Vol. 43, no. 2 (Autumn 1999)
| Editor-in-Chief | William Stillman |
| Production Editor | Adele Robey |
| Bibliography Editors | Peter E. Hanff, Patrick Maund |
| Review Editor | Sean P. Duffley |
| Contributing Editors | Angelica Carpenter, Paul Cuneo, David Moyer, Jay Scarfone, Jim Whitcomb |
Front cover art by an unknown artist (50th anniversary of MGM’s The Wizard of Oz)
Interior front cover art by unknown artist (Italian MGM lobby card)
Interior back cover art by unknown artist (Grauman’s Chinese Theatre premiere souvenir program)
Back cover photo by an unknown photographer (MGM cast shot with book)
Autumn 1999 Selected Contents
This is a guide to the articles and reviews from the issue that will most benefit researchers, scholars, and collectors. The printed issue includes additional content such as news, editorial letters, and other commentary-based departments.
An Interview with Del Armstrong
William Stillman interviews MGM makeup artist Del Armstrong. Armstrong worked on the makeup of extras for MGM’s The Wizard of Oz, and shares his experiences of its production, as well as the general working conditions at MGM in the Golden Age of Hollywood.
L. Frank Baum: An Interview with Miss Leslie Gage
This is a transcript of a radio interview conducted with L. Frank Baum’s niece, Leslie Gage, on May 15, 1940, in which she discusses her uncle’s life and work.
Oz in Hollywood
Florence Baum Hurst, L. Frank Baum’s granddaughter, looks back on her visits to the set of MGM’s The Wizard of Oz in this brief memoir piece.
The Wizardry of Oz: Two Authors’ Journey Down the Yellow Brick Road
Jay Scarfone describes the creation of his new book with William Stillman about the costumes, props, sets, and other magic that brought the world of MGM’s The Wizard of Oz to life. The book itself is reviewed later in this issue.
Warner Bros. Wizard of Oz Collectibles: History & Checklist
Jim Whitcomb pens an extensive checklist of merchandise related to MGM’s The Wizard of Oz released between 1997 and 1999, after the Turner/Warner merger. Despite many items there are only basic descriptions, but some illustrative examples are included.
Other Material
Unusually, this issue also contains a large amount of black-and-white visual material related to MGM’s The Wizard of Oz that is not specifically connected to article content, including photos of the 1939 Tournament of Roses; an Oz-related store display from the film’s 1949 rerelease; publicity photos of Terry, the dog who performed the role of Toto; a series of behind-the-scenes set stills from the film’s production; and more. There is also a color centerfold taken from a 1940 Italian Oz comic that includes MGM character likenesses.
In Memoriam
Chris Sterling (Munchkin convention regular).
Reviews
The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 MGM Classic by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman (non-fiction; reviewer Barbara S. Koelle)
The Amber Flute of Oz by Donald Abbott (fiction; reviewer David Hulan)
The Forest Monster of Oz by Bob Evans and Chris Dulabone (fiction; reviewer Sean P. Duffley)
The Zen of Oz by Joey Green (non-fiction; reviewer M.A. Berg)
Überall ist Zauberland: Die Märchenreihe von A bis Z illustrated by Leonid Vladimirsky (non-fiction; reviewer Richard R. Rutter)