Another "New" Record

Well again this record was found at the Hartville Flea Market and again the price was perfect $3.00, as far as E-bay I have yet to see this record on E-bay in the almost 2 years of searching for Oz/Judy items.

"Judy Garland At Home At The Palace: Opening Night" was a Sid Luft Presents Group V LTD. Production, executed by ABC Records with Bob Thiele as Producer, cover photograph by Ross & Weiss, Cover Design by William Duevell and Henry Epstein, Engineer Reice Hamel, Re-rocrding Engineer Johnny Cue Liner Photogrpahs Charles Stewart and Liner Design by Joe Lebow. Accompanied by Bobby Cole's orchestra nd assisted by Lorna and Joe Luft. The album was recorded at the Palace Theatre, New York City in 1967.

Songs include:

I Feel A Song Coming On

Almost Like Being in Love

You Made Me Love You

For Me and My Gal

The Trolley Song

What Now My Love

Bob White

Jamboree jones

Together Wherever We go

Over the Rainbow

Ol' Man River

Thats's Entertainment

I Loved Him, But He Didn't Love Me

Rock-A_Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody

It is my hope with tis blog to make you aware of what is out there, some of it very affordable while some of it you really have to search for. I also hope that along the way I can share my love of everything Judy and Wizard of Oz.

I want to take the time and try to explain better my decision a few months back about stopping medications which put me in the situation I am in now. It really boils down to stupid fear about what the Rheumotoid Doctor said and not thinking things through. It is also about somewhere along the way believeing I only had so long to live through this andit is also about losing hope, focus and purpose. Hopefully some of you out there understand those emotions and hopefully many of you can find it in your hearts to forgive me for being so stupid.

Fear can do many things and believe me friends this is never happening again.

A new book into the collection

You know outside of E-bay finding Oz books can be a very hard thing to do or so it seems. Well the Memorial Day Hartville Flea Market had a few this time around. A few that I already have in Hardback, they had in paperback but among all his stuff was this lovely hard back book "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. This edition was published by the Whitman Publishing Compnay in Racine, Wisconsin in 1957 and was beautifully illustrated by Russell H. Schultz.

What I particularly like about the illustrations is they are done in black, white and green. Drawn in a fresh perspective, it brings at least for me a new freshness to the story--not the story needs to be freshened up any. For $10.00 this was my steal of the day.

Found record

Sometimes all it takes is being in the right place at the right time and every now and then the Hartville Flea Market has some very nice finds. This record is one of them. Believe it or not I paid only $2.00 for it and from time to time you see it on E-bay from as little as $8.00 and as high as $35.00.

The front says "A Star is Born" Judy Garland by Columbia Records LP. Judy Garland Performs from the sound track of the Transcona Enterprises, Inc., production presented by Warner Brothers starring Judy Garland and James Mason.

Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by Ira Gershwin, Musical Direction by Moss Hart, Producer is Sid Luft, Director is George Cukor, "Born in a Trunk" composed by Leonard Gershe, Orchestra under the direction of Ray Heindorf.

Songs Include:

Gotta Have You With Me
The Man That Got Away
Born In A Trunk
Here's What I'm Here For
It's A New World
Someone At Last
Lose That Long Face

The doctor's went very well and I must admit here like I did at the office that when the rheumatoid Doctor I met with scared the bejesus out of me I was off my medications for about a month and half before I restarted them. I know it wasn't the smartest move I made but I really believe it was meant to be as it brought me to that doctor that changed my entire outlook about this disease, and how "much time really is left". For that I am grateful, hopefully all of my gentle readers can forgive my stupidity, For now my counts have changed some for the better, I go back to my specialist at Fairview and we wait and see how well these medications do before adding anything new.

Memorial Day

Well I can't believe the year is flying by so fast and we have another Memorial Day upon us. Good warm weather from here on out and I am going to enjoy more of it than I did last year--which last year I got my fair share.

I do want to take the time and remember those who have freely and willingly served our country throughout our history and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice so we may enjoy freedom.

