] c/ \ /___\ *** THE OZZY DIGEST, JUNE 1 - 3, 1998 *** |@ @| | V | \\\ |\_/| | ;;; \-/ \ ;/ >< ] ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 21:58:24 +0000 From: Christopher Straughn Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest Ozzy Actors: I see Jane Leeves (Daphne from Frasier) as Jellia. She looks nothing like Neill's drawings, but every time I see her, I picture her crying about the theft of the magic picture in Handy Mandy. If W.C. Fields were alive, I'd like to see him as the Wizard. About Glinda's hair: I've always thought Glinda was a redhead, but not because she was one in the movie. I'm sure that her hair color is mentioned somewhere in the FF, but I don't know where. Attention Digesters! I now have the Ozzy Digest file archive on my webpage. It can be visited at: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1868/Ozfiles.html Chris Straughn Bonan Tagon! ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 23:51:30 -0400 From: Tyler Jones Subject: Oz Sender: Tyler Jones Dave: SOmeone on the DIgest once posited a dream cast for a modern movie. The only three stars I remember are Scarecrow: Jim Carrey Tin Woodman: Brent Spiner Cowardly Lion: Tom Arnold There was, I recall, quite an involved discussion as to who could be Dorothy. Narnia (and reading books in publication order): Harper Trophy recently re-issued the Narnia books and re-numbered them to be in chronological order. The only book that kept its old number was _The Last Battle_. This probably would not be practical in the case of the Oz books (in and out of the FF). Even if it was possible for a publiching company to re-issue ALL of them, new ones are being written constantly at all periods in history. Anne McCafferey recommends that her PERN books be read in order of publication, although they are placed on my shelf in chronological order. My Ozzy Six-Pack _Wizard_ (obvious reasons) _Land_ (same reason as Dave) _Ozma_ (best in the FF, IMHO) _Emerald City_ (we need to see that Dorothy comes to live in Oz) _Patchwork Girl (one of the best of Baum) The sixth would be a tossup between _Scarecrow_ and _Glinda_. One might be tempted to include _DotWiz_ to see the WIzard coming back, but if our budget was limited to six, that one just wouldn't make the cut. --Tyler Jones ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 06:19:55 -0400 From: Richard Randolph Subject: Ozzy Digest David: My sincere condolences on your loss. Dave: The check is written, and will be in today's (6-1) mail. How about Maureen O'Hara as Glinda, and George C. Scott as the Wizard? J.L.Bell: Re; librarian's choice, mine would be the 1st 12 of Baum's. with the hope that funding for the rest would come later. Dick ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 09:18:17 -0500 From: jwkenne@ibm.net Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 05-31-98 Scott wrote: >My sociology prof asked me to find out from those of you who read the >Hebrew Bible whether or not Exodus 20:13 is "You shall not kill" or "You >shall not murder." I have six translations of the Bible at home, and >three say one, and three say the other. I'd like to know the Hebrew word >and how it is best translated. The word is "ratsach". There are no less than ten Hebrew words translated "kill" in the King James (Authorized) Version. This one is relatively uncommon, and in all but one case in which the meaning is evident from the context, the meaning is clearly "murder", and in every case in which the meaning is not clear from the context, "murder" makes perfect sense. In the exceptional case (Numbers 35:30) it refers to the death penalty, but the sentence as a whole easily admits of using a word that means "murder" as a rhetorical flourish, along the lines of "The murderer shall be murdered himself." J. L. Bell wrote: >Nature-worshippers have been around a lot longer than the 1930s, and so has >the conflict of worldviews evident in Christians' interpretations and >reports of others' religions. That there have been nature worshippers somewhere in world is abundantly clear, but there is no, nil, zip, zero evidence of nature worshippers as an historic cult in Christian western Europe; my copy of the Encyclopaedia Britannica expressly states that the belief that there ever was such a cult first became common as a direct result of a now- repudiated article in their own 1929 edition. Whereas 16th-century writers who absolutely reject the possibility of Satanic witchcraft and lampoon witches and witch-hunters alike nevertheless admit that there were loonies _trying_ to be Satanic witches. And any Roman Catholic or Anglican priest who works in a college town will tell you that those loonies are with us today. As a lay reader, I learned that around Halloween, it was a good idea to watch and make sure every communion wafer was actually eaten. (Yes, I know -- why Halloween? -- I can only say that that was my own experience, and that college kids who actually try to call up Satan can't be very bright to begin with.) Salem is a bad case to involve one way or the other. Some authorities now believe that the whole thing, which came a century after the great period of witch-hunts, and which the judges themselves felt unable to explain a year later, was the result of an ergot infestation of the grain supply. (Ergot both causes miscarriages and is the source of LSD.) // John W Kennedy ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 11:45:15 -0400 (EDT) From: Kiex@aol.com Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 05-31-98 Speaking of witch-hunting: Do we consider Arthur Miller an anti-witch hunter, or simply a satirist (ie with _The Crucible_)? Dream casts: Something in the last Digest reminded me that the cat from "That Darn Cat", or Morris the Cat, would be a great Eureka (not for _Wizard_, obviously...) Dave: I think you're very lucky to be so near libraries with all 14 Baum books! Wish the measly one here did...Even the Berry College Memorial Library doesn't! I feel deprived! I don't think I've been in a library with all 14 since I lived in NJ over 13 years ago! (Okay, maybe the library in TX did, I don't remember for sure.) Until I next start Digesting, Jeremy Steadman **Check out my webpage at http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/9619** ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 14:07:24 -0500 (EST) From: sahutchi@iupui.edu Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 05-31-98 My pick for Glinda in the film version of _Tip of Oz_ is Khrystyne Haje, who probably would not be any trouble money-wise to cast in an independent film. Dave Hyde Pierce as H.M. Wogglebug, T.E. might be a different story. Dan Gilvezan as the Scarecrow is not likely a problem. I also like the idea of Samuel (King Caspian) West as Nick Chopper. I've got some links up related to _Toto's Rescue_, certainly the worst Oz film I've ever seen. One of the camera crew is now a cinematogrpaher of indie shorts. Scott ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 22:04:39 -0400 From: "J. L. Bell" Subject: casting around in Oz Sender: "J. L. Bell" On the question of casting an Oz movie *today*, Robert Schroeder wrote: <> I think the movie is HARRIET THE SPY, and the young actress is Michelle Trachtenberg. Better sign her fast--she's growing up! I had a couple of plane trips this weekend, so I worked up a dream casting list of a WIZARD movie faithful to the book but able to employ *any* actor in the history of moving pictures at *any* time in his or her career. Because performers vary in their screen characters and physical appearances (especially before they become box-office stars and after the Golden Age of Hollywood), alongside each name I added a movie that made me think of that person. Aunt Em: Clara Bandick, WIZARD OF OZ Uncle Henry: Percy Kilbride, STATE FAIR Tattypoo: Margaret Rutherford, BLITHE SPIRIT Boq: David Rappaport, TIME BANDITS Guardian of the Gates: Eric Blore, SWINGTIME Omby Amby: Kareem Abdul-Jabar, PURPLE PEOPLE EATER Wicked Witch of the West: Margaret Hamilton, MAD WEDNESDAY Wizard: William Powell, TREASURE OF THE LOST CANYON Glinda: Gwyneth Paltrow, EMMA (runner-up: Jessica Lange, ALL THAT JAZZ) Who's missing? Dorothy, of course! I'm still struggling with the perfect young actress to play that role. Jodie Foster in the NAPOLEON AND SAMANTHA era has the boldness, but not the tender side. I also skipped the non-human characters, figuring they depended as much on special effects as acting. But I'd start the Scarecrow with Ray Bolger and the Cowardly Lion with a lion puppet from the Henson workshop (used in a British TV Narnia series and the JIM HENSON HOUR) equipped with Ralph Bellamy's voice. The ideal Tin Woodman still eludes me. Later characters, all in an alphabetic