From Wikipedia comes the following:
"Margaret Pellegrini (September 23, 1923 – August 7, 2013) was an American actress and one of the last three surviving munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, the other two being Jerry Maren and Ruth Robinson Duccini, making Pellegrini one of only two surviving female Munchkins from the film."
As you can see, this is why she was known as the Flowerpot Munchkin. She was also a Sleepy Head Munchkin.
I had the honor of meeting Margarette Pellegrini on numerous occasions, and though I did not know her well, I'm proud to say that I knew her... and she knew me and my wife.
A kinder, more gentler person you couldn't ask for in Margarette Pellegrini. Her kindness was legendary, as I found out at Oz-Stravaganza 2010 in Chittenango, New York.
I had met Margarette the year before at the Chesterton Wizard of Oz festival in Chesterton, Indiana when I first introduced Magician of Oz to the Land of Oz. It was a brief meeting but she was kind and thoughtful and complimented my shirt.
The following year was Oz-Stravaganza 2010 in Chittenango, New York, to which I was an invited author and part of Author's Alley, which was making its debut that year.
There were so many memories of that festival, but one stands out above all others.
My wife and I had arrived at Oz-Stravaganza! 2010 on Friday afternoon and attended the opening festivities at Chittenango High School, where we saw Margarette and her fellow Munchkins and Munchkins-by-marriage during the stage show. Margarette's banter with John Fricke was incredible and she literally stole the show. Margarette is the one on the far left.
Oddly enough though, our fondest memory of Margarette and her fellow Munchkins and Munchkins-by-marriage came during the evening at our hotel.
Once we checked in and settled down, we decided to grab a bite to eat at the Oz-pitality room down the hall, which was made available to us as guests of Oz-Stravaganza! 2010.
My wife and I had started making up a plate of goodies when the door swung open and the 5 Munchkin guests who we had seen only an hour before at the high school came bounding in, full of energy and life and looking for a "snackipoo."
As I was surrounded by Munchkins, I looked up to see my wife absolutely dumbstruck by the whole event. She had hoped to see these fine folks and was pleased at the evenings performance earlier but, here we stood, surrounded by Munchkins and feeling like Dorothy in Munchkin City. Everyone was polite, cordial and quite entertaining in their excitement.
I introduced myself and my wife to these wonderful people and they returned the introductions with joy, happiness and genuine affection. Jerry Marin sidled up to me and told me that my wife "was a real dish." I had to agree with him wholeheartedly.
Margarette, in particular, remembered meeting me last year in Indiana, which certainly made me feel very special. She then paid my wife the most lovely compliment and we left them with our head in the clouds and over the rainbow.
For the next several hours, we couldn't even think of sleeping as we were quite giddy at our chance encounter with these wonderful legends of Oz. Amanda was particularly taken by Margarette Pellegrini and fell in love with her kind spirit and generous heart.
The following year at Oz-Stravaganza 2011, my wife and I were particularly pleased when Margarette came by to say hi and reacquaint herself with Amanda and myself. Once again, we found ourselves chatting with Margarette and as you can see, my wife is simply enamored by Margarette's charm.
She even recalled meeting Amanda the year before and complimented her once again. Amanda made a concerned remark about Margartte's hand, which had been bandaged and Margarette called it her 'bum wing."
Such was the kindness of Margarette Pellegrini.
Later that weekend, while attending a premier of a most astonishing display of dresses worn by Judy Garland, which was courtesy of Michael Siewert and was held at the All Things Oz museum in downtown Chittenango, I happened upon Margarette Pellegrini once more. She was admiring some of the old books on display when I took the opportunity to do a little sleight-of-hand magic for her amusement. It was a simple thing but she reacted wonderfully and hugged me warmly.
I will never forget that moment for as long as I live. Once again, she complimented me on my choice of shirts.
At the Sunday closing ceremonies, Margarette again stole the show from John Fricke, who genuinely enjoys being upstaged by his good friend.
The following year, at Oz-Stravaganza! 2012, the Friday evening opening show was stupendous.
It included an appearance by Margarette Pellegrinni (left), as well as Myrna Swensen (middle), Munchkin by marriage and
Caren Marsh-Doll (right), stand-in for Judy Garland from the Wizard of Oz movie.
Margarette
Pellegrinni did something I've never seen before. She left John
Fricke, (our host for the evening and a really nice guy), speechless
when she commented on her pay rate for the movie ($50.00 per week) and
Toto's higher paycheck ($125.00 per week). "Where's Toto now?" she asked
John. After a quizzical look from our host, she replied; "He's pushing
up daisies and I'm still here!!!". It brought the house down and John
Fricke was speechless. What a hoot.
The next day saw the most amazing gathering of Oz I have ever seen appeared before my very eyes... and of course, there's Margarette Pellegrini, beaming with her usual charm and elegance.
In case you're curious, that's Roger Baum (great grandson of L. Frank Baum) upper left, Andrea DeShields (Broadway star of The Wiz, 1976) upper right, Caren Marsh-Doll (Judy Garland stand-in during filming of Wizard of Oz) center, Myrna Swensen (Munchkin-by-marriage) lower left and Margarette Pellegrini (Flowerpot Munchkin) lower right.
Margarette Pellegrini was the most kind, generous and wonderful ambassador of Oz anyone could ever ask for. She accepted her role with grace and charm and felt honored by her role in the 1939 MGM Wizard of Oz movie.
We were honored by her presence in our lives and we will remember her for as long as we walk this earth.
She has now crossed the Shifting Sands and joins her fellow Munchkins in Munchkin City. The Land of Oz has grown more lofty by her arrival.
James C. Wallace II
Royal Liaison of Oz
James, this is a delight to read. It makes Margaret so real to those who may have never met her. Thank-you for sharing some wonderful memories of her.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marie. Margarette was a joy to be around. She made everyone feel special. We will miss her.
Deletewonderful story, she will be sadly missed... a icon that world should know...
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeremy. She will be missed greatly.
DeleteJames...great to read..thank you for bringing back that memory of her comment about Toto pushing up daisies....that was too funny...and to see John Fricke speechless was priceless! Thanks for making me smile during this sad time of losing our friend!
ReplyDeleteThat was a magical night in Oz and watching Margarette match wits with John was priceless. Thank you for remembering her as we do.
DeleteThank you for sharing your insights into Margarette. She sounds like a truly lovely lady. Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteShe was indeed a special lady of Oz. I'm just grateful to have gotten to know her just a bit.
DeleteAll I can say is that you really "hit the nail on the head" so to speak. She was a wonderful person and will be sadly missed. My brother, Benjie Hair, took quit a liking to her last year when he came with me to Oz. He had the honor of escorting her out to her car and holding an umbrella for her. She told him he was a such a handsome gentleman. Her verve for life and spunk will always be in the forefront of my mind when I think of her.
ReplyDeleteShe was very special to us indeed. No one quite like Margarette.
Delete