For immediate release - September 9, 2005 Contact
Allen Pease at (812) 336-7456 or Marilyn Zengler at
(219) 926-7048.
Actress to be honored for 1939 film role . . .
Chesterton, IN - In late 1938, 15 year-old Margaret Pellegrini began a journey that would become an adventure and propel her to stardom. Her life was changed forever when she was cast as a Munchkin in MGM's 'The Wizard of Oz' starring Judy Garland. The film was released by MGM in 1939 and to this day, Oz fans enjoy spotting Margaret in her two roles in 'The Wizard of Oz.' She played one of the Sleepy Heads in the bird's nest, and one of the townsladies who wore a flowerpot as a perky hat. She was in the front row of Munchkins in that scene. She was so visible that the flowerpot hat has been her trademark. The film has become an American classic. Now, 66 years later, Pellegrini is being honored by famed sculptor Michael Roche. The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop in Chesterton, Indiana commissioned Roche to create a work with Pellegrini as the focal point. The result is 'Munchkin Townslady' a figurine that depicts Margaret as she appeared in the film-flowerpot hat and all!
Both Pellegrini and Roche will be at the Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop for a special, world debut unveiling and autograph party Friday, September 16, at 1:15 p.m. as a kick-off of the Munchkinland Market Days festivities. This is a strict limited edition of only 100 figurines and the figurines are not available generally as they are being sold only in Chesterton and only at the Yellow Brick Road. The 11th annual Munchkinland Market Days will be held in cooperation with the 24th annual Wizard of Oz Festival on September 16, 17 & 18, 2005. The Wizard of Oz Festival is produced by Lakeshore Festival & Events and held on the streets of historic downtown Chesterton on the southern shore of Lake Michigan. Munchkinland Market Days is produced by and held on the grounds of The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum two miles south of downtown Chesterton and is sponsored by Coca-Cola, Hilton Garden Inn, Jewel-Osco and the Porter County Republican Party.
When Pellegrini was 15 years old, she received a letter from Hollywood asking if she'd like to be in a motion picture called the Wizard of Oz. 'I was terribly excited,' she recalls, 'I said yes indeed, I'd love that,' Pellegrini recalls, 'During film breaks, Judy sat and chatted with us on the Yellow Brick Road. When she got her own personal dressing room on wheels, she opened the door and invited all 124 Munchkins to visit.' Garland gave her a photo of herself on which she wrote 'To Margaret from your pal Judy.' After the MGM production, Pellegrini continued her show business career including tap, hula and fan dancing. She was married for almost forty years and has two children, four grandchildren and six great grandchildren. She loved raising her family and is proud of having held every office within the Fraternal Order of Police and being a longtime member of Little People of America. 'The Oz story has such meaning,' says Pellegrini, 'If everyone would use their hearts,their minds and their courage, life would be so much better for all of us... and,' she smiles, 'there really IS no place like home.' Michael Roche sculped the Wizard of Oz series for Dave Grossman Creations in 1989, the 50th anniversary of MGM's classic 'The Wizard of Oz.' The eleven piece series met with immediate success and by 2005, each has become a prized collectible for art collectors as well as Oz collectors. The series also brought Michael to Munchkinland Market Days where he has been a prized guest for every festival since the first in 1994. The series includes Dorothy & Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Lion, Glinda the Good Witch, the Wizard, the Monkey, the Mayor, the Lollipop Kid, the Coroner and the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch was nominated for Figurine of the Year in 1990 by New York based Collector Editions Magazine. Michael hasn't created a new figurine in the series in more than five years. This year the management of The Yellow Brick Road is proud to announce the Munchkinland Market Days World Debut of 'The Munchkin Townslady,' an exact replica of actress Margaret Pellegrini as she appears in 'The Wizard of Oz.'
Born and raised in the Midwest, Roche majored in Art Education at Elmira Collage in New York and later studied at the Ontario Collage of Art. For over 25 years Roche has worked as a commercial sculptor, creating pieces of art for Warner brothers, MGM,Enesco, Dave Grossman Creations, Roman Museum Collections, Inc., 7 UP, Pillsbury and Wick 'n' Sticks.
He was voted Golf Artist of the Year by Golf Digest in 2001. His sports series includes twelve designs showcasing golf legends including Walter Hagen and the first winner of the British Open, Wilie Park. Many of his initial sculpters were firefighters in action including an 1890's 'Steam Pumper/Fire Engine' in bronze. He has received accaim for his fire pieces including 'Courage Under Fire,' 'Taking Command,' 'Facing the Enemy,' 'Roof Ventilation' and 'Extrication.' The fire series is available in bronze, fine pewter, mixed metal pewter and cold-cast porcelain. Michael released 'United We Stand' in 2002 to recognize the 9/11 disaster. Michael is also creator of the famed 1986, 'Our American Heritage' series of figures commissioned by Musuem Collections, Inc.
The Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop & Oz Fantasy Museum is at the corner of State Route 49 and the Indiana Toll Road. The Oz Festival Committee provides free shuttle bus service to and from the downtown Wizard of Oz Festival and Munchkinland Market Days at The Yellow Brick Road. Patrons can park free at the Indiana Toll Road parking lot where the shuttle stops every half hour on Saturday and Sunday. The shuttle service does not run on Friday.
The Yellow Brick Road can be reached at their website www.yellowbrickroadonline.com or by calling (219)926-7048.