I also want to remember those that we have lost to AIDS over the last near 25 years. For me personally that would be over 600 friends, co-workers, acquaintances, 3 boy friends and the countless others who cross our paths.

May our leaders in all offices keep our best interests at heart, may they hear our voices and may we finally be a little gentler, kinder and in a world of peace. May we treat each other with deep affection, willing to give of ourselves with no strings attached. But may we serve out of love.

May we remember the oppressed, the sick, the dying, the hungry, the homeless, the needy, the poor of spirit-health and who have no else to turn to.

Recorded for the Judy Garland Show Episode 20 on 01/24/64 and aired on 02/09/64

Finished for now

Well as you can see gang by the photographs the walls are painted and the floor stripped. The next step is to lay the new "floating click and lock floor" should be hopefully nest weekend if my lady picks up her repair I did, which pays for my floor.

The flooring we have picked out is this beautiful light Oak color which will off set the new Green Walls thanks to Ralph Lauren paint color and Behr Paint, and as you can see I have some area rugs down for the time being to cover some of the glue residue we could not get up. But as you can see in photograph #2--even my little Miss Toto--who is a camera loving canine--loves the new floor--isn't she to cute.

As you can I have a new Wicked Witch Clock as well thanks to Hartville Flea Market and this really nice guy, who I met over a year ago at Chesterton and is selling at the Market on Saturday's now till October. He also runs a website http://www.retropoponline.com/index.htm and just is one of the nicest guys around and has some really cool Oz things.

I did want to talk about another one of the books my friend Lisa found for me in New Jersey it is called "Judy Garland: Worlds Greatest Entertainer" by John Fricke. Now while I have the book already I decided to keep anyway as the paper covering to the Hard back book was different than the one I already had. If you do not own this book or have read this book I HIGHLY recommend it, John does a beautiful job talking, teaching and educating about Judy and the photograph's and information is some if not the VERY best there is around.

I maybe partial to John's books as he is one of my dearest friends and my biggest emotional supporter I have outside of course to Jim. But I will say this there is no one who knows more about Judy than John and there maybe no one who will. While we were in Cadiz, I had John autograph this book as well as all the others I have of his are. Rumor has it from John by the way there is a new book out hopefully in the end of September. I have to find out he name of it so I can share it here, but I already know I have to have it!

Keep me in your thoughts and prayers Tuesday morning as I go back to Cleveland Clinic for my follow up visit to go over tests results and I feel new mediation's or additional medications. I am hoping for a good visit and one with just as much hope as before--something still new to me but something I find very refreshing.

Hope

The faith that your foot will hit the floor when you lift it off

The belief that anything good can happen if you just try

That people are as close to you as you let them be--

put your best self out there, you lose nothing and gain everything

That the universe supports, loves and encourages you

wants you to succeed and so does everyone else.

Hope is knowing that not only is tomorrow is there but so is the future.

The Judy Garland Show (Episode 13--1963) features Judy Garland performing with fellow legendary singer Peggy Lee, for their only joint TV appearance. The stars share a medley of "Men" songs, and also duet on Lee's own hit "I Love Being Here With You."

Handyman anyone??--supply the booze where there

By the way gang a quick comment about yesterday's post--I decided to show Jim and was playin the Peter, Paul and Mary "If I had a Hammer" and he looked at me and said "Mary, if you had a hammer you would be dangerous". Everybody's a critic---smile.

Well yesterday was just damn near back breaking and I realized I am not as young as I use to be, or for that matter never will be again. We started painting first, don't ask me what possessed us to paint first but I guess I had nothing better to do <>. It has been a VERY long time since a paintbrush has been in my hand to paint a wall and not a canvas, but it went fairly well. Took quit a while to do it as there are so many nook and cranies in the kitchen to paint around. Today will be spent finishing up the last touches of paint and then I can post pictures before the "new click and lock floating floor" go in.

Of course while the paint was drying we, the adventurous, creative souls that we are decided what the hell lets start ripping up the linoleum. For the most part it went fairly easy all but the corners which had to be heated with a blow torch to soften the glue and then ripped up (see the above picture of my brother doing that---Jim said it was a scary thing to see me with a blow torch in my hands). Kids if you do this yourself like us nutty DIY guys make sure your windows are open real wide because OH LOUISE the smell, thank heavens my dad had told about that before hand.

