I found out today that Mark Haas has died.
I never got to meet him in person, sadly, but he and I did e-mail each other a few times. He even read an Oz short story of mine once. I also got the pleasure to read his book The Medicine Man of Oz, featuring Dr. Herby. (This book was pulled from publication because the main character was still copyrighted. Very sad, as I think he improved the character.)
In addition, he wrote some Oz books himself, including Leprechauns in Oz and the forthcoming The Emerald Mountain of Oz.
He was also an active poster at the International Wizard of Oz Club Message Board. Although he and I often had conflicting viewpoints, his posts helped provoke thought among Oz fans. He could disagree, but not be completely against who he was disagreeing with. He was the first one to sign my petition for a new Oz movie.
I will miss him very much. Mark has follwed some of the great Royal Historians over the Shifting Sands.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
At last!
Yesterday, I finally got a VCR/DVD recorder. Hopefully now I can make DVD's from some of my Oz VHS tapes that have movies that are not available on DVD, like...
- The Marvelous Land of Oz (The Minneapolis Children's Theatre)
- Tramps & The Wizard of Oroz
- The "Adventures in the Emerald City" series
- "The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus" from Universal
- The Turkish Wizard of Oz
- "The Wizard of the City of Emeralds"
For anyone who thinks this is a good idea and wants to do it, it's legal as long as you make the DVD's yourself and keep the original VHS. (Meaning that it's YOUR video!)
And today, I ordered the Dorothy 2007 calendar.
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Latest Baum Bugle
Last Friday, I got the latest issue of The Baum Bugle.
The always wonderful cover featured a piece of artwork by William Stout, which was going to be the cover of The Winged Monkeys of Oz by Sherwood Smith, before it became The Emerald Wand of Oz. How this happened is explained in the issue, so I won't talk about it here, but the artwork is beautiful.
The main topic of the issue is Sherwood Smith and William Stout's contributions to the Oz series, The Emerald Wand of Oz and Trouble Under Oz. Marcus Mebes has articles on both author and illustrator. I haven't read or bought the Smith and Stout books, but from reading these articles, I think I'd like to.
There's a bit about Oz comics in this issue too. The webcomic Chesire Crossing (featuring Dorothy, Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice books, Wendy Darling from Peter & Wendy/Peter Pan, as well as Mary Poppins as their "nanny") is covered in Oz & Ends (I already knew about this, thanks to Eric Gjovaag's blog), along with Illusive Arts' Dorothy calendar (which I don't own), as well as the interesting fact that the writer of Oz Squad is putting this series on the Internet.
In the reviews, there's a review of Eric Shanower's Adventures in Oz book, and the first collected volume of Oz Squad. I didn't find the review on Adventures wasn't terribly interesting, but perhaps that's because I wrote my own. (A link is in one of my previous blog entries.) It did, however, mention that IDW Publishing is putting an idea of mine into action: in late April this year, the hardcover edition will be available again, except it will not have the signed limitation plate. (I own that one!) In case you're wondering where I mentioned it, it was on a thread in the International Wizard of Oz Club's message board.
Eric Gjovaag reviewed the Journey Back to Oz DVD for this issue. He only briefly reviewed the movie, but had a lot to say about the DVD presentation, which, I suppose, is what he was reviewing after all. He also shares my problem with finding no DVD-ROM content on the DVD. Um, should we start e-mailing Andy Mangels or Ink & Paint about this?
There is also a review of a documentary called Yellow Brick Road, which I hadn't heard of until I read this review. There is also a review of Trouble Under Oz and The Scream of the Sacred Ape, the latest addition to Hungry Tiger Press' Pawprint series. And speaking of which, the series will continue, and as long as I can afford to, I'll keep buying! They're also still planning on reprinting John Dough & The Cherub, and, as far as I know, Fate Of A Crown, two Baum books, one indirectly related to Oz (John Dough appeared at Ozma's birthday party in The Road to Oz) and one that has nothing to do with Oz, except the fact that Baum wrote it.
Jane Albright walks us through the Wonderful Art of Oz exhibit at the Eric Carle Museum, Sherwood Smith takes us with her to the Winkie Convention, we're given a tour of the Ozmapolitan Convention by Scott Cummings, and Scarecrow Sean Barrett takes us down the Yellow Brick Road through Banner Elk's Land of Oz park. John Fricke also donates some interesting advertisements for TV airings of MGM's The Wizard of Oz.
Sadly, two features that were in the last two issues I got were not here: Oz in the News, covering Oz media references or coverage of Oz-related material, and the usual rare short piece by L. Frank Baum. Don't tell me they ran out of things to put in after 50 years!
