The Royal Magician of Oz Trilogy is a 3 volume tale of magic and wonder that recalls the cherished values of friendship, loyalty and courage. These timeless tales of Oz reminds us of the value of overcoming our deepest fears and conquering the challenges that might otherwise defeat us.

Volume One; Magician of Oz, Volume Two; Shadow Demon of Oz and Volume Three; Family of Oz are now available for your reading enjoyment, as well as The Ozian Adventure of Pickleless & Blu.

The Emerald Slippers of Oz
, featuring an Introduction by Roger S. Baum; great grandson of L. Frank Baum, as well as Tails of Oz and Even More Tails of Oz are also
available for your reading enjoyment.

Nomes of Oz is a wonderful adventure for anyone who loves the 1939 MGM film, The Wizard of Oz.

The newest adventure in Oz, entitled: The First Witches of Oz is now available and fast becoming a best-seller in the Land of Oz.

All are available in both paperback and Kindle.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Evolution of the Emerald City Throughout the Ages!

 Even though the Emerald City is well known to anyone who has watched MGM's 1939 Wizard of Oz, it was not always as we may recall from the film.


 From an early 1910 edition, we see an Emerald City that is not quite as elegant as we might have imagined.


Later on in the white editions of the 30's, Emerald City takes on a more militaristic appearance, resembling more like a castle than a city of thousands.


Of course, whether in the books or films, the Emerald City is always reached by the Yellow Brick Road, or the road of yellow brick, as L. Frank Baum describes the way there.


According to L. Frank Baum, Emerald City has 9,654 buildings and 57,318 residents. By 1939, we had settled on the classic view of Emerald City until The Wiz came along and gave us a more edgy, Big Apple view of Emerald City. Notice the Twin Towers sighting.


Of course, once Disney got involved with Return to Oz, Emerald City returned to a more Victorian appearance, which tends to mirror my own view of the capital of Oz, although in this scene, Emerald City has seen better days.


By the time we get to Tin Man, Emerald City returns to a more Metropolis look with technology, weapons, crime and all the ickyness that .L. Frank Baum tried so hard to avoid.


In addition, while watching Tin Man, there was a scene in Emerald City where there were hookers and phone sex. I don't remember that at all in the books of Oz I read! That's what eventually compelled me to return Oz to the vision of L. Frank Baum; that of a children's fairy tale of adventure.

Fortunately, with the upcoming release of Roger Baum's (the great grandson of L. Frank Baum) Dorothy of Oz later this year, Emerald City regains it's glorious, almost magical look. The circle is complete and Oz remains once more, a glorious place to visit.


The Royal Historian, L. Frank Baum would be pleased indeed.

James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma

3 comments:

  1. WOW! That is so very cool! Thank you very much for sharing!

    Konstanz Silverbow
    nothoughts2small.blogspot.com
    A to Z Co-host
    www.a-to-zchallenge.com

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  2. I had no idea there were so many versions of the Emerald City. Very enlightening. Thanks. It's great to meet you on the challenge.

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