By mid-afternoon we needed another trip to Home Depot as we didn't quite have enough paint, which provided a short break in the DIY madness. We noticed while we were there that you could hire one of ther Home Depot men for $400 for 8 hours and JUST to paint! I told Jim at $50 an hour it better be a naked Jilles Marini or Brad Pitt painting my kitchen. My brother was like "You see that"? While teasingly saying and "I get paid what?" to which of course the response was BOOZE and food hence the title of the post.

Concert Program and other stuff

Well today I want to take the time and talk about a Judy Garland Souvenir programs that one could have bought when attending her concerts. One of the big differences in the programs in all reality is just simply the covers--some of which are very beautiful. As far as the insides go the majority of them are the same and continue movie still shots, other concert photos and if I remember right some of Judy's own private photographs.

These programs for the most part can be found on E-bay rather easily while others like this one only show up time to time. Prices vary but i feel they are an afforable addition to any collection of Garlandia.

As far as my collection of concert souvenir programs go I think I have only one different cover to get and I am done. If I am wrong and one of my readers know that, please take the time to point it out. There are movie premiere programs as well which I have a few Garland/The Wiz programs and then there are the concert event programs as well which I have a few. If you run across one, think of me, send it my way and I would be happy to re-imburse you for it.

Well the day before yesterday we got rambunctious here and decided to rip up the old carpeting that was in the kitchen as it was just filthy and in the next day or so we are ripping up this g-d awful linoleum flooring next, that you will see in pictures posted ONLY HERE. My brother is coming out today to help us get started on that project nest.

The plan is to install one of those snap and lock floating floors, that look like real wood and to some degree are. we have been talking about it for along time now and with some serious doll work done on my part we are finally enough ahead to do it. We went and priced it with the help of a Home Depot employee and it wasn't as bad as I thought. We spoke to a contractor last year and I nearly fainted dead away. Do it yourselfers unite!

Speaking of projects we decided yesterday since we have this g-d awful flooring down we are also going to re-paint the walls in the kitch and as you can see in reality we have like 3 walls to paint. Cabinets will be next in the very near future. Pictures will be posted here and painting begins to day.

June 24, 1969 "The Daily News" partial paper

I mentioned a few posts back that a great friend of mine had found a fair amount of Judy Galand items at a "Swap Meet" and decided to purchase most of that lot in New Jersey and send them my way. To Lisa, I am indebted its friends like you who make the worls a kinder and gentler place, I love you girl!

Anyway on to the newspaper it is the June 24, 1969 "Daily News" from New York City and is pages 3 and 4, pages 19- 20, 61-62 and 77-78 which show primarily pictures of Jusy and the Wizard of Oz. If you can not make out the headlines with the photos I have done they include "Doc: Judy Had Diseased Liver" by Henry Maule (Staff Correspondent of the News), "The Judy Garland Story: Under The Stardust Lay Hate For Her Mother" by Peter Coutros (Second in a Series of Articles)and "Liza Mourns 'Vital Woman'"

A lot of these stories are most of what has been said repeatedly over the last 40 years about our Judy--some true, some not, some the stories told by Judy herself and than made into the truth, when in reality she was showing her ability as a comediene and story teller. With that said I want to include some of the "new things" I for one have not seen or read before......

.....Westminster Coroner Gavin Thurston ordered and inquest be held Wednesday... In view of a statement by Miss Garland's former London Surgeon, Dr. Philip Lebon, that she had been suffering form cirrhosis the coroner could have decided that death was due to natural causes and not ordered an inquest"......

....Informed sources said suicide would be ruled out. Because of advanced cirrhosis, they said death must have been imminent.....

" I know my mother was a great star and a great talent, but I am not thinking about those things today. What I am thinking about is the woman, my mother, and what a lovely, vital, extraordinary woman she was. It is because of my memory of that woman that all my life I will be proud to say 'I am Judy Garland's daughter'". Liza Minnelli

A new doll and another fall

Sometimes, every now and then you run into a nice surprise, and for me it was seeing this doll the second time (first was in Chesterton at the Oz Festival) and having a little brother who spoils me from time to time.

