World AIDS Day 2009

Well we are fast approaching another World AIDS Day, where we are to focus on what AIDS has done to our planet, what it IS doing to your civilization and what IT will do if left the way it is progressing right now.


Somehow over the years I guess I have grown complacent to what this day really means, if in all honesty anything to the masses. In the beginning it was in all the news stories, papers and events that this day was approaching and awareness and attention was brought to this monster killer.


Over the years though the media like the rest of us I guess has grown overly weary of a problem that is still fairly rampant and in the minds of the media VERY old news sadly to say.


People frankly, and thankfully, are not dying like they once were. People are not as public and as vocal as we once were. I am not saying it is right or wrong it just seems to be the way it is-- for good or bad.


Long term survivors like myself I guess have grown weary, worn and tired. Many of us are just trying to survive day to day and make something of ourselves and our lives. Exactly why in all honesty I am attending college. To make something out of my life, and to finally feel good about myself by having a decent education. At least I have the public assistance to do it because without it I have NONE of it.


Speaking for myself the last few months I have been trying to figure out who the young man is that I was before AIDS entered my life. What did that boy want? What did he aspire to be? Does any of that matter now and is relevant to what and who I am now? Can I still achieve it and if I do will it matter? Will going to college make the difference and how can it when I am stuck in a system of poverty in order to keep my health care?


Somewhere along the way I became my disease and lost who I was as a person, as a soul as a being, frightening but very true. It became all consuming, save myself and try to save everyone around me. Talk about a Christ as Saviour complex, huh? But it was my way of live for 13 years


AIDS has taken so much literally from me it isn't even remotely funny. It could take years to begin to expound just on this topic alone and frankly most of it is very negative to say the least and a a place I wish not to visit some of it very painful and I will never be the same because of it.


Does the general public as a whole care? In my opinion NO, they don't and never will! AIDS is, has been and will be a very personal disease. Until it affects someone you know or love or your self it just doesn't matter. For the most part in the United States I have this feeling it is still this "Faggot Disease that they deserve" mentality. Sad to say that has not changed too much in the over 20 years that this has been going on. There are people who do care, who dedicate their lives to fighting this and helping those living with it but in my opinion it is not at the degree that people join the cause of Cancer. Until that can happen not much is going to change.

I fell out of the "global fight" when I lost Ron, now almost seven years ago. I just had to make myself survive that crushing blow. No one or nothing else mattered. I gave up the bigger picture, I didn't care plain and simple.

I am not by any means down playing what I have in my life now with Jim or what has happened in my life in that seven years it has been very nice, points even wonderful but there seems to be this constant piece missing, a void so to speak that is unfillable.

World AIDS Day, what does it mean now in 2009 to me. I guess it is a chance to reflect where I have been, reconnect with those feelings of joy, sadness, hope and loss. Does it change anything? Probaby not, but it has become more personal which somewhere along the way got lost as well. Does it change the planet's over all fight of this disease probably not. Does it mean I will join a global fight again? The answer to that is probably not, unless my world once again is turned upside as well as inside out.

World AIDS Day has become almost The day of Rememberance people recognize in connection to the Holocaust. Where we were then, what we did and why, where have we been since than, what are we doing to prevent it again. Along the way millions have died, countless changed forever because of it and yet somehow we continue on.

My hope this coming World AIDS Day is that somehow, someway I live long enough and healthy enough to see a cure produced for it and an apology from your governemtn and our health care that it ook so long to come about. Big hope yes--impossible NO!

Halloween 2009

Well our neighbors Rick and Nancy Meadows through this huge fabulous Halloween party every year and this is like our third or fourht year going now and this is the first year Jim and I went dressed as "couple themed" costumes. Of course my favorite story and some of my favorite characters. The picture of me with the "leather slave boy" is one of our hosts Rick and well Wolverine was with the band and the combination of me with Wolverine was just to funny I couldn't pass. Hope you enjoy the photographs. We sure had fun so Rick and Nancy if your reading thanks for such a great party and for doing it every year--we love ya!

