen the show, you know it follows the children of the Oz characters (from the books and movies) and takes us along on various adventures. Even Toto is called Toto 2 as it is Toto's pup. The show is definitely meant as a continuation story from the adventures in the books and movies; but, for the most part it is definitely focused on the books. Now, there is one part of the show that never made sense to me? On the Wikipedia page, it states that there were 26 episodes in the series; but, only 9 were released. So, the mystery is if there are 26 episodes that were produced originally for the ABC network, why did we only get 9 VHS stories? I plan on answering what I can; but, in the end this case may be left unsolved; but, at least we will have some more answers. So, The Oz Kids aired its first episode on September 14, 1996 (that's 24 years ago). As seen from the picture above, it only ran for 9 weeks, but apparently the Wikipedia page claims that their were 26 episodes aired between those 9 weeks. Now, the Oz Wiki page states that this was an erroneous statement given from a book, Happy Holidays--Animated!: A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film as only 9 were ever released. You can find that book on Amazon. Now, knowing that there are two conflicting sources, we will need a third to validate which side might be more accurate. But first, let's look at the length of each episode, which supposedly aired at about 23 minutes per episode. Calculating that out, we get 19 episodes from the 9 VHS stories that were released. What about the other 7 episodes, which would get us to the 26 in total? That would have been about 2 to 3 more stories left in some archive. This also does mean that are either 7 episodes are not really there and someone just typed a wrong number or we are also missing 17 episodes from the series. So, what ever became of those episodes? That we may never know as it currently belongs to Disney and was produced by 4 different production companies. Now, another aspect of the mystery that needs to be addressed concerns that the show only ran for 9 weeks in total. If the episodes that we have aired, how many episodes aired in the 9 weeks that it was on TV? According to the picture above and the Wikipedia page, an episode was released every Saturday for 9 weeks. But, the episodes were supposedly only 23 minutes long, meaning that episodes would have to be aired about 2 to 3 times a week. Now, unless it aired like a mini series a week, this is quite a mystery to me. So, I posit my theory to you, which is that they only aired an episode a week and it was either shortened with less storyline or aired as a whole movie in the form we have now since they only released 9 movies (or episodes as they are calling them). Also, they must have only done 9 episodes as a whole because that is what we have today. I am also guessing that they had intended to have 26 episodes but the show did not do as great as it was expected and therefore left the network before the series had even ended. The Oz Wiki page backs this up as it says that since that book was wrong, it must have aired in shorter segments. Either way, it’s a unique show that has some fascinating mystery behind it and as always feel free to comment your theories below to questions I have asked in this post and have fun with it! Above, I have showcased some of the episodes that I really have enjoyed in The Oz Kids series; but, let me know, which ones did you like? If you have not seen any of them, click the link below and it will take you to the entire series that has been digitized from the VHS. Also, since I needed a third resource to validate which side is more accurate, I give you some great resource links to help further your theories and maybe you are the one to unravel this mystery once and for all.
As we roll through our year of obscure Oz, we find out that Toto is not the only animal of Oz and apparently the animals of Oz can talk perfect American English. Of course, we know that the Cowardly Lion was an animal who would talk; however, in honor of International Cat Day on August 8th, we have a few other feline friends that grace our presence through the Oz books. First up, is the first ever cat introduced in Baum's Oz (outside of the Cowardly Lion), the Hungry Tiger. Introduced officially in the third book, Ozma of Oz, Dorothy and friends come across the Hungry Tiger, whom the Cowardly Lion knows, and he has quite a story. Apparently, he is always hungry for babies but because of his conscience, he won't eat them, as babies are the only that can satiate him. So, he remains ever hungry like a vampire, even though he eats other foods. The Hungry Tiger has made a few appearances in various adaptations, but the most recent is his appearance in Boomerang's Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. To learn more about the Hungry Tiger, check out this Ozian page. Below, you will see a clip from the episode, "Lost Appetite", featuring the Hungry Tiger. In the episode, Wilhelmina cast a spell on the Hungry Tiger to take away his hunger and transfer it to one of the monkeys in order to win the Pie Eating Contest. The next cat that is introduced in the Baum series is Eureka, a sassy talking cat that definitely get herself in trouble. She is introduced in the book, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, which is by far one of the darker Oz books written by Baum, and