Karl Slover was among the last living munchkins who played in The Wizard of Oz. He died at 93 this past week. According to a reliable source, there are only three of the original 124 munchkin cast members still living now: Jerry Maren played a lolipop kid, Margaret pellegrini played a flowerpot munchkin and a sleepy head, and Ruth Duccini who played a maiden.
I just loved the movie and have so many fond memories of watching it as a little girl growing up in the suburbs of Dallas. It was the highlight of our summer to see the annual showing of The Wizard of Oz on TV, which was only offered on network television at that time and considered a very special occasion. So much so, that our family always made plans with another family to make an evening out of it. We popped popcorn and bounced on our knees with great anticipation while sitting on the floor in front of the boob tube. This was way back before they had cable, DVD's, videos, netflix or direct cinema. Most folks had only one TV per household. Ours was a console in the living room, where everyone gathered to watch. That was when TV was the most modern wonder of technology, and it actually offered wholesome quality time for families.
Growing up as a midget in a time when medical knowledge was limited, Slover was subjected to many pain staking witch doctor style remedies until his father sold him to a traveling circus at 9 years old. Much-like the Biblical story of Joseph, one might say Karl was predestined and set in the right place at the right time in order to be noticed by a certain movie producer and recruited to play the lead trumpeter in The Wizard of Oz. Mr. Slover had five books published about his life during and after The Wizard of Oz. They say you should write what you know, and that he did and did very well. May Karl Slover rest in peace. He's off to see the most wonderful Wizard of all.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
This blog is dedicated to my dear friend, Scott Elms, a true friend to all the munchkins in The Wizard of Oz.
Sources: http://tinyurl.com/6oc7rb9 and Scott Elms
I just loved the movie and have so many fond memories of watching it as a little girl growing up in the suburbs of Dallas. It was the highlight of our summer to see the annual showing of The Wizard of Oz on TV, which was only offered on network television at that time and considered a very special occasion. So much so, that our family always made plans with another family to make an evening out of it. We popped popcorn and bounced on our knees with great anticipation while sitting on the floor in front of the boob tube. This was way back before they had cable, DVD's, videos, netflix or direct cinema. Most folks had only one TV per household. Ours was a console in the living room, where everyone gathered to watch. That was when TV was the most modern wonder of technology, and it actually offered wholesome quality time for families.
Growing up as a midget in a time when medical knowledge was limited, Slover was subjected to many pain staking witch doctor style remedies until his father sold him to a traveling circus at 9 years old. Much-like the Biblical story of Joseph, one might say Karl was predestined and set in the right place at the right time in order to be noticed by a certain movie producer and recruited to play the lead trumpeter in The Wizard of Oz. Mr. Slover had five books published about his life during and after The Wizard of Oz. They say you should write what you know, and that he did and did very well. May Karl Slover rest in peace. He's off to see the most wonderful Wizard of all.
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
This blog is dedicated to my dear friend, Scott Elms, a true friend to all the munchkins in The Wizard of Oz.
Sources: http://tinyurl.com/6oc7rb9 and Scott Elms
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