Sunday, October 2, 2011

Bratz Babyz Storybook Collection Dorothy's Lil' Joke

I first reported this three years ago on the original blog here.   As you can see from the post, lots of confusion, misinformation, and aggravation.  THREE YEARS LATER, she's finally in my hot little hands.  In the past week, three have shown up on eBay.  Where these are coming from I've no clue.   I found these on websites (usually after they were sold out) from Hong Kong,  the UK, and Russia.   The company, MGA, couldn't or wouldn't tell me anything about the doll.   Frustrating, yes, but I never gave up.  In general, I'm not a big fan of the Bratz dolls but the little storybook ones are cute, and it's hard for me to resist a Dorothy doll!  Despite my criticisms below, I'm THRILLED to finally have her in my collection!!!!!


Her little dress has a blue and white satin shimmery slip underneath.  The jumper part has little glittery blue polka dots and she's wearing silver slippers!!!   Unfortunately, she does not come with a Toto.  It might be hard to see in these photos but she has the prettiest violet eyes.  Her packaging is book shaped and there's a storybook attached to the back. 



Dorothy's Lil' Joke is the attached storybook.  Other than not having a Toto, my other problem is the story.  On one page it says how kind Dorothy is and then she plays a trick on the Lion that's rather mean.  She puts a banana peel on the yellow brick road for him to slip on.  Now when I was in school we were given very stern lectures about tripping people especially on hard surfaces, like...say....brick!!!  Not a very good thing to be teaching children.  They could have spent a little more time and come up with a better story or at the very least have the Scarecrow be the one tripping because  he can't get physically hurt.  Morals aside, the illustrations are VERY cute!!  Toto is just adorable.  The Scarecrow is a bunny, the Tin Man is a frog, and I'm not sure what the lion is so I'm assuming he's a lion cub (to me he looks like a little pig). 




Saturday, September 17, 2011

Wicked One Short Day Globe - Coming Soon


Right now Australia has dibs on the One Short Day Globe.  If you are a resident you can pre-order here:  http://www.wickedthemusicalstore.com.au/Closed.aspx

The globe will be available for the rest of us to order in October.   However, if you need something to tide you over, there are a couple of new things in the North America Ozdust Boutique.  

Don't forget the Popular ornament is available now through Long Island Treasures and should be arriving soon with other Christmas fare at stores that stock Carlton Cards ornaments.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Chesterton Must Be Over The Rainbow!

Visitors will feel they've been whisked away by tornado and dropped into a magical land this weekend when the streets of Chesterton come alive with the sights and sounds of Oz. This year the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival is commemorating 30 years of fandom and frivolity. It's hard to imagine what started as a 3 hour affair has grown into a weekend celebration that welcomes 40,000+.

The fest offers many activities sure to appeal to all manner of Oz enthusiasts. Parties, silent auction, parade, there's even a showing of The Wizard of Oz at the 49er Drive In Theatre. Food, craft, and Oz vendors line the main streets. Representatives promoting the new animated feature Dorothy of Oz will be taking up half a street! Dorothy of Oz is based on the book by Roger Baum great grandson of Wonderful Wizard of Oz author L. Frank Baum. Roger will be in attendance this year. Jersey Jack, the makers of the limited edition Wizard of Oz pinball game will also be on hand.
 




In addition to Roger Baum, many other Oz dignitaries will be in attendance. The beloved Munchkins and Munchkins -By-Marriage Karl Slover, Margaret Pellegrini, Myrna Swensen, and Mary Ellen St. Aubin are back to reminisce with fans. Michael Siewert will be displaying select pieces from his amazing Judy Garland: Dressing of a Legend costume collection. Artists Rick Ewigleben and Joe Shipbaugh will debut their beautiful coloring book inspired by Michael's collection. Wizard of Oz/Judy Garland historian extraordinaire John Fricke will have his glorious new book Judy: A Legendary Film Career. Caren Marsh-Doll, Judy Garland's stand in during filming of The Wizard of Oz will have her fascinating autobiographies about her personal life and her experiences during Hollywood's hey day. Robert Baum great grandson of L. Frank Baum will be participating in various festival events. Robert was instrumental during the filming of The Dreamer of Oz and much of his personal collection can be seen in the movie. Jean Nelson, the founder of the Yellow Brick Road Shop and festival will be out and about so be sure to congratulate her on one of the longest running Oz events in the country!!