He, Jim and I spotted this doll in an Antique Mall in Berlin, Ohio a few weeks back and next thing I knew my brother had it at the cash register--you got to love him.

Believe it or not dear reader, I don't have a lot of Dorothy dolls--as of yet-- and this one did catch my eye. My brother never did say what he paid but E-bay has it in the $60 range.

The Judy Garland Doll--was made by Vintage World Doll, Model #71810 and 17, 500 dolls made. It is the third doll in "Movie Greats"
and allegedly is Extremely Rare/Hard to find.

This is the 1985 limited edition Easter Parade doll by World Doll. Her tag reads "Judy Garland as Hannah Brown in Easter Parade". She wears a costume patterned after the white gown that Judy wears
in the finale when she sings the title song, though the designer took some liberties with the pattern, as is generally the case with dolls. But, it's a lovely dress.

She also wears a big, beautiful bonnet, similar to the movie version, with flowers on top and pink ribbons hanging from the back, again with liberties taken by the toy maufacturer. She has a purple-colored brooch, a pearl necklace, and a hang-tag which is a miniature reproduction of the original movie poster.

Her hair is very nicely styled. She is made entirely of vinyl, and stands 18" tall. She has a white nylon slip under the gown. The gown is full-length, hiding even her shoes. Approximately 18 inches tall, Fully jointed and made of Vinyl.

Well those of you who read this blog know from time to time I have been known to fall. The doctor's really have not figured out yet what exactly is causing it but Jim wants me mentioning it with this other Doctor at Cleveland Clinic.

This time I was outside walked the about 6 blocks from my house to the post office and right before I got there--with nothing to trip, fall over, stumble over or anything to cause a fall---DOWN I went on my one knee, right hand and on my back. My right hand receiving most of the force of my fall. Nothing seriously hurt but now on Monday morning I am still very sore. I ask you to keep me in your thoughts and maybe in a few weeks time this new doctor can figure out what the heck is going on.

Queen Zixi Advertising

Well as many of you may or may not know my biggest love with all things Oz is the books. I don't have them all as of yet but it has been an incredible journey finding them, buying them and reading them all of them for the first time. I am at the point where I would love to sit and re-read what I have but my stack of new Judy Book purchases I have to read the first time through before I get to re-read anything.

Queen Zixi of Ix, or The Story of the Magic Cloak is a children's book written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by Fredrick Richardson. It was originally serialized in the early 20th century American children's magazine St. Nicholas from November 1904 to October 1905, and was published in book form later in 1905. The events of the book alternate between Noland and Ix, two neighboring regions to the Land of Oz, and Baum himself commented this was the best book he had written.

In a letter to his eldest son, Frank Joslyn Baum, he said it was "nearer to the 'old-fashioned' fairy tale than anything I have yet accomplished," and in many respects, it adheres more closely to the fairy tale structure than the Oz books. Although Oz remains the more popular region, many readers have held that Queen Zixi of Ix is a better book than The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The book was made into the 1914 film The Magic Cloak of Oz. Although no part of the book's story takes place in the Land of Oz, by the time the movie was made, it had become clear that the Oz franchise was Baum's most popular creation.

The Copyright to Queen Zixi of Ix was acquired by Dover Publications in 1971, and the book was re-released with its original illustrations and a new introduction by Martin Gardner. Like all books published in the U.S. before 1923, it is now in the public domain.

This piece is actual advertising that used in Harpers Magazine Advertiser and form what I here may be rare or hard to find. Of course courtesy of E-bay.

Although this is not Queen Zixi it is a silent movie Oz

3,005 HITS and other stuff

You know when I started this blog I never thought anyone would be all that interested in what I had to say and today I was proved wrong with 3,005 hits by you my faithful readers. I hope you find what you are looking for, I hope I let you in my life, I hope you and I can become friends. Thank you for visting the site and reading and maybe in the process learn something to.

