Failure™ Magazine

The Wizard of Oz

We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Written by Jason Zasky   Filed under Arts & Entertainment

But while the merchandise and collectables generate a tremendous amount of money for the companies that produce it, not everyone is happy with the revenue distribution. Barry Bregman, Jack Haley’s grandson, says, “My grandfather only agreed to license one doll of his image for the promotion and advertising of the original release.” Bregman, who has worked in Hollywood as a record producer and as a staff writer for BMG [believe it or not he’s written with rock artist Toto], has an understanding of how royalties are normally paid and would like to see the actors’ estates compensated. “My grandfather’s contract was not in perpetuity and I’m getting very close to challenging this whole thing,” he says. “We do get paid on the soundtrack but it’s a sin that we don’t get any home video residuals.” Meanwhile, Bregman has just published his grandfather’s autobiography (“Heart of the Tin Man”) and is selling limited edition copies as well as re-touched images of his grandfather on a new Web site.

For most of the descendants of the creators of Oz, the impact is a lot simpler. “I’ve been a teacher for 33 years,” says Robert Baum, “and when kids recognize my name and say, ‘Oh, that’s the same name,’ I say, yes, that’s my great-grandfather. It’s a very handy way of catching the attention of the kids. They are far more willing to listen and learn.”

Today, with the Harry Potter series the hottest book series around, there is a similar effect on children (and adults) as the Oz series had 100 years ago. “I think the Harry Potter phenomenon is wonderful and those books have a great deal of the same kind of appeal and clout that the Oz books book did,” says Fricke. For Fricke, the bottom line is that both Potter and Oz are simply great entertainment, and he is perturbed when people try to inject hidden meaning. “All the stupid people who do the harping on, ‘Oh, the Wizard of Oz is a parable on the populist movement, or we should look at it from a feminist point of view or a Marxist or sexual or religious point of view’—get over it. I’m sorry, this is just supposed to be for fun folks.”

See also:
Finding Oz, including a link to a picture of what remains of Peekskill, New York’s Yellow Brick Road.
Wonka Vision: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

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