Posted on 09/01/2004 11:03:15 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
CHESTERTON, Ind. (AP) - Two top Munchkins won't be taking the Yellow Brick Road to Chesterton's annual Oz Festival this month because of a contract dispute.
Jerry Maren, who played the Lollipop Kid in "The Wizard of Oz," and Karl Slover, who played the First Trumpeter in the 1939 musical, have been regular attendees at past festivals in the town about 15 miles east of Gary.
But the two former Munchkins were "disinvited" this year following a flap over their agent's request that organizers pay his travel expenses, said Karen Spallina, president of Lakeshore Festival and Events.
Two other former Munchkins - Margaret Pellegrini and Clarence Swensen - still are scheduled to attend the Sept. 17-19 festival.
In the past, organizers have dealt directly with the former Munchkins, Spallina said. But this year Maren and Slover referred her to their agent, Ralph Zellem.
Former Munchkins receive $750 for their weekend visit, plus paid airfare, hotel and meals, Spallina said.
However, Zellem wanted organizers to pay his expenses as Slover's traveling companion and allow him to set up a booth to sell Munchkin merchandise, said Spallina, who refused both requests.
The festival traditionally has paid for Munchkins' traveling companions, but has a policy against including promoters, she said.
"This is a festival for the Munchkins," Spallina said. "We want to keep our focus on that."
Maybe Paul Hamm could take his place.
lol.. He's gonna be plenty busy already,, maybe his twin could go . ;-)
Maren looks remarkably well-preserved -- that movie was made 65 years ago!!
Who is representing the Lolly Pop Guild in all this?? :-)
You know, I'm starting to suspect that movie has stereotyped them and typecast their careers. Hope they can move forward in their art.
Ozfest?
One greedy agent screwed up the gig for the rest of them. These little guys are in their eighties, how many more nostalgia shows can they do?
Fire the agent and let them hawk their own T-shirts.
Judy Garland Museum .. some good info on the cast of Wizard of Oz
Sigh - dumb reporter alert
This is NOT a contract dispute. No contract is in place this is called negotiations or perhaps even failed negotiations.
Karl Slover
I have been to the Wizard of Oz museum there. It's a house/gift shop. It has a special tour back room with lots of Wizard of Oz memoribilia.
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