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Randal Malone, who showed up in dozens of low-budget movies and played a “film star” on the 1990s MTV dating game show Singled Out, has died. He was 66.

Malone died Sunday at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys after a long battle with kidney disease, his family announced.

Since 2004, Malone served as president of the Southern California Motion Picture Council, a charitable organization that was founded in 1936 and remains one of the longest-running groups of its kind.

While signing autographs to promote Sunset After Dark (1996), in which he appeared alongside former child star Margaret O’Brien and onetime silent-film star Anita Page, Malone was spotted by producer Keven Undergaro.

He was then hired for Singled Out, which counted among its hosts Chris Hardwick, Jenny McCarthy and Carmen Electra. He portrayed various characters during the show’s three seasons, including “Film Star Randal Malone”; he wore gloves and used a cigarette holder...

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Gary Friedkin, who appeared in the films Young Doctors in Love and Mother’s Day for director Garry Marshall, died Friday of complications from Covid-19 at a hospice facility in Youngstown, Ohio, his family announced. He was 70.

Friedkin also portrayed Clarence, a cook at Arnold’s restaurant, on three 1982 episodes of the Marshall-created Happy Days. In a running gag, the character was talked about but never seen until he showed up during the ABC comedy’s 10th season.

Friedkin also got to fight with Harrison Ford as a member of a biker gang in Blade Runner (1982) and played an Ewok in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983).

One of four kids, Gary Jay Friedkin was born in Youngstown on Nov. 23, 1952. He played piano and percussion instruments in bands while attending high school at The Rayen School, then graduated from the Dana School of...

Burbank, CA, August 22, 2019 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced today that 1939’s acclaimed and beloved classic The Wizard of Oz will be released on Ultra HD Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital on October 29th. Directed by Victor Fleming (Gone With the Wind) and starring Judy Garland as Dorothy Gayle, The Wizard of Oz is widely considered to be one of the most influential films in cinematic history.

Adapted from L. Frank Baum’s timeless children’s tale about a Kansas girl’s journey over the rainbow, The Wizard of Oz officially premiered at Grauman’s Chinese Theater on August 15, 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming (who that same year directed Gone With the Wind), produced by Mervyn LeRoy, and scored by Herbert Stothart, with music and lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg. Ray Bolger appeared as the Scarecrow; Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Jack Haley as the Tin Woodman.

For Sunday’s Oscars 2019 ceremony, producers had a difficult decision of which film industry people would make the cut and who would be left out of the “In Memoriam.” For the segment, Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Philharmonic performed music by Oscar winner John Williams.

Over 100 Academy members or film industry veterans died in the past 12 months. Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam galleries for the year of 2018 and the newly-started gallery for 2019.

SEEDirector Stanley Donen, dead at 94, was light on his feet and a movie musical heavyweight

Stanley Donen would have certainly been included, but he died on the weekend after the segment had been finalized (look for him on the 2020 show). Here is list of some of the people included in the Memoriam tribute for the ceremony (Academy members are indicated with ** by their names):

Susan Anspach (actor)

Bernardo Bertolucci (director)

Yvonne Blake (costume designer)**

Paul Bloch...

While Academy Awards producers have strived for a much shorter ceremony this year, the annual “In Memoriam” segment will definitely remain. In fact this moment on Sunday’s 2019 event should be extra classy since Gustavo Dudamel and the L.A. Philharmonic will be performing as part of the tribute.

Over 100 Academy members or film industry veterans died in the past 12 months. But which ones will be featured in the short segment? There are generally outcries each year from family members upset about people being left out. Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam galleries for the year of 2018 and the newly-started gallery for 2019.

Virtually certain to be part of the montage are Oscar-winning directors Bernardo Bertolucci and Milos Forman, Oscar-nominated actors Carol Channing, Albert Finney and Burt Reynolds, director and actress Penny Marshall, executive producer and entertainment icon Stan Lee and many more.

SEEDana Carvey, Mike Myers, Queen Latifah, Barbra Streisand...