New John Fricke book

Another of my purchases while we were at the Chesterton, Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival was the brand new John Fricke and Jonathon Shirshekan book---"The Wizard Of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Movie Classic". Printed by Fall River Press and produced by Becker & Meyer, and at 162 pages in lenght this book is one of the very best out on the Wizard Of Oz. IWth never before seen photogrpahs and stories this is a great addition to any collection of books about Oz.

John Fricke has proved himself again as the master of the written word and espcially in reagrds to Oz and Judy Garland. Having the opportnuity to have John sign my book was wonderful and meeting Jonathon for the first time made this experience even more wonderful, he signed my book as well and was just charming. Hopefully it will be the start of a brand new friendship.

Rumor has it that there will be a new Judy book in 2010 by John Fricke, so keep your eyes open for it. Right now there is no title as the contracts are not signed but will try to keep you posted as information becomes available.

Roger Baum books

Well one of the things I got to do at Chesterton this year was meeting Roger Baum and his lovely wife. He signed a slew of first editions I have that his great grandfather ( L. Frank Baum, of course) and then I had some of his books he signed for me and I bought some of the ones I was missing. So I wanted to talk a little about 2 of the books......

"Toto of Oz and the Surprise Party" is published by The Overmountain Press, is illustrated by Victoria Seutzinger and was written in 2004. At 32 pages in length this is one of those books that is perfect for the kiddies for bedtime and the illustrations are beautifully drawn and the story all though brief is very well told.

The basis is Toto's adventure trying to get a bag of Chocolate Chip cookies to the Wizard of Oz for his surprise birthday party. Sounds simple enough but there are surprises along the way. A great book for any collection and especially a child's collection of books.



The second book I bought that day was "The Wizard of Oz and the Magic Merry-Go-Round" is also published by Overmoutain Press, is illustrated by Victoria Seutzinger and was written in 2002. This book is also 32 pages long and again makes for the perfect bedtime story or addition to a child's collection of books.

The basis for this story is two children find this old run down merry go round in a junk yard, the merry go round magically is restored and than takes them to Oz for a ride on it.

Well until next time, happy Oz hunting!

Lessons From Oz

Well gang one of te many things I bought at the Chesterton, Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival this year was a book titled "Lessons From Oz". I actually got to meet the autthor of the book and got her to autogrpah it for me. Actually we kind of swapped one of my collage pieces for a book--it worked for both of us.

Lessons Freom Oz was written by Julienee La Fleur and published by The Flower Tree Press and is 181 pages long. It is sort of this Oz tribute meets self help book which is wonderfully and created and written. Witty, clever, charming, funny and at times a little brassy it was the type of book I could not put down. Each section of the book relates itself to a section in the 1939 MGM movie and most often comes with stills from the movie. Chapters include: Auntie Em's Advice, When Life Gets Stormy, Who Killed my sister---well you get the idea. The book is $1995 and be purchsed directly on their website http://lessonsfromoz.com you can also read reviews and get a sample chapter to read as well.

I know this little charmer is at the top of my list of must reads for the year.

With A Feather On My Nose

I know it has been ages since doing a post here but I want my readers to know that I am going to rededicate myself to this site, college or no college. The first weeks were crazy and insane and this site suffered horridly because of it. The schedule, the homework, the classes but in the process I fell in love with all of it! Thaks for your patience, your understanding and you unending support--I love you for it.

One of my newest acquistions is the book "With A Feather On My Nose" by Billie Burke with Cameron Shipp. The publisher is the Crowell-Collier Publishing Company and was printed in 1948. At 260 pages in length this was a good read about parts of Billie's life, not all of it entireally and I think with some effort could be better than waht it is. I am not saying it wasn't good it was just not what I expected it to be, and with only one very small paragraph about "The Wizard of Oz" it left me feeling like I wanted more.

I got my edition on E-bay and with shipping I paid $9.94, so not a total loss. A good book if you a DIE-HARD Billie Burke fan but skip it if you are wanting a trip down Oz memory lane-- it just isn't going to happen.

Sorry about lack of posts

It has been really hard the last 3 weeks with school but I SWEAR I will get to blogging again so much new stuff and so many things to talk about too--thanks for still visting me here during the lull

Just some thoughts--For Once in My lIfe

I haven't posted "my thoughts" in a while and I thought today would be the day to do that--let you my readers inside my head.