One of the most anticipated festival events is, without a doubt, the Collector's Exchange and Auction. This year the auction will take place at Chesterton Middle School and they'll have a fabulous array of vintage and new memorabilia. There's donations from our favorite manufacturers including newcomers Funko, Schylling, and Cafe Press. Fantasy artist Jasmine Becket-Griffith sent a beautiful framed canvas. Trendsetters donated at limited edition trio film cell piece with a backlight. Longtime collectors Chuck Chicanowicz and Michael D. Manzini have graciously donated from their troves of Wizard of Oz and Judy Garland collectibles. A good number of the auction items are one of a kinds and hand made. Shawn Ryan's donation is a replica Munchkin Coroner costume that was worn by Meinhardt Raabe. Barb Huddleson made shadow boxes with autographed Munchkin photos. A very special 30th anniversary quilt made by Deb Dwyer will be on display throughout the festival and at the Auction/Exchange. Raffle tickets will be sold for a drawing held during closing ceremonies. Barb and Deb and many of the festival volunteers are from The Everything Oz Club, a delightful haven for fans of anything and everything Oz. Year after year they donate their talents and time to make the festival a pleasant experience for everyone. If you can't check them out during the fest, then please look them up online after. Vendors from all over the country will be at the auction peddling their Oz wares including first time festival attendee Fred Trust of RareOzBooks.com. Fred specializes in hard to find and vintage Oz books.


Amidst all the fun and games, please take a moment if you can, to remember those less fortunate. This year the festival has teamed up with Toys For Tots. Toys For Tots does an incredible job bringing joy to underprivileged children. This is a wonderful opportunity to spread the magic of Oz, but any new toy will be accepted.

Please support the donors and sponsors not just one weekend, but all year long. Their generosity helps keep the Oz fest running year after year.
Congratulations Team Chesterton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's to another 30 years!!!! (at least!)

Please enlarge photos for detail

http://www.judygarland.net/ - Michael Siewert

Saturday, July 23, 2011

IFDC: Wizard of OddZ

The International Fashion Doll Convention held their 9th annual gathering celebrating high end fashion dolls and collector camaraderie with a 4 day Oz themed soiree.  Registration was limited to 250.  Events included a Lollipop Guild Opening Reception, Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh My! Luncheon, Emerald City Dinner, and Friends of Dorothy's Witch's Cabaret Banquet where the highly anticipated souvenir and companion dolls were revealed. 

The IFDC exclusive dolls are made by Integrity Toys in an edition of 300 each and inspired by the women of Oz.  Each doll stands 12 inches, slightly taller than Barbie dolls.  

Souvenir Doll  Go Home




Attendees had the option to purchase companion dolls of the two witches and an Emerald City inspired fashion.

Go North




Go West       Not surprisingly the most popular of the trio




Go Green fashion, doll not included


Dolls can now be purchased on the secondary market through eBay auctions or doll retail shops that specialize in fashion dolls such as Angelic Dreamz

Please enlarge photos for more detail

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wonderful Wizard of Oz Precious Moments

They measure 5.25" and retail for $45.00 each

Follow the Path of Knowledge

Heels Click 3 and Home I'll Be

Let Your Heart Guide You

True Courage

The figurines can be pre-ordered from Storyland Collectables

Toto Topps Card

Allen & Ginter's Topps
Portraits of Penultimacy
Toto
Faithful Companion


Reverse:
Toto, Dorothy's beloved dog, followed the yellow brick road to Emerald City, where he helped slay the Wicked Witch of the West.  In the 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, the pooch was played by a brindle cairn terrier that captured the hearts of moviegoers.



Photo shown is larger than actual card.  Card measures about 1 1/2" by 2 5/8"      Toto is part of a mini set of 10.  No other Oz characters featured.  

Dorothy of Oz Soundtrack

Next, year, Sony will release the soundtrack to the 3D animated musical "Dorothy of Oz," but the film's songs will be unveiled this Saturday (July 23) at Comic-Con in San Diego. The film, which features "Glee" star Lea Michele in the title role, is penciled in for an early spring release.

