The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum has opened Munchkinland
Market Days for the 2005 Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival.
The three-day event includes the debut of an Oz figurine and two Judy
Garland CDs as well as celebrity personal appearances, autograph parties,
home baked pies, art and craft booths, kids games, a clown, a magic show,
fund raising for charities and “Picture Yourself in Oz.” Munchkinland Market
Days, produced by The Yellow Brick Road and sponsored by Coca-Cola, Hilton
Garden Inn, Jewel-Osco and the Porter County Republican Party, is held in
conjunction with the Lakeshore Festival & Events‚ 24th annual Chesterton
Wizard of Oz Festival. The two events are Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Meinhardt Raabe became world renowned as The Munchkin Coroner opposite
Garland in MGM’s 1939 classic film, “The Wizard of Oz.” He will appear at
Munchkinland Market Days to autograph copies of his new book, “Memories of a
Munchkin.” Margaret Pellegrini also became famous as the Munchkin Townslady
in the film who wore a flowerpot on her head as a hat. Pellegrini will
autograph a newly commissioned figurine depicting her as she appeared in the
film. Michael Roche, creator of the figurine will also be on hand to sign
the figurine. Emmy Award winning producer and author John Fricke will
autograph two recently released CDs that he helped produce “Classic Ballads
from the Judy Garland Show” and “Judy Garland & Friends: Duets.”
Caren Marsh Doll served as Garland’s stand-in for the film. She starred in
many musicals and westerns, including “Nevada Kid,” and will be autographing
copies of her autobiography, “Hollywood’s Child: Dancing Through Oz.”
Other celebrities appearing at Munchkinland Market Days include artist Tim
Wolak, poster artist Rick Ewigleben, curator Michael Siewert, Spitunia the
Clown, Mark the Magician and the 2005 Indiana State Festivals Queen Amy
Fread.
Pellegrini will be appearing at a Friday afternoon autograph party from 1:30
to 4 p.m. on the grounds of The Yellow Brick Road. Raabe, Marsh-Doll,
Fricke, Ewigleben, Siewert, Wolak and Fread will be autographing all three
days from 2 to 4 p.m. Wolak will be on hand all three days with his Picture
Yourself in Oz life-size Oz panorama. There is a nominal charge to be
photographed in the panorama. Life-size characters are set before a
hand-painted backdrop of Munchkinland. Wolak will sign autographs at no
charge.
The Duneland Working Women will again host Auntie Em’s Pie Booth. The women
will sell slices of homemade pie along with coffee and Coca-Cola to benefit
their scholarship fund. The Burns Harbor Lions Club will sponsor an Oz game
booth where every child wins a prize with the proceeds benefiting the local
Lions organization. The Duneland YMCA will benefit from a souvenir program
book. The book will be distributed in exchange for donations. The entire
proceeds go to the Duneland YMCA because The Yellow Brick Road and Coca-Cola
underwrite the book along with help from businesses and organizations who
purchased ads in the book.
Spitunia the Clown, Mark the Magician and caricature artist Chuck Bonnet,
will provide additional entertainment. Visitors are encouraged to stroll
through the art, craft and commercial booths and everyone is welcome to take
photographs. There is no admission charge for Munchkinland Market Days.
The Yellow Brick Road is at St. Rt. 49 and the Indiana Toll Road, two miles
south of Chesterton. Because of the limited amount of parking space at The
Yellow Brick Road, it is recommended to take the shuttle provided by The Oz
Festival Committee to Munchkinland Market Days. Park either in the Indiana
Toll Road lot near the Yellow Brick Road. It operates every half-hour
Saturday and Sunday.
The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop may be contacted at 109 E. Yellow Brick Road
(950 North), Chesterton, IN 46304 by phone at 926-7048.
Posted 9/16/2005
