The Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas |
Founded in 2004, the Wizard of Oz Museum contains over 25,000 artifacts related to the movie. Several other Oz-related business's have also established themselves and now the block long part of downtown is referred to as the "Oz Cluster."
Annually during the first weekend of October, Wamego hosts their Wizard of Oz Festival. Along with Oz-related displays and personal appearances by the descendants of the actors and crew who worked on the original movie, there are also hot-air balloon rides, food vendors, the Yellow Brick Road Bike Ride, and a live stage performance of The Wizard of Oz.
Toto's Tacoz! A good place to eat. |
Years ago, Streakr's human father had the good fortune to work with and become friends with an older gentleman who had been Mickey Rooney's stunt double in several films and was one of the flying monkey's in the Wizard of Oz movie. He said when they were filming, it was just another movie and a paycheck to him. He also said it was very hot in the monkey suit. He was an interesting guy who lived an interesting life. Having passed on years ago, looking back, human daddy should have gotten his autograph!
Streakr on the Yellow Brick Road! |