Click on photo for larger image: Left to Right: Oz Celebrities and Munchkins begin their fun Friday:

--Caren Marsh-Doll, Judy Garland’s stand-in for the “Wizard of Oz” movie, displays her new book, “Hollywood’s Child.”

--Author/Entertainer/Producer John Fricke unveils his latest book about Judy Garland. “The Lollipop Kid,” Munchkin Jerry Maren, (left) helps with the special event at Munchkinland Market Days when the book was made available to Oz Festival attendees. The book won’t be distributed to the general public until October.

 --Alan Artz, age 17, dresses as the Cowardly Lion. He is pictured with his father and mother Buck and Diane Artz.  (Tribune photos by Alexandra Newman)

By ALEXANDRA NEWMAN

“There’s no place like home,” the main message of “The Wizard of Oz” rang loud and clear this past weekend in Chesterton.

Ever since the Munchkins have been coming to Chesterton’s Wizard of Oz Festival, this town has been a second home for them. They say they look forward to their yearly reunion at the “Best Oz Festival in the World” and with their adopted Mom - Jean Nelson, founder of the festival.

“It is the very best Oz festival anywhere,” said Elizabeth Maren, wife of Jerry Maren, the Lollipop Kid in the 1939 MGM classic.

Alan Artz, a 17 year-old from Williamsport, Md. agreed. “This is the best,” he said.

According to his father Buck, Alan, who is autistic, learned of the Oz Festival 197 days ago on the Internet. He crossed off each day on the calendar until he got here to meet the Munchkins and take part in all the activities. Alan dressed as the Cowardly Lion.

Jane Craddock, of Barboursville, W. Va., attended her first Oz Festival here four years ago and has been an ambassador for three years. She gets all decked-out with a variety of hats and outfits for the different events throughout the weekend and has made close friendships with others from across the country who also participate in Chesterton’s and other Oz Festivals throughout the country.

“This one’s the best,” Craddock said after she was pulled aside by a huge, wicked witch who brought her a special gift at the party for the Celebrities, Munchkins and Ambassadors. Kevin Hoglund, who dressed in the massive witch costume, presented her with a wall hanging filled with photos of Craddock and friends who have developed close friendships through their affiliation with the Festival.

“We have nothing but praise for the organization of this festival,” said Kathy Little-Flint of Dayton, Ohio, while waiting for the beginning of the parade Saturday. “I read about the Oz Festival in the Indiana Festival Guide and told Bunny (Schreiner), we’ve got to go to this. But we didn’t know how big it was until we tried to get hotel reservations. Luckily I have an aunt who lives in LaPorte, who let us stay with her.”

The Dayton duo attended the Celebrity/Munchkin Dinner at the Porter County Expo Center Friday night, and got autographs from all the Munchkins and celebrities at that event. They also had reservations for the Breakfast with the Munchkins.

“I think I’ll put all my Oz Festival souvenirs in a shadow-box,” Little-Flint said, after waving to Author/Oz Historian/Entertainer John Fricke, who drove by on the back of a convertible in the parade.

A “Horse of a Different Color,” hauling a carriage full of Oz Characters went by in the parade.

“Do you know how they got him to look like he is painted blue? Little-Flint asked. “They covered him with Jello™,” she said, adding that she learned that tid-bit at the dinner at the Expo.

Hundreds of little girls dressed as Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, and even an Apple Tree marched in the parade. A sea of other Dorothys, Glindas, Lions and Tin Men lined the parade route. Many of them entered look alike competitions throughout the festival.

One Tin Man towered over all others. Matt Mullin, of Chesterton, wearing stilts making him 10 feet tall, dressed as the Tin Man not only participated in the parade, but walked around afterwards among the crowds visiting the many booths lining Broadway and Calumet Rd.

Even the weather was outstanding, making for a perfect setting for the world’s biggest Oz Festival.

Yes, there’s no place like home........

Posted 9/22/2003