Hunt for the Ruby Slippers - 2013 Judy Garland Festival - October 2013

There’s a lot of exciting news from The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota! This newsletter includes stories on:

The Hunt for the Stolen Ruby Slippers,

The Wizard’s Omaha Balloon,

The 2013 Judy Garland Festival

Itasca Gems – A new film documentary

And much more!

3-D IMAX Version of The Wizard of Oz Release!

September 20th, 2013 Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz once again gained world- wide attention with Warner Brothers’ new release of the 3-D version of the 1939 film at IMAX theaters around the globe. 

Fans were thrilled to view Judy Garland and her co-stars appearing so real it seemed you could reach out and touch them. This great new version of The Wizard of Oz 75 years after its original release, not only attests to the film’s greatness but ensures the continuation of this much beloved classic.

Detectives on the Ruby Slippers Case

In a move that has been kept top secret for the last few months, the Judy Garland Museum received a visit this week from the detectives at Alexander & Associates, a company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota who are interested in finding the Ruby Slippers. As of now, the slippers, which were stolen from The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota eight years ago, August 2005--the same night that Hurricane Katrina hit land--have yet to be recovered.

Alexander & Associates is a well-known detective firm. Not too long ago, they were

able recover a group of Norman Rockwell paintings stolen from a gallery in Minneapolis. The process of finding these iconic American paintings, now estimated to be worth $2 million a-piece, was an intricate and lengthy one. The search took the detectives first to Europe, and then to South America, where the Rockwell artwork was finally recovered.

Now, the hunt is on for the iconic Ruby Slippers! A reward of $250,000 is being offered for information leading to the Museum’s recovery of the slippers. It is hoped that this famed pair of shoes, worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz, will be found and returned to the museum soon. The goal is to have them back in the Museum by June 10^th – the 92^nd anniversary of Judy’s birth in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and the opening day of The Judy Garland Festival.

Keep your eyes open for more details on this story. Information will be released to the public any day now.

The Wicked Witch Arrives in Grand Rapids, Minnesota

Recently, the Wicked Witch of the West arrived in Grand Rapids. Her new home? The Judy Garland Museum. Of course, we’re not talking about the real witch, but rather an inter-active version of Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West. According to director John Kelsch, the witch is quite life-like and a bit spooky, moving her head and speaking to those who pass by.

The day the statue arrived, a three year-old girl had been visiting the museum with her mother and was having a wonderful time. However, after meeting the Wicked Witch, she began to cry and told her mother, “I never want to come back here again.” Although, older children and adults will enjoy this new edition to the museum, the realistic quality of the witch may be a bit much for small children. Says John Kelsch, “I wish we could purchase statues like this for all the characters, but unfortunately, this is the only one available.”

Professor Marvel’s Balloon in Oz

The 2014 Judy Garland Festival will receive a very special item on loan – an exact replica of the Wizard’s balloon; this is the balloon which brought Professor Marvel to Oz; the one in which he planned to take Dorothy back to Kansas.

An anonymous donor in Wisconsin, whose identity is so secret even director John Kelsch doesn’t know his name, recently sent his emissary with an offer to bring the hot air balloon to Grand Rapids for next year’s Festival. During the five-day Judy Garland Festival, the balloon will be positioned in various areas around town. The balloon will not be taken up in the air, but visitors will be able to have their photos taken in the balloon. This is going to be a once in a life-time opportunity, so don’t miss it!

Freak Storm Tears Off the Sawmill Inn Roof
- -   A Place Much-Loved by Garland Fans

This past summer, a wild rainstorm swept through Grand Rapids, Minnesota with such force that with a sudden “freak” burst of wind, part of the roof over the pool area of The Sawmill Inn was blown off. For some time, there was uncertainty as to how the roof would be replaced. Owner Corinne Jacobson was informed that the structure over the pool was too old to fix. As of September, however, we are happy to report that a temporary roof has been installed until a more permanent solution can be found. 

The Sawmill Inn is a place much loved by fans attending The Judy Garland Festival. In fact, it is a favorite location for fans only second to the Judy Garland Museum. Situated only two doors down from the Museum, many fans choose to stay at the Inn and enjoy the fine meals served in The Cedars Dining Room. In addition, over the years some of the Festival’s events have taken place in this unique log structure.

June Allyson and John Kelsch in front of the Sawmill Inn

Regular visitors to the Judy Garland Festivals fondly remember eating breakfast in The Cedars Dining Room with the Munchkins. Others recall meeting some of Judy’s co-stars, including Margaret O’Brien, June Allyson and Donald O’Connor in the halls of The Sawmill Inn as casually as you’d meet a neighbor on the street back home. Long-time Garland fans cherish evenings in the Sawmill after the Festival events of the day, where they can gather to talk about the day’s events, sing some of Garland’s favorite songs or, as in the old days, attend one of Gordon Steven’s unforgettable parties. Needless to say, The Sawmill Inn is a great place and we wish them a speedy recovery from this unfortunate event.