Bryan Adams has written several original songs for the film with his co-writer Jim Vallance, as has Tift Merritt. Mike Himelstein is providing lyrics, with additional songs and lyrics from Jim Dooley. Composer, orchestrator and arranger Deborah Lurie ("Prom," "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never") and engineer/producer Gustavo Borner are also part of the creative team.

Besides Michele, the album will feature performances by Megan Hilty (star of NBC's midseason musical "Smash"), Hugh Dancy and Martin Short. Adams also contributes vocals and will voice/sing the role of Beaver Foreman in the film. Vicki Hiatt is the music supervisor.

The film also stars Jim Belushi as the Lion, Dan Aykroyd as the Scarecrow and Kelsey Grammer as the Tin Man.

Patrick Stewart, who plays Tugg in the film, will join Lurie, Hilty and other cast members and producers to discuss the film and show clips at Comic-Con on Saturday. Details about the soundtrack are expected to be announced at the "Further Over the Rainbow: A First Look at Dorothy of Oz" session at the San Diego Convention Center.

International versions of the soundtrack will feature local music talent not yet cast. The film will be done several different languages. Summertime Entertainment and Bonne Radford, Ryan Carroll and Roland Carroll are producing the film, which has reported budget of $60 million.

Produced with computer graphics and 3-D stereoscopic techniques for animation, "Dorothy of Oz" begins with Dorothy returning to Kansas to find it devastated by a tornado. She is quickly transported back to Oz, where her help is needed to find her former traveling companions. She meets new friends -- a man made of marshmallows who can't think for himself, for example - and winds up pitted against a wicked Jester.


http://www.billboard.com/news/lea-michele-s-songs-from-dorothy-of-oz-to-1005286612.story#

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Wicked Updates Summer 2011

Wicked: A Musical Biography by Paul R. Laird     SRP:  $39.95



Description per Scarcrow Press:

In 2004, the original Broadway production of Wicked earned 10 Tony nominations, including best musical. Based on the best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire, the show continues to run on Broadway and has touring companies throughout the United States and around the world. In Wicked: A Musical Biography, author Paul Laird explores the creation of this popular Broadway musical through an examination of draft scripts, interviews with major figures, and the study of primary musical sources such as sketches, drafts, and completed musical scores.

Laird brings together an impressive amount of detail on the creation of Wicked, including a look at Maguire's novel, as well as the original source material, The Wizard of Oz. This volume also offers a history of the show's genesis along with examinations of the draft scenarios and scripts that demonstrate the show's development. Laird also explores Stephen Schwartz's life and work, providing an analysis of the composer and lyricist's work on the show through song drafts, sketches, and musical examples.

Laird also surveys the show's critical reception in New York and London, noting how many critics failed to appreciate its qualities or anticipate its great success. The unusual nature of Wicked's story--dominated by two strong female leads--is also placed in the context of Broadway history. A unique look into a successful Broadway production, Wicked: A Musical Biography will be of interest to musicologists, theatre scholars, students, and general readers alike.

About the Author:
Paul R. Laird is professor of Musicology at the University of Kansas, where he teaches courses in music history, musical theater, and directs the Instrumental Collegium Musicum. He is the author of The Baroque Cello Revival: An Oral History (Scarecrow, 2004) and coauthor of Historical Dictionary of the Broadway Musical (Scarecrow, 2007).



American Greetings (Carlton Cards) Heirloom Ornament Collection
Wicked: Popular     2nd in the Wicked Series   SRP: $30.00




T-Shirts From the Ozdust Boutique
Two Witches  SRP:  $49.00


Wicked For Good   SRP:  $39.00




Out of Oz: The Final Volume in the Wicked Years by Gregory Maguire   SRP:  $26.99


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Graphic 45 Magic of Oz Scrapbook Collection

Graphic 45 presents a gorgeous new scrapbook collection inspired by the art of W.W. Denslow and John R. Neill featured in L. Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz series.   Double sided papers, paper pads, chipboard die cut tags, and clings are arriving in stores now.   See Graphic 45's website for more product and photos.