One of the saddest and most important segments of the SAG Awards each year is the In Memoriam segment. For the 2019 event, it turns out to be even sadder for family members of certain long-time members of the Screen Actors Guild. Which actors and actresses were not even featured in this portion of the program on Sunday night? Check out this list below:

Marty Allen (actor)

Charles Aznavour (actor)

Kaye Ballard (actor)

Dushon Monique Brown (actor)

Joseph Campanella (actor)

Roy Clark (actor/singer)

Vic Damone (actor/singer)

Daryl Dragon (host/musician)

Louise Latham (actor)

Robin Leach (host)

Stan Lee (executive/host)

Katherine MacGregor (actor)

Robert Mandan (actor)

Peggy McKay (actor)

Tim O’Connor (actor)

Roger Perry (actor)

Douglas Rain (actor)

Ken Swofford (actor)

Clint Walker (actor)

Nancy Wilson (actor/singer)

Louis Zorich (actor)

SEE2019 SAG Awards: Full winners list in the 6 film and 9 TV categories

For the ceremony hosted by...

Sunday’s telecast of the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards will feature a special In Memoriam segment devoted to many of the actors and actresses who have died since last year’s ceremony in late January. Sure to be among those saluted include actress and director Penny Marshall, Oscar nominee and Emmy winner Burt Reynolds and Grammy winner Aretha Franklin. Visit our own Gold Derby memoriam galleries for the year of 2018 and the newly-started gallery for 2019.

The 25th annual ceremony will be hosted by past winner Megan Mullally (“Will and Grace”) for TNT and TBS on Sunday, January 27, at 8:00 p.m. Et; 5:00 p.m. Pt. Tom Hanks will be presenting the SAG life achievement award to Alan Alda.

SEE2019 SAG Awards nominations: Full list of Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees

Over 100 people in SAG/AFTRA have passed away in the past 12 months. Which of the following 50 names will also...

"The Wizard of Oz has great music and amazing chemistry among its cast. It's a perfect storm, no pun intended," William Stillman, co-author of the new book The Road to Oz exclusively told Closer Weekly — in the magazine's latest issue, on newsstands now — of the cinematic masterpiece. What fans might not know, he hinted, are behind-the-scenes trials and tribulations that went on during the making of the 1939 classic. Stillman and his writing partner, Jay Scarfone, cover all the backstage drama, starting with the fact that Judy Garland almost lost the part of Dorothy to Shirley Temple, who much more closely resembled the character L. Frank Baum described in his 1900 kids' novel. When Shirley's studio refused to let her out of her contract to star in the MGM vehicle, Judy secured the role, despite being older than Dorothy was originally written to be. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Then the 16-year-old had...

You can't have Halloween without a good witch, and you don't really have a good witch unless she's truly wicked. NBC knows this and as part of the 15th anniversary celebration of Broadway's Wicked, the network will be presenting A Very Wicked Halloween concert special on Saturday, Sept. 29. “Wicked is a blockbuster musical playing all over the world and still selling out night after night after 15 years on Broadway, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Emmy and Tony-winning producer Marc Platt and the entire Wicked team to celebrate the enduring success of this show,” said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs and Late Night, NBC Entertainment. “We’re especially excited to have Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth reunited along with big guest stars in front of an audience — in costume hopefully — to help us celebrate the Halloween season.” As noted, A Very Wicked Halloween: Celebrating...

There's no place like home! For Dorothy's ruby red slippers, of course. This iconic statement has never been truer now that her stolen pair from The Wizard of Oz has reportedly been found after a decade. The pair was previously snatched from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Mn, in 2005 after someone smashed the window at the museum. However, according to the New York Post, the FBI plans to release details on the finding of these shoes 13 years later. They were previously insured at a whopping $1 million considering an anonymous donor offered the hefty award to anyone who found the slippers, but the offer expired after the tenth anniversary of them going missing. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Technically, there are multiple pairs of ruby-red slippers floating around. One pair was acquired by the National Museum of American History, for example, while actress Debbie Reynolds owned another. Actually, a...

With the death of 98-year-old Jerry Maren, the last of the little people who portrayed Munchkins in MGM’s 1939 Technicolor masterpiece The Wizard of Oz, an era truly did vanish. The Boston-born Maren was the longest living of the 124 proportionately correct little people (commonly called and credited as “midgets” back then) to dance along the Yellow Brick Road.

But it’s some kind of magic the way Maren, probably the most famous of all the little ones in the film fantasy, ended up the sole survivor — not a background player or soldier or nondescript Munchkin with a crazy ...

