A large section is dedicated to the storyteller’s beginning titles and follow-up fairy tales in the Oz series which continued after his death in 1919. Of the lesser known silent movie versions filmed from 1908, it is the 1925 production with Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy fame) that runs at the museum.

Further on more short film clips and promotional ads play on wall mounted screens, while posters grace the walls. Shelf after shelf brim with coloring books, toys, dolls, hand puppets, Christmas ornaments, figurines and paper doll cutouts. Even pages from the movie script, Diana Ross’ dress from 1978 film, The Wiz, and Oz board games from Parker Brothers are featured here. Other notables include an original prop from the movie, a small rubber flying monkey, original costume sketches and test shots of the stars fully made up and dressed for their parts in the film.

Riding the wave of popularity, the Oz brand appeared on toiletries such as shampoo, bubble bath, body powder and cologne, and even extended to cake mix, frosting, peanut butter, pear juice and two types of ale, Emerald City and Flying Monkey (still being bottled and sold to this day.)

In the movie plot it was the wicked witch who yearned for Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and over six decades later someone, somewhere wanted them too. In 2005 the pair belonging to Los Angeles collector, Michael Shaw, disappeared from Judy Garland’s birthplace museum in Grand Rapids , Minnesota , two months before they were to arrive at the OZ Museum in Wamego , KS for the town’s newest festival, OZtoberfest. Of the remaining (authentic) three pairs, two are in private collections and one is on display in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington , D.C.

Those of us fortunate enough to visit that year, came face to face with Michael Shaw’s prized original collectibles, Dorothy’s gingham dress, the witch’s pointed hat, the Munchkin’s soldier coat and hat and a pair of jeweled gloves from Emerald City, but not the oh-so-famous ruby slippers.

“They were the close-up pair, the heel-clicking, witch-touching pair, slightly darker shade of burgundy because they were using close-ups and they were in beautiful condition even though I did have some professional restoration done on them,” said the Los Angeles collector. Shaw’s greatest hope is that whoever took them is taking good care of them. He recalls wearing gloves to hold the delicate 67-year-old treasures and now fears they would fall apart if anyone attempts to put them on.

They were designed by the great MGM designer Adrian and made by the Inez Shoe Co. in Pasadena , Hollywood , and decorated with 46 red rhinestones, 42 bugle beads and three red jewels on the bow. As to the sequined overlay, Shaw has heard two conflicting stories. One said that the sequins were put on at Western Costume, while the other claimed they were done by sequin experts at MGM. The bows were made in the Leather Department at MGM, then put together and dispatched to designer Adrian’s office for approval before they were finally sent down to the set. Four pairs worn by Judy Garland bearing her name have been authenticated and while speculation has had them at eight pairs, the other four were never found.

The Los Angeles collector got the bug when studios were “literally throwing things away” starting with original posters that he deemed magnificent works of art, and “very inexpensive” at the time. Tipped off by a friend who was cataloging costumes and accessories for the MGM auction, Shaw acquired The Wizard of Oz memorabilia because it was one of his favorite movies.

The originals didn’t show up, but the 50 th anniversary commemorative ruby slippers that the Ted Turner organization gave Shaw were exhibited at the museum until January 2005. Although Dorothy’s slippers on permanent display are a replica, the Wamego museum’s showpiece is its tiniest item – a single sequin from a pair actually worn in the MGM film. A note dated February, 1988 confirms its origin: “I certify that this loose sequin came from my pair of Ruby Slippers size 6B. I received these Ruby Slippers in a contest 48 years ago. These Ruby Slippers were worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz.” – Roberta J. Bauman. Ms. Bauman was a student in 1940 when she won a pair of the star’s slippers in the “Name the 10 Best Movies of 1939” contest. (The slippers were auctioned at Christie’s in 1988 for $165,000.)

Just doors away at 521 Lincoln is the Columbian Theatre, filled with three amazing wall-to-wall murals from the 1893 Columbia Exposition which form a colorful backdrop for live dinner shows. The “ White City ” featured at the Exposition had magnificently decorated pathways and it is believed they strongly influenced L. Frank Baum’s creation of the Emerald City in his book.

After enjoying all the tributes to OZ, visitors can go treasure hunting for antiques and collectibles in Wamego and visit the Old Dutch Mill, once used to grind grain on the Schonhoff family farm, 12 miles north of the city. Built in 1879, the 40-foot-tall windmill was dismantled in 1924, stone by stone, and together with its machinery, transported by horse-drawn wagons to Wamego where it now towers over the City Park . In 1988 residents got together to restore the mill and began grinding grain to produce flour and corn meal for local consumption.

While in Wamego, the place to stay is the Victory Inn, owned by Tony and Tracy Humphreys. The couple met while serving in the United States Army in Wuerzburg , Germany , fell in love and realized they shared the same dream of opening a B&B after retiring. Built in 1868 as a four-room home for businessman, banker and State Senator, Leonard C. Prunty and his family, a seven-room extension and wraparound porch eventually completed the home for the original owner. Guest accommodation in Miss Victory Suite, The War Room, The Bistro Room, The Wuerzburger Room and No Place Like Home feature one-of-a-kind décor with a European flair (honed by the Humphreys’ Continental years.) There are enough reasons to visit again - plush terry robes, canopy beds, original claw foot tub and the 17-window sun porch if you book the suite.

A short distance away is Paxico, a tiny town (population 211) with a cluster of antique stores. I drove into town before heading to the airport and browsed through WB Antiques, where they offer “the old, the unusual, the beautiful, the rare, the best.” Not to be outdone, Main St. Antiques boasts their shop is “Where the “past” is always present!” Besides all the wonderful trinkets for sale, I enjoyed wandering around Mill Creek Antiques just to gaze at the pot-bellied stoves (they “restore, buy and sell authentic stoves.”) Many buildings from the late 1800s such as the general store, local bank and doctor’s office are crammed with jewelry, old tools, books, magazines, dolls and toys of a bygone era. There are about a dozen of these treasure-filled shops, just remember to leave some room when you pack your bags!

If time and space permits, Merry Brewer (yes, that’s her real name) would love to see you at Wyldewood Cellars to sample her wines. There are 20 varieties including Blackberry, Sand Plum, Cherry, White Sambucus, Blueberry, Concord and Elderonia, plus an additional six that are bottled with the K-State Wildcat label. Fruit based jellies, honey spreads, vinegars and syrups are also produced at the winery. If nothing else, try the award-winning elderberry and elderflower wines, and tell Merry I sent you!