Author: Jane Albright

Oz Club Vice President Cindy Ragni received the L. Frank Memorial Award July 25. Cindy, who has been a devoted Oz reader since childhood, joined the Club two decades ago. Since then she has written for The Baum Bugle, helped with conventions, joined committees, contributed to Club projects, helped with the management of Club operations, and served on the Club’s Board of Directors. There is no Club member today who is more enthusiastic about sharing knowledge of Oz and its creators, helping collectors, and supporting the many activities of the Club. While Cindy is always busy Oz responsibilities and activities, many of you will particularly remember her in-depth feature article in the Winter 2025 issue of The Baum Bugle, “Project Ozma, the First Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.” At atmospheric scientist by profession, her article addressed the pioneering SETI work of another Oz fan, Dr. Frank Drake. Want more details? We have them! You can learn much more about Cindy right here.  The L. Frank Baum Memorial Award Each year, the International Wizard of Oz Club presents the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award to a person (or persons) who has made significant contributions to the work and purposes of the Club. Under the Club’s bylaws, the recipient is selected by the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award Committee, comprising all living previous award recipients. Nominees are considered for: Educating and encouraging the interest of members and the general public in the writings of L. Frank Baum and other authors about the Land of Oz; Facilitating the collecting of works related to Oz and its creators; Promoting research about authors, illustrators, critics, and other matters related to Oz; Encouraging original writing and other forms of expression about Oz; and Providing forums for people to meet and share their interest in the phenomenon of Oz. For a list of past recipients, and links to their individual profiles, see the L. Frank Baum Memorial Award Winners in the About section of our website. Here’s a direct link.     

A distinction of TeslaCon events is how effectively they create an immersive experience. One key to that is attendees taking on the persona of an “in-world inhabitant.” For the weekend, everyone is encouraged to attend as someone we’d find in Oz.  Of course that can be a well-known or more obscure character. But you can also create your own Oz inhabitant. You might be Tollydiggle, the Wogglebug’s original grade school teacher, or a Gillikin farmer. with a bunch of purple carrots. Come as the tinsmith who made the Tin Woodman or the maker of green glasses. Be a Flutterbudget! Maybe represent the Braided Man with an offering his finest Rustles and Flutters. Props of some kind—carried, worn—become conversation starters to help attendees meet others.  At TeslaCon, costumes aren’t just a contest. Yes, the Friday night costume event has parade aspects, but throughout the weekend you can be Ozma’s personal seamstress with a measuring tape around your neck. Or a palace gardener by carrying an emerald-handled garden shovel on your belt. Make an Emerald City street map, dress in green and just-like-that you’re a tour guide. The possibilities are bound only by the limits of your imagination. Flights of fantasy into futuristic, alternative histories are prevalent among Steampunk fans; together our creative characters will help immerse us all into the marvelous Land of Oz.  You can ease your way into the TeslaCon experience through the event website. The Frequently Asked Questions section, and the information for Newcomers Guide are quick reads.

There was a common theme across our attendees, that hadn’t been on the program, Keeping L. Frank Baum’s Spirit Alive in the 21st Century, so we’ve made it a panel. Our concluding event Sunday, moderated by John Bell, now taps a handful our number to discuss ways they work to keep L. Frank Baum in the public eye. They certainly aren’t alone—nearly all of us promote Baum and Oz in our own way—but that would be too big a panel!  So who’s around the table? We’ll hear from these six, and wrap up with discussion as time allows: Sue Boland who’s writing articles about Baum for publication after years of volunteering and serving as a tour guide for the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation; Laura DeNooyer, who was on our 2024 program, cast a true-to-life character of L. Frank Baum in her award-winning historic fiction novel, A Hundred Magical Reasons; Chris Glasgow, Curator of the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas who works with displays, public speaking, and public events, Otis Frampton who is producing The Patchwork Girl of Oz as a comic series for today’s kids. (Otis presentation about his work precedes this panel with just a bit of breathing room between them); Bob Lamont who has recently created new songs using Baum’s writing–you heard them Friday night; And Michael Raabe who brought Baum singing and dancing to the Florida stage in his new musical. If you were at our 2024 convention, you heard him talk about the production and perform some of the music. Moderator John Bell is well-known himself for his original Oz fiction and research work. Come expecting to be encouraged by the commitment and creativity these panelists bring to their projects. Who knows? It might even give you ideas for projects of your own….  

