Judy and Memorabilia and Auctions Oh My!
**ATTENTION OZ COLLECTORS, OZ CRAFTERS & ARTISTS**
We are offering you an opportunity to sell your wares at the ever popular JUDY/OZ EXCHANGE held Saturday night, September 16th from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. in the main hall of the Porter County Expo Center. The Judy/Oz Exchange is a collector’s haven of memorabilia from the 1939 Classic movie and Judy Garland items. Barry Patraw, OZ appraiser will be in attendance. This year’s Judy/OZ Exchange will begin with The Hat Contest, back by popular demand. This is something to look forward to, as many festival attendees have gotten in the habit of wearing increasingly creative, extravagant and fascinating OZ themed chapeaus during the years. This will give them the opportunity to display their artistic talent.
Another popular portion of the exchange is the auction. Past one of a kind items auctioned have been personal Munchkin items, such as clothing. A highlight of the auction last year was the sale of some of Jean Nelson’s personal collection. Jean is the founder of the Wizard of OZ Festival and has had contact with many celebrities during the past 25 years, some of which include the Munchkins, Margaret Hamilton and Ray Bolger. The original Munchkins from the movie will be there again, this year, in person offering photos and signing autographs. For the past several years, Michael Siewert, renowned “Garlandia” collector has displayed pieces of Judy Garland’s wardrobe from his “Dressing of a Legend” collection.
Table rental space is $20.00 and we can accept 50 vendors with table location assigned on a first come first served basis. Table assignments will be handed out at registration at 5:30 p.m. You will be notified of acceptance at a later date and a map will be sent at that time. Don’t miss this exciting event!
on E-Bay,' says Breitenstein. After an all-out bidding war, the carpet sweeper, priced at $1,200 was theirs. Despite the 4,378 mile round trip from Tacoma, Washington, the two travel to Indiana each September to attend the Wizard of Oz Festival. Carlson is now 32 years old. When she was only three, her mother, father and grandmother began buying Oz stuff for her. And, as soon as she was old enough herself, she picked up — and ran with — the family's I-Must-Have-All-Things-That-Are-Oz obsession. To date, Carlson's collection is 6,723 pieces strong and growing . 'We have a dog-earred 254-page Wizard of Oz Collector's Treasury written by Jay Scarfone, William Stillman and Tim McGowan,' says Breitenstein. ' It is our Bible when buying, trading and selling Oz memorabilia.'