jumble which allows me to share ideas without having to cover all the bases: Adepts: Susan Sarandon, ATLANTIC CITY, THE BUDDY SYSTEM, *and* WITCHES OF EASTWICK Button-Bright: Macauley Culkin, ROCKET GIBRALTAR (for ROAD) and MY GIRL (for SKY ISLAND and beyond) Coo-ee-oh: Myrna Loy, THIRTEEN WOMEN Fess: Simon Fenton, MATINEE Jenny Jump: Molly Ringwald, PRETTY IN PINK Jo Files: Don Ameche, IN OLD CHICAGO Krewl: Basil Rathbone, THE COURT JESTER Langwidere: Madonna, album covers 1983-present Mrs. Yoop: Barbara Stanwyck, DOUBLE INDEMNITY Number Nine: John White, JOHNNY AND CLYDE Ojo: Jackie Coogan, TOM SAWYER Ozga: Jean Simmons, BLACK NARCISSUS Ozma: Elizabeth Taylor, NATIONAL VELVET (Dave Hardenbrook's suggestion) Rinkitink: John Bunny, an *early* silent movie comic who died the same year RINKITINK was published (runner-up: Charles Laughton, PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII) Robin Brown: Joseph Mazzello, SHADOWLANDS Shaggy Man: George "Gabby" Hayes (with dentures in), MELODY RANCH Speedy: Ike Eisenmann, original WITCH MOUNTAIN movies Tazander Tazah: Dean Stockwell, DOWN TO THE SEA IN SHIPS Tip: Bobby Driscoll, TREASURE ISLAND Unc Nunkie: Will Geer, NAPOLEON AND SAMANTHA Of course, these suggestions are all subjective, and I expect them to prompt mystification and disagreements. I certainly won't claim that this exercise has much to do with actual casting of a movie, which is an art of what's actually *possible*. J. L. Bell JnoLBell@compuserve.com ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 22:39:38 -0400 (EDT) From: Kiex@aol.com Subject: News in Oz--and Out Wow! I've never set foot in a Borders or a Barnes & Nobles (and didn't even hear about the former until I joined the Digest) and already I find they're being sued! This news story tells about it: <> All this makes me think I'd better go find a Border's now--before it's too late! Jeremy Steadman, Devout Reader ====================================================================== Date: Mon, 01 Jun 1998 21:49:20 -0500 From: David Hulan Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 05-29-98 I haven't been entirely in the mood for Ozzy stuff the past few days, but I'll try to catch up one more time with the last couple of Digests. 5/29: J.L.: >Next Monday?! I only opened my new RINKITINK from Amazon two weeks ago! You mean you didn't order it from BoW? Tsk, if you want to continue to get high-quality, reasonably-priced editions of the original Oz books (not to mention new ones). Dave: >I thought we were debating players in a straight Oz adaptation, >rather than an MGM musical. As for Elizabeth Taylor as Dorothy, too >sophisticated, IMHO...Liz as *Ozma*, maybe... I thought we were recasting the MGM movie with actresses available at the time - or at some future time to be specified. I was thinking of Taylor as she appeared in _National Velvet_ - the first film I remember her in - in late '44 or early '45, whenever it was. I don't think she was too sophisticated for Dorothy at that point, though she was too dark-haired (and probably too pretty, which is why I said she'd be better for Trot). >How about as Jellia Jamb (1930's or modern)? I'd be interested in who >everyone would consider an ideal (Shanower-esque) Jellia, since last weeks' >_60 Minutes_ cooled me on Wynona Ryder... Shanower's Jellia looks to me more like a late-'60s Sally Field than anyone else I can think of, though I'll have to say that I have little idea of what most modern actresses look like (except *snarf* Lucy Lawless...). I intend to send you some gelt to continue to support the Digest, but the way things have been going lately I might well forget it. If you don't get something from me by, oh, June 12, e-mail me a reminder. 5/31: Mike: "Wa" is Japanese for something like "pride," or "face," or that sort of thing - I first ran across it in connection with a book, 'You Gotta Have Wa," about Japanese baseball, but I've seen it fairly often in similar contexts since. Anyhow, I suspect more people have run across it than have run across the monetary unit of Mauritius. J.L.: I think I was confusing _One-Eyed Jacks_ with _Robin and the Seven Hoods_. Who was it, though, who sang the "One-Eyed Jacks" main title song? Seems to me it was Sinatra or Davis or Martin or one of the other Rat Pack types, but I'm probably wrong. It was a long time ago... What song did O'Brien sing with Garland in MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS? I remember them both looking out a window together for "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but I don't remember O'Brien singing. But it's been a long time since I saw the movie (though not as long as it might have been; I saw it on its initial release, but I've seen it as recently as the mid-'80s as well). You envision Glinda as having the face of a girl of seventeen? Where did you get this idea? I've always pictured Glinda (admittedly, based on Denslow and Neill's illustrations) as being thirtyish. I can't seriously argue with your list of six Oz/Baum books for a library to buy, if that's the maximum number you can call up. They aren't my personal favorites, but they're the most essential in getting the concept of Oz (as opposed to the movie) across to readers. You gotta have those first three, EC is needed to show why Oz is cut off from the rest of the world, and PG to show why it isn't completely so. I could argue for _Sky Island_ or _Lost Princess_ or _Rinkitink_ as better books than _Zixi_, but not very convincingly. I would, however, replace the Dover _Magic_ and the Schocken _Wizard_ with the BoW _Rinkitink_ and the Del Rey _Lost Princess_ (assuming we're only talking about books in print) in your second six. If there's a better LP than the Del Rey version, fine, but BoW doesn't have a color plate version out yet. I'm hanging by my thumbs till they do, since it's my favorite Oz book that I don't have with color. Jeremy: Baum stated in _Wizard_ that Glinda had red hair, and I think he reiterated this in various other titles. It's not just an artistic convention. Bob Spark: I shared reading experiences with a number of my childhood friends, though I had a lot of friends I didn't share my reading experiences with. I remember having an easier time sharing Burroughs with my contemporaries than Oz, though Oz was easier with the little kids I baby-sat with later. Dave: See my comment to Jeremy about Glinda's hair color. It's very explicit in the books. Thanks for putting Scott's web-search where I didn't have to go through it... David Hulan ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 07:07:14 +0000 From: "Earl C. Abbe" Subject: Ozzy Digest Submission - Munchkin Convention Dates In the May 28-29 Digest, I questioned OZways joyous (4 !s)announcement of the Munchkin Convention dates. I was wrong; OZways is right. The convention announcement arrived yesterday. The Munchkin Convention in Wilmington, Delaware IS being held from Friday afternoon, July 31 through Sunday morning, August 2. Hope to see you all there. Earl Abbe ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 08:09:54 -0400 (EDT) From: Ozisus@aol.com Subject: Oz Park The Wonderful World of Oz theme park in the greater Kansas City area continues to move forward. Last projected opening date I heard was 2001. "So," you ask, we've been hearing about this since Dec. 1991. (as least, I have). Why isn't it open by now?" When Warner bought the rights to the MGM film from Turner, they had to renegotiate the rights. Warner Bros. owns the Six Flags parks and they are in no hurry to hand business to future competitors. So, for the half- a-dozen theme park operations had similar rights to renegotiate, it was no sure bet. In the end, only Oz emerged successful. It took a long and difficult year to renegotiate, during which time a NASCAR track stepped in and snapped up a huge chunk of the on which they wanted to plan the park. There is still ample room for the Oz park, but by the time to add a lake, golf course, RV park and tons of acreage for future growth, the land that was left was far more limited than the initial site -- and that future plan was worked into the financial deal. Soooo.. time to look at alternative sites to present the financial backers with choices. They identified a incredibly large site slightly south of the KC, KS property. Idle land since WWII, it included a government-owned, abandoned amunition plant and thousands of undeveloped acres. Ever try getting land from the government? Fortunately, the timing was right, but they had to go to the legislature and get bills passed that would allow a change in taxation -- long involved story I'll spare you. Anyway that passed recently enough to still be in the local papers. Of course, since no one's shown one