By Karen Parr-Moody
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Munchkins, witches and flying monkeys mingle in “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” exhibit at the Customs House Museum at 200 S. Second Street. This is a two-part show that brings Frank L. Baum’s children’s novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” to life for both children and adults in the Crouch Gallery.
Baum’s book was published in 1900 and was followed by more Oz-themed tomes, along with the famous 1939 movie starring Judy Garland as the lead character, Dorothy. This exhibit begins with the central event from the book and film – the tornado that swept Dorothy from the safety of a sepia-toned Kansas and into the Technicolor of Oz. Guests have to walk through the door of a tornado-tilted house to enter.
Inside, one is presented with a yellow brick road. If one veers right, one is led to the adult aspect of the exhibit, “There’s No Place Like Oz: Memorabilia from the Collection of Dr. John Olson.” If one veers left, they are met with the children’s portion, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
In the adult section – which older children might also enjoy – guests will find an array of collectible Madame Alexander dolls that were modeled after characters from the book, including Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, the Wicked Witch of the West and the witch’s marching guards. They will also discover the original movie script that the cast would have used in 1938 along with a movie poster signed by Judy Garland and other movie cast members – and more.
Oz-themed Madame Alexander dolls are on view in “There’s No Place Like Oz: Memorabilia from the Collection of Dr. John Olson.” Photo by Karen Parr-Moody
The children’s section is divided into 11 vignettes – or “chapters” – that each examine some theme from the book. The exhibit, which comes from the Great Explorations Children’s Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, handily integrates science, play and imagination.
Smaller children will likely be charmed by hand puppets in the “Land of Munchkins” vignette, which they can put into action in a miniature theatre. They can also go to “Glinda’s castle” and try on her silver shoes or act out the story themselves with various sets and character’s costumes in the “Emerald City.”
Older children will get more out of the science that is sprinkled into the exhibit. In the book and movie, the Tin Woodman character was missing a
heart; in his “chapter” children can learn about the function of real hearts. Similarly, the Scarecrow is missing a brain, so in his “chapter” children tackle puzzles. And since Dorothy’s life was changed by a tornado, that portion educates children about tornados and lets them create a vortex in water.
The “Tornado” portion of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” exhibit invites children to make their own vortex in water. Photo by Karen Parr-Moody
If you’ve ever wanted to walk through a storybook, this is it. There are special “Oz” programs for children on June 19, 22 and 26 (which is also the show’s last day). Contact Sue Lewis for more information on the programs at 931.648.5780 or slewis@customshousemuseum.org.
Karen Parr-Moody began a career as a New York journalist, working as a fashion reporter for Women’s Wear Daily, a beauty editor for Young Miss and a beauty and fashion writer for both In Style and People magazines. Regionally, she has been a writer at The Leaf-Chronicle newspaper and currently writes about arts and culture for Nashville Arts magazine each month.