is described as looking like she has pink fur due to the multi-colored suns that reside in the Vegetable Kingdom. As Dorothy is introduced to her, she doesn't realize she can talk which only leads her to the conclusion that they must in Oz as only animals can talk in the Land of Oz and no where else. Eureka has made a few appearances in media form including in comic form, as imaged above, in the Marvel comic, which can be purchased here. You can always see if its available at your local library, which is a way better option in my opinion. Another form that is more recent is from the show Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, which shows a different take on Eureka, who lives in the land of Purrville (which is made up for the show) and apparently only the Scarecrow can understand her as he has the brains for multiple languages. For more information on Eureka, check out the Oz Wiki page. Below, you will find a clip from the episode feature Eureka. Our third feline friend from Oz is Bungle, a glass cat with pink brains, emerald eyes, and scarlet heart. Bungle is introduced in the seventh book of Oz and lives with Dr. Pipt and his wife, who created her in the first place. Bungle can be seen in the show Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz in the episode, "Welcome to the Bungle", where Bungle is a glass cat brought to live with the intent of destroying anything mouse-related. Bungle unfortunately does not appear in the 1914 movie, "Patchwork Girl of Oz", which is available online. A clip from Welcome to the Bungle is shown below. For more about Bungle and what you can catch her in, click here. Fascinatingly enough, the glass cat makes an appearance of sorts in the Wicked books and has different names such as Grimalkin (or "Malky" for short) or Shadowpuppet. For more information on this kitty cat and his story, click here. The final feline friend that we introduced to in the Baum series is THE WOOZY! One of the more fascinating animals in the the Land of Oz. The Woozy is a creature that was found in the Munchkin Country by Ojo and his companions in the seventh Oz book, The Patchwork Girl of Oz. He has the square shapes that make up his head, torso, and legs with a tail that specifically three hairs and really tough skin that prevents him from getting hurt. When he gets upset, he shoots fire from his eyes. The first appearance of The Woozy is in the 1914 film, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, and we can see Ojo trying to pull the hairs from the Woozy's tail, just as described and illustrated in the book. Check out the movie at the link above. Other appearances include its appearance in the episode of The Oz Kids, "The Return of Mombi" as well as in Boomerang's animated TV show, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, in the episode, 'Beware the Woozy", which uses a huge portion of the book in the episode as they are trying to find the antidote to the "Perfume of Petrification" (in the book, its called the Liquid of Petrification). As you can see, the Woozy has quite a different appearance from the movie and book and actually talks; so, go ahead and check out the clip below. As you can see, many feline adaptations have only been done on the animated TV show, but at least they are out there publicly and we are seeing a multi-dimensional Oz that connects to the Wizard of Oz movie. As we depart, there is a final media adaptation that was released recently on YouTube of the Patchwork Girl of Oz (released last year) and it was produced by ThunderToad Animation Studios. Check it out below to see another adaptation of the Woozy and the Glass cat of Oz and be sure to see it soon, in case it gets removed! It is a very simple adaptation but it clings very closely to the source material, which is not done very often. Who was your favorite feline of Oz? Please comment below and we will be seeing somewhere into the Oz-verse. Going into July, we make our first stop at Independence Day. So, what better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than by experiencing the American side of Oz. This means that we will look at the influences Oz has made on America by touring real-life locations in United States that have been Ozified. In the books, Kansas is the first place that is mentioned, so we will begin our real world tour of American Oz there. First up, Wamego, Kansas. This is the true epicenter of anything Oz in Kansas and has plenty to offer the Oz fan from an Oz museum to an Oz-themed winery to even a walk down the yellow brick road. I went a couple years back and it is really fun to experience all the places; there is even a Kansas farmhouse monument that has landed on the Wicked Witch of the East (her legs are popping out of the bottom of the house) right across from a McDonalds. Its great. In October, the town changes to welcome "Oztoberfest", which is a weekend event and all the restaurants and shops on the "Road to Oz" Highway change up and become even more Ozian. So, if you are looking for a great place to experience American Oz, then be sure to check out Wamego, Kansas and all its Ozian flair. Our next stop is a bit south in Liberal, Kansas, which has less to offer but is still a fun experience. It's called Dorothy's House and the Land of Oz museum. It is a quaint museum and has a lot to offer but don't take my word for it, check it out below. For more information on the museum and how to