We hope your plans to attend the Wizard of Oz Festival are in place. We think the Festival this year is going to be a wonderful event!
THIS BLOG:
1. Hamilton Meserve, Margaret Hamilton’s Son
2. Dorothy’s Farm and Zoo Animals – Friday’s FREE Event
3. The Emerald City Fest – Saturday’s FREE Event
4. Wizard of Oz Costume Contest for Groups
5. And more...
Hamilton Meserve,
Wicked Witch of the
West,
Margaret Hamilton’s Son
Will Attend
 |
| Hamilton Meserve |
If you have not heard
the news, we're proud to announce that Our Very Special Guest Star, HAMILTON
MESERVE -- the son of MGM's legendary "Wicked Witch of the West,"
MARGARET HAMILTON, will be our keynote speaker for the 2015 Wizard of Oz Festival.
This is Meserve’s initial
appearance in Grand Rapids, and we're especially happy to welcome him, as
his mother, Margaret Hamilton was the focal point of the very first Judy
Garland Festival here in 1979. She was
invited by artist Jackie Dingman, who started the first Judy Garland Museum here
in Grand Rapids. Ms. Hamilton accepted the invitation and stayed with Jackie
during this visit. There are photos and recordings preserving this wonderful
event.
 |
| Margaret Hamilton visiting with Grand Rapids children in 1979 |
Interestingly, Hamilton
Meserve’s presentation falls just eight days before thirty-sixth
anniversary of his mother’s visit. On Saturday, June 13th, at 8:00
p.m. Meserve will entertain us with his enthralling talk, "OZ, THE
WITCH, AND MOM: TEN THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW." We are sure it’s a talk
that will delight any and all who love that classic motion picture.
For those who are
wondering, "Ham”was three years old when his mother appeared in The Wizard of Oz and he remembers that
time quite well. In fact, he has some rather dramatic stories to tell about it.
We Meserve is now retired
and lives in Maine with Helen, his wife of fifty-four years. He's enjoyed a
happily diverse career, working in international banking (opening
countries in Asia and the Middle East for Citibank); owning seven community
newspapers in New York's Hudson Valley from the 1980s to the 1990s, and until
2006, working with Helen in Running Battle Antiques for which (from 1990 to
2006) they did up to twenty-five national shows a year. Hamilton is currently a
County Commissioner in Lincoln County, Maine. In addition, he is president
of Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, and Treasurer of
The Boothbay Region Land Trust and The Friends of the Harbor Theatre.
The latter organization is committed to keeping that cinema open.
Of interest is the fact
that Meserve moved to Portland, Maine because of his mother. Back in 1961, she
was performing in summer stock up in New England when she heard that the Coast
Guard was selling lighthouses. She bought one, but we’ll let “Ham” tell you the
rest of the story.
So, get your tickets now
and don’t miss this fascinating presentation, "OZ, THE WITCH, AND
MOM," on Saturday evening, June 13th
at 8:00 p.m. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer
period with the audience, moderated by John Fricke. Also, there will be a Wine
and Cheese Reception before the event with light hor d’oeuvres, so plan to come
early. Tickets are $20 per person.
***
We have many other
wonderful events this weekend:
-
“Memories of the Judy I
Knew” by Joan Beck Coulson – Thursday Eve
-
“Judy in Concert” by
John Fricke
-
“The Oz that Almost
“WOZ” &
-
“Down the Yellow Brick
Road” 2-Part Talk by John Fricke,
Saturday AM
-
“Judy and Chuck” by
Brent Phillips. – Saturday Afternoon
For the full schedule, please check our website: http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com
***
**FREE EVENTS for CHILDREN**
Fun Facts About Oz by
John FrickeFriday, June 12, at 1:30 p.m. in the Judy Garland Museum, John Fricke will present a thirty minute kid-friendly talk, “Fun Facts About Oz.” Included will be an anti-bullying message. The Oz characters are all very different, but they show us how to get along and help one another.
Dorothy’s Farm and Zoo
Animals
On Friday, June 12th,
2:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. there will be a free event for children on the outdoor
grounds of the Judy Garland Museum. “Dorothy’s Farm and Zoo Animals” will be a
fun event for kids – a free walk-thru farm and zoo.
We expect a goose and
goslings, pigs, rabbits, a dog, cat and kittens, an alpaca and a goat. (Unfortunately,
at this time we are not allowed to have chickens or turkeys due to the Bird Flu.)
More animals may still be coming. We hope to have some small snacks.
If anyone has an animal
or animals they would like to bring for show, please contact Debbie Sias at the
Judy Garland Museum. (218) 327-9276
***
Friday Evening, Garden
BBQ
At 5:30 p.m., BBQ
sandwiches and fixings will be available for purchase via the Sawmill
Restaurant. The food is the delicious and the price is only $12.00. Come and
enjoy. Music provided by Borg Entertainment.
***
The Wizard of Oz Costume
Contest
Remember how much fun we
had last year at the Guinness World Record attempt? This year will be smaller,
but it’s still a chance to have some great fun and win a prize.
Friday evening, June 12 from 7:30 p.m. a Wizard
of Oz Costume Contest will be held on the Evergreen Terrace Lawn. This contest is for GROUPS ONLY. You
may come as a group of TWO or more.
Contestants will be
interviewed on the JUMBO SCREEN by Borg Entertainment. It should be lots of
fun.
Prize Awards will be
given in the form of coupons to the Museum Gift Shop. The Gift Shop is now
stocked with all kinds of things, so this will be a great prize!
***
The Wizard of Oz on a
Jumbo Screen
At 9:00 p.m. the 1939
classic, The Wizard of Oz will be shown on a Jumbo Screen on the Evergreen
Terrace Lawn (just next to the Judy Garland Museum and Memorial Garden).
Popcorn and drinks will be available. Come and have a great time!
IN CASE OF RAIN – All outdoor events listed above will take
place at the Grand Rapids Civic Center.
***
The Emerald City Fest
On Saturday, June 13th,
11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., The Emerald City Fest will be held in downtown Grand
Rapids at the Old Central School.
Events include: “Horse
of a Different Color” carriage rides, face painting, glitter tattoos, Glinda’s
Gigantic Bubbles, Manicures and more. Lots of fun for kids. Charge will be
$1.00 per event.
***
Museum Gift Shop
Each week we will share
with you a few items in our Gift Shop! |
| The Ruby Slippers Light Up! |
 |
| Cowardly Lion! |
Next Week
Stay Tuned. We have a
couple more blogs coming on our very special guests and events!
That is really interesting post!! I am so glad to read this. Hey I am also planning to host Halloween party. I will need a grand venue for that but most of the event location rentals are already reserved. I am quite late. But still if you know about available event venues then please tell me guys!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to be late on seeing this. Had no idea but in the future you can always check the Judy Garland Museum. They rent for some events!
DeleteJohn - was Hamilton Meserve's talk in 2015 by chance recorded? I would love to be able to see it!
ReplyDelete