Good morning.
Ahead for Whitewater today is a day in the low eighties, with a chance of rain this afternoon.
This weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, I’ll post a series on newspapers, in our area, and farther away in the state. Today’s poll and comment forum will ask which papers you read, whether you like them or like to dislike them.
Today’s a memorable day for film in Wisconsin: on this day in 1939, the Wizard of Oz premiered in Oconomowoc (of all places). The Wisconsin Historical Society reports that
…according to the fan site, thewizardofoz.info, “The first publicized showing of the final, edited film was at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin on August 12, 1939. No one is sure exactly why a small town in the Midwest received that honor.” It showed the next day in Sheboygan, Appleton and Rhinelander, according to local newspapers. “The official premiere was at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on August 15, attended by most of the cast and crew and a number of Hollywood celebrities.” [Source:thewizardofoz.info].
Update, 6:57 PM. The Phantom Stranger passes along a persuasive theory (many thanks, as always!) for the Oconomowoc showing:
One theory is that the film premiered in Oconomowoc due to fact that one of the midgets in the film, Meinhardt Raabe, was a native of Farmington, neraby. He passed away a few years ago, and was buried in Farmington. The Daily Union, Watertown Times, and Oconomowoc Enterprise all had stories about this passing. Oconomowoc had a big street showing of the film in 2009.
I’ve posted this short video before, about the film’s casting of the Wicked Witch of the West. Enjoy.