Well this incredible old photograph is of Broadway Star of the 1902-1903 Wizard of Oz Fred Stone.

Fred Andrew Stone born August 19,1873- March 6,1959 was an American actor. Stone began his career as a performer in circuses and Minstrel shows he went on to act on vaudeville, and became a star on Broadway

Biography
He was particularly famous for appearing opposite David C. Montgomery , a 22-year partnership, in shows such as The Wizard of Oz, premiering in 1902, and the Victor Herbert Operetta The Red Mill in 1906. In 1939, he appeared in a radio program promoting the new MGM film of The Wizard Of Oz, in which he got to meet the actor who played the Scarecrow, Ray Bolger, who was a great admirer of Stone's work, and although Bolger was too young to have seen Stone play the Scarecrow in the stage play, he did see Stone in The Red Mill.

His feature film career began in comedy westerns, his first The Goat was filmed in 1918. He starred in 19 feature films. In 1926 after the death of Annie Oakley he was given her unfinished autobiography.


His wife, Allene Crater, who he met in the company of The Wizard of Oz , have three daughters, Dorothy, Paula and Carol. As an adult, Dorothy becomes Stone’s stage partner. In 1929 Stone, was critically injured in an airplane crash. He had been attempting a stunt. In addition to many other broken bones, his legs are crushed and he is told he’ll never again dance. His good friend Will Rogers filled in for Fred in Three Cheers, a stage show written for Fred and his daughter, Dorothy. Rogers is a hit, and Stone works at therapy relentlessly until his proves his doctors wrong and returns to the stage. (The Fred Stone as the Scarecrow is not in my collection but was on the internet)

Stone received an honorary degree from Robins College, a small liberal arts college located in Winter Park, Florida , in 1939. At this time a small theatre was named in his honor. The original Fred Stone Theatre—a smaller flexible space sitting adjacent to the College's larger principal venue, the Annie Russell Theatre, named after another great American Actor and benefactor—was a wooden bungalow that was razed in the early 1970s. A nearby wood and brick-faced Greek revival styled hall, converted into a 90-seat black-box performance space, was re-dedicated as The Fred Stone Theatre during this period, and although it has been moved to another location on campus, it still stands and is active as a performance venue for smaller experimental productions as well as student directed and choreographed works.

The Rollins Archives have extensive information on the career of Stone, including numerous photographs, and is chief among private institutions in the U.S. continuing to educate young actors about the history of this great American thespian. . He is buried in Forest LAwn Cemetary, Hollywood Hills.

Another book review and the loss of hope

Well I want to start with another book review for those of you who read this site for the Wizard of Oz and Judy Collectible things I find.

I have almost finished (With like 20 pages left to read) "The Other Side of the Rainbow with Judy Garland on the Dawn Patrol" by Mel Torme. Published by Morrow and Company, Inc. in New York 1970. This book primarily deals with the period of time Judy was shooting "The Judy Garland Show" for CBS. The book also goes into some details of Mel's private life at the time as well.

The title has to do with the early morning phone calls Judy would make to some of the staff concerning her worries about the show, her talent, her abilities and how she was being perceived on the show. The majority of the phone calls where like 2 to 4 a.m. and grew into the nickname "The Dawn Patrol" for those that got the phonecalls, soothed Judy's nerves and made the show go on.

I want to say some of what others have said about the book:

"Mel had the guts to relive the story our hearts were too full to recall"--Mickey Rooney

"A Vivid and highly sophisicated glimpse of the unfathambale Judy- the driven, the talented, the tormentor, and the tormented". Gerald Frank

"Versatility, of itself, is an oversized attribute. The important question is not: how many things can a man do, but how many things can he do well.....In this abosrbing account he reveals what his friends for saome time that he is handy at the typewriter as he is at the piano. The Other Side of the Rainbow is half autobiography and half biography.... the book is of unusual in that it accurately reveals the inner workings of a network television program".---- Steve Allen

I would recommend this book very much and Mel does a wonderful job telling what happened and only really speaking of Judy as he knew here, when he knew her and no more.