shred of interest in that land for decades, the park wanting it suddenly has people crawling out of the woodwork with alternative plans. Park of the agreement to get it requires that interested parties have a plan for the entire thing -- and it's like 5,000 acres -- and Oz's plan is the most comprehensive. Last I heard (attended a city council meeting in the area when they introduced that community's leadership to the project), once their land options were clear via the legislative process, they needed to reapproach their backers and strategic partners and determine which site was a go. So there you go. Latest hiccup over. 2001 on the horizon. It will surpass all our dreams -- and, lucky me, be in my own back yard! But not to worry, we have a big house and like guests. :) Jane ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 10:46:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Carol Silva Subject: Oz as Satan-worship X-Originating-IP: [152.163.194.218] Dave H.: Sorry to take so long getting this out. I usually only check my E-Mail on weekends. TGISummer. I am very sorry to hear about your loss. It is always hard to lose a loved one. I wish you well in this sad time. Okay, ::: I have heard the arguments about all witches being Devil-worshippers and such claptrap. But I can assure you all that it is not so. I have reproduced below a genuine and sincere Spamming that came to me directly from God himself. Yes, even The Almighty is not above sending out junk-E-Mail... ******************************************************************* An Open Letter from God: My dear children, and believe Me, that is all of you, I consider Myself a pretty patient guy. I mean, look at the Grand Canyon. It took millions of years to get it right. And about evolution? Boy, nothing is slower than designing that whole Darwinian thing to take place cell by cell and gene by gene. And I have been patient through your fashions, your civilizations, wars and schemes, and the countless ways that you take Me for granted until you get yourselves into big trouble again and again. I want to let you know about some of the things that started ticking Me off. First of all, your religious rivalries are driving Me up a wall. Enough already! Let's get one thing straight. These are your religions, not Mine. I'm the whole enchilada. I'm beyond `em all. Every one of your religions claims that there's only one of Me, which, by the way, is absolutely true, but in the very next breath each religion claims that it's My favorite one. And each claims its bible was written personally by Me, and that all of the other bibles are man-made. Oh, Me. How do I ever begin to put a stop to such complicated nonsense? All right, listen up now. I am your Father and Mother, and I don't play favorites among My children. Also, I hate to break it to you, but I don't write. My longhand is awful, and I've always been more of a doer anyway. So ALL of your books, including those bibles, were written by men and women. They were inspired men and women, they were remarkable people, but they also made mistakes here and there. And I made sure of that, so that you would never trust a written word rather than your own living heart. You see, one human being to Me -- even a bum on the street -- is worth more than all of the holy books in the world. That's just the kind of a guy I am. My spirit is not an historical thing. It's alive right now, right now, as fresh as your next breath. Holy books and religious rites are sacred and powerful, but they are not more so than the least of you. They were only meant to steer you in the right direction, not to keep you arguing with eachother, and certainly not to keep you from trusting your own personal connection with Me. Which brings Me to My next point about your nonsense. You act like I need you and your religions to stick up for Me or win souls for My sake. Please, don't do Me any favors. I can stand quite well on My own, thank you. I don't need you to defend Me, I don't need constant credit. I just want you to be good to eachother. And another thing. I don't get all worked up over money or politics, so stop dragging My name into your dramas. For example, I swear to Me that I never threatened Oral Roberts. I never rode is any of Rajneesh's Rolls Royces and I never told Pat Robertson to run for president, and I have never had a conversation with Jim Bakker, Jerry Falwell or Jimmy Swaggart. Of course, come Judgement Day, I certainly intend to. Now the thing is, I want you to stop thinking of religion as some sort of a loyalty pledge to Me. The true purpose of religion is so that YOU can become more aware of ME, not the other way around. Believe Me, I know you already. I know what's in each of your hearts, and I love you anyway with no strings attached. So, lighten up and enjoy Me. That's what religion's best for. What you seem to forget is how mysterious I am. You look at the petty differences in your scriptures and you say, "Well, if this is the truth, then that can't be." But instead of trying to figure out My paradoxes and unfathomable nature -- which, by the way, you never will -- why not open your hearts to the simple, common threads of every religion? You know what I'm talking about. Play nice with each other. Love and respect everyone. Be kind. Even when life is scary or confusing, take courage and be of good cheer, for I'm always with you. And learn how to be quiet, so that you can hear My still, small voice. I don't like to shout. Leave the world a better place by living your life with dignity and gracefulness, for you are My own child. Hold back nothing from life, for the parts of you that can die surely will, and the parts that can't, won't. So don't worry, be happy. (I stole that last line from Bobby McFerrin, but Who gave it to him in the first place?) Simple stuff now. Why do you keep making it so complicated? It's like you're always looking for an excuse to be upset. And I am very tired of being your main excuse. Do you think whether you call Me God, or Yahweh, or Jehovah, Allah, Wakatonka, Brahma, Father, Mother, even the Void of Nirvana? Do you think I care which of My Special Children you feel closest to -- Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Krishna, Mohammed or any of the others? You can call Me and My Special Ones any names you choose, if only you will go about My business of loving one another as I love you. How can you keep neglecting something so simple? No, I am not telling you to abandon your religions. Enjoy your religions, honor them, learn from them, just as you should enjoy, honor, and learn from your parents. But do you walk around telling everyone that your parents are better than theirs? Your religion, like your parents, may always have the most special place in your heart. I don't mind that at all. And I don't want you to combine all of the great traditions into One Big Mess. Each religion is unique for a reason. Each has a unique style so that people can find the best path for themselves. But My Special Children -- the ones that your religions revolve around -- all live in the same place in My heart, and they get along perfectly, I assure you. The clergy must stop creating a myth of sibling rivalry where there is none. My blessed children of Earth, the world has grown too small for your pervasive religious bigotries and confusion. The whole planet is now connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases and mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program! If you really want to help me celebrate the birthday of My Son Jesus, then commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry and clothe your naked, and protect your abused and shelter your poor. And just as important, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I've given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, and loving and laughing together. Finally, My children everywhere, remember whose birthday you honor on what you call Christmas Day, December 25th, and the fearlessness with which He chose to live and die. As I love Him, so do I love each of you. Now, I am not really ticked off. Not really. I just wanted to grab your attention because I hate to see you suffer. But I gave you free will, so what can I do now other than try to influence you through reason, persuasion, and a little old-fashioned guilt and manipulation? After all, you know I am the original Jewish Mother. I just want you to be happy, and I'll sit in the dark. I really am, indeed I swear, with you always. Always. Trust in Me. Your One and Only, God ******************************************************************** So there you have it, friends. Not in my words, but in His. Oz is NOT the Devil's playground at all. And if you choose to believe that this actually came from any source more divine than a mere Internet subscriber with a heart --Get in touch, and send me a list of all your Oz collectibles. I think we can do some trading. May God bless you all to the best degree She is able. