Oz celebrities: Munchkins and Oz Festival celebrities pose together for annual “reunion.” Pictured, left to right are, back row, Rick Ewigleben, John Fricke, Karen Marsh Doll, Elaine Macejiek, Donna Stewart-Hardway and Roger Baum. Row two, Myrna Swensen, Clarence Swensen, Mary Ellen St. Aubin and Elizabeth Contanaro. Front row, Margaret Pelligrini, Jean Nelson, Lewis Croft and Millie Zamperini. (Tribune photo by Alexandra Newman)

John Fricke, who has been entertaining Oz fans for 12 years at the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival, recently won three Emmys for Best Editing, Best Writing and the Best Nonfiction Series, “Judy Garland, By Myself” which he co-produced. It appeared in February on PBS American Masters.

“I was at home with my mom, when they called me Sunday night,” Fricke said during a private party for Oz Celebrities Friday afternoon. Fricke, who lives in New York, traditionally visits his mother in Wisconsin, prior to the annual Oz Festival in Chesterton. She also attended this year’s local event.

“I think the fact it won has lots to do with the subject matter,” he said. “It’s why she was loved in the first place.

“Judy Garland, By Myself” focused on the good she did for 45 of her 47 years. It mentioned her problems, but did not dwell on them. She’s been gone 35 years and people still are interested in her.

“Nobody did it better - what she did - than what she did,” he said.

The Emmys were distributed during two evening events, Sept. 12 and Sept. 19, the latter of which was televised.

Posted 9/20/2004