My very first memories center around the Wizard of Oz. It was 1989-90. I was surprisingly only two years old, but I can remember going to Toys R Us and getting the 50th Anniversary Wizard of Oz doll set. Not once, but numerous times, considering I over-played w/ them, losing clothes and accessories in the process. There was practically a whole row of Oz items availabe. Dolls, sun glasses, wind-ups, even 'dress up' Ruby Slippers. It was heaven to me and I never thought it would end, but of course, it did! The magic would retunr once a year when Oz was broadcast on CBS. My entire family would gather 'round the TV and I was enchanted for 2 hours. Hoping it would never end. Soon there were barely anyOz items to be found and it that seemed the spark was gone.  I LOVED it. I LOVED this movie. I would always be drawing Oz, thinking Oz, talking Oz or watching Oz. I think, just in 3 years I had recieved 6 or more copies of the 50th Anniversary Edition video, because I kept waring the tape down. I drove my family crazy. One of the greatest things I have ever seen, came when I was 9 years old. The Wizard of Oz on ice. I LOVED it, of course. It seemed so magical and real. I swarmed the souviegner booths and bought all that I could get my hands on; program Books, tin man cups, figurines, plush toys and so much more, but it seemed less and less Oz was around the older I got. Now, fast forward. November 6th 1998. The Wizard of Oz is re-released into theaters! It was everywhere. Kids at school were talking about it. The TODAY show was practically dedicated to Oz, QVC hosted another WB/ Wizard of OZ studio Store and it couldn't have been better. Seeing the film on the big screen was an "experiance I"ll never forget!"  The color, the sound, Judy. It was all there, bigger and better than ever! The only thing that could've topped this event was if I had met a munchik or seen the Ruby Slippers in person. One of these dreams came true. In May of 2001 I took a class trip to Washington D.C. I even got to shake hands with President Bush, but that wasn't my highlight. When we ventured to the famed Smithsonian, there they were! My heart sunk; my friends stood amazed, but they couldn't have felt nearly as excited as I did.

The greatest moment in the film, for me, is when Dorothy opens the door of her Kansas farm-house and steps out into all the glory of Oz! There is NOTHING like experiencing that for the first time. You're flooded with various colors and thoughts. "What just happened"? "Where's Kansas"? It's overwhelming for a moment until Dorothy breaks the silence...

"Toto... I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore"!

There it is. One of the most famous lines in film history. Indeed, we're not in Kansas anymore, but where are we? Oz. A Technicolor world "Over the Rainbow". A world where dreams DO come true. Every second... from Follow the Yellow Brick Road, to meeting the scarecrow to discovering the Emerald City. Timeless. The journey for brains, heart, courage and home, became so much more than that. Wicked witches, dancing scarecrows, tornados, cowardly lions, Ruby slippers, Emerald cties! It's Oz. The GREATEST STORY OF ALL TIME!

All in all, the Wizard of Oz will always be around. It started out as "just another movie", but it was destined to become one of the greatest films ever made. The "Number 1 family film of all time" according to AFI. It features the "Number 1 film song of all time", "It's the most seen film of all time, with 3 billion viewers since it's release in 1939; and "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas aynmore." has recently been named the 4th most memorable line in movie history. Vist the "My Oz Collection" page for a glimpse of my memorbilia and also what's up for sale!