All in all, even though I missed those two, the Baum Bugle is something I always look forward to. It always makes for good reading.
And come to think of it, if I want to get the next issue, I need to renew my membership!
Ooh! There's the mail man! I wonder if my check from Disney is here...
The always wonderful cover featured a piece of artwork by William Stout, which was going to be the cover of The Winged Monkeys of Oz by Sherwood Smith, before it became The Emerald Wand of Oz. How this happened is explained in the issue, so I won't talk about it here, but the artwork is beautiful.
The main topic of the issue is Sherwood Smith and William Stout's contributions to the Oz series, The Emerald Wand of Oz and Trouble Under Oz. Marcus Mebes has articles on both author and illustrator. I haven't read or bought the Smith and Stout books, but from reading these articles, I think I'd like to.
There's a bit about Oz comics in this issue too. The webcomic Chesire Crossing (featuring Dorothy, Alice from Lewis Carroll's Alice books, Wendy Darling from Peter & Wendy/Peter Pan, as well as Mary Poppins as their "nanny") is covered in Oz & Ends (I already knew about this, thanks to Eric Gjovaag's blog), along with Illusive Arts' Dorothy calendar (which I don't own), as well as the interesting fact that the writer of Oz Squad is putting this series on the Internet.
In the reviews, there's a review of Eric Shanower's Adventures in Oz book, and the first collected volume of Oz Squad. I didn't find the review on Adventures wasn't terribly interesting, but perhaps that's because I wrote my own. (A link is in one of my previous blog entries.) It did, however, mention that IDW Publishing is putting an idea of mine into action: in late April this year, the hardcover edition will be available again, except it will not have the signed limitation plate. (I own that one!) In case you're wondering where I mentioned it, it was on a thread in the International Wizard of Oz Club's message board.
Eric Gjovaag reviewed the Journey Back to Oz DVD for this issue. He only briefly reviewed the movie, but had a lot to say about the DVD presentation, which, I suppose, is what he was reviewing after all. He also shares my problem with finding no DVD-ROM content on the DVD. Um, should we start e-mailing Andy Mangels or Ink & Paint about this?
There is also a review of a documentary called Yellow Brick Road, which I hadn't heard of until I read this review. There is also a review of Trouble Under Oz and The Scream of the Sacred Ape, the latest addition to Hungry Tiger Press' Pawprint series. And speaking of which, the series will continue, and as long as I can afford to, I'll keep buying! They're also still planning on reprinting John Dough & The Cherub, and, as far as I know, Fate Of A Crown, two Baum books, one indirectly related to Oz (John Dough appeared at Ozma's birthday party in The Road to Oz) and one that has nothing to do with Oz, except the fact that Baum wrote it.
Jane Albright walks us through the Wonderful Art of Oz exhibit at the Eric Carle Museum, Sherwood Smith takes us with her to the Winkie Convention, we're given a tour of the Ozmapolitan Convention by Scott Cummings, and Scarecrow Sean Barrett takes us down the Yellow Brick Road through Banner Elk's Land of Oz park. John Fricke also donates some interesting advertisements for TV airings of MGM's The Wizard of Oz.
Sadly, two features that were in the last two issues I got were not here: Oz in the News, covering Oz media references or coverage of Oz-related material, and the usual rare short piece by L. Frank Baum. Don't tell me they ran out of things to put in after 50 years!
All in all, even though I missed those two, the Baum Bugle is something I always look forward to. It always makes for good reading.
And come to think of it, if I want to get the next issue, I need to renew my membership!
Ooh! There's the mail man! I wonder if my check from Disney is here...
Saturday, January 27, 2007
For gosh' sake, it's not a Munchkin!
I'm back to blogging!
In Springfield, we are almost completely recovered from an ice storm that left over 90% of the population of this and surrounding cities without power. My oldest brother and his wife were without power for about a week and a half, and only three of their fish (they had several fish, in addition to their surviving two dogs and two cats) survived.
As for me, my sister and I only lost power for the night. And, yes, our chihuahua Braxton is alive!
Anyhoo, I looked up an Ozzy topic on YouTube, and found this video:
I never noticed the bird until I heard this rumor. And then, I never thought it looked like a hanging man.
Yesterday, my state tax refund arrived. I fill out my tax forms myself and do it early. It's been deposited in my bank account. So, I went ahead and ordered Hungry Tiger Press' second edition of "The Woggle-Bug: The Complete Sheet Music from the Musical Extravaganza!"