There are times in my life that I have wanted to be so much more than what I am, what I have been, that many times it is maddening. If I am to be honest with all of you I hate to the very core of my being where I come from and who I was.
It didn't really sink in that, that was one of the things bothering me. I hate how I grew up--poor, ill educated, in a religious cult, hating the physical house I grew up in and how I feel it has left me ill equipped my entire life.

I feel all the time that I HAVE to prove myself, prove my worth, prove that my work is worth it, prove that I myself am worthwhile. Sad isn't it--it has been that way my entire life--and I am tired of it!

It has felt like something big is going to happen in my life the last 2 or 3 years and yet nothing that big has happened. Yes, my last results and the Cleveland Clinic visit changed my entire life and I am going to school next week but it still feels like there is something more--much more!

I have wanted my life to make a difference, change things, get people thinking out side of the box and for me to finally be successful--to matter. I get tired of chasing rainbow's and pipe dreams and people saying they will do something, help me change something in my life and then it NEVER happens. Why bother me, if you didn't me it, why get my hopes up, why do I feel like I have to beg for them to follow through?

I think most of all I want people to recognize my talent--if it is even a talent. A person can not be this artistic, this creative, this well "endowed" with the gift to learn that NOTHING becomes of it. that facet of my life has been my entire life--the creative, the energetic, the devoted, the committed.

What do I want-- I want someone to say "Hey kid, your great and we want you to....." and than turn my life upside down, inside out and help me fulfill those dreams of success. Is it asking to much? Will it happen? I feel the key is in my talent somehow......

Your thoughts?

Karl Slover painting

Well gang the newest painting is of our very own Karl Slover from 1945 and is done in Water Colors. It measures 14 x 11 and comes framed, ready to hang. Item is for sale now as well as at The Chesterton Wizard Of Oz Festival and have been thinking of getting Karl to sign it for the buyer. Can deliver at Chesterton or shipping is extra if you are not attending---Hope you all enjoy Karl!

This is an attempt to get me ready for drawing classes on September 1 as I am a little nervous

Charlie

The Visitors From Oz

"The Visitors From Oz" sprang from a chance discovery by Baum Scholar and collector, Dick Martin. While searching old newspaper files at the Chicago library during the early 1950's, Martin hapened upon a full page color comic dating back to 1904 entitled "Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz". Each weekly episode offered a new short adventure of the Oz characters in America written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Walt McDougall.

Intrigued, Martin had photostats made of as many of the comics as he couldfind, witht he htought that these lost Oz stories might be collected in book form. It was not until 1957 that a dummy book was assembled and illustrated using Dick Martin's idea, how ever at the time, The Reilly and Lee Company, Baum's old publisher was appreciative of his idea but was not interested. But by 1959 when the Henry Regenry Company purchased Reilly& Lee, the idea took off to promote Oz to a whole generation of readers.

Jean Kellog, Reilly & Lee's chief editor, rewrote the stories to reflect modern tastes while AMrtin provided the illustrations and design for the book. Information stated here is from "The Book Collector's Guideto L. Frank Baum" by Paul Bienvenue which my borhter just bought me and I will be discussing in another post.

Now unto the book I have in my collection.....

The Visitors from Oz was adapted by Jean Kellog who is uncredited, printed in Chicago by the Reilly & Lee Company in 1960 and illustrated by Dick Martin. The book measures 11 1/4 x 8 5/8 and is 95 pages long. This book originally sold for $3.95 while I bought it at $25.00. The book is considered a First edition Binding C book meaning:

• Bright green, red, blue or yellow buckram cloth cover (coarser texure)
• Front Cover illustration printed in white and dark blue only.
• Spine letteringprinted in dark blue against white.
• Back Cover is blank, save for the imprint of the binder (American Publisher's Company), printed vertically in white near the hinge.
• ndpapers-Front and back are blank--can be ilustrated as well printed in black

"Peter and the The Princess"

Well this post is a little off the Wizard of Oz but the book is just absolutely wonderful I felt I had to share it and have it in my ever growig collection of books.


"Peter and The Princess" was written by Carl H. Grabo, published by The Reilly & Lee Company of Chicago in 1920 and beautifully illustrated by John R. Neill. Neill's name will be familar with Wizard of Oz collectors as he did most if not all of the Oz illustrations after L. Frank Baum and W.W. Denslowparted ways. John R. Neill wrote four Oz books of his very own as well and continued illustrating most if not all of Ruth Thompson's Oz books.