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 13:00:02 -0500 From: Gordon Birrell Subject: Ozzy Digest A couple of questions on _Rinkitink_: In the color plate facing p. 48 (Inga reading in his tree platform) there are at least four faces hidden in the foliage, and the initials DGG (I think) are written upside down at the top of the picture. Does anyone know if Neill was again encrypting--as in _Scarecrow_--images of family or friends? If not, perhaps the images simply represent fantasy pictures conjured up in Inga's head as he reads. On p. 42, Rinkitink says, "Oh, hoo-hoo-hoo!--how clever! When I get back I shall make the man who wrote that a royal hippolorum, for, beyond question, he is the wisest man in my kingdom--as he has often told me himself." Neither the unabridged Random House nor the OED give a definition for "hippolorum." Could this be Baum's own invention? "Horse's mouth" in Latin, with the medial l added to separate the two o's? On translation: I thought some of you might be amused at the following quotation, which is heart-stopping in its political incorrectness: "Les traductions sont comme les femmes: lorsqu'elles sont belles, elles ne sont pas fideles, et lorsqu'elles sont fideles, elles ne sont pas belles." Robert Frost also had a memorable comment: "Poetry is what gets lost in translation." On behalf of my colleagues who are involved in translating literary texts, however, I'd like to point out that literary translation is now a serious and respected academic field that is doing a lot to clear the field of the sort of hackwork that used to go into translations of major writers. And there are professional translators such as Ralph Manheim and Gregory Rabassa whose work is both faithful to the original and brilliantly idiomatic in English. There was some discussion a while back about the pronunciation of "Lurline" and its resemblance to the name "Lurleen." Here's what Linda Barth's _Distinctive Book of Redneck Baby Names_ has to say about Lurleen: LURLEEN. German for "alluring." Lurleen's beans will be legendary on the barbecue cook-off circuit. The secret: a pinch of baking soda to take the "toot" out. Also, only use garlic salt, never fresh onions or garlic. Lurleen and Luther and their kids will smell like smoked sausage most of the time. (I'd like to point out that that German etymology is totally spurious. The German words for "alluring" is "verlockend" or "verfuehrerisch" or possibly "einnehmend"; "alluring" itself is of French origin.) --Gordon Birrell ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 17:10:14 -0500 (EST) From: sahutchi@iupui.edu Subject: Oz films The filmography is now edited up through 1990, with many links for _Wild at Heart_. Sveral films have been added since my last post about this. Scott http://php.iupui.edu/~sahutchi/ozfilms.htm ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 03 Jun 98 17:33:48 (PDT) From: Dave Hardenbrook Subject: Ozzy Things IN DEFENSE OF JELLIA: Poor Jellia! In the eyes of modern Oz authors she's degenerated into a whiny neat-freak...Does *no one* recall her sprightly, mischievous side in _Land_ and _Ozoplaning_? (This has been a paid announcement from the Campaign to Bring Jellia Jamb, the Adepts, and the Good Witch of the North Back From the "Dead".) :) CASTINGS: J.L. Bell wrote: >Tattypoo: Margaret Rutherford, BLITHE SPIRIT Great minds think alike! :) >Omby Amby: Kareem Abdul-Jabar, PURPLE PEOPLE EATER Kareem Abdul-Jabar with Green Whiskers?? :) >Adepts: Susan Sarandon, ATLANTIC CITY, THE BUDDY SYSTEM, *and* WITCHES >OF EASTWICK Susan as *all three*?? (I *know* she's a great actress, maybe the best nowadays, but...) >Krewl: Basil Rathbone, THE COURT JESTER >Ozga: Jean Simmons, BLACK NARCISSUS Perfect! >Ozma: Elizabeth Taylor, NATIONAL VELVET (Dave Hardenbrook's suggestion) Well, my suggestion for a 1940's Ozma... And now my casting suggestions, using J.L. Bell's same format, and as he did, I am assuming we have access to a time machine and can cast anyone into any part we wish...Also, those actors whose "real role that suggests the ideal Ozzy role" is a TV show I've designated with "(TV)" after the title... Ozma: Chloe Annett, RED DWARF (TV) Glinda: Judy Davis, IMPROMPTU & A PASSAGE TO INDIA Jellia Jamb: Undecided; Current Front runners -- Polly Walker, ENCHANTED APRIL & Leslie Caron, LILI Scarecrow: Danny Kaye, THE COURT JESTER & THE INSPECTOR GENERAL Voice of the Tin Man*: Robert Llewelyn, RED DWARF (TV) C. Lion: Bert Lahr, THE WIZARD OF OZ ( Why mess with perfection? :) ) Wizard: Frank Morgan, THE WIZARD OF OZ & SHOP AROUND THE CORNER ( Ditto my Lion comment. :) ) Tip: Roddy MacDowell, LASSIE COME HOME Dorothy: Fiona Fullerton, ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND Toto: "Rommie", GEORGE WASHINGTON SLEPT HERE Scraps: Emma Thompson, IMPROMPTU & SENSE AND SENSIBILITY Ojo: Dean Stockwell, THE GREEN YEARS Voice of Tik-Tok*: David Tate, THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (Radio!) Betsey Bobbin: Jeanne Crain, MARGIE Trot: Margaret O'Brian, OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES Button-Bright: Butch Jenkins, OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES Cap'n Bill: Walter Huston, THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE Queen Aquarine: Sarah Brightman, on account of her oceanic DIVE album Ruggedo: Edward Arnold, EASY LIVING Voice of Bungle*: Zsa-Zsa Gabor, LILI Polychrome: Goldie Hawn, HOUSESITTER Lurline: Penelope Keith, TO THE MANOR BORN (TV) Queen Zixi: Agnetha Faltskog, in her early ABBA years The Adepts: J. L. Bell appears to have suggested Susan Sarandon for all three Adepts, which is all very well for the canonical "generic" Adepts, but for my "heretical" Adepts with distinct personalities... Aurah: Barbara Stanwyk, THE LADY EVE Aujah: Hattie Hayridge, RED DWARF (TV) Audah: Jean Arthur, EASY LIVING Other characters who are non-canonical through no fault of their own... CREATED BY MELODY GRANDY: Zim the Flying Sorcerer: Jeremy Brett, SHERLOCK HOLMES (TV) & THE BARRETS OF WIMPOLE STREET (TV) Maggie, the Good Witch: Angela Lansbury, BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS The Withy Girl: Jodie Foster, CANDLESHOE CREATED BY DAVE HARDENBROOK: Locasta (My resurrection of the Good Witch of the North): Margaret Rutherford, BLITHE SPIRIT Dan (Ozma's controversial boyfriend): Tom Drake, THE GREEN YEARS Gyma (Ozma's dinosaur-tending cousin): June Duprez, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD And just to finish off, a few more movie credits: Directed and Produced by: Alexander Korda, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD Computer Graphics by: Silicon Graphics Music by: Vangelis (Perhaps including excerpts from his albums DIRECT and OCEANIC) * I imagine this Ozite to be computer graphics rendered, so only a voice is needed. -- Dave ====================================================================== -- Dave ************************************************************************ Dave Hardenbrook, DaveH47@delphi.com, http://people.delphi.com/DaveH47/ "We have enough food to last thirty thousand years but we've only got one After Eight mint left. And everyone's too polite to take it." -- Holly the computer, from _Red Dwarf_ ] c/ \ /___\ *** THE OZZY DIGEST, JUNE 4 - 6, 1998 *** |@ @| | V | \\\ |\_/| | ;;; \-/ \ ;/ >< ] ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 20:11:08 -0400 (EDT) From: "James R. Whitcomb" Subject: For Ozzy Digest Here is another email that I received from a visitor to my website. If anyone can help this person, please email him directly. Thanks! Jim Whitcomb of ... Jim's "Wizard of Oz" Website URL: http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/6396/ >From: Inflood@aol.com >Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 21:29:38 -0400 (EDT) >Subject: Mother Goose in Prose >To: whitcomb.1@osu.edu > >Jim-- > >I don't know if you may have any leads for me or not, but I have a first >edition (1898 Way & Williams, Chicago) copy of the above pre-Oz book by Baum >that has been rebacked and is in very good condition. Would you be aware of >any Baum-related rare book sellers or auctions? Thanks. > >--William H Funk-- > > ====================================================================== Date: Tue, 02 Jun 1998 10:49:06 -0600 (CST) From: Ruth Berman Subject: ozzy digest - rinkitink comments Some comments on "Rinkitink": both Michael Riley's section on it in his "Beyond Oz" book and Phyllis Ann Karr's "Curious Case of King Kaliko" article discuss