Oz the Great and Powerful and Snow!

The countdown continues towards the premier of Oz the Great and Powerful and events from today make this particular Oz posting relevant.

In the MGM 1939 Wizard of Oz film, the appearance of snow is transformed into a spell-breaking event, thus saving Dorothy, Toto and the Cowardly Lion from the effects of the poppies.

Glinda; Good Witch of the North makes it snow, thus breaking the spell of the Wicked Witch of the West.

In L. Frank Baum's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), Glinda is the Good Witch of the South, but I suppose that a southern witch wouldn't be likely to conjur up snow, whereas a northern witch could. Go figure?

In actuality, it'the Cowardly Lion that falls asleep.

... and it's the Queen of the Field Mice and Her subjects that save the over-sized feline.

Her Majesty, the Queen of the Field Mice is one of my favorite characters in all of L. Frank Baum's books about Oz.

When I said today's posting was relevant to today's event, it's because I spent 3 hours making what normally is a 90 minute trip from Illinois. The snow, blowing and quite frigid, made anything above 30 mph impossible, especially on the state highways that criss-cross the Land of Licncoln. My shoulder blades are killing me from gripping the wheel so tightly.

I wonder if snow will show up in the new Disney film, Oz the Great and Powerful?

Spring ain't here just yet!

James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison of Oz

Oz the Great and Powerful and Balloons!

With only days to go until the premier of Disney's newest movie, Oz the Great and Powerful, the excitement is ramping up exponentially.

Of course, one of the many similarities between this film, the 1939 MGM Wizard of Oz film and L. Frank Baum's original book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) is the use of balloons as a means of reaching Oz.

In the 1939 MGM Wizard of Oz film, we see the balloon only at the end when the Wizard inadvertently goes airborne and is unable to control the balloon, thus ensuring that Dorothy must fine another way home to Kansas.

In the new Disney film, Oz the Great and Powerful, the balloon is used to transport the Wizard into Oz in what appears to be a very dramatic fashion.

And in the original book by L. Frank Baum entitled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), in order to help Dorothy and Toto get home, the Wizard realizes that he will have to take them home with him in a new balloon, which he and Dorothy fashion from green silk. Revealing himself to the people of the Emerald City one last time, the Wizard appoints the Scarecrow, by virtue of his brains, to rule in his stead. Dorothy chases Toto after he runs after a kitten in the crowd, and before she can make it back to the balloon, the ropes break, leaving the Wizard to rise and float away alone.

Of course, in later books, the Wizard returns to Oz where is he welcomed by Princess Ozma and allowed to live in Oz forever, serving as Her Royal Magician, although by Royal Decree, only Glinda: Good Witch of the South, Dorothy, now a full-fledged Princess, the Wizard (O.Z. Diggs) and Princess Ozma are permitted to perform magic in Oz.

Now, in my second book, Shadow Demon of Oz (2010), Capn' Bill, a crusty old retired sailor finds himself transporting young Jamie Diggs, the new Royal Magician of Oz and his best friend Buddy, back to Oz to take his rightful place beside Princess Ozma and battle an ancient Evil from the heavens above by means of a passing comet, and save the citizens of Mount Hyup, the highest mountain in Oz, which also happens to tower over Munchkin Country and Munchkin City in particular.

Capn' Bill accomplishes this feat of transport by means of a very special balloon which he launches from the Bridgeton Covered Bridge Festival here in Bridgeton, Indiana.

It would seem that balloon travel is a very popular means of getting to and from Oz. Given the effects of the deadly sands surrounding Oz, it's no wonder a balloon works so well, although in Shadow Demon of Oz, the journey across the Shifting Sands (which border the eastern edge of Oz and Munchkin Country) is quite a hot one indeed!

Here's hoping the Wizard's journey into Oz on Friday is not as difficult... or as hot!

James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison of Oz

Oz the Great and Powerful and The Wiz

Now, no lead up to the upcoming premier of Oz the Great and Powerful is possible without mention of The Wiz. Being what it is, it deserves seperate attention and thus a day in the life of Oz.

Made in 1978, it made quite an impression on me. I had spent my earlier years immeresed in Motown music and this film holds a happy memory for me.

1978 was a pivital year in my life, but that's another book. For now, I loved the musical numbers, especially Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow; singing You Can't Win, and doing it well by my account. Kinda prophetic, ain't it?

Another number that always got my attention was near the end with Mabel King as Evillene singing "Don't Nobody Bring Me No Bad News." Excellent in many ways.

Last year, while attending Oz-Stravaganza! 2012 in Chittenango, New York as Invited Author to Author's Alley (I'm a charter member), I also had the honor of meeting and speaking with Andre DeShields, who played The Wiz in the 1975 Broadway musical; The Wiz.