Join longtime Oz Club member and performer Zoe O’Haillin-Berne for a journey down Yellow Brick Roads built far beyond the pages of L. Frank Baum’s beloved books. In Off to Build the Yellow Brick Road, Zoe explores the rich and varied history of Oz-themed attractions and venues from around the world. From theme parks nestled in the mountains and along Australia’s Gold Coast to enchanting public parks and gardens, this presentation offers a fascinating look at how fans and creators have brought the Land of Oz to life in the real world. Through engaging visuals and insightful comparisons, Zoe examines how these venues differ (or don’t) in design, operation, and visitor experience—while highlighting the common thread of Oz magic that ties them all together. Drawing on her own experiences performing as both the Scarecrow and the Wicked Witch, including at the Land of Oz in North Carolina and with her traveling troupe The Spirit of Oz, Zoe shares personal reflections that add depth and heart to this colorful exploration. Whether you’re a seasoned Oz traveler or simply curious about where the Yellow Brick Road leads beyond the screen and stage, this talk promises to be both informative and enchanting. Meet Zoe Zoe O’Haillin-Berne has been a devoted member of the International Wizard of Oz Club for 25 years, having joined at the age of 10. Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, she currently serves on the Club’s Board of Directors and chairs the Membership & Publicity Committee. Zoe studied Theatre and English at Ball State University and is now pursuing her Master’s degree at Harvard University. A lifelong Oz enthusiast, Zoe is the founder and Wicked Witch performer for The Spirit of Oz, a traveling troupe of Oz characters that has brought the magic of Oz to audiences across the country. She also performed as the Scarecrow at the iconic Autumn at Oz festival in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Her talk, Off to Build the Yellow Brick Road, explores the many venues where Oz lives on today—at many of which she’s had the joy of performing firsthand.  

Note: I drafted this blog in Aberdeen June 11, only to learn of Sally Wagner’s death on the drive home. I didn’t have the heart at the time to express excitement about our convention under the weight of that news. But the draft is still here, I’ve managed to absorb Sally’s death, and the convention rolls on. So I decided to go ahead and share it as a little sliver of my time planning our convention. Jane Albright here. I had a carload of Oz art to drive to Aberdeen, so booked a few nights at the Quality Inn where our rooms are reserved in July, and headed north. I was fortunate to arrive early enough Sunday evening to spend some time on the Yellow Brick Road. Expanded and improved since I was last there more than 20 years ago, it was a treat to enjoy this interactive Oz experience. And the gift shop is full of Oz! I loaded two bags. Monday morning I stopped at the hotel’s breakfast buffet (scrambled eggs and sausage) then drove to the K.O. Lee Library. I met with Cara Perrion to see our meeting space options, and spend some time gasping at treasures in the library’s L. Frank Baum Collection. Then it was off to unload. The Aberdeen Recreation and Cultural Center is across the street from the library in a remodeled and expanded historic high school. The campus now boasts 178,000-square-feet of office and activity space for the community. A 55×30 foot art gallery on the ground level transformed over the next few days into the Eclectic Art exhibit of original art and signed prints from my Oz collection. An area on the second floor with a stage will transform into our evening event space for Friday and Saturday nights. That evening I had a wonderful visit to Easton Castle, a private home we’ll see Saturday morning on our tour. Built as an impressive residence for the Bliss family while Baum was in Aberdeen, the exterior was later covered in yellow brick, giving it a castle-like facade. Baum mentioned the residence in the Pioneer, and particularly admired the private library on the second floor. It’s been in the Holman family since 1967. The daughters who grew up in it still live there today and have fond memories of Matilda Jewel Gage’s visits to the home. By Tuesday (cheese omelettes and ham) the gallery staff had matters there well in hand, so I was off to meet with the caterer, a local reporter and the gallery’s social media content provider. I also got a detailed tour of our evening space and crossed dozens of questions off my list. I stopped to arrange a case of books in the gallery that represent books in which art on display has been published. Later that afternoon I met with our tour guide to work on the path we’ll follow to see area sites from Baum’s day. I attempted to find a few myself later, and can only say I’m glad we’ll have a bus driver. Aberdeen numbers both streets that go north and south and streets that run east and west leaving you staring at the sign on an intersection of 2nd St. and 2nd Ave, wondering where on earth you’re supposed to go. If only the Scarecrow had been there to point me in the right direction. Wednesday (biscuits and gravy) put me on track to the Convention and Visitors bureau. The staff there is making our name tags and providing us with bags of Aberdeen literature. Except I wanted more, so stopped at the Dakota Prairie Museum and returned to both the library and Storybook Land to pick up additional fliers. With a last check-in at the gallery and call to the company to confirm our 56-passenger air conditioned bus with a PA system, it was time to head back to Kansas City.  

While recently in Aberdeen preparing for our convention, I had a wonderful visit to the fascinating Easton Castle. The original 22-room Queen Ann house was built by EA Bliss in 1889 on a hill northwest of town. He painted it green. The exterior was later clad in yellow bricks by the second owners, prompting locals to begin calling it Easton Castle.  Frank Baum visited and mentioned it in his paper, The Saturday Evening Pioneer. His character “Mrs Bilkins” described parties hosted in the big green house on the hill. If I remember correctly, Baum particularly admired the second floor library. No surprise; I saw it and gasped.  The house also was also a favorite of Matilda Jewell Gage. She could see it from her own home as a child and served as the Easton’s insurance agent as an adult. The current owners remember her fondly. Sally Roesch Wagner had a bit of a 1990 documentary about Matilda Joslyn Gage filmed there; it stood in for the Gage house in Fayetteville, NY, which Sally didn’t acquire until 2002. Surrounded by more than 20 unspoiled acres, the property is home to extensive woods and wild life. Deer grazed on the lawn during my visit. The Castle has been in the Holman family since 1967. The Holman daughters who grew up there, Margaret and Rebecca, still call it home today, and will be showing us through it Saturday, July 19. as we explore Aberdeen.  Jane Albright