The Wonderful Hoosiers of Oz

Just got the Three-Disc Collector�s Edition of the MGM�s �The Wizard of Oz�. Hoosiers have had some sort of collection to this film and with other Oz related films.

 

There is a new commentary on the DVD with historian John Fricke but Sidney Pollack is the host and introduces interviews. The set also has copies promotional material from the August 15, 1939 premiere at Sid Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

 

Munchkins have an Indiana connection. Mitzi Koestner from Muncie and Arnold Vierling from Seymour. Bud Linn from Indianapolis was one of the singing voices of the Lollipop Guild.

 

Otis Turner directed three Oz films in 1910. �The Wonderful Wizard of Oz� is on the three-disk set. Other films were �Dorothy and the Scarecrow in Oz� and �The Land of Oz�. Charles Murray from Laurel was the �Wizard of Oz� in 1925.

 

Some extra Indiana connections are that Jo Anne Worley played the Wicked Witch on Broadway in 1999, Red Skelton was the host of 1959 showing of the film on CBS and in northern Indiana the city of Chesterton has a great festival every year.