Toto Talks with the Cafe about Her Oz Memoriabilia Collection

Toto, one of our regular contributors at the Cafe, is a long-time collector of Wizard of Oz memorabilia. Today, she sits down with Rick to discuss her passion for all things Ozian.

The one that started it all.

Rick:  Toto, what inspired you to start collecting Oz memorabilia.

Toto:  I have always loved the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz. A dear friend found a copy of the book The Scarecrow of Oz for me and I was delighted to learn about this entire Oz world captured in literature and on film. From this point on, collecting and learning about Oz became a wonderful passion .

Rick:  Do you focus mostly on the 1939 movie or do your interests also include the books, other films, plays, etc.?

Even Frank Jr. wrote an Oz book.

Toto:  That is an excellent question because there are indeed some folks who collect only 1939 film memorabilia and others  collect only L. Frank Baum works and some only Oz literature, etc. My collection includes all of these things and more. Most people are surprised to learn that Baum wrote 14 Oz books and several other authors, most notably Ruth Plumly Thompson, added over 100 more titles to the library. Baum also wrote a host of other non-Oz works, many under pseudonyms. I love children's literature and have many books in my home.

Rick:  What are some of your favorite items in your collection?

Toto:  The set of eight Knowles plates made to commemorate the 1939 film were quite fun to find. I did most of my collecting pre-internet so finding treasures at antique stores and flea markets and bookstores was very fun.

I found an adorable cloth doll that has Dorothy holding Toto, while under her dress is hiding a cowering Cowardly Lion. Then, when you flip Dorothy over, it reveals two sets of legs and you see the Scarecrow on one side and the Tin Man on the other.

One of my favorite collector's pieces was a gift from my husband that looks like someone opened a red volume of The Wizard of Oz and, spilling forth from its pages, are a snow globe which encases Dorothy seated on a bench with her basket and looking at Toto, while outside are the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion looking in at them, and in the back are Glinda and the Wizard standing next to the Emerald City while the Wicked Witch of the West flies above them on her broomstick. This lovely book also plays "Over the Rainbow."

Rick:  What are some of the most unusual items in your collection?

Toto: I have another friend who looks for interesting additions for me and gave me an awesome set of the eight main Oz characters as Pez dispensers. The Wizard one is the giant green head. Toto is the same size as all the other characters, too.

One of my least expensive treasures is a small green metal pail that says "I'm melting, melting . . ." with  pictures of a black hat and a broomstick that cost me $2.

I have some fun pewter figures that include a Tin Man with a pretty red heart on his chest standing on a heart shaped base, a winged monkey, Miss Gulch riding her bicycle with a basket containing Toto and a hot air balloon with colorful Swarovski crystals.

Rick:  I've heard about conventions for Oz fans and collectors. Have you attended any of them?

Toto: I have been to three conventions and had a hoot at all of them! I met some of the Munchkins and listened to them share their stories and heard some contemporary Oz authors speak. I also learned a lot about collecting at the conventions.

Rick:  It's been delightful to learn about your Oz collection, Toto. Thanks so much for talking with me. I have one last question. What advice would you give to someone just starting an Oz collection?

Toto:  One of the things I had to learn was how and when to limit collecting. Some items feature multiple pieces and one can only display so many things (not to mention the expense!) so I learned to decide which pieces I liked best in certain collections and limit acquisitions that way. There is an organization called The International Wizard of Oz Club that is accessible at www.ozclub.org that can provide some very helpful information, too.  And never underestimate the value of the internet.