Australia’s biggest Wizard of Oz collector returns to Oz Funland for the Seniors Festival 2023.
For three days only – from Wed 8th to Fri 10th February – Rainbow Crossing Inc. will present an exhibition of Dorothy Overton’s Wizard of Oz memorabilia.
82-year-old Dorothy Overton began collecting over 50 years ago and in her home today, Dorothy ducks, Tinman teddy bears, Cowardly Lion Barbie dolls and Kermit the Frog dressed up as the Scarecrow rub shoulders with original 1939 movie foyer cards and posters.
“As a child I was introduced to the Wizard of Oz movie and because the heroine was also named Dorothy, I became caught up in everything Oz”, she says.
The collection first started with a few postcards and birthday cards, then a silver charm bracelet that John, her late husband of 50 years, gave her.
“We then found a china doll replica of Judy Garland gathering dust at the back of an op shop which I absolutely had to have and the rest is history!” Ms Overton says.
Soon her eclectic collection today grew into rooms full of sets of dolls, posters, T-shirts, hats, books, figurines, plates, jewellery and other Oz miscellany.
Even when Dorothy travels, the itinerary is Oz inspired. Travelling to America for example, she had to stay at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas only because it was then made over like the Wizard of Oz with the wicked witch flying across the sky, munchkin buffet and yellow brick road all through the building.
Dorothy lists her “greatest thrill” as meeting Margaret Pellegrini, one of the original 1939 Munchkins, in Sydney.
A personal friend of Oz Funland’s director Brian Laul, the late Ms Pellegrini had flown down specially to appear in his Wizard of Oz production wearing a replica of the Flowerpot Munchkin outfit that she wore in the 1939 film.
“We are absolutely thrilled to once again host Dorothy’s exhibition in Macarthur where she has agreed to share special pieces from her collection from Oz cows, teapots & toilet paper to dolls autographed by the original 1939 MGM movie Munchkins,” Mr Laul said.
He invites locals to stop by for a chat with Dorothy and discover lots of interesting Oz trivia, like how Dorothy’s famous Ruby Slippers weren’t even red to begin with!
The exhibition is open from Wed 8th to Fri 10th Feb, 10am to 1pm daily.
The $10 entry includes Devonshire Tea, Oz Bingo, Q&A with Dorothy Overton and a walk down the yellow brick road filled with magical photo opportunities.
For more details phone 4626 7777 or CLICK HERE to book.
