Brush With Greatness | TOTALLY Collectible

CAST OF THE WIZARD OF OZ
Judy Garland – Dorothy Gale
Ray Bolger – The Scarecrow, Hunk
Jack Haley – Tin Woodsman, Tin Man, Hickory
Bert Lahr – Cowardly Lion, Zeke
Billie Burke – Glinda the Good Witch of the North
Margaret Hamilton – Wicked Witch of the West, Elmira Gulch
Charles Grapewin – Uncle Henry
Clara Blandick – Aunt Em, Auntie Em
Frank Morgan – The Wizard, Professor Marvel, Doorman of Oz, Horse of a Different Color Cabbie, The Wizard's Guard

The Munchkins
Jerry Maren – Lollipop Kid
Meinhardt Raabe – Munchkin Coroner
Clarence Swensen - Soldier
Betty Tanner – Townsperson / Sleepyhead
Mickey Carroll – Town Crier / Fiddler
Nels Nelson - Townsperson
Lewis Croft - Soldier
Karl Slover – Munchkin Trumpeter
Margaret Pellegrini – Sleepyhead & Townsperson
Pat Walshe - Nikko - Head Flying Monkey

Victor Fleming - Director
Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson & Edgar Allan Woolf - Screenplay
Mervyn LeRoy - Producer
Based on the book by L. Frank Baum

MOVIE SUMMARY:
The Wizard of Oz is arguably the most beloved movie of all time. This MGM movie classic was released in 1939 – considered Hollywood’s golden year of movie-making. The film received many Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. It’s song “Over the Rainbow” (Somewhere Over the Rainbow) won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The movie was based on the 1900 book written by L. Frank Baum. Filmed in Technicolor splendor, the movie delighted children of all ages and continues to do so today.

The movie follows the story of Dorothy Gale, a 12 year old orphan living in Kansas with her Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and beloved dog Toto. We follow Dorothy’s story starting where she longs for a fantasy land where there “isn’t any trouble”. As if her prayers couldn’t be answered soon enough, a tornado comes and whisks Dorothy (and her farm house) to the Land of Oz. She sets out on a journey down the Yellow Brick Road from Munckinland to the Emerald City. Dorothy dons the famous Ruby Slippers – filled with magic and powers – for the journey. The good witch, Glinda the Witch of the North, gives her some quick advice and off show goes. Along the way she befriends a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and a Cowardly Lion. They join her on her journey to the see The Wizard of Oz himself – as each of them hope to ask the Wizard for the one thing they long for to make themselves complete – a home, a brain, a heart, and courage. All the while, the Wicked Witch of the West follows and torments Dorothy and her friends along the way. In the end, Dorothy and her friends not only end up saving all of Oz from the tyranny of The Wicked Witch, but find that true friendship and love lies within. Each is rewarded by finding out they have always possessed what they longed for – and despite the grandeur and opulence of the big city, Dorothy realizes – there’s no place like home.

ANDY’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE STARS FROM OZ:

Margaret Hamilton - Andy has always wanted to meet the cast of The Wizard of Oz. Ironically, Andy got her number from the Manhattan phone book. Having luck when he called, he told her he was a super fan of both her and The Wizard of Oz. He asked if she would sign a few things for him. She said she would be delighted, and invited him to her apartment for a visit. She made tea and sandwiches, took pictures (photo above), and she signed everything he had. They talked and had a great time. She invited him back for more visits. A friendship ensued where Andy visited multiple times and took her on errands around New York.

The Munchkins – multiple meetings with the Munchkins. A total of 9 Munchkins came to Andy’s home (photo above) for visits and signings of the Oz posters.

CAST OF THE MUNSTERS
Fred Gwynne – Herman Munster
Yvonne DeCarlo – Lily Munster
Al Lewis – Grandpa Munster
Butch Patrick – Eddie Munster
Beverly Owen – Marilyn Munster 1
Pat Priest – Marilyn Munster 2

SHOW SUMMARY

The Munsters is revered amongst the most classic television sitcoms of the 1960’s. It ran from 1964-1966 for a total of 70 episodes. Each week, viewers were invited into the family home of monsters living at 1313 Mockingbird Lane in Mockingbird Heights. America got to see that even being a monster offers the same challenges of daily life that we all face – of course with a twist. It ran on television at the same time as with The Addams Family – making kooky family life a staple on television.

ANDY’S PERSONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THE STARS

Fred Gwynne - Andy met Fred multiple times. Interestingly, Fred wouldn’t sign anything Munsters related. Fred was known not to sign or even discuss anything about The Munsters – and Andy got to see this first hand. The fourth time they met was at Al Lewis’ New York restaurant while dining with Fred & Al. Fred was an artist whose work was displayed in art galleries and Andy saw Fred at many of his art functions.

Yvonne DeCarlo - she called Andy, ‘my third son’ because he possessed a quality that reminder her of her own sons. Living on opposite coasts, they had many long phone conversations. She would always reminisce about show business, her experiences and the people she knew. While she also shied away from talking about the Munsters, she truly loved playing the role of Lily Munster.

Butch Patrick - A long-time friend of Andy’s. They met through a mutual friend. Butch often stayed at Andy’s house where many hours were spent talking about the show and Butch’s Hollywood experiences. They had planned to do a book called "Life's a Butch" and a documentary together about Butch and even taped some preliminary interviews. Butch signed many items for Andy – some of which are available on this website. One time, Butch and Andy were invited to a restaurant opening in Connecticut where many stars from classic 1960’s & 1970's television (and more) were attending (photo above). The stars included: George Takei & James Doohan from Star Trek; Donna Douglas of The Beverly Hillbillies; Jerry Mathers of Leave it to Beaver; Pat Priest, Al Lewis & Butch Patrick of the Munsters; Paul Peterson of The Donna Reed Show; Jeannie Russell of Dennis the Menace; Garrett Morris of Saturday Night Live; Jon Provost from Lassie; Brian Robbins from Head of the Class; Christopher Hewett of Mr. Belvedere; Joyce Randolph of The Honeymooners; Kate Linder of Young and the Restless.

Al Lewis - Andy and Al spoke on the phone frequently over a multi-year period until his death.

Pat Priest - After Andy met Pat at the restaurant opening in Connecticut, a friendship started. They talked often over a many year period.

Beverley Owen - Andy was able to obtain many autographs from her after she refused many times. An autograph from her is rare and she wants nothing to do with fans or The Munsters.