the point that "Rinkitink" was written considerably earlier (even earlier than Ozma), as a non-Oz story. Both point out that Kaliko is effectively the same character as the Roquat of "Ozma," a mostly selfish character, modified by a desire to avoid hurting others if he doesn't have to in getting what he wants. (The later Ruggedo is more wicked, wanting to hurt others for vengeance.) As king, Kaliko is not the basically helpful, kindly steward of "Ozma" or "Little Wizard Stories." (And, in consequence, Kaliko as king became a permanently mixed character in the later books, leaning more to wickedness, and not the nice guy of earlier stories.) Both also comment that it is impossible to reconstruct how the story ended before it was rewritten to get in a little Oz involvement, except that Inga probably managed to solve his problems himself. I think it might be possible to reconstruct the original ending a little more than that, at least as a probability. There is a break in continuity when Inga comes back to Kaliko, Klik, Rinkitink, and Bilbo. The first time, from Inga's point of view, Kaliko is grinning happily, and Klik is surprised. The next chapter backtracks to tell what Rinkitink had been doing, and when the same plot moment is reached, Kaliko is the one described as surprised to see Inga. The following chapter backtracks again to get Dorothy involved. The break from Kaliko pleased to Kaliko surprised could be simply a mistake, of course, but it could be a hint of the re-writing. Perhaps Kaliko was grinning because he had received pleasant news, including the news that Inga was about to come through the door. If so, the narrative might have continued with a mention that Kaliko started grinning when the Long Eared Hearer and the Lookout had come into the room and whispered something a moment before, and a conversation between Inga and Kaliko followed along these lines: "Give back my parents, or I'll use my strength to tear your kingdom down stone by stone." "I gave my word to Gos and Cor that I wouldn't. Of course, if you insist -- " "I insist." "I thought you might. Anyhow, one can't be held to a promise by someone who isn't around anymore, and the Long Eared Hearer and the Lookout just told me that Gos and Cor drowned. Take your parents, and welcome. By the way, goat, aren't you under a spell, and did you know that nome magic is good at shape-changing?" And so on through the restoration of Bobo and on to the end. Taking the re-write on its own terms, I rather like the change in Kaliko from avuncular to ambivalent once he gets to be king. His comments on the politics of what he has to do as king strike me as fairly plausible in explaining the difference in his behavior, and the uncertainty about which way Kaliko will jump at any time makes for some extra suspense and interest. So I like the story a good deal once it gets to the Nome Kingdom. I don't much care for the earlier parts, though, because Rinkitink's stereotype-jolly-lazy-fat-man humor gets rather tiresome. Ruth Berman ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 03 Jun 1998 21:58:25 -0400 (EDT) From: Orange5193@aol.com Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-03-98 To all concerned: Okay, here it is- my cast for a 'real' Oz film: Scarecrow: Kevin Kline Nick C: Kenneth Branagh Lion: Andreas Katsulas Witch of North: Patricia Routledge The Wicked Witch of the West: Sigourney Weaver Glinda: Uma Thurman The Wizard of Oz: Teller (he does speak, just not when working w/ Penn), but only because Alec Guiness is now too old. I do like the Charles Durning idea someone posted, however. Dorothy: Who can say- she's too young to be a household name and is probably acting on stage somewhere. James Doyle ====================================================================== Date: Wed, 03 Jun 1998 21:55:53 -0400 (EDT) From: OZways@aol.com Subject: OZZY DIGEST Thanks everyone for being so gracious on my "plug" as a source for OZ merchandise. Regarding the inquiry on the Dover publications. I carry most of the current stuff and can mail a list to interested parties. Sorry if I caused an upset on proclaiming the dates for the Munchkin convention being July31-Aug2. My objective was to clarify as I knew the dates printed in the Observer were wrong and I didn't want people to be misled. Not nice to shoot the messenger, Believe flyers were mailed last week. Marck Barry (OZways Something Collectibles). ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 00:52:03 -0400 (EDT) From: Ozisus@aol.com Subject: Oz post What song O'Brien and Garland sang in "Meet Me in St. Louis" isn't nearly so interesting a question to Oz fans as what song was proposed for their duet -- "Did You Ever See a Rabbit Climb a Tree?" by L. Frank Baum. Looking forward to seeing any of you in Lake Lawn. Jane Albright P.S. I'd throw in a few lines about religion, but I'm under the impression that this Digest is supposed to be about Oz... :) ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 12:17:29 -0400 (EDT) From: Kiex@aol.com Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-03-98 Chris Straughn: Hmm--I don't see it on your page (a Digest archive). I do see the Digest FAQ, though--maybe I misunderstood. Oh, I see--it's not a database of every Digest ever, but instead is better--a set of organized postings ... impressive! tyler: I go along with your lineup of essential Baum Oz books--and I'd choose _Scarecrow_ over _Glinda_, because I thought it was more important in the Ozzy realm. Casting suggestion: Perhaps what's-her-name, who played Princess Leia in the _Star Wars_ trilogy, as Ozma. Until next time, Jeremy Steadman P.S. Hey, everyone--if you haven't yet, see my webpage at http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/9619 !!! ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 13:47:02 -0400 From: "J. L. Bell" Subject: Oz and the three witchcrafts Sender: "J. L. Bell" Gordon Birrell wrote: <> Gabriel Garcia Marquez has even said that Rabassa's translation of ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE is better than his original. Edwards Fitzgerald's translation of THE RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM has also received such praise, and not just from people known for speaking with tongue in cheek (like Garcia Marquez). Jeremy Steadman wrote: <> Don't worried about Borders disappearing. The American Booksellers Assn's suit against the big bookstore chains is one of a series of antitrust actions concerned with book pricing policies. All the rest have been settled with agreements that slightly changed the way the publishing industry does business. Small, inefficiently managed bookstores are much more likely to go out of business than Borders (or the large, well run independent booksellers who make up most of the parties to this suit). Dave Hulan wrote: <> I read your argument (or, rather, Peter Glassman's) for ordering direct from Books of Wonder: the revenue goes to BoW's bottom line. But I've also stated my logic for making some purchases through retailers: seeing stock move encourages them to keep carrying and promoting the Oz books for new readers. [Speaking of which, I saw GLASS CAT in a Bethesda Borders this weekend.] About the choice of six Oz books for a library, Tyler Jones wrote: <> Exactly the dilemma produced by a limited budget [and what budget isn't?]. I also worried about leaving out TIK-TOK when that's the book in which Roquat gains a new name and loses his throne. But the kiddies will just have to cope. Dave Hulan asked: <> "Under the Bamboo Tree," a gentle little dance number in the family's living room. As for who <>, I'm stumped. I can tell you Hugo Friedhofer composed the score, and that the movie isn't mentioned in my one book on Sinatra's recordings. Adding to my ideal Oz-saga cast: Duke of Dork: Rudy Vallee, PALM BEACH STORY Isomere: Cyd Charisse, NINOTCHKA Orin: Claudette Colbert, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT Ree Alla Bad: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., THIEF OF BAGHDAD Sir Gauntlet: Robert Middleton, COURT JESTER Sir Greves: Stubby Kaye, GUYS AND DOLLS Tottenhots: Nicholas Brothers, ORCHESTRA WIVES (or the Cadillacs in GO, JOHNNY, GO!) Dave Hulan wrote: <> I was thinking that, too! But it's difficult to fit a flying nun around the little girl in LAND, much less the Polychrome twin whom Neill pictures in ROAD. Dave Hardenbrook complained, <> I think the reason is that Jellia undergoes profound changes in the course of the series, changes we don't notice because she's in the background until OZOPLANING. Just as Ozma becomes more serious when she assumes her throne, so Jellia shifts from a scamp to a busy manager as she assumes responsibility for the whole palace. Dave Hulan wrote: <> Those same illustrations make me think of her looking like a debutante; except for her little double chin in a couple of LOST PRINCESS drawings, she appears no older than 20--to me, at least. In WIZARD, chap. 23 [just before Baum says, "Her hair was a rich red"], Glinda is said to be "both beautiful and young to their eyes." For child readers, I assume "young" means "less than Mother's age," and indeed Glinda never seems maternal as much as like a favorite young aunt. In wisdom and manner, of course, Glinda seems much older--perhaps even more mature than her actual years. In that respect she makes me think of certain young women I've met (especially in the American South) whose age could be anywhere from 15 to 35, given their spooky combination of looks and poise. On my previous casting suggestions Dave Hardenbrook wrote: <> Whoever plays Omby Amby will have to be equipped with a long fake green beard. So why not choose a performer who's already seven feet tall, thin as a poker, bespectacled, and shaven-headed? When we look at the casting challenge that way, only one name comes to mind. As for Sarandon, remember how she used to change her hair's style and color for practically every film? Plus, she has the range to portray three distinct personalities. John W. Kennedy wrote: <> What evidence did those writers have of people's Satanic beliefs besides the confessions extracted by the witch-hunters? As shown by the story of Tituba (and by Ginzburg's THE CHEESE AND THE WORMS, as well as many examples in this century), many people who are confined, repeatedly interrogated, threatened, and in some cases tortured agree to what their interrogators want to hear--which necessarily fits into the interrogators' belief systems. In the case of witch-hunters, that meant belief in heretics in league with the devil. In medieval Europe, threatening religious views, whether they were Judaism, excessive leftover paganism, or true Satanism, were all lumped together as devilish. Islam was said to involve the worship of a diabolical trinity. [Muslims, in turn, interpreted the Christian trinity as evidence of polytheism.] Scholars' worldview limited how they recorded events: European sources make no mention of a supernova that Chinese astronomers studied and that modern astronomers can trace. And in the early modern period the witch-hunters were in control: Reginald Scott's treatise was opposed and suppressed by James I. Our sources about witchery from these times are necessarily biased. There's quite a lot of evidence showing that practices we'd call witchcraft existed separate from Satanic cults. For French peasants "it was one thing to believe in the Devil and quite another to attribute to the Devil the occasional efficacy of old wives' spells," as Laudrie writes in MONTAILLOU. Even the Christian church itself preserved rituals of pagan nature-worship by syncretizing its symbols and rituals: the Tannenbaum, mistletoe, the "green man" carved on Norman churches, and so on. The point is not that medieval and early modern Europe had no people calling themselves witches and seeking Satanic aid, or that all people so accused were actually pagans (much less all in organized cults). Rather, it's that witch-hunters--almost the only people to preserve first-hand accounts of these practices--were not good at distinguishing between those groups. Even today our outlooks color how we interpret others' beliefs; you see aspiring Satanists as <> to be guarded against, yet to me their faith seems no more demanding than belief in the Eucharist itself. How does this affect some people's view of all women labeled "witches"--even Glinda, Tattypoo, and Gloma--as diabolical and therefore unsafe for their children? Those readers probably share the medieval view that any faith not Christian (or at least monotheistic) is demonically inspired; Scott Hutchins's distinction between paganism and Satanism would mean nothing to them. Those people probably dislike how Dorothy solves her own problems without calling on their deity; prayer is a necessary ingredient for some Christian children's publishers. But it was not for that worldview that Baum created Oz. (I view the theory relating the Salem witch hysteria to hallucinogenic ergot as more revealing of the time in which it was advanced than of the 1690s. In the late 1960s and early 1970s there was also a spate of literary analyses of what substances authors like Coleridge and Carroll were ingesting--works that now sit in college libraries like archeological relics. I'm more struck by the theory in SALEM POSSESSED, which pointed out that almost all the accusers came from one side of Salem Village and almost all the accused from the other.) J. L. Bell JnoLBell@compuserve.com ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 13:49:54 -0500 (EST) From: sahutchi@iupui.edu Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-03-98 > IN DEFENSE OF JELLIA: > Poor Jellia! In the eyes of modern Oz authors she's degenerated into a > whiny neat-freak...Does *no one* recall her sprightly, mischievous side > in _Land_ and _Ozoplaning_? Dave: You absolutely have to see Rana Haugen as Jellia Jamb in the 1981 stage prodcution, available from MCA Videocassette, Inc. > > >Ozma: Elizabeth Taylor, NATIONAL VELVET (Dave Hardenbrook's suggestion) > > Well, my suggestion for a 1940's Ozma... Hey, she was a backer for Harry Smith's never-finished _Number 13_ aka _Oz_ aka _The Magic Mushroom People of Oz_ aka _Fragments of a Fate Forgotten_ aka _The Tin Woodman's Dream_ (Woodsman--sic) way back in 1962. The club is going to pay the $25.00 exhibition fee for the screening of the existing material for some club members in NYC, in the hope that it could be shown at the 1999 or 2000 conventions. > > Ozma: Chloe Annett, RED DWARF (TV) > > Glinda: Judy Davis, IMPROMPTU & A PASSAGE TO INDIA > > Jellia Jamb: Undecided; Current Front runners -- > Polly Walker, ENCHANTED APRIL & Leslie Caron, LILI > Don't know these... > Voice of the Tin Man*: Robert Llewelyn, RED DWARF (TV) or this... > > C. Lion: Bert Lahr, THE WIZARD OF OZ ( Why mess with perfection? :) ) Oh, really? Not very Baumian, but fun. > Ojo: Dean Stockwell, THE GREEN YEARS Can only see him as Al > For a film student I must be pretty lame, don't know these, either... > Voice of Tik-Tok*: David Tate, THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (Radio!) > > Betsey Bobbin: Jeanne Crain, MARGIE > > Trot: Margaret O'Brian, OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES > > Button-Bright: Butch Jenkins, OUR VINES HAVE TENDER GRAPES > > Cap'n Bill: Walter Huston, THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE > > Queen Aquarine: Sarah Brightman, on account of her oceanic DIVE album > > Ruggedo: Edward Arnold, EASY LIVING > > > Polychrome: Goldie Hawn, HOUSESITTER Yecch..too old and too perky! > And just to finish off, a few more movie credits: > > Directed and Produced by: Alexander Korda, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD Who writing? > Music by: Vangelis (Perhaps including excerpts from his albums DIRECT > and OCEANIC) You don't want an original score?? All in fun, Scott P.S.: A Tenniel-based non-Tenniel Jabberwock illo: http://php.iupui.edu/~sahutchi/monsterc/JABBOR.JPG ====================================================================== Date: Thu, 04 Jun 1998 18:42:43 -0700 From: sherwall Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-03-98 Does anyone know why I did not get the full Digest in its latest form? I have recently subscribed to another digest in my other mailing list, and that seems to be cutting itself off, too. I use a regular Netscape program (although it is 3.something) and I have switched off "maximum size" specifications in the Options menu. Any help? THanks Danny Wall ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 10:11:34 -0600 (CST) From: Ruth Berman Subject: ozzy digest - more Rinkitink The sharp-eyed Gordon Birrell asked about the four faces in the color plate of Inga in tree (opp. p. 48). I think he's right in identifying the initials by one as DGG and would suggest that the initials must be Dorothy Gray Gruger, daughter of a friend of Neill's. He put her full name into an illo of Princess Gloria in "Scarecrow," and Michael Patrick Hearn in his article on Neill "An Illustrator's Illustrator" ("Bugle," Spring 1994) suggested that she may have modeled for Gloria. I tried comparing the illos of Gloria against the tree-face by the DGG, but the tree-face image is done so sketchily that I can't tell at all if they portray the same person. MPH did not mention this illo in his article, but commented on some other personal references in the "Rinkitink" illos: p. 131 banquet illo has the name Virginia (but no face) hidden in a