The Yellow Brick Road
Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum
109 E. Yellow Brick Road (950 N), Chesterton, IN 46304 (219) 926-7048
The Event Specialists
P.O. Box 131 – 3080 E. Covenanter Drive – Bloomington, IN 47402
(812) 336-7456 – allene47402@yahoo.com
For immediate release – September 3, 2007
Contact – Allen Pease at (812) 336-7456
The Coroner returns to Chesterton with Princess Ozma!!!
Chesterton, IN – “For the third year in a row, we are happy to announce that Meinhardt Raabe will again be a guest star all three days of Munchkinland Market Days,” says Marilyn Zengler, proprietor of The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop. Raabe played the now-famous Munchkin Coroner opposite Judy Garland in MGM’s 1939 classic film “The Wizard of Oz.” Zengler also announced the Princess Ozma of Oz will be appearing for the first time at Munchkinland Market Days along with her popular Teddy Bear Tea Party. The 13th annual Munchkinland Market Days will again be held the same days as the 26th annual Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival on September 14 15 & 16. The Wizard of Oz Festival is produced by Lakeshore Festival & Events and held at the Porter County Expo Center in Valparaiso. Munchkinland Market Days is produced by and held on the grounds of The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum two miles south of downtown Chesterton and sponsored by Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton Jewel-Osco and Country Inn & Suites by Carlson.
Raabe will autograph his book “Memories of a Munchkin—An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road” for fans all three days of the event at The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop. The past two years at Munchkinland Market Days, Raabe thrilled many by posing for photos with adults and children alike and he promises to do the same this year. All are welcome to bring cameras to take a photo with The Coroner.
“Memories of a Munchkin—An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road” is a 304-page hardcover book from Back Stage Books with 250 color and 50 black & white illustrations. The book is co-authored by Raabe and Daniel Kinske, Lt. USN who is currently serving in Kuwait. The Foreword is by Mickey Rooney. In this lavishly illustrated hardcover book, one of the last surviving cast members of The Wizard of Oz tells his life story and shares his memories of making that Hollywood classic. He also tells his own inspiring story including how he learned that people like him were called midgets at the age of seventeen; how he served in World War II as a Civil Air Pilot with the cockpit specially designed to suit his size; his years as a teacher and spokesman for Oscar Meyer before and after Oz and much more.
Raabe grew up in Farmington, Wisconsin. In 1938, he heard that MGM was going to make a movie with Judy Garland and 'they wanted as many little people as they could find.' He was cast in the film and “Memories of a Munchkin” is his account of life as a Munchkin on the set: watching as the glorious Munchkinland was built, long days of rehearsal, being costumed by legendary MGM designer Adrian, the various mishaps and much more.
The book can truly be called an illustrated walk down the Yellow Brick Road because it includes 50 specially commissioned illustrations by renowned artists such as Al Hirschfeld (whose art graces the cover), Mort Drucker, Al Jaffee, and many others; a complete collection of first-run posters and movie cards, published together for the first time; and dozens of unique photos and artifacts -- all unique, all one-of-a-kind, all never before published!
Raabe will be available all three days exclusively at Munchkinland Market Days. Other celebrities appearing are Munchkin Karl Slover and Garland’s stand-in Caren Marsh-Doll on Friday only. Celebrities appearing all three days with Raabe are poster artist Rick Ewigleben, Princess Ozma and Megan Thwaites, 2007 Miss Duneland’s Outstanding Teen.
In addition to autograph sessions, Munchkinland Market Days features Auntie Em’s Pie Booth, children’s games sponsored by Burns Harbor Lions Club, caricature artist Chuck Bonnett, art & craft booths, face painting, stilt walker Matt Mullin and Oz collectibles. In fact, Munchkinland Market Days is a collector’s paradise for any collector as well as for Oz buffs. One can find Dorothy dress-up clothes, Wizard of Oz dolls, Oz magnets, Oz T-shirts and sweatshirts, Oz music boxes, Oz water globes, Oz Christmas tree ornaments and hundreds of other Oz-themed keepsakes. There are also limited edition Oz figurines including a series from Lenox and limited edition Oz cookie jars from Star Jars. Other collectibles include plush animals, Hollywood memorabilia, dolls, doll clothes, unique jewelry and books.
Several Duneland area charities will again be assisted by Munchkinland Market Days. For more than a decade, the Duneland Working Women have opened Auntie Em’s Pie Booth at the festivities to benefit their annual scholarship fund. They have become a tradition. For the fourth year, Burns Harbor Lions Club will host three Oz-themed children’s games and offer their giant coloring books to benefit their various programs. For the second year, Support Our Military will be raising funds to send packages to our armed forces four times a year. They will be selling hot caramel apples and hot dogs. A souvenir program book will assist the Westchester Neighbors Food Pantry for the second year. Duneland area businesses and organizations produce the book so that 100of sales go directly to the pantry. Sponsoring this year are The Yellow Brick Road, Hilton Garden Inn, Chesterton Jewel-Osco, Country Inn & Suites by Carlson, Standard Bank, Edmonds & Evans Funeral Home, Duneland Working Women, Embroidery & More and Haines Collision Center.
The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum is located at 109 E. Yellow Brick Road, Chesterton, IN 46304, which is at the Indiana Toll Road and St. Rt. 49. For those using global positioning, it is 109 E. CR 950 North, Chesterton, IN 46304. For details on Munchkinland Market Days, The Yellow Brick Road can be reached at their website www.yellowbrickroadonline.com or by calling (219) 926-7048.