Published: December 27, 2007 11:35 am      

'Wizard of Oz movie memorabilia collection expands to its own house

BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. — The neighbors might have been surprised to see a yellow brick road leading up to the house on their street.

But if they know their neighbor, Jane Craddock, they would have known what was up.

Craddock has amassed a collection of Wizard of Oz memorabilia so large she now owns the house next door for display.

At the end of the yellow brick road, visitors enter to find a clock from Macy’s Department Store that was created for the 50th anniversary of the movie. There is a tin man complete with a heart that has a working stopwatch.

There are cases of collectibles, a table with placemats representing the movie and a small television that plays the movie “The Wizard of Oz.”

The kitchen contains cookie jars in the shape of various characters. There’s a poppy bathroom and a Baum bathroom.

That’s the tip of the iceburg. Every room is full of things like clothing from munchkins, autographed posters and pictures – nearly any decorative item that can be thought of is there bearing a Wizard of Oz theme.

For years, Craddock had some of her collection displayed in her house next door and much of it in storage. She always wanted an Oz house and finally got one when her husband, a housing developer, agreed to give her the house.

Her collection has been more than acquiring objects. She said she’s made many wonderful friends by collecting as well as by attending Oz conventions and related events.

She spent the week of Thanksgiving 2007 in Hollywood as a guest of former Munchkin Clarence Swensen when the Munchkins were honored with a star on the Walk of Fame at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

“It’s kind of magical,” she said of the experience. “I hated to be gone the week of Thanksgiving but I’m glad I went. It was like a dream.”

The Munckins — there are nine still living — were inducted into the Walk of Fame during a ceremony emceed by the self-proclaimed mayor of Hollywood, Johnny Grant. A luncheon followed at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in the room where the first Academy Awards Ceremony was scheduled in 1927.

She is loathe to think about how much money she’s invested in her collection, but Craddock wants to share it with the public.

“What’s the good if you can’t share it?” she said.



Jane Craddock’s Oz house is not a museum. However, it can be seen in small groups by appointment by e-mailing her at Jcraddock621@aol.com.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.