When it first came out, I didn't have a job, but my library bought it. I had a bit of fun using a program to make MID files of some of the songs. Only one remains, though: "What Did The Woggle-Bug Say?" which was actually not from this play, but a promotion for "The Queer Visitors From the Marvelous Land of Oz."
In Springfield, we are almost completely recovered from an ice storm that left over 90% of the population of this and surrounding cities without power. My oldest brother and his wife were without power for about a week and a half, and only three of their fish (they had several fish, in addition to their surviving two dogs and two cats) survived.
As for me, my sister and I only lost power for the night. And, yes, our chihuahua Braxton is alive!
Anyhoo, I looked up an Ozzy topic on YouTube, and found this video:
I never noticed the bird until I heard this rumor. And then, I never thought it looked like a hanging man.
Yesterday, my state tax refund arrived. I fill out my tax forms myself and do it early. It's been deposited in my bank account. So, I went ahead and ordered Hungry Tiger Press' second edition of "The Woggle-Bug: The Complete Sheet Music from the Musical Extravaganza!"
When it first came out, I didn't have a job, but my library bought it. I had a bit of fun using a program to make MID files of some of the songs. Only one remains, though: "What Did The Woggle-Bug Say?" which was actually not from this play, but a promotion for "The Queer Visitors From the Marvelous Land of Oz."
Friday, December 29, 2006
2006: A Good Year For Oz
Here's some really Ozzy things that happened during 2006.
- It was the 150th anniversary of L. Frank Baum's birth.
- It was the 50th anniversary of the first TV showing of MGM's The Wizard of Oz.
- Two animated Oz sequels were released to DVD: Return to Oz (from 1964 by Bankin-Rass), and Journey Back to Oz.
- Hungry Tiger Press released several wonderful books. They began The Pawprint Series, reprinting Baum's young adult books. Although their plans were to have several reprinted by the end of the year, they only reprinted Annabel, The Daring Twins as A Daring Twins Mystery: Secret of the Lost Fortune, and The Boy Fortune Hunters in China as Sam Steele's Adventures: The Scream of the Sacred Ape. Also printed Walt Spouse's comic strip adaptation of The Emerald City of Oz in a collected volume. Also, a brand new edition of Ruth Plumly Thompson's Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz, her last "Famous Forty" book. They also planned on reprinting Baum's John Dough and the Cherub and Fate of A Crown, but were not able to. I hope they can next year.
- I joined the International Wizard of Oz Club (IWOC)!
- I bought lots of Oz stuff.
- Oz: The Manga released in a collected volume.
- I wrote first drafts of screenplays based on Baum's first three Oz novels.
- Lots of fun threads at the IWOC started!
- Disneyland Fourth Anniversary Show released on DVD, containing the preliminary show for the abandoned Rainbow Road to Oz.
- Eric Shanower's five Oz graphic novels reprinted in a collected volume, Adventures in Oz.
- Warner Brothers revealed to members of IWOC that they own the TV movie The Dreamer of Oz and are considering a DVD release!
- I saw Chapter 6 on March the 2nd and they performed their Wizard of Oz number. (Not very Ozzy, but still...)
- Illusive Arts Entertainment published Chapters 5 and 6 of their comic book Dorothy this year. (Added by Anna Warren Boersig of Illusive Arts.)
That's all I can think of now. If you can think of anything else, place a comment. (You can do it without registering with Blogger now, unlike the early days.)
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The Rainbow Road to Oz
Okay, so the "Your Host, Walt Disney" DVD is out, and I have my copy, but someone's already posted the whole thing to YouTube!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
A Holiday Tradition
Every year I re-read The Life & Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum.
It's the story of Santa Claus from a baby to his old age, when he became immortal.
You can read it online here...
I also read A Kidnapped Santa Claus from The Collected Short Stories of L. Frank Baum, published this year by the IWOC.
You can also read it online here...
I've also gone back to work a bit more on the L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz screenplay. There are now some extra scenes in which we actually see Dorothy's parents. At long last, we discover what happened to them and how Dorothy wound up living with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. I thought of doing a scene where we show how they got Toto, but I thought it wasn't neccessary, and decided not to.
I really need to get back to L. Frank Baum's Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.
Next post, I'll talk about 2006 in retrospective. I hope it'll be a good post! This one and the one before were a little disappointing.
It's the story of Santa Claus from a baby to his old age, when he became immortal.
You can read it online here...
I also read A Kidnapped Santa Claus from The Collected Short Stories of L. Frank Baum, published this year by the IWOC.
You can also read it online here...