He could best be described as a Force of Nature. A most pleasant man to be around was he. I found his philosophy very agreeable and similar to my own, though his was on a much more grand scale!

And here we have a gathering of Oz emmisaries unlikely to ever be seen together again. From left to right, front to back, we have: Myrna Swensen; Munchkin-by-Marriage (to Clarence Swensen, Soldier in Munchkin Army), Margaret Pellegrini; Original (Flowerpot) Munchkin from 1939 MGM Wizard of Oz film, Robert Baum (the tall one); Great Grandson of L. Frank Baum (author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 1900), Caren Marsh-Doll (the one in the middle); Stand-In for Dorothy (Judy Garland) in the 1939 MGM Wizard of Oz film, Andre DeShields; The Wiz in the 1975 The Wiz Broadway musical.

Oz is a glorious place indeed!!!

James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison of Oz

Oz the Great and Powerful and the China Country!

By now, we all know that next Friday will be the nationwide premier of Disney's newest movie, Oz the Great and Powerful. Anticipation runs high among the Oz community as we wonder how certain parts of Oz will be portrayed.

China Country is a good example of what I'm speaking of.

In The Wonderful Wiki of Oz, which I have found to be an excellent source of accurate information on Oz, China Country is described as follows:

"The China Country is an enclave hidden in a forest in the Quadling Country of the Land of Oz. It is surrounded by a high wall made of china.

The floor of the China Country is smooth and white like the bottom of a big platter. Many china houses are scattered around, painted in bright colors, the tallest reaching only as high as a little girl's waist. There are also china barns with china fences and little animals made of china. The people are shepherds, shepherdesses, milk-maids, princesses, and clowns all made of china. Everything in the China Country is prone to breaking and, although there is a mender's shop, one is never as pretty after being mended.
The china people move and talk and live freely in their own country, but if they were to leave, their joints would stiffen and they could only stand and look pretty on a mantle shelf or drawing room table."

This description is taken from L. Frank Baum's original novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and gives us a view of just how imaginative the Royal Historian of Oz (that's L. Frank Baum's official title) really was. The illustrations are by W.W. Denslow, who only illustrated Baum's first book for reasons that shall remain untold today. It would take a while to explain and I'm just talking about China Country today.

As you can see, Baum and Denslow have a fantastic idea for how China Country citizens look. I'm just glad my son Halley hasn't seen this image. He has a mortal terror of clowns. Why? I haven't a clue...

One of the things that annoy me most about reprints of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is that so much is usually left out, including China Country, the Kalidahs and the Queen of the Field Mice. Of course, in the 1939 MGM The Wizard of Oz film, none of these things are mentioned either, though it is understandbale given the technology of the time.

From the clips and stills from Oz the Great and Powerful, we do see that China Country plays a big role in the film. This pleases many of us Oz folks.

Fortunately, there is another Oz film coming out this year in which the China Country is also a major part of the film.

It is called Dorothy of Oz and is based on a fine Oz book of the same title by Roger Baum, great grandson of the original author, L. Frank Baum. His take on China Country is wonderful and I look forward to the release of this movie as much as I do for Oz the Great and Powerful.

It is a good year for Oz!

James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison to Oz

Oz the Great and Powerful and Latin!

It's now less than a week 'til Oz the Great and Powerful premiers and I, for one, am eagerly awaiting the passage of time. I know for sure that I'll be listening closely to see if the Wizard speaks any Latin in this new incantation of Oz.

Latin, you say? Of course, though few realize that in the 1939 MGM The Wizard of Oz film, the Wizard actually quotes Latin.

By now, you're running his dialog through your head and trying to recall any Latin. Well, I end the suspense and tell you when and where...

Following the Wizard's presentation of a brain, heart and courage, he finds himself compelled to take Dorothy back to Kansas himself.

"Times being what they were, I accepted the job, retaining my balloon against the advent of a quick get-away. Aha!
And in that balloon, my dear Dorothy, you and I will return to the Land of E Pluribus Unum!

The next scene pans down onto the crowd of Emerald City who have gathered around a fairly large balloon to see and hear their Wizard speak.

"This is positively the finest exhibition ever to be shown.....well, be that as it may. I, your Wizard, per adua ad alta, am about to embark on a hazardous and technically unexplainable journey into the outer stratosphere. To confer, converse and otherwise hob-nob with my brother wizards."

Besides the speaking of the Latin... twice, he also embellishes his journey a bit. If the Wizard takes Dorothy into the outer stratosphere, they'll find themselves in the same place where that guy did that Red Bull parachute jump from a high altitude balloon. I don't recall seeing any space suits in that basket... Do you?

By the way, E Pluribus Unum means; From Many, One. Per ardua ad alta means; Through great difficulties to great heights.

We buy our tickets today!

James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison of Oz