Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Campbelltown : 2-11 Aug 2013
Exhibition of Oz Memorabillia
70-year-old Dorothy Overton is one of Australia's biggest Wizard of Oz collectors. Her collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia started over 50 years ago. "As a child I was introduced to the Wizard of Oz movie and because the heroine was also named Dorothy, I became caught up in everything Oz", she says.
The collection first started with a few postcards and birthday cards, then a silver charm bracelet that John, her husband of 50 years, gave her. "We then found a china doll replica of Judy Garland gathering dust at the back of an op shop which I absolutely had to have and the rest is history!" Dorothy says.
Her ecclectic collection today consists of rooms full of sets of dolls, posters, T-shirts, hats, books, figurines, plates, jewellery and other miscellany.
Even when Dorothy travels, the itinerary is Oz inspired. Travelling to America for example, she had to stay at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas only because it was then made over like the Wizard of Oz with the wicked witch flying across the sky, munchkin buffet and yellow brick road all through the building.
Dorothy lists her "greatest thrill" as meeting Margaret Pellegrini, one of the original 1939 Munchkins, in Sydney. Margaret had flown down specially to appear at a Wizard of Oz production directed by the Festival's director Brian Laul.
Images: Dorothy Overton with Shakey the Screcrow; with State MP Brian Doyle & Festival director Brian Laul; some of the exhibition in the Emerald City.
The Wizard of Oz Funland is a unique, first-of-its-kind centre in Australia that was started:
- To provide a very interactive, vibrant, creative and fun indoor space that could engage the whole family at rates affordable to the larger community;
- To provide both performance & educational opportunities to local talent;
- To develop into a useful, moving community hub.
The Funland is home of The Wizard of Oz Show that has done over 3500 performances worldwide and was honoured with strong endorsements by the Baum family in America.
The Funland was set up by the Laul family as an extension of their work among the community. Apart from being a popular play and party centre, it has grown into a hive of local community participation with a large multicultural agenda. It proudly supports 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer.