Munchkins of Oz Get a Hollywood Star
Filed under: Classics, Awards, MGM, Family Films, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg
What perfect timing, after 68 years, for the Munchkins of Oz to get their very own star on Hollywood Boulevard. This is the time of year when most of us would watch The Wizard of Oz on television. Of course, this year it doesn't seem to be airing on Thanksgiving. Why this is, I don't know, but in honor of the diminutive actors who appear in the film as Munchkins, I think we should make an effort to watch it anyway (maybe you own it, or can rent it from somewhere?). The Munchkin's star was unveiled in a ceremony Tuesday, attended by seven of the nine surviving actors (there were 124 Munchkins total). They included lollipop guild member Jerry Maren, town crier Mickey Carroll, sleepyhead Margaret Pellegrini, main trumpeter Karl Slover, soldier Clarence Swensen and coroner Meinhardt Raabe, who certifies that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead. Apparently the Munchkins received their star thanks to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Mickey Rooney and Chicago movie theater owner Ted Bulthaup, who began its campaign.This certainly isn't the first time a group of people received a star, nor is it the first time characters have gotten one. Honestly, though, I could have sworn the Munchkins already had one. In fact, that's the same response Bulthaup had when he found out. It actually makes me wonder how many significant people and characters aren't among the thousands who have their own star. Guess what? Bert Lahr (aka The Cowardly Lion) doesn't have one. Nor does Toto, at least according to Wikipedia's list. Who else, non Oz-related, could be absent from the Walk of Fame?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-25-2007 @ 10:41PM
k said...
The Hollywood Star has seem to have become a joke...
I mean , c'mon .....they gave the Victoria's Secret angels one not too long before the munchkins got one....that is just wrong...
Reply
11-25-2007 @ 9:21AM
mike minnick said...
One notable celebrity who does not have a star on the Walk of Fame is "Weird Al" Yankovic. In a career that has outlasted almost everyone he has parodied he has earned gold records, platinum records and Grammy's. But no star. Or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. There are actually two seperate campaigns by Al fans to get Al into both. For the Rock Hall we just ask for a signature. But for the star they actually charge $25,000 for it. Many celebrities buy their own, but as fans we are doing this for Al, so we have been working for the past few years to raise money for it so we can give Al this wonderful gift.
http://www.allthingsyank.com/rockhall/
http://weirdalstar.com/
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12-01-2007 @ 4:13AM
Melissa said...
Agreed, Al deserves a star!!!
Reply
12-01-2007 @ 12:33PM
David said...
Just wait until AT&T 'earns' one.
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