Now unto some personal thoughts--I want to talk a little about some of what was said at the doctor's visit at the Clinic. I have been giving it some very serious thought today and especially his comment about my "Having lost all hope". I am going to be painfully honest here and say that, that statement was very true. When it exactly happened I am not sure but I am beginning to understand the why it happened in the first place.

As many of you know I have been in the last 2 years or so very dramatcially ill to the point it felt like the bottom fell out literally. The bodily pain I have been in at times is very unbearable but somehow I keep trudging along. But in all reality I think I just gave up, didn't think anyone gave a good goddamn about what was happening and if they did nobody said anything directly to be so I wouldn't be ""overburdened". I felt so very alone and I personally not worth the fight, to fight back.

I just got to the point I feel I just didn't care anymore and there was no hope. You do stupid things when you get to that point and that stupidity can be very painful emotionally, spiritually and more than likely physically as well. Seeing that pain, that stupidity and loss of hope is even more painful, the whole "how could I have ever gotten so low". There were times people would come along and slap me upside my heada nd say "What the #%$& are you thinking" and one went so far to say "Snap out of it Mary". to those people who know who they are I thank you.

I know now that I really felt my time was at the end and now for the first time I know I am only in the middle of it. For that I am grateful.

Lobby Card

Every now and then you run across something you never thought you would. Then you hope the price is right and when it turns out to be a steal you smile, pay the nice sales clerk and run like hell. This is the case with this Original Lobby Card, I found this at the Riverfront Antique Mall a little over a month ago now and when the clerk said it was $9.00 I bought and ran like hell.

It is my first "english" Original Lobby card I have others but they are in Spanish/Mexican so this was and is a rare find in my collection. Of course the photograph contains our beloved Judy as Betsy Booth--the biggest reason I bought it actually and Lewis Stone as Judge Hardy.

Musical Program
Judy recorded four songs for the film, none of which were used in the final print. The only remaining song is one verse of Happy Birthday to You, which Judy sings a cappella. The songs were apparently cut just prior to release, since some of the early ad copy still contains the line "Mickey woos! Judy sings!". The songs which were deleted are America (My Country 'Tis of Thee) (which was to open the movie), Easy to Love (sung to Andy to the accompaniment of his car radio as they approach New York), Abide with Me and The Rosary (during the funeral service for Jimmy Frobisher). This photograph of this poster is not in my collection but was found on the internet, hopefully i can find it even if it is a reprint

Notes
This was the only episode of the Andy Hardy Series in which a guest star (Judy) was billed above some of the regular cast members.
There is a sharp contrast between the Betsy Booth of Life Begins and the Betsy Booth of the previous Andy Hardy installments. Judy had clearly outgrown the role, and Betsy (whether it was the director's intention or not) is considerably more sophisticated and worldly in this episode.
This was Judy's third and final appearance as Betsy Booth in the Andy Hardy series.

She appeared previously in Love Finds Andy Hardy (1938) and Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940). Though MGM resisted Judy's growing up, she insisted on playing adult roles. She was concerned that continuing on with the role of Betsy would hold back her career. Her feelings in the matter were probably expressed in this poem she wrote:
I sing to Mr. Gable,But he's never really there.I'm longing to enchant himwith sophisticated flair.But ev'ry time I turn around,Andy Hardy's in my hair! (This photgrpah of the VHS cover is also not in my collection but I am now on the Hunt for it)

The film was rated "unobjectionable for adults" by the National Legion of Decency, implying that it was not suitable for children. The discussion Judge Hardy has with Andy concerning fidelity, and the interrupted "love" scene in Jennitt Hicks' apartment were probably the objectionable scenes.

The prerecordings of Judy's four songs which were cut from the film are included in the audio program on the laserdisk set: Judy Garland/The Golden Years at M-G-M (MGM/UA ML104869).

Another Munchkin has died

Very sad news this morning actor and munchkin Mickey Carroll has died in St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 89.

By Mike Owens

KSDK -- St. Louis' most famous munchkin, Mickey Carroll, died at his Crestwood home Thursday morning. He was 89-years-old.