The story mainly deals with a little boy named Peter and his friend Marianne and the adventures the two if them get into once they decide to leave Fairyland , go to Earth and grow up. At 243 pages in length one could finish this book in a day if you applied yourself. What I found wonderful about this book is each chapter, and there are twelve total, stand on there on as short stories that could be used for children's bedtime stories. The stories are loosely strung together as the main charactors stay the same with the introduction of new ones in each chapter and each new adventure.

I wanted to put in this post as well all of the color plates as it was mainly John R. Neill's ilustrations that made me buy this book in the first place, by the way this was found on E-bay for $43.00 which included the shipping.

About John R. Neill

1877 Born Nov 12 in Philadelphia, PA, fifth in a family of eight children. Grew up in Germantown, PA. Father died when he was 10. Mother managed to keep the large family together and ran the family laundry business.

1895 Graduated from the Philadelphia Central High School and enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Dropped out of school after one semester because he said, “they have nothing to teach him ".

1896 Worked as "cub reporter" for a Philadelphia newspaper doing sketches in Police Court. Then moved to the Philadelphia Inquirer where he stayed for three years learning the trade.

1898 Started working at the Philadelphia North American. Began receiving commissions.
1900 Moved to NYC to work for the Evening Journal.
1901 Returned to Philadelphia and the North American.
1902 Married Elsie Barrows on Oct. 7.

1904 Left the North American to work for the Public Ledger. He was approached by Reilly & Britton to illustrate The Land of Oz. Because he had so many assignments, Reilly & Britton had to hold three conferences with him before he was persuaded to accept the work. He set up his studio at "Devil’s Half Acre," a reconstructed colonial house in Lumberville, PA. This is where he illustrated most of the early Oz books. Neill also had a studio at 1020 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia.

1905 Returned to the North American, where he remained for the next 7 years. Continued to illustrate the Oz books and others, and developed his contacts for obtaining magazine illustration commissions.

1911 Resigned from the North American to freelance full time.
1913 Moved back to New York City since most of the magazines he was illustrating were located there.
1915 Elsie divorced John. They had no children. (He had been separated in NYC for two years.)

1919 Married actress Margaret Carroll. (Later nicknamed “Mommy Moy”). She was 30 and he was 42. Over the years they raised a family of three daughters, Natalie, Annrea, and Joan.

1925 Moved to Kensington Gardens, Great Neck, Long Island.
1930 The Depression brought hard times for illustrators as magazines and newspapers cut back on the expense of illustration and began to hire mostly photographers.

1933-35 The family moved many times. First they moved south to Palm Island, near Miami, Florida. Then for short periods in Townshend, Vermont, then New York City, and Scotland, CT.

1936 Bought the 130 acre "old Yaeger farm" on a mountain top in Flanders, New Jersey for $6000. Renamed it "Endolane Farm." Lived there for the rest of his life.

1943 Died September 19 of heart problems at age 65.

On the home front my Kidney Stone surgery is over, everything went very well and surpirislingly enough there was no stint put in--so hurrah, which means no having to take it out with any pain killers! Still a little sore and a little tired but recovering well.

School books for college go on sale on the 17th and a new student orientation is the 29th with classes starting the 31st. I am taking a sculpting and drawing class to start and I am excited and little nervous.

The Flying Girl and Her Chum

Well another Edith Van Dyne story under my belt and in my ever growing collection of books. "The Flying Girl and Her Chum" was published by The Reilly & Britton Company of Chicago, illustrated by Joseph Pierre Nuyttens and wrote 1912. I found my book on E-bay for $63.00

(Written by Jared Davis: A review of Amazon.com) In 1910, L. Frank Baum closed his Oz stories with "The Emerald City of Oz," trying to put Oz behind him so he could attempt new stories. The following years, he produced more books that were quite different from his Oz stories: "The Sea Fairies" and "Sky Island," two fantasies that let Baum write Oz-like fantasies without using Oz, "The Daring Twins" and "Phoebe Daring," two novels without fantasy trappings at all that Baum published under his own name, and "The Flying Girl" and "The Flying Girl And Her Chum," published under the pseudonym Edith Van Dyne.