plate of fruit, and refers to Neill's niece Virginia Long; p. 313 swing illo has two faces hidden among the flowers, and one is labeled Sonny -- "Sonny" was one of Neill's nephews, Joseph Upton, Jr. (the other face isn't labeled, and MPH didn't venture a guess as to what person Neill had in mind, but it looks detailed enough to be clearly someone specific). "Hippolorum" -- I suspect that the "lorum" ending is in the tradition of fake Greek/Latin (as in the folktale of "Master of all Masters" -- which includes cockolorum, I think, in its string of gibberish). I think if Baum had really wanted to suggest a fancy word that would mean "horse's mouth," he would have stuck to one language and more plausible grammar than combining Greek hippo- with Latin os in a plural genitive form and then needing to add an extraneous letter in the middle. Something like hippomastix would have served. "Hippolorum" sounds more like something invented for the polysyllabic sound of it, and not for the meaning. Ruth Berman ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 16:10:20 -0400 From: "J. L. Bell" Subject: Oz in brief Sender: "J. L. Bell" A writer friend just forwarded the following to me: +++++++++++ Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets and then teams up with three complete stangers to kill again. -- TV listing for the movie, The Wizard of Oz, in the Marin Paper. +++++++++++ J. L. Bell JnoLBell@compuserve.com ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 17:02:43 -0500 From: jwkenne@ibm.net Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-03-98 If we're going to take any actor from any time, I honestly think Fairuza Balk is/was as good as could be wished for in a Denslow Dorothy. A Neill Dorothy is more of a problem. Jeremy Steadman wrote: >Speaking of witch-hunting: >Do we consider Arthur Miller an anti-witch hunter, or simply a satirist (ie >with _The Crucible_)? I think Miller was writing for an audience that rejected the possibility of witches outright. Calling him an "anti-witch hunter" would be sorta like calling Abraham Lincoln "anti-monarchist" -- true, but pointless. Carol Silva wrote: >An Open Letter from God: .... You know, what this says, in essense, is that: A) all religions are true, except for Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and all other religions that actually claim to have an historic basis, and B) religion is a complete exception to the otherwise universal rule that it's better to be knowledgeable than ignorant. It won't do, you know; it really won't. If you want to call Christianity (for example) a lie. go ahead and do so, but saying that it's true and not-true at the same time is just plain old doublethink, and unworthy of rational creatures. Or to put it another way, it's _silly_. Which is not to say that all truth comes in only one religion: I'm (much to my own continuing surprise) a Christian, but tonight I'll be attending synagogue. // John W Kennedy ====================================================================== Date: Fri, 05 Jun 1998 20:38:50 -0400 From: Richard Bauman Subject: Today's Oz Growls Sender: Richard Bauman Goodbye Friends, I'm off to the Nonestic Ocean for two weeks to look for Oz. Actually we are flying to Spain and then sailing to Istanbul on the Royal Princess with stops along the way. Oz is not on the itinerary but who knows? Regards, Bear P.S. Dave, the check is in the mail. Really. ====================================================================== Date: Sat, 06 Jun 98 09:53:10 (PDT) From: Dave Hardenbrook Subject: Ozzy Things RINKITINK AND KALIKO: Of all the Oz books on my shelf, this one is the only one that still looks new...I just don't read it much, knowing that it is really a non-Oz story. _Rinkitink_ is kind of analogous to Douglas Adams' _Life the Universe and Everything_, which started out as a _Doctor Who_ script and was only later re-hashed as a _Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy_ story. _Rinkitink_ is similarly a non-Oz book fitted into the Oz mold, although Baum at least had the sense to relegate the Oz characters to very near the end of the book... As for the "Nome King", this has of course produced much confusion, especially since Neill draws him to look like Ruggedo. _The World of Oz_ even misquotes, attributing a quote of Kaliko in _Rinkitink_ to Rug. Baum also refers to Kaliko as "The Nome King", which is confusing too, since I think in many people's minds, "The Nome King" *is* Ruggedo, even after his dethronement... It is a pity I think that likable Kaliko should thus turn evil...In the Canon, he at least has no lust to conquer Oz, although this changes in Gil Joel's _Healing Power of Oz_... MORE CASTING AND THE WITCHES OF OZ: Jeremy wrote: >Casting suggestion: >Perhaps what's-her-name, who played Princess Leia in the _Star Wars_ trilogy, >as Ozma. Carrie Fisher. :) J.L. Bell wrote: >Duke of Dork... Who he? ( I know "Duke of Dork" only in the context of in _Red Dwarf_ the Cat's description of his unwelcome alter-ego, Duane Dibbley. :) ) >Isomere: Cyd Charisse, NINOTCHKA Er, um...That was Greta Garbo in _Ninotchka_...You're thinking of the musical remake, _Silk Stockings_... >Orin: Claudette Colbert, IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT I go along with this... >Ree Alla Bad: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., THIEF OF BAGHDAD Once again, "never hoid"...Is this some Arabic villian in one of the Thompson books I haven't read, in which case I would suggest Conrad Veidt of the *other* _Thief of Bagdad_ ( The 1940, "H"-less version. :) ) > How does this affect some people's view of all women labeled >"witches"--even Glinda, Tattypoo, and Gloma--as diabolical and therefore >unsafe for their children? Those readers probably share the medieval view >that any faith not Christian (or at least monotheistic) is demonically >inspired; Scott Hutchins's distinction between paganism and Satanism would >mean nothing to them. That is indeed the fundamentalist view, I think, and an ancient one...The paganism = Satanism concept appears to have been the chief justification for the burning of the Alexandrian Library... That said, I thank those who have strived to keep the religion debate on an Ozzy level. For others however, I think the debate is getting out of hand and could we now take the UnOzzy aspects of the debate off the Digest and onto private E-mails please? -- Dave ====================================================================== -- Dave ************************************************************************ Dave Hardenbrook, DaveH47@delphi.com, http://people.delphi.com/DaveH47/ "We have enough food to last thirty thousand years but we've only got one After Eight mint left. And everyone's too polite to take it." -- Holly the computer, from _Red Dwarf_ ] c/ \ /___\ *** THE OZZY DIGEST, JUNE 7 - 10, 1998 *** |@ @| | V | \\\ |\_/| | ;;; \-/ \ ;/ >< ] ====================================================================== Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 16:39:10 -0400 (EDT) From: Kiex@aol.com Subject: Ozzy newsgroup? David L.: Please describe your current progress on the Ozzy newsgroup for me; I may have the info somewhere---or I might have it up at school, so that I have no access to it now. Thanks. ====================================================================== Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 22:22:36 -0400 From: Ted Nesi Subject: BoW Stuff.... Hi, all! My birthday was last Saturday, and I got $100 worth of Borders' gift certificates! Among my acquisitions were "The Road to Oz" and "Kabumpo in Oz" -- both Books of Wonder editions. They're just beautiful, and I just started "Road," which I have not read in years. I'd like to hear people's comments (if any) on these books, but I also have a question: has BoW released an edition of "Glinda of Oz" yet? The latest one my bookstore had was "Rinkitink." Ted -- **************************************************** * TED'S LUCILLE BALL PAGE * * TED'S MUPPET PAGE * * CLASSIC TELEVISION * * http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/6066/ * * * * THE UNOFFICIAL "WIZARD OF OZ" HOME PAGE * * http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/9151/ * **************************************************** ====================================================================== Date: Sat, 06 Jun 1998 15:57:21 -0400 From: Ted Nesi Subject: Frank Nelson Hi, all! Was the Frank Nelson who voiced the Hungry Tiger in "Oz" (1980), the same Frank Nelson who was famous for his roles in radio, on Jack Benny and Lucille Ball's television programs, etc.? He also gave voice to many Warner Bros. Looney Tunes characters. The 1980 film has also been known as "Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz," "Christmas