Carroll was his stage name: his real moniker, Michael Finocchiaro. He grew up in St. Louis and made it to Hollywood to play in the role that defined his life. He spent a lot of time on charitable work, and would talk to anyone, at any time, about his part in the "Wizard of Oz."

But there's an odd twist to this story about Mickey Carroll. About the same time he died, a lawyer was filing suit in his behalf, asking for an accounting of his finances, and raising concerns that his caretaker Linda Dodge had improperly taken control of his finances and his personal affairs.

Dodge said Carroll moved in with she and her husband in December as his health deteriorated. Carroll's nephew, Frank Parenti, also moved in.

Dodge has become caretaker not only of Carroll's health, but his memory too, pushing for him to be included in various Walks of Fame, and having him promoted at various events celebrating the "Wizard of Oz" movie. She said he played three roles in the film: as a soldier, a fiddler and town crier.

But attorney Patrick McCarthy said Carroll's family believes he was also being played the fool and had signed paperwork giving Dodge control of his life.

McCarthy said the state department in charge of adult affairs is investigating the case and a probate judge has called for a hearing next week to hear the allegations.

Among them are that Carroll signed a power of attorney when he was in fact mentally incapable of doing so.

In addition, McCarthy said there needs to be an accounting of Carroll's finances and he wonders why Dodge kept Carroll from talking to his family members. McCarthy says Dodge changed phone numbers several times, and when Carroll's family got the new number, she would change it again.

Dodge denies wrongdoing and said the suit is just a family spat over money, as much as a million dollars.

Visitation will be next Tuesday at Kutis Funeral Home on Gravois near Grant's Farm, with a Catholic mass on Wednesday at the St. Louis Cathedral. Prior to the funeral, there will be a court hearing.

Of the 125 Munchkins who starred in the Wizard of Oz, only seven are still alive. Most recently, actor Clarence Swensen, who played one of the Munchkin soldiers, passed away in late February at the age of 91.

Paper: "The End of a Legend"

This morning I want to talk a little bit about the very end of Judy's life. The end of a legend, and the silencing of the greatest entertainer of all time. Many know by now Judy died from an accidental drug overdose in London on June 22, 1969 now almost 40 years ago. That year I was 20 months old (and not quite 2 years old) and there are many, many times I wish I was older to have been able to remember that painful time of her death and of course the Stonewall Riots shortly after that.

I think personally that for at least those of who were gay then it was a VERY different time and place and I am sure many of us felt like we had lost the one soul who understood us and loved us unconditionally. Many say the Stonewall were in part because of Judy dying.

I want to mention I have had dreams of walking into Campbell's with the young Joe Luft's hand in mine and him saying "I want you to see Momma". I woke up shaking crying and in a cold sweat that night. It may sound morose but in all reality if I can get back into New York City I would love to see if Campbell's Funeral Home would at the very least let me walk into the room Judy was laid in just to try to be that close to her in those final moments.

The other thing I would love to do is to go upper Manhattan I believe and visit Ferncliff Cemetery and visit where Judy is buried, leave Yellow Roses--her favorites, or so I have read-- and let her know how much she is still loved and missed. Well gang until tomorrow...

TV Guides

Ok I don't want people thinkingI hated "Young Judy" I didn't actually. The information about her early career before the Wizard of Oz is staggering and gave much more insight than some of the stuff I have read in little over 2 years since I really started collecting. But I will stand by the fact for me that "It is a little hard to swallow that according to the authors all of Judy's problems hinged on the lies told her about her father's homosexuality".

I know this book was written shortly after Stonewall, and things were not what they are now in regards to being gay, so I know you should keep a perspective on it. I know a few gay people/couples with children and their children are well balanced, loving, caring people. Enough said about all of that....

One of my finds at the Cadiz, Ohio "Gone With the Wind Festival" featuring 3 of the munchkins was the aforementioned book and two TV Guides from July 1-7 2000. At first the woman wasn't going to sell them as she was really there selling home decor, the kind you find at those "home shows" some of us have. "I really only brought them for table decoration and never thought anybody would want to buy them. I actually got them at a garage sale and hvae no idea what they are worth."

