My sister Blondie has long wanted to go to Oztoberfest in Wamego, Kansas, home of the Oz Museum. While I love the witch's skywriting (natch), Blondie is truly obsessed with the movie. Last weekend, the little angel and I drove over to Topeka and met up with Ma, Pa and Blondie to for the trek to Wamego.

I found the original book by L. Frank Baum dark and had no idea there was an entire series of Oz books, nor that the author went on to ghostwrite a girls' series and a bunch of other middle-grade fantasy. Or that he is credited with creating the first American fairy tale. I also didn't know that The Wizard of Oz is the most-seen movie in history.

I guess that's what getting shown during winter break every year for sixty years will get you, eh?

While I have no personal obsession with the story or the movie, I was interested in the special effects. Obviously, they're not good by modern standards, but pulling off flying monkeys at the time was pretty impressive. The flying monkeys were four-inch tall models, and there were only a few of them. WHOA.

I skipped past most of the museum to focus on my favorite part -- the skywriting of SURRENDER DOROTHY.

Finally! Answers. 

All in all, the museum reminded me of the Toy and Miniature Museum in Kansas City. Interesting in the way anything is if you get into the details enough. 

However, there is no end to the creepy of this enormous statue of the Tin Man in the lobby of the museum. Check out how he is eyeballing my sister.

Looks like someone has been hitting the oil can a little too hard, no?