The Judy Garland Festival

For many Garland fans, the annual Judy Garland Festival is an event eagarly looked forward to each year. Treasured memories have been made and long-lasting friendships have been formed. These days, many persons plan their yearly vacations around this event in Judy Garland’s lovely hometown, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

Although plans for the 2013 Festival were admittedly low-key, many persons consider it among their favorite festivals. A young fan who has attended The Judy Garland Festival for three years now, Lorraine Lassig-Banks, has kindly agreed to share some of her favorite experiences at The Judy Garland Festival.

The 2013 Judy Garland Festival

Lorraine in the Gumm;s front parlor with
Tom Hendricks who often appears
as the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz

By Lorraine Lassig-Banks

As a fan, my experience at the festival has been truly wonderful. The events are always fun and a real tribute to Judy. One of my favorite events from a past festival was The Ruby Slipper Mystery Dinner. At this event, each table had an Oz character on it. For the dinner, we had to create a story about how the ruby slippers were stolen using that character. It was such a fun and interactive. Everyone had a great time

Another favorite memory of the festivals was one year when Judy Garland and Oz Historian John Fricke was there. During one of the events, John and I were sitting on the floor in Judy's kitchen. They were recording an interview in the next room with Munchkin Karl Slover. When another fan, Paul Herrick, who was unaware of what was going on, went to open the door to the room where the interview was taking place, John Fricke tried to stop him, but when he was unable to, the look on his face was priceless. To this day, whenever I remember that moment, I laugh so hard, I bust a gut.

This past year (2013) was really a lot of fun. We had a Judy Jeopardy game (as we’ve done for several years now) and it was really great. Then, there were two awesome talks given by Michelle Russell in the front parlor of the Gumms’ home. (Gumm was Judy’s original name.) The program included some of the music Judy Garland, her two older sisters and her parents performed when she was little, as well as some original recordings from the era, stories and dances. There were also some sing-a-longs and a good time had by all.

To top the Festival off, we attended one of the greatest Garland related performances I’ve ever seen--Beyond the Rainbow, starring Jody Briskey as Ms.Garland herself. I loved this performance because it showed every aspect of Garland: her talent, her family history, her ups and her downs. Jody really captured so many great moments where Judy made us laugh, and then applaud her amazing ability to capture the deep emotions of songs like The Man that Got Away, Stormy Weather and, of course, Over the Rainbow.

I had a great time at the festival, as I always do. I can’t imagine any where I’d rather be. It’s always fabulous and fun to be in Grand Rapids, the original home of the one and only Judy Garland.

I think if you’re a Judy Garland fan or even a Wizard of Oz fan you will love Grand Rapids. It’s a wonderful place to visit. Along with having rooms filled with Judy Garland artifacts and collectors’ items, you also have the original home that Judy and her family lived in. It gives your visit that extra touch of Judy.
 

Why should fans come back? I think fans should come back because the festivals are always fun. There is always something fun to do, and there is always something new to learn about Judy and her life in Grand Rapids. I think Judy Garland fans are the most wonderful people you would ever want to meet.

New Documentary Film Includes Garland Museum

In June, film maker Benjamin Braff (cinematographer) & Alisi Styles of A +B Productions along with their able crew arrived in Grand Rapids to film portions of The Judy Garland Festival for the new documentary film, Gems of Itasca.

Benjamin Braff, a native of Grand Rapids in Itasca County hopes that his film will encourage the economic and cultural development of Itasca. Last week, the team returned to the Judy Garland Museum once again to interview John Kelsch and Jon Miner.

During the 2013 Judy Garland Festival, A+B Productions Braff filmed extensively, including an interview with author of “From Tennessee to Oz – The Amazing Saga of Judy Garland’s Family History.”

We will keep you informed with news on this production. The documentary series, which will be available online via social media, will have its premiere in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on May 21st, 2014. To read more about AtoB Productions and Gems of Itasca, please visit:

http://www.aplusbproductions.com | www.gemsofitasca.com

Events at the Children’s Museum

Although Judy Garland fans descend on Grand Rapids in June for the Festival and many others visit during the summer months, there are events taking place all year long. The Judy Garland Museum not only contains the Judy Garland Birthplace and Museum, which houses many  artifacts detailing Garland’s career, the building also houses the Children’s Museum with many rare and fascinating items.

This past week, the museum hosted a pumpkin decorating event which was attended by nearly sixty adults and children.

On November 30^th, the Children’s Museum will have a Christmas Party. The annual Christmas Party will include a hayrides and a visit from Santa himself!

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Be sure to check back with us in November, where more news on the 2014 Festival and the new Wizard of Oz Collection will be revealed!

For more information, please visit: http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com