Baum was able to write sequels to his stories that did not require a reading of the earlier books. "The Flying Girl And Her Chum" is no exception, as in the first chapter, Baum introduces new characters to his already established cast from the first book, covers what you need to know from the first story, and ties the new characters in with the lead character, Orissa Kane.

The story follows Orissa taking her friend (and her financier's daughter), Sybil Cumberford, with her as she test-flys her brother Steve's new hydro-plane. When they meet with an accident, Orissa and Sybil are stranded on a desert island with little provisions. While Orissa is resourceful, how long can they survive? And will Steve, Mr. Cumberford and the rest of the rescue party find them? Even when their yacht runs aground? And can they escape the self-proclaimed robber King of the Islands? Baum really breaks the style people might expect from his Oz books and some of his other works. He is able to make his story exciting and page-turning, taking unexpected twists along the way.

I heartily recommend Baum's works to anyone who wants a good read. He was a masterful if misunderstood storyteller, and "The Flying Girl And Her Chum" may seem as if he broke the mold, but in the end, we are left with another exciting L. Frank Baum story, just as he had been telling all along.

My Input- This story so far is one of the best Edith Van Dyne stories I have read with mystery, intrigue, an island crash and survival, Mexican outlaw pirates I just could not put it down. With 313 pages you could very easily polish this incredible story off in a day and it gives such wonderful insight into the mind of a master writer L. Frank Baum. Take the time, find this book and enjoy.

Last of the Marvel Comic books

Well today I want to post the pictures of the last two Marvel Limited Series comic books by Eric Shanower and Skottie Young. This is the last two in the first series not the seroes with the alternative covers that I posted a few months back now. Our local Vintage toy shop carries these http://www.toystimeforgot.com/ and I am sure Dan and his staff can help you out, tell them Charlie Dale recommended them.

The books are beautifully illustrated and is the basic book story written by L. Frank Baum but re-written by Eric Shanower. Price per book is $3.99 so a very affordable addition to any collection of Oz books.

I go tomorrow to the urologist to see what we are doing about my kidney stone that I still, as of this writing, have not passed. Frankly, I am not looking forward to surgery so keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Hopefully sometime today I can pass it, as it is moving and I am in considerable pain.

We have been having a humid heat wave here the last few days with temperatures near or over 90 and with the Kidney stones it has been rough. Yesterday for a few hours we had a break from the heat as the neighbor Linda "Grandma Holiday" Lynch had her birthday party and they have central air (smile)---BTW thanks again Linda for such a wonderful time and hope your birthday was everything you wanted it to be.

For those of you attending or thinking of attending the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival as of today we are 40 days away from going down the Yellow Brick Road. If you have not attended this wonderful event yet I want to encourage you to do so. Last year even during Hurricane Ike we had so much fun.

I am really looking forward to Chesterton this year as it is back in the town and not at the fairgrounds and they are having the grand parade as well. So for Jim and I it will be like attending the festival as it was years ago.

The Youtube post today is of one of the last munchkins alive the incredibly wonderful and funny Margaret Pellegrini

Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls

Well the last book in that set of four I bought off E-bay is "Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls". In this, the fourth book of the series, Mary Louise and friends form a group dedicated to supporting the soldiers in World War I, and she brings Josie O’Gorman in to spoil a treasonous plot against the government. Filled with wonderful patriotism, and sense of country this book I feel is still relevant in todays world even after September 11th.



For some reason the front illustration is missing and I guess I didn't realize that till now. his book is also found online as an MP3 file and the link is http://librivox.org/mary-louise-and-the-liberty-girls-by-l-frank-baum/ I do hope many of use take advantage of the links for the books and I hope it encourages you to either use your Ipod or buy one.

On personal note school is approaching for me at the end of the month at Kent State University Stark Campus and I am anxious and nervous. I have a new studetn orientation to attend on August 29th and books are available on August 17th. we get our student supply list at our first class.

My Pell Grant money is in and my $100 balance is paid in full and I think for the most part I am ready. The nervous part is here lately I have been really tired out again and I JUST hope I can keep up the pace of college life as the "new boy on campus". I ask always keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I start this new journey of my life.


