The Waynesboro Public Library is featuring a display of Wizard of Oz memorabilia during the month of March. This exhibit of items on loan from the collection Ramona Gordon includes costumes, playbills, tickets, photographs, artwork, record albums, posters, books, and toys relating to the Wizard of Oz books, films, plays, and tourist attractions.
Of special interest are rare items relating to The Wiz, a 1978 urban reimaging of the children’s novel that featured an all African-American cast.
Librarian Rebecca Lamb developed the idea of creating this display when she discovered that Gordon, a library volunteer and member of the Friends of the Library board member, collected Oz memorabilia. Gordon’s collection was built over decades, often by going to yard sales and thrift shops.
Lamb notes, I could not believe some of the materials that Ramona pulled out of boxes for the display. Some of The Wiz items are so rare they are not included in the official guide to Oz collectibles.”
Lamb, who also contributed some posters to the exhibit, was introduced to Oz through her mother who collected the books as they were published during the 1930s and 1940s. She notes, “Whether through books or film, there is no doubt that The Wizard of Oz has captured the imagination of generations of children around the world.”
L. Frank Baum first published his novel for children,The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in 1900. Now considered a classic, the novel was an instant success that resulted in a series of forty titles and more than two dozen films. In addition to fourteen Oz books, Baum also wrote and produced Oz plays and three movies released between 1910 and 1914.
The display will be at the library through Saturday, March 31. The Waynesboro Public Library is located at 600 S. Wayne Avenue in Waynesboro. For additional information, call540-942-6746 or visit www.WaynesboroPublicLibrary.org.
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