visit, check out the website. I have not been, so it would be great to hear what other people have to say about this place in the comments below. They also have a Facebook page if you would like to follow them and keep up with their news here. The next place mentioned in the books in Omaha, Nebraska, where the Wizard of Oz left his circus. Unfortunately, there is no well-known Wizard of Oz themed activities, so we will move to the next best thing: The Land of Oz theme park. Located in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, this theme park from the 1970s has been mostly abandoned over the years until recently when it began doing tours again, where the guest walks through Dorothy's house first and then experiences her journey through Oz with live-action actors. In the Fall, it has a festival called Autumn in Oz and in the summer, there is an activity called Summer in Oz. It really is a great little park to visit, so when it is open, be sure to hop a ride up the mountain and journey down the yellow brick road. For more information, check out the website on my Land of Oz Resources page or click the image below. Up north in Chittenango, New York, is the birthplace of L. Frank Baum. It is also the site of the world renowned casino, The Yellow Brick Road. With of 400 slots and many of them Wizard of Oz themed along side the the dining and sports entertainment, you could stay here for hours and truly get lost down the Yellow Brick Road. Another stop in this small town is the All Things Oz Museum, which literally has a store full of all things Oz-themed. It is great and they are even currently selling Wizard of Oz themed masks that are washable and durable. So, to check out more on the casino, click the image to the left and to check out more on the museum, click the image of the right. Also, in the summer, this little town Ozifies and has their annual Oz-Stravanganza. For more info about this year's (or next year's) event, click here. Next up is the Oz Convention, which happens both on the West and East Coasts, and it put on by Wizard of Oz Club. Each one is themed after a part of Oz like the west coast convention is usually called WinkieCon while east coast themes itself off different parts of Oz like calling itself MunchkinCon or National Oz Convention. This year's Oz Con International is going virtual and is free of charge, accepting donations. For more information about each of these conventions, please click their corresponding images below as well as more information at the Wizard of Oz club website on my Oz Resources page. As we close off our tour of the American Oz, we look at some smaller tastes of Oz as these are not as large as the other locations but still honorary mentions. In Maryland, there is the Watkins Regional Park with Wizard of Oz playground. It even has a rainbow you walk under made of different colored glass. For more about this park and visiting it, check it out here. Also, if you want tips for visiting this playground, check out this website. Moving west in Chicago, there is an Oz-themed open space park where visitors can see statues of Dorothy and her companions from the books. For more information on visiting this park, check it out here. Feel free to post any other Oz-themed locations you would like mentioned in the comments below for Oz fans to visit or let me know which place is your favorite? Resources/Activities Back after the publication of The Marvelous Land of Oz, there was a comic strip series of adventures that detailed where Tip and his friends ended up after they fell asleep and ended up in a strange new land that was bizarre to them. This comic series details out all of their adventures before they headed back to Oz. You can find the collection on Amazon or here at Sunday Press Books. Above are some examples of movies that take place in our world, but have an Ozian flair. Up first, After the Wizard is an independent film that tells the story of the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow traveling to Kansas in search of Dorothy to help them fix up a broken down Oz. Its a cute Sunday afternoon movie and available to watch for free on Tubi. Next, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz takes place in Kansas and New York while telling Dorothy's story as an adult. That movie is available for purchase online. Then, we have The Little Tin Man that takes place in San Francisco and tells the story of a dwarf who is trying to make it big. It is a cute love story and definitely includes Wizard of Oz characters. You can find that movie on Tubi as well. Finally, OzLand tells the story of two brothers in a post-apocalyptic world, who are influenced by the book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It takes place in the middle of Kansas and the two brothers definitely meet characters similar to characters in the book. This is available online through Amazon Prime. So, have fun and enjoy your lovely month of American Oz and we'll be seeing somewhere in the Oz Verse.