I will be taking Drawing 1 and Sculpting 1 which I am really looking foreward to and I have the same teacher for both classes and I attend scholl Monday through Thursday.

The "Youtube" is something a little different for this space, but I guess every now and then you do need something non-Ozzy and well kids Madonna seems to fit the bill---besides what do you expect from a college kid LOL

Mary Louise Solves A Mystery

"Mary Louise Solves A Mystery" is the third book in the set I bought at auction on E-bay. The four books were $90 and the only illustration is the one posted here. Published in 1917 I believe this is the third in the seires as well. Published again by The Reilly & Lee Company of Chicago this time the illustration is by Anna B. Mueller.

In this, the third book of the series, Mary Louise and her Grandfather happen upon a mysterious pair of Americans whilst travelling in Italy. Jason Jones is a failed artist, and his companion is his daughter, Alora, an heiress. When the girl is kidnapped, truths stemming back to the time of her parents’ marriage are brought to light by Mary Louise and her friend Josie O’Gorman.

There is a free online MP3 download of this book as well and the link is http://librivox.org/mary-louise-solves-a-mystery-by-l-frank-baum/ Hope all of you are enjoyig the free links to these great books.

Mary Louise In the Country

Published by The Reilly and Lee Company of Chicago in 1916 with the illustration by J. Allen St. John.

In this volumne, Mary Luoise and Gran'pa Jim take a house for the summer in a quiet place called Cragg's Crossing. There they meet with any numner of peculiar people- and one very peculiar mystery!

It is the second bookk in the series of eight. Again the only illustration is the front inside. I really want to encourage all of you to take the time and interest and read Baum's other books. They are similar to Oz but in my opinion geared to an older audience. There are two more books I want to talk about that I have in this series, but I would b

Something brand new for this blog I found this wonderful book available for FREE as an MP3 file so if you would like to listen to the book here is the link.... http://www.archive.org/details/mary_louise_in_the_country_0902_librivox .

Hopefully some of my readers caught part of the Judy Garland Day they had yesterday at TCM (Turner Classic Movies) 24 hours worth of Garland movies.

A pre -recorded track from Judy for The Judy Garland Show...Judy sings with The Kirby Stone Four...Ep#19 Jan 17th 1963.

Mary Louise book

This wonderful book I found on E-bay and actually the seller had three others for sale with this one so I will have four posts about these wonderful books. The four books were $90. and the only illustration is the one posted here.

The "Bluebird Books" is a series of novels popular with teenage girls in the 1910s and 1920s. The series was begun by L. Frank Baum using his Edith Van Dyne pseudonym, then continued by at least three others, all using the same pseudonym. Baum wrote the first four books in the series, possibly with help from his son, Harry Neal Baum, on the third.

The books are concerned with adolescent girl detectives— a concept Baum had experimented with earlier, in "The Daring Twins" (1911) and "Phoebe Daring "(1912). The "Bluebird series" began with Mary Louise, originally written as a tribute to Baum's favorite sister, Mary Louise Baum Brewster. Baum's publisher, Reilly & Britton, rejected that manuscript, apparently judging the heroine too independent. Baum wrote a new version of the book; the original manuscript is lost.

The title character is Mary Louise Burrows. In the first books of the series, she is a fifteen-year-old girl with unusual maturity (though the other girls in her boarding school find her somewhat priggish). She is suddenly confronted with the fact that her beloved grandfather is suspected of no less a crime than treason against the United States. With the help of old and new friends of Mary Louise … the truth is uncovered. The novel features a federal agent named John O'Gorman; he is assisted by his daughter Josie, a young woman he has himself trained to function as an investigator. (The Josie O'Gorman character, despite preceding Nancy Drew by more than a decade, is much less traditionally feminine.

Fred Stone piece

I really believe that are times you have to be in the right at the right time and that the planets align and you come across a remarkable piece. That has happened for me after 2 years of Ebay watching I came across the only signed 8 x10 photograph of Fred Stone. Of course those who are die hard Oz fans will recgnize his name immediately as that of the first person to play the scarecrow.