in the Land of Oz," "Thanksgiving in Oz," "Christmas in Oz," "In the Land of Oz" and "Dorothy in the Land of Oz." Thanks in advance, Ted -- **************************************************** * TED'S LUCILLE BALL PAGE * * TED'S MUPPET PAGE * * CLASSIC TELEVISION * * http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/6066/ * * * * THE UNOFFICIAL "WIZARD OF OZ" HOME PAGE * * http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/9151/ * **************************************************** ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 12:00:18 -0400 (EDT) From: Kiex@aol.com Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-06-98 J.L. Bell: That's a terrible way to summarize _Wizard_! Accurate perhaps, but quite misleading... Dave: Thanks for planning to keep religion off the Digest. It doesn't belong here! (If I said where I thought it _does_ belong, I'd be censored and boycotted too...) Until next time, Jeremy Steadman http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Dimension/9619 ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 12:36:52 -0500 From: Gordon Birrell Subject: Ozzy Digest Ruth Berman: Thanks for your thoughtful comments on "hippolorum" and your clarification of the hidden faces in the _Rinkitink_ plate facing p. 48. I should have recognized the initials DGG from your earlier posting on _Scarecrow_. In the meantime, I see that the illustration on p. 131 not only has the name Virginia hidden amongst the fruit lower right, but also the name Eva up in the larger bowl of fruit upper left. Could Eva be Virginia Long's sister? I also think you are absolutely correct in locating the break between the original manuscript and the later one at the point where Inga emerges from his trials to confront the grinning Kaliko/Roquat. The subsequent stalemate between Inga and Kaliko does seem badly motivated, since Inga clearly has the means to destroy Kaliko's kingdom. After all the courage and ingenuity that Inga has demonstrated up to this point, it's grating that the denouement depends on Dorothy's intervention with the old tried-and-true egg threat, which was already getting a little stale in _Tik-Tok_. King Gos and Queen Cor on their separate islands seem to me to be a variation on a familiar Baum pattern: the protagonist faces two rulers, one male and the other female, both evil, corrupt, or otherwise ill-suited for governance. Think of _Ozma_, with Langwidere and Roquat; _Sky Island_, with the Boolooroo and Tourmaline; _Glinda_, with Coo-ee-oh and Su-dic; and the pattern may be prefigured in _WWoO_, with the Wicked Witch of the West and the Wizard, and even in _Land_ (both the Scarecrow and Jinjur are unsuitable rulers). I can imagine what the Freudian interpretation of this pattern would be, but even with Bear safely out of the country I won't enlarge on that interpretation here. :) Here's another little mystery: in the illustration on p. 305, Inga stands in the prow of the boat with Kitticut and Garee behind him and Rinkitink and Bobo farther back on either side of the boat. But who is that sixth figure who stands between Rinkitink and Bobo? --Gordon Birrell ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 15:11:41 -0700 From: "Stephen J. Teller" Subject: Ozzy stuff > From: Dave Hardenbrook > Subject: Ozzy Things > > > > MORE CASTING AND THE WITCHES OF OZ: > > >Ree Alla Bad: Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., THIEF OF BAGHDAD > > Once again, "never hoid"...Is this some Arabic villian in one of the > Thompson books I haven't read, in which case I would suggest Conrad Veidt > of the *other* _Thief of Bagdad_ ( The 1940, "H"-less version. :) ) > No! Douglas Fairbanks was the ultimate swashbuckler to whom Errol Flynn was an amature, Ree Alla Bad is the idealized bandit hero as OJO OF OZ. Concerning the original ending of KING RINKITINK, since the MSS doesn't exist we can only surmise how it would have ended, but I have always felt that the current ending is a let down. Inga performs all the tasks, which is more than Ojo did in PATCHWORK GIRL, and then does not get the reward himself. As for the transformation of Bibbli into Prince Bobo, this is really something of a disappointment, life the transformation of the magnificent Beast into the insipid Prince in Cocteau's LA BELLE ET LE BETE. I have a little problem, and maybe someone on the digest can help me with: There is a song that was used in the 1903 WIZARD OF OZ play, called "That's Where She Sits All Day." In it are the lines: "The first time I met her was at a Church Bazaar I asked her if she'd be my little Uamvar." I have no idea what that last word is supposed to mean. In a later transcription of the song it reads: "My little U. M. Vah" but that makes no more sense han the original. Any ideas out there? Steve T. ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 13:40:18 -0700 From: Robert Schroeder Subject: Ozzy Stuff Jeremy Steadman said: >Perhaps what's-her-name who played Princess Leia in the _Star Wars_ trilogy as Ozma.< Oh, you mean Carrie Fisher! Interesting idea, too bad she's almost 50 now...just a tad too old for Ozma. Yess, time does fly, especially when one is dealing with the '70's.... How about Jane Seymore (lately of _Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman_) as Glinda? Seymore seems, at least in the Dr Quinn role, to be even-tempered and wise, as I would expect Glinda to be. The girl who won the Oscar for _The Piano Lesson_ about three years ago...what is her name?....would be good as Ozma. I think she (the actress) is in her early teens now. Mae Whitman, who plays Sandra Bullock's daughter in _Hope Floats_ might be an interesting Ozma or Dorothy. Been thinking about someone who could play Ruggedo (the Nome King) and Robin Williams keeps popping up. We know he can do comedy, and he can play serious roles as well. I wonder if he can do a villian, well, as I envision Ruggedo, a gnome who thinks he is a villian but is really _Mork_ under the skin, should he be found out. Willie Nelson as Shaggy. Heck, no special makeup would be needed! And the voice would go well with the face. Just kickin' things around.... Robert ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 22:06:54 -0400 From: Tyler Jones Subject: Oz Sender: Tyler Jones Jeremy: It was Carrie Fisher who played Princess Leia. She would be a very good fit as Ozma, although it may incense the "Ozma is eternally a little girl" crowd. There was a girl in my high school who looked much like Ozma and was also on the drama team. Maybe I'll give her a call... (of course, she's 28 now, see the above problem). John Kennedy: I was also very impressed with Fairuza Balk in her performance. THere are always up and coming young actresses, if we can ever get this going. ********** SPOILER FOR PIRATES IN OZ ********** Dave: The Duke of Dork is the ruler of a tiny island of that same name in the Nonestic Ocean. Peter, Captain Salt, Ato and Roger meet him in his ship, which he has constructed to look like a flying castle. ********** END OF SPOILER ********** --Tyler Jones ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 21:27:42 +0000 From: Christopher Straughn Subject: Re: Ozzy Digest, 06-06-98 Comments: Authenticated sender is > Chris Straughn: > Hmm--I don't see it on your page (a Digest archive). I do see the Digest FAQ, > though--maybe I misunderstood. > Oh, I see--it's not a database of every Digest ever, but instead is better--a > set of organized postings ... impressive! The stuff on my page was never supposed to be a Digest Archive (I've only been here for about 7 months) but a File Archive of Ozzy stuff put together by Digesters. If you read the FAQ, there's a section something like "Is there a File Archive associated with the Digest?" and there is a list of files that you could get from Dave. Dave did all the work of compiling everything, I don't take credit for that. I'm considering putting up certain books, such as Sea Fairies and Sky Island, but am not sure as they are in a totally unreadable format. To see what I mean by unreadable, go to http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1868/seafarie.txt and try reading a few paragraphs. (If what I wrote in the preceding paragraph makes any sense, you can consider yourself among the few who understand my e-mail.) Chris Straughn Bonan Tagon! ====================================================================== Date: Sun, 07 Jun 1998 23:21:59 -0400 From: "J. L. Bell" Subject: RINKITINK IN OZ (or woz he?) Sender: "J. L. Bell" Thanks to Gordon Birrell for pointing out the hidden faces and initials in Neill's RINKITINK color art opposite page 88, and to Ruth Berman for listing more examples of games Jno. R. Neill played. Ruth wrote that the <