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.

Some brand new artwork

Well I posted this in my artblog some time back and thought I should post this here as well--since I get more hits here .

This is painted in Acrylic's and measures 18 x 24 and is professionally sealed. All it needs is a fram for it and your ready to go.

This is for sale now at $60 which does not include shipping and will be if not sold before than available at The Chesterton, Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival.

I could neverget tired painting Judy!

In 1968, One of her last TV appaearnces, Judy made a guest spot on this classic and unforgettable talk show, featured with her is her Easter Parade Co-Star Peter Lawford, see Judy sing Over The Rainbow probably for the last time on US Television! she looked great and sounded great! atleast to me anyway

18 years I am still here

Well many of you who read this blog may not beware but tomorrow is my 18th anniversary of finding out I had AIDS, it still seems all this time later just like yesterday. It is still that vivid in my mind, it forever changed everything some for the good some for the bad.

As many of you know the last year or so has been one filled with many problems for me health wise and in so many ways and so many different times it really gets me depressed beyond words.

So many things have happened in the time frame, some that turned my world inside out and upside down. Things were and have been never the same. Somehow through it all I have pulled through, some dings and dents along the way but survived.

What some may not realize is how much Oz has played the last two years and how much of a factor it plays in my happiness. It keeps me sane, focused and busy and alwys learning. I just want to figure out how to transfer that into something else, something bigger, better, worth while, that makes a difference. I just need to figure out how!

Well if my doctor is right I have at last another 18 to figure out.

Some more new books

Well it seems here lately that books have been a little easier to find for some reason and for that I am thankful.

The first is "The Wizard of Oz" By L. Frank Baum by Puffin Classics, illustrated by David Mc Kee, published by the Penguin Group in 1994, cover illustration by Trevor Scobie. This little book is a paperback edition and originally sold for $4.99 while I happened to find it in a discount second hand book store for $1.50. The story is the same classic story we all know and we all love while the illustrations frankly are that of coloring book quality but somehow still rather fresh and creative. Not a bad buy for what I paid and nice addition to a growing collection of books---maybe I should start an Oz library (LOL).

The second is also "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, retold by William Fursetenberg with illustrations by WW. Denslow This version is 48 pages in length which would make for great bedtime reading for the kiddies. The "White Edition" style illustrations with hints of green through out this is a wonderful tribute to the original book. Again I found this at our new local Second Hand book store "Our Novel Idea" which can be found online at http://ournovelidea.yolasite.com/ I do not remember honestly what I paid for this one but I know it wasn't much. The book was put out by Weekly Reader Books in Middletown, Connecticut in 1984 with the cover designand text are by Jose Pacheo-Silva

While the third and last book for today's post is "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, adapted and abridged by Mary Cushing and Dorthea Williams, illustratedby Claudine Nankivel. This book was published by Gosset & Dunlap Publishers of New York and was printed in 1971. The book contains beautifully drawn black and white as well as color illustrations through out and is 61 pages in length making this a good book for your elementary school reader. All In all the story is the same as from before with some minor adjustments.

Some computer problems

I have been having some computer problems here lately, it started out rather minor and it just seems to be getting worse half of the time I can't get at my pictures for this blog and that is the reason here lately for the random posting. I have to get some money saved and either get this piece of 2 year old shit fixed or buy a new one. Can't live without this thing and frankly the month of June this blog saw more posts than most months in the past.

For me talking about Oz and Judy could become a full time thing if I had fairly decent computer capabiliteis and at the time the local guy with the local computer comapny said "This was the best one available--well it kids it has been the worst.

Anyway, I am waiting to hear if I have been accepted at Kent State University, the Stark County Campus, I also found out for right now that I am eligible for $5,400 in free money form the government that I do not have to pay back. Have yet to really decide what I am going to take but I am excited, nervous and really looking forward to this new chapter in my life.

New item--- another book

The first is a new book into the series of books I have. I would really to love to hear from those of you who are into the books like I am. Anyway this one was found at an antique store not all that far from where I live and for me it was unique in a few ways.

The first being that it is a "Little Golden Book" which I very fondly remember the series of books I had when I was little none of which were Oz but were a part of my childhood which I do fondly remember. "The Tin Woodman of Oz" was adapted by Peter Archer from the L. Frank Baum book of the same name and illustrations--which I will say are quite wonderful--- are by Harry Mc Naught. It was published by Simon and Schuster of New York in 1952 and with the original sale sticker in tact on the inside cover. The price was then twenty-five cents, I paid around $20.00 for it. The story is twenty-six pages in length and like I said includes beautiful illustrations on every page. It is the same story of Tinman and Scarecrow running the giant Mrs. Yoop and then being turned into a tin owl and a stuffed teddy bear, only to be saved by Glinda.

What made me buy this book was the cover illustration of the Tinman SMOKING a pipe! I had until this point not seen any of the Oz characters do any thing like this and thought it such a novelty and oddity that I HAD to have it.

Well the Fourth of July was not one of its best by a long shot but it was quiet and after the week before I needed the break. The down side was my little dog Toto ( a 3 year old female Shi Itzu if your new to the blog) got a hold of one of my sewing needles and darn near swallowed it. it did however get stuck under her tongue a rush to a 24-7-365 Animal Hospital and a $350 fee later they got it out and she is back to normal like nothing ever happened in the first place. Me being the "loving daddy" and over emotional was beside myself the entire time.

I want to go back to posting some YouTube clips of what I feel will let you into my head and heart emotionally speaking so.....

Some inner thoughts

That early morning stillness

When the world still seems at slumber,

Things have not begun to unfold

Is the time of day I can sense

My own being, my own aliveness.

I turn in my bed one final time

Before my eyes flutter open

Thankful that I have this time

To reflect, renew and recharge.

Those first early morning steps

I am unsure of as traces of sleep

Fall away and my day begins a new.

What is in store for me,

What will I be able to acheive, to finish?

Will I take the time

To tune out what some call

The vast insanity,

Become one with myself, my core

My universe, my being.

Or will I become overcome

With all the craziness

that can overpower, overwhelm us

The next thing I know my day

Is over, lost to it all

Swallowed by a gulf

That took it all away.

If only my entire time left

Could be as those first

Few morning hours--

Vibrant, fresh, new

Full of hope, renewal.

I ask thee then t give me

The insight, the drive

to make that alive in me.