So, as we move toward the end of June, we run into two holidays: Juneteenth (or June 19th) and Father's Day. So, I have decided to combine those two holidays and take a look at the African-American Fathers of Oz. Juneteenth is the day when all African-American slaves in the state of Texas were finally declared free, even though the Emancipation Proclamation stated that two years prior, which is how long it too Texas to finally get the proclamation read aloud in the state. Father's Day is a day that celebrates our fathers and all the good work they put into parenting us. Now, Fathers in the land of Oz are few and far between; but, they do exist. There is Jack Pumpkinhead's father ("Tip"), who ended up being his mother ("Ozma"). There was also Ozma's father, King Pastorius; Ojo's father, Ree Alla Bad; or Liir in the Wicked books, as Rain's "supposed" father. Additionally, the Wizard of Oz in Emerald City was portrayed to be Dorothy's father ("Frank") as well, which was a great twist. However, since we are looking at African-American fathers of Oz, we start our tour with who I would call the "founding African-American father of Oz", Curtis McHenry. He played the Cowardly Lion in the 1925 version of the Wizard of Oz. McHenry was in many movies of the time, but this one is a record in the Oz world because he was the first African-American actor to play any character in an Oz movie or TV show. He was by far the best character in that movie, for sure; but it was a little awkward seeing him get into a lion's skin. It felt wrong on many levels, but I didn't make the film. If you would like to check out the film, check out my February post on Black History Month in Oz, where I first introduce this actor. If you would like to check out more films that this actor has been in, please click here. Over 50 years later, The Wiz was introduced to audiences that showcased an entirely all-black cast and adding a new storyline to the Wizard of Oz plot. The father figures that grace the stage and movie are up next in the form of Uncle Henry. In the first six Baum books, we are never introduced to Dorothy's parents, but it is hinted that Henry is the brother of Dorothy's mother, making Henry the actual blood relative to Dorothy. So, in The Wiz stage play, which premiered first in the mid-1970s, Uncle Henry was played by Ralph Wilcox. Ralph also played other roles in the play including Lord High Underling, Field Mouse, and Crow and you may know him more by his character in the TV show What's Happening (as seen below). If you would like more information about the play itself, check out this resource as well as this page. Each page has media clips that you can listen to and experience along with pictures from the original run of the lay. You can also check out what other films Ralph has acted in if you would like to see how the other side of Uncle Henry lives here. In the movie of The Wiz, which premeired in 1978, we get to see a different look from the Broadway production to Uncle Henry with the actor, Stanley Greene. In the film, he is a background character with a very brief appearance and in the clip below, we see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry talking about their niece Dorothy as Dorothy is trying figure out what to do with her life. Stanley Greene has been in many other movies and TV shows and to check out the other side of this Uncle Henry, click here. Moving into the future almost 20 years, in 1996, we run into the live and very different showcase of The Wizard of Oz on ICE! Starring Oksana Baiul as Dorothy and narrated by the beloved and amazing Bobby McFerrin, who dedicated the show and his performance to his daughters. It was really odd to watch but super fun and hilarious when Bobby came on and commented as a narrator to the story. Be sure to check it out the whole performance on Youtube by clicking the image below. For more information on Mr. McFarrin and what he has been doing, check out his professional website or his Youtube topic channel where you can listen to his music. Almost 10 years after The Wizard of Oz on ICE!, our stop is at The Muppet Wizard of Oz in 2005 with David Alan Grier as Uncle Henry. Him and Queen Latifah as Dorothy's aunt and uncle were just non-stop funny. David went on years later to play the Cowardly Lion in the Wiz Live! on NBC. He has always been a terrific actor to me and I thought he was hilarious in Jumanji. So, for a running history of David Alan Grier, check out his IMDB here. In 2017, King Pastorius, who was Ozma's father in the Land of Oz, made his first ever television (and film) debut in the TV show Emerald City and was portrayed by actor Kembe Sorel. He was briefly seen in a flashback where we see the "Cowardly Lion" killing both the queen and king of Oz and is also given the first name of Samuel, which is just for the show. It is a pretty horrific scene and it gives a bleaker side to Oz, which is fun for me. For more information on King Samuel Pastoria, check out his Oz Wiki Page and for more information on the actor and what he has done, check out his IMDB here. As our amazing tour of African-American fathers comes to a close, we hope you have enjoyed experiencing the diverse and inclusive side of Oz, which goes to show you that no matter who you are, you are always welcome in the wonderful land of Oz. Also, I have provided a brief video from History Channel on Juneteenth and what you need to know about the holiday and that it has been around for over 150 years. As June opens up, Gay Pride month starts and what better way to celebrate than reflecting on how rainbows have impacted Oz. Rainbows have had a long history with the LGBTQIA+ community, as referenced here, but have also made their mark in the Land of Oz. Our first stop is the more well-known character of Polychrome and the lesser known character of her