Handprint Ceremony at Yellow Brick Road . . .
Chesterton, IN – On the grounds of The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum is a small garden and fountain that was dedicated in 2006 as the Jean Nelson Munchkinland Garden Fountain. Nelson founded the Yellow Brick Road, Oz Fantasy Museum, Wizard of Oz Festival and Munchkinland Market Days. So, the new name was fitting. Making the new name even more fitting is what surrounds that small garden and fountain – the handprints and signatures in cement of seventeen actors and one author who are affiliated with MGM’s 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Most of the actors actually appeared in the beloved Judy Garland film and were featured in the Munchkinland segment. A handprint in cement ceremony hadn’t been done at the shop since the 1990’s when, on September 14, 2007, the tradition was revived with a pair of handprints put in place to kick-off Munchkinland Market Days. Honored were Caren Marsh-Doll, Judy Garland’s stand-in for “Wizard of Oz” and Donna Stewart Hardway who, as a child, appeared in the film as a Munchkin.
The tradition continues on Friday, September 12 with Danny Windsor and Robert Baum being honored. The ceremony is free and open to the public as Marilyn Zengler (The Yellow Brick Road proprietor) and Jean Nelson oversee it to kick off the 2008 Munchkinland Market Days festivities which run through Sunday.
“Oz” is the only movie Danny Windsor made even though he has had a brilliant song and dance career on Broadway as well as in concerts and nightclubs. He never met Garland during filming as he played an evil Winged Monkey, but, in 1951 he became a dear friend after 12 weeks as her opening act at the Palace Theater.
Robert Baum is proud to be the great-grandson of Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baum. He is a favorite of Oz fans as he carries on the Baum legacy on stage touring the nation portraying his great-grandfather in a fascinating program with his wife Clare who portrays his great-grandmother.
Handprints and signatures already in place are Mickey Carroll, Munchkin Town Crier; Stephen Cox, author of “The Munchkins of Oz;” Lewis Croft, Munchkin soldier; Anna Cucksey, wife of Frank Cucksey who played a Munchkin Townsman; Ruth Duccini and Emil Kransler, Munchkin villagers; Jerry Maren, Lollipop Kid; Dona Massin, Emerald City Lady (and assistant choreographer); Nels Nelson, Munchkin Townsman; Margaret Pellegrini, Munchkin lady and Sleepyhead; Meinhardt Raabe, Munchkin Coroner; Mary Ellen St. Aubin, wife of Parnell St. Aubin who played a Munchkin Soldier; Karl Slover, Munchkin trumpeter; Clarence
Swensen, Munchkin Soldier; Betty Tanner, Munchkin lady, Gus Wayne, Munchkin soldier, Marsh-Doll and Stewart Hardway.
Munchkinland Market Days is located at The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum at 109 E. Yellow Brick Road (Indiana Toll Road and St. Rt. 49), two miles south of downtown Chesterton. The event features family-friendly activities September 12 through 14 including Auntie Em’s Pie Booth to benefit the Duneland Working Women’s Scholarship Fund, Oz kid’s games and hot caramel apples to benefit the Burns Harbor Lions Club, a hot dog stand to benefit Support Our Military, face painting, art and craft booths, celebrity autograph parties, thousands of Oz collectibles, Picture Yourself in Oz, Princess Ozma’s Teddy Bear Tea Party (Sunday only), the Oz Fantasy Museum and more.
There is no admission charge. Sales of an official souvenir program book benefits the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry. The event is sponsored by Centier Bank, Hilton Garden Inn-Chesterton and The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop and supported by Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home and Haines Collision Center. The Yellow Brick Road can be reached at (219) 926-7048 or check the website at www.yellowbrickroadonline.com. - END -