There has been only one other Fred Stone signed piece that I am aware of with a Ray Bolger autogrpah as well that are "cuts" and the seller wants $1,200 for both with 8x 10's of both that is matted and framed. I really lucked out on this buy as I only paid $40. Again the right place, the right time and then having the money to buy.

1873–1959), comic actor. Born in Valmont, Colorado, he was raised in Topeka and, with his brother, joined a circus as an acrobat for several years. While a member of Haverly's minstrels he met Dave [David Craig] MONTGOMERY (1870–1917) , a native of St. Joseph, Missouri. When the minstrel troupe was disbanded, the pair went into vaudeville as grotesquely made up acrobatic clowns. Their first Broadway appearance was in "The Girl from Up There" (1901).

Subsequently they starred in "The Wizard of Oz" (1903), "The Red Mill" (1906), "The Old Town" (1910), "The Lady of the Slipper" (1912), and "Chin Chin" (1914). By the time of Montgomery's death they were indisputably America's most popular musical comedy team.

On his own, Stone appeared in "Jack o' Lantern (1917), "Tip Top" (1920), "Stepping Stones" (1923), "Criss Cross" (1926), "Ripples" (1930), and "Smiling Faces" (1932). All but the last two were huge hits. Later he appeared with only small success in a number of straight plays. Whether alone or with Montgomery, much of Stone's humor came from his comic acrobatics. His wife, Allene Crater, and daughter Dorothy were also popular performers.

Rare Larry Semon item

Every now and again you run across what I tend to think is the rare item. Many times you really have to search and many times you come up empty handed but every now and then your daily searching really pays off in a big way.

E-bay can be such a wonderful source for finding items and especially those items you do not see every day and with a world wide market place of buying and selling there is no telling what somebody can find.

Larry Semon was a prolific director of Silent movies as well as an actor in them. His career as a director lasted from 1915-1928 and included the 1925 Silent Movie version of the "Wizard Of Oz". Larry worked with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in the years before they were a joint act.

Larry's father was Zera the Great, a professional magician. Semon came to filming after working as a cartoonist for the New York Sun. Hired by Vitagraph as a writer and director of comedy shorts, he began staffing his one and two reelers by 1917. Playing a pasty-faced, baggy pants idiot, he gained an international reputation and at his peak rivaled the popularity of Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd.

His films frequently co-starred Oliver Hardy (as the heavy) and starlets Lucille Carlisle and Dorothy Dwan, each of whom Semon married. Due to his constant disregard for strict production budgets, Vitagraph fired Semon in 1922. He went on to make a few big-budget, feature-length films, but they were relatively unsuccessful.

In 1927, he tried to revitalize his flagging career by playing a serious part in Von Sternberg's drama "Underworld", but was again unsuccessful. Larry Semon died in March the following year after suffering from pneumonia.

The photograph is an original film studio gelatin photograph from around the late 1910's to possibly early 1920's. The photographer's name is in the left lower area of the photo and is marked WITZEL LA. The photograph measures about 5 x 7 and has the original border margins. This was the only time I have seen to this date an autograph photograph of Larry Semon and being the die-hard Wizard Of Oz fan that I am I had to have it---- $123.00 later I am very proud to say it hangs in my Oz room along with a reproduction poster of Larry as the Scarecrow in Oz.

Fred Stone book

Many of you may recognize the name Fred Stone as being the first person to play the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz during the 1902-1903 productions that included Broadway.

The book is "Rolling Stone" written by Fred himself. It was written in 1945 and the book I have is the second printing, it was published by Whittlesey House a division of McGraw-Hill Book Company. It is 246 pages in length and is basically the story of Fred's life up to that point.

It covers his starting working in the circus as an acrobat with his brother and than unto tightrope walking. the book talks only a little about Oz in all reality but does cover how he met Dave Montgomery his partner in Oz who played the Scarecrow. It also covers some of the other things Fred learned how to do rope tricks and his involvement with the Wild Bill Cowboy Shows, working with Annie Oakley, learning to ice skate and involving that into his act. Learning to fly an airplane and working that into his stage act as well.

The thing I think I enjoyed most was his talk about his rather private life, including his daughters and wife. I do wish however more photographs of Fred were included. I would recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more about Fred and his amazing life. I found my book on E-bay and for under $15.