Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1989
Leisure
Section C
50 YEARS DOWN THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD KANSANS' LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OZ STEREOTYPE
Story by Jennifer Reynolds
Toto celebrates his 350th anniver sary this month.
That's 50 to you and me.
It was 50 years ago Aug. 15 when Kansans first heard the beloved lines that would follow them worldwide: "Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."
Joel Fitzgerald, Ness. City junior, discovered the phrase following him on a summer vacation to England.
"When we would tell people we were from Kansas everyone said, 'Oh, Dorothy's country.' It was kind of neat. Something to identify with," he said.
Fitzgerald, unlike some Kansans,
likes the Wizard of Oz image.
Jennifer Erickson, Coffeeville junior, said, "I got really sick of hearing 'No place like home' jokes."
"Every time I mentioned going home everyone would start to click their heels together," she said. "Everyone thought it was some great joke."
Erickson spent her summer working in Houston.
Sophia Medellin, Overland Park junior, areed.
"I can't go anywhere outside of Kansas without someone mentioning Dorothy," she said. "You would think the only thing people know about Kansas is Toto and Dorothy."
Sara Maahs, Overland Park senior, said, "I don't think the movie gives a negative image of Kansas."
Maahs is a member of Chi Omega sorority, 1245 West Campus Road, which is planning a rush party with an Oz-like theme.
"When people think of Kansas they naturally think of Dorothy and Toto," Maighs said. "But I don't think it's really a negative image."
Tosha Hoy, Coffeyville junior, feels a little more strongly about the situation.
"Everyone associates Kansas with the movie," she said. "It's like a curse."
Curse or not the movie is an American classic, and Kansas is stuck with the image of dancing munchkins and a yellow brick road.
But, the image may mean more to Kansas than just material for worn-out jokes.
Wizard of Oz paraphernalia still is popular in local gift stores.
"We have Wizard of Oz dolls, puppets, boxes, plates, playsets, snow globes and T-shirts," said Ann Szentmihali, an employee at The Palace, Eighth and Massachusetts streets. "They've really been popular for quite a long time."
The Palace also has gifts for those not so fond of Oz.
"We also have the shirts that say, 'Auntie Em, hate you, hate Kansas, taking the dog. Dorothy,'" Szemtowski said. "They are popular too."
Video stores also have cashed in on the legend.
"We only have one copy of the movie but it is always out," said Rick Dorei, employee at Video Biz, Ninth and Iowa streets.
Video Biz also sells the Oz video, complete with previously cut material for $19.98.
So, after all Oz has done for Kansas, it would seem appropriate for Kansas to celebrate the 50th anniversary. even if through barred teeth.
"It would be a good idea," said Ann Eversole, director of the Organizations and Activities Center. "But I don't know of anything planned."
Sue Morrell, Program Manager of the Kansas and Burge Unions for Student Union Activities, said, "We talked about showing the movie. The price of the movie skyrocketed so we decided not to."
The only planned celebration for the golden anniversary will be in October.
Liberal is planning a three-day party from Oct. 13 to 15.
Whv Liberal?
The house that was Auntie Em and Dorothy's home in the movie is in Liberal. The house has been converted into a museum featuring Dorothy's dress and ruby red slippers.
The party will feature a laser-video *ra* the original movie, a fantasy parade, a Dorothy and Toto look-out, a dozen of a dozen of the original munchkins.
Dorothy was right after all. There's no place like home.
Art by Stephen Kline