father, The Great Rainbow. Now, Polychrome, a magical fairy that lives on the Rainbows in Oz, is first introduced in the fifth book in the Baum series, The Road to Oz. Her name is one that Dorothy truly has trouble pronouncing in the fifth book. Her father is discussed in the same book as well as the eighth book in the Baum series, Tik-Tok of Oz. He is given the name, The Great Rainbow, in the book, The Magician of Oz (2009) by James C. Wallace. Polychrome also has 19 sisters, the other Daughters of the Rainbow, which are also given names in the Merch Laumer series, a later Oz series published that takes a look at the alternate or romantic side of Oz. Polychrome has had many appearances in media including her first appearance in Disney's Return to Oz in 1985 as one of the attendants of the celebration at the end of the movie. You can check it out for yourself at the following links: Polychrome and The Great Rainbow. Who would have guessed that even Oz has talking Rainbows? Next, we will be discussing ways to explore the rainbows of Oz through activities you can do at home. Of course, if you want to learn more about Polychrome, be sure to check out the links above by clicking on the characters name. We will start at the beginning of the rainbow with the book, Oz Before the Rainbow. It reflects on different adaptations that existed before the 1939 Wizard of Oz such as the 1902/1903 stage play of The Wizard of Oz (you can read the script here) or the 1925 absurdist adaptation by Larry Semon, which you can view here or on Youtube. Check out the book if you want to learn the background of Oz before Oz became truly famous. It has never before seen pictures in from the practically lost stage play and the set up for the famous 1939 film. Speaking of the 1939 Wizard of Oz, our next stop will be SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW. A famous song that comes to life in the film. Of course, you can always check that song out online but I would like to showcase the most recent performance of it in its 2011 debut in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical theatrical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Performed in this version by Danielle Hope, she reenacted this song for all and it was amazing. Check it out! Wow, she is good! Next on our tour de Rainbow, we are going somewhere UNDER THE RAINBOW. This is a very unknown movie unless you are familiar with Chevy Chase or Carrie Fisher super fan. It details the events of the filming of Oz from the perspective of the actors who played the Munchkins of Oz. Its super farcical and incredibly slapstick type of comedy. It was made in 1981 and I have supplied the trailer below. If you are interested in watching it, check it out at these streaming services. So, without further ado, I present the trailer for UNDER THE RAINBOW! Enjoy! Oh man! That's wild! So, now our tour de Rainbow has come to the End of the Rainbow, where we also get to experience a new story about Judy Garland. End of the Rainbow is a musical theatrical production about the days after The Wizard of Oz production and how her life went very wrong. This play inspired the film, Judy, which was released last year. Whether you want to check out the play or the movie, have at it. I have supplied the trailer for the play as the trailer for the movie is very easy to come by today. For more information about the play, click here. Well, that is how we celebrate Rainbows in the Land of Oz and just as Polychrome did multiple times in the book, we will find a way to follow or chase rainbows in Oz with the play CHASING RAINBOWS, which explores the life and times of Judy Garland as a final send off. For more information, check out the Paper Mill Playhouse website as they were one of the more notable theaters to debut the play. Now, of course we can't forget the LGBTQIA+ component for the month, which is why I have provided some resources and activities below that can bring the glittery bow in rainbows and as always, be sure to share how you might celebrate Rainbows in the Land of Oz in the comments below. Until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere over the Vinkus. Resources Friends of Dorothy brings to light not only the meaning behind the phrase "Friends of Dorothy" but also shows by gay men and gay boys love the Land of Oz so much. Check it out and post your reviews in the comments. For more information about the book and the author, check out the website for the book here. In the second of the Gregory Maguire Wicked Years, Liir is the "supposed" son of Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West. In this story, he has quite a bisexual experience between his "wife" and his "friend". In the fourth book of the Wicked Years, Rain, Elphaba's "supposed" grand-daughter, has a sexual experience with a girl magically transformed into a boy. Be sure to check out the whole series as it is quite a roller coaster.
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AuthorMy name is Vinkus Ken and I have been a long time fan of many things in Oz and how their world truly does emulate much of ours. Did you know that they have a flag of their own? Or did you know that they have a law about only having 9 jurors in their courts? Also, Oz has a court system! I like to introduce facts that seem meaningless and bring meaning to them by comparing them to our world. So, come along on this journey and enjoy the ride. |