With the death of 98-year-old Jerry Maren, the last of the little people who portrayed Munchkins in MGM’s 1939 Technicolor masterpiece The Wizard of Oz, an era truly did vanish. The Boston-born Maren was the longest living of the 124 proportionately correct little people (commonly called and credited as “midgets” back then) to dance along the Yellow Brick Road.

But it’s some kind of magic the way Maren, probably the most famous of all the little ones in the film fantasy, ended up the sole survivor — not a background player or soldier or nondescript Munchkin with a crazy ...

The last of the Lollipop Guild might have fallen this week with the death of 'Wizard of Oz' star Jerry Maren -- but there are still living Munchkins out there ... 'cause we talked to one. Joan Kenmore was cast as one of the Munchkins in the 1939 film, but didn't have a speaking role in the "We Wish to Welcome You to Munchkin Land" scene ... when Dorothy met Jerry and all the other Munchkins. She...

Actor Jerry Maren, whose real name is Gerard Marenghi, has died at 98 years old. His most well-known role was in the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Jerry Maren, The Wizard Of Oz‘S Last Surviving Munchkin, Dies When Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) was whisked away to the fantastical Land of Oz, she landed in Munchkinland, […]

Source: uInterview

The post Jerry Maren, Last Living ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Munchkin, Dies At 98 appeared first on uInterview.

The world's oldest living 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin, Jerry Maren's organs were shutting down and he was fighting severe senility when he died ... TMZ has learned. According to his death certificate ... Jerry's official cause of death was cardiopulmonary failure. However, he also suffered from cachexia -- a break down of the body's systems from chronic ailments -- and senile degeneration of the brain. As we first reported, Jerry suffered from dementia. The doc,...

Jerry Maren, who was the oldest living "Wizard of Oz" munchkin, will be commemorated with free whiskey ... if ya simply drop his name at an L.A.-area hotel with ties to 'Oz.' The Culver Hotel tells TMZ it's giving away a free shot of Grant's whiskey to anyone who comes in Wednesday, and mentions Jerry's name. We broke the story ... Jerry passed away more than a week ago, and was buried last weekend.

Jerry Maren, the last surviving munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, has died at the age of 98.

TMZ reports that Maren died last week at a San Diego nursing care facility, where the actor had spent the past few years as he battled dementia, and was laid to rest over the weekend at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Maren was 18 and newly arrived in Hollywood when he was cast along with over 100 other little people to portray "munchkins" in the big-screen adaptation of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Jerry Maren, the last surviving munchkin from The Wizard of Oz – he represented the Lollipop Guild, memorably presenting Judy Garland’s Dorothy with a large, red and white swirled lollipop just before she and Toto headed off to see the Wizard – has died. Maren was 98, according to reports.

Maren passed away last week at a San Diego nursing care facility, according to TMZ, which broke the story. The actor was buried last weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood.

Maren was one of more than 100 little people cast to populate the 1939 MGM film’s Munchkinland, and distinguished himself as one of the three grimacing, shuffling, tough-boy Lollipop Guild Munchkins. In one of the film’s most charming moments, he shyly handed Dorothy the giant candy to thank her for dropping a house on a witch.

Though the actor also appeared on The Twilight Zone, Bewitched and Seinfeld, among others, his Munchkin...

It’s truly the end of an era. Jerry Maren, the last munchkin from 1939’s The Wizard of Oz has passed away at 98 years old. According to TMZ, Jerry died over a week ago. His funeral service, which took place over the weekend, was held at Forest Lawn in Hollywood, CA. While his cause of death remains unknown, sources say that Jerry had been suffering from dementia for a long time. (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Jerry’s IMDb profile cites a number of small roles in films like The Lord of the Rings (1978), That’s the Spirit (1945), and At the Circus (1939). Though, he is still best known as being the bravest member of Oz’s iconic Lollipop Guild — handing Dorothy a sweet treat (played by Judy Garland) took real gusto! In addition, Jerry’s profile offers a brief, but inspiring biography. “He took dancing lessons when he was young and aspired to be an actor.

Jerry Maren, the last surviving Munchkin from the classic movie “The Wizard of Oz,” has died at age 98.

According to TMZ, Maren died last week and a funeral was held over the weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood.

Maren was 18 when he was cast in the movie as a bouquet-wielding member of the Lollipop Guild that welcomed Judy Garland’s Dorothy Gale to Oz.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Maren was the final surviving Munchkin actor from the 124 little people who starred in the 1939 musical.

The last living Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz has died.

Jerry Maren, who memorably welcomed Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) to Munchkinland in the classic 1939 film as part of the Lollipop Guild, died last week at a San Diego nursing care facility, TMZ reported. The actor was laid to rest over the weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood, said the outlet.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Maren was the final surviving Munchkin actor from the 124 little people who starred in The Wizard of Oz. The bio on his Instagram page also states, “Last living munchkin from the Wizard of Oz.

Jerry Maren, the last surviving adult Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, has died. He was 98.

The actor, who stayed active in show business long after Dorothy had returned to her home in Kansas, died May 24 at an assisted-care facility in the San Diego area, his nephew Lloyd Decker confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Maren now rests in the Court of Remembrance in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood, right below actress Sandra Dee, Decker said.

At age 19, Maren (at 3-foot-4) appeared as one of the three Lollipop Guild Munchkins (the green one in the middle) in the classic ...

Jerry Maren, the last surviving adult Munchkin from The Wizard of Oz, has died. He was 98.

The actor, who stayed active in show business long after Dorothy had returned to her home in Kansas, died May 24 at an assisted-care facility in the San Diego area, his nephew Lloyd Decker confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter.

Maren now rests in the Court of Remembrance in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood, right below actress Sandra Dee, Decker said.

At age 19, Maren (at 3-foot-4) appeared as one of the three Lollipop Guild Munchkins (the green one in the middle) in the classic ...

Jerry Maren -- the world's last living 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin -- is now somewhere over the rainbow ... TMZ has learned. We're told ... Jerry died over a week ago. His funeral was held over the weekend at Forest Lawn in Hollywood. The cause of death is unknown, but we're told he suffered from dementia. He passed away at a San Diego nursing care facility. There were multiple reports he died back in March 2016 after...

In The Wizard of Oz, the lovable Munchkins help Dorothy follow the yellow brick road to find her way home. But just like Oz himself, it turns out some of the Munchkins may not have been all they seemed.

A new memoir by Judy Garland’s ex-husband claims the Dorothy actress was repeatedly molested by some of the actors who played the Munchkins in the classic musical.

Sid Luft, who was married to Garland from 1952-1965, described the alleged abuse in a new, posthumous memoir, Judy and I: My Life with Judy Garland.

‘They would make Judy’s life miserable...

Jerry Maren -- the last surviving 'Wizard of Oz' munchkin -- is keeping his title ... because he's alive and well. There were multiple reports Monday 96-year-old Maren passed away after a bout with pancreatic cancer. But TMZ spoke with Steve Cox -- one of Maren's close friends -- who said he spoke with Jerry yesterday after the death reports ... and verified his pal's doing just fine. Steve says Maren doesn't even have pancreatic cancer,...

Ruth Robinson Duccini, the last of the original female Munchkins from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, has died. She was 95. With her death, only one actor who played one of the original 124 Munchkins in the movie remains alive. Duccini died of natural causes in Solari Hospice Care Center in Las Vegas on Thursday. Her death was confirmed by Stephen Cox, author of The Munchkins of Oz. He says he learned of it from Duccini's son. Duccini, born in Rush City, Minn., traveled to California with a troupe little people, and was cast in the MGM fantasy movie starring Judy Garland.

Las Vegas (AP) - Ruth Robinson Duccini, the last of the original female Munchkins from the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz," has died. She was 95.

With her death, only one actor who played one of the original 124 Munchkins in the movie remains alive.

Duccini died of natural causes in Solari Hospice Care Center in Las Vegas on Thursday.

Her death was confirmed by Stephen Cox, author of "The Munchkins of Oz." He says he learned of it from Duccini's son.

Duccini, born in Rush City, Minn., traveled to California with a troupe little people, and was cast in the MGM fantasy movie starring Judy Garland. Duccini was 4 feet tall.

Cox provided a recent statement made by Duccini about her time on the movie set.

"It was long hours and heavy costumes. We didn't have much time for ourselves. It was all new to me then, and I loved being a...