Well somebody did and thanks to Deb Dwyer from the "Everything Oz" Yahoo Group I got them and for a song and a dance as well. Deb you are the greatest and I am a huge fan of yours. $5.00 a piece--KACHING! These are the first TV Guides in my collection and now I have to look for the other two. There are some nice articles in the it both of the TV Guides are the same except the covers. If you have extra's laying around or find some send them my way (smile).

Well gang until tomorrow and further down the Yellow Brick Road.

New Book

Well gang I want to mention a new book I got from a good freind of mine Lisa in New Jersey (girl you know I love you). I have almost finished reading it and so I wanted to take the time to put in my critique.....

The book is "Young Judy" by David Dahl and Barry Kehoe printed in 1975 by Mason and Charter. This book unlike others focuses only on the early Judy/Frances with some interjections of her later life but not many and while the later life is mentioned it is to focus on the problems that were created early in Judy's life.

This book unlike others does not blame Judy's mother for Judy's problems like so many other books out on the market. This one for the most part lays the majority of Judy's problems on Judy's father Frank. Judy her entire life had NOTHING negative to say about her father and this book makes up for it big time.

The mojority of Judy's problems according to this book were because of the fact that Frank was GAY or at the very least BISEXUAL and everyone around Judy lied about the fact. While many of the other books mention Frank being gay this book is a hard sell because they feel that everything wrong was Frank's fault because of his sexuality and his not standing up to his wife Ethel. With a huge part of Judy's fan base being gay this book was hard to swallow and the book even goes on to saying she hung with the gay crowd to extremes in the end of her life. Oh well, guess this is their opinion and it is a shame.

Ethel is partially to be blamed as well in the book but not made into the monster so many other books state she is based on Judy's statements about her mother later in life.

There are some great photographs in this book many of whichI have never seen before. I would (believe it it or not) Recommend this book for your collection if you can get it for a buy, maybe Amazon.com other than that for some this book may not be the best but for me it certainly wasn't the worst I have read on Judy.

Oz tins and other stuff

Well its bright and early and I thought I would get in my blogging before the day completely runs away. We are off to Cadiz, Ohio today for the Clark Gable Home Museum is having their yearly Festival and I think this years theme is "Gone With the Wind With the Munchkins".. Maragaret Pellgrinin, Jerry Maren and Karl Slover are all to be there as well as the little girl who was "Little Bonnie Blue Butler" now 70 years ago. Besides I need an Oz Festival fix .


It will be so nice seing the part of the munchkins again and to be honest they are part of the only things left from the original movie and with them in their 80's to 90's they are jsut cherished and loved treasures and I would love to spend as much time as I can afford with them as possible. Like all of us their time is limited before they too go over the rainbow.

Cadiz is only an hour away and not to terribly far from teh Ohio River, so it should be a fun day and hopefully some rather nice Oz finds will be there. Some of the members from the Yahoo Group "Everything Oz" will be there and it will be so nice seeing them again--since the last time was Chesterton and they are just the best people on the planet but I am biased as I am one of them .

Things have been rather busy the last few days, which I am not complaining about but I do realize I need to get more organized to try to get more accomplished within the day. Mainly in regards to my artwork and writing that I have been trying to do. I also would like to try to get back to making my one of a kind dolls i was doing there for a while and this time around I am only doing Oz dolls that are not related to the doll work I do for customers with the shop.

This is one of the conclusions I have come to about what am I going to do with 20 more years and this my friends is part of the answer. Oz dolls and art work, continue my collecting which I JUST ADORE and one other thing I would rather not mention just yet as it is still just a "very crazy idea "but one I hope can and will happen.

The Oz tins pictured here we found at the Holmes County Flea Market and are some of the newest things in my EVER growing collection of Oz and Judy Garland Memorabilia. I know it seems like to some that is all I talk about, think about, eat about and well poop about and it is more than likely the case but it just can not be helped the more I find my self doing with it the more I want to do. It stays so fresh and new and wonderful and I think part of the thrill is the hunt and what will be added next and over the next few days I think what I have gotten is some very neat things.

So stayed tuned and until then.........