The Wizard of Oz bears the remarkable distinction of being a perennial favorite in both book and movie form, the former for a solid century. Since the first Wizard of Oz book appeared just as the American merchandising machine was swinging into full gear, the characters of Oz have also been immortalized in a century's worth of memorabilia. In 100 Years of Oz, John Fricke takes the reader through the remarkable history of L. Frank Baum's creation, lavishly illustrating the progression with pieces from Willard Carroll's Oz collection. This collection is in itself a stunning monument to one man's obsession, albeit a charming one. Once you get past the sheer enormity of the accumulation, though, the individual pieces themselves are well worth a look. They range from the expected, such as dolls and comic books, to themed peanut butter and "hangers from the Merrie Land of Oz." Posters, ads, and jacket covers from the many stage, film, and book versions of the Oz series from all over the world are also included and make for more lovely eye candy. 100 Years of Oz is the perfect gift for hardcore Wizard aficionados, but it also gives the casual fan plenty to ogle, as well as a new appreciation of just how enduring this classic series has been. --Ali Davis

Book Description
Since its publication in 1900, The Wizard of Oz has remained in print, spawning 39 sequels, five silent movies, innumerable stage productions, a radio series, countless animated cartoons, and arguably the greatest MGM musical of all time. Conventions of Oz fans, held thrice yearly, draw upwards of 75,000 visitors. For these fans-and anyone who ever dreamed of visiting Oz-Willard Carroll draws from his private collection of more than 10,000 museum quality pieces to offer a rare glimpse of Baum's beloved creations and their influence on popular culture. Divided by decade, this book traces a century of Oz lithography, photography, sheet music, book jackets, stationery, manuscripts, costumes, film props, animation cells, newspaper rotogravure, greeting cards, Halloween masks, theater programs, contracts, maps advertising fliers, gams, toys, puzzles, dolls, and other memorabilia gathered from every corner of the world. With brilliant new photography, original artwork, drawings, sketches, blueprints, and stage and movie stills, 100 Years of Oz is a joyous and unique passport over the rainbow.

About the Author
WILLARD CARROLL is the writer and director of Playing by Heart, a Miramax film. His other directing credits include Tom's Midnight Garden, The Runestone, and the ABC-TV series "Bone Chillers." JOHN FRICKE is the author of The Wizard of Oz: The Official 50th Anniversary Pictorial History and Judy Garland: World's Greatest Entertainer. He co-produced the Emmy-Award winning A&E biography, "Judy: Beyond the Rainbow."

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In 1900 L. Frank Baum published "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and since then, the never-out-of-print book has spawned thirty-nine sequels, five silent movies, innumerable stage productions (the first in 1902), a radio series, countless animated cartoons, and perhaps the greatest MGM musical of all time. Translated into virtually every language on the planet, the story and characters have appeared on everything from peanut butter jars and lunch boxes to postage stamps and Christmas ornaments. There are more than 2,500 members of the Oz Club, and three times a year, conventions of Oz fans draw upwards of 75,000 visitors. Everything Oz is in such demand that merchandise rarely makes it past private collectors to flea markets or antique fairs.

For these fans and anyone who ever dreamed of visiting Oz, Willard Carroll draws from his private collection of more than 10,000 museum-quality pieces to present an unparalleled view of Baum's beloved creations and their influence on popular culture. Organized by decade, this book traces a century of Oz lithography, photography, sheet music, book jackets, stationery, manuscripts, costumes, film props, animation cells, newspaper rotogravure, greeting cards, Halloween masks, theater programs, contracts, maps, advertising fliers, games, toys, puzzles, dolls, and other memorabilia gathered from every corner of the world.

Written by John Fricke, one of the world's preeminent Oz historians, this is the first book in more than two decades to chronicle the entire phenomenon of the legendary Land of Oz and the fascinating history of its creators. With brilliant photography by Richard Glenn and Mark Hill, original artwork, drawings, sketches, blueprints, and stage and movie stills, "100 Years of Oz" is a joyous and unique passport over the rainbow.

FROM THE CRITICS

Magazine Editors People