I've also gone back to work a bit more on the L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz screenplay. There are now some extra scenes in which we actually see Dorothy's parents. At long last, we discover what happened to them and how Dorothy wound up living with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry. I thought of doing a scene where we show how they got Toto, but I thought it wasn't neccessary, and decided not to.
I really need to get back to L. Frank Baum's Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz.
Next post, I'll talk about 2006 in retrospective. I hope it'll be a good post! This one and the one before were a little disappointing.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Is it raining, Is it snowing? Is a hurricane a-blowing?
Yes, it rained on Wednesday, then it snowed on Thursday, and today, I had an adventure with frozen-over puddles and snow and ice on my way to get some envelopes. (Now to pay a phone bill and sell some DVDs.) I just hope a freak hurricane doesn't strike... (Of course it won't, Springfield, MO is very inland.)
I think I'll go get some hot cocoa and re-read The Ice King of Oz.
I think I'll go get some hot cocoa and re-read The Ice King of Oz.
Monday, November 13, 2006
The Baum Bugle is here!
By now, all members of IWOC have probably got their copies of the Spring 2006 Baum Bugle. Mine arrived Friday, but I couldn't blog until now, what with my grandmother's funeral and all.
Every issue of The Baum Bugle sports a great cover. This one is a sepia tone portrait of L. Frank Baum. Inside the front cover is a color photo from the OZ-MANIA event that I wish I could've gone to.
In the Oz and Ends section, they have an entry on Oz blogs. I'm not there, but that's OK.
The most interesting articles are about the Baum's Castorine company, comparing The Magic of Oz manuscript to the finished book, and there's an article about L. Frank Baum and the effect he had on the Baum family by Robert A. Baum. There was also an article about Baum's failed Flying Girl series, but it was written in an uninteresting style.
The Reviews were of newly-published Oz books. (I must read Melody Grandy's Forever in Oz!) There was also a review of the 3-disc edition of last year's re-relase of MGM Wizard of Oz, but I didn't feel like it did it justice. Needed some more specific information on the special features.
Not a member of the Oz Club? Join now!
I'll look forward to the next one, but then I'll need to renew!
Every issue of The Baum Bugle sports a great cover. This one is a sepia tone portrait of L. Frank Baum. Inside the front cover is a color photo from the OZ-MANIA event that I wish I could've gone to.
In the Oz and Ends section, they have an entry on Oz blogs. I'm not there, but that's OK.
The most interesting articles are about the Baum's Castorine company, comparing The Magic of Oz manuscript to the finished book, and there's an article about L. Frank Baum and the effect he had on the Baum family by Robert A. Baum. There was also an article about Baum's failed Flying Girl series, but it was written in an uninteresting style.
The Reviews were of newly-published Oz books. (I must read Melody Grandy's Forever in Oz!) There was also a review of the 3-disc edition of last year's re-relase of MGM Wizard of Oz, but I didn't feel like it did it justice. Needed some more specific information on the special features.
Not a member of the Oz Club? Join now!
I'll look forward to the next one, but then I'll need to renew!
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
"Rainbow Road to Oz" prelimary show coming to DVD
On December 19th, Disney will be releasing a DVD called "Your Host, Walt Disney." Among the features on the DVD will be the "Disneyland Fourth Anniversary" show. This is the famous (among Oz fans) show that had the "Rainbow Road to Oz" preliminary show on it. (For the sake of simplicity, I just call it a "preview.")
Most Oz fans haven't seen this, but the show has been broadcast on the Disney Channel, and some Oz fans have had their VCRs going. (Including one who made a copy of this clip and sent it to me. If you see this, you know who you are, thanks!)
I've researched this thing pretty well. The movie "The Rainbow Road to Oz" was planned to let the Mousketeers move to the big screen. However, eventually, only Annette Funicello became a film star, with a small role in the original "Shaggy Dog," and later movies like "Babes in Toyland," "The Misadventures of Merlin Jones," "The Monkey's Uncle," as well as the non-Disney "Beach Party" movies. Why did Disney shut down production before it began? No one knows for sure. Some think it was the budget, some think it was the Mouseketeers' TV presence would not translate well to the big screen. Others think it was the writing of the script or the songs. No one really knows, I guess.
Now, here's the kicker, do you want to buy a DVD just for a 15 minute segment? I am! Just because I want it for the "Oz" preview, I'm sure I can enjoy the rest of it! (And a lot of Oz fans bought the whole Shirley Temple Storybook set just to get her "Land of Oz" show.)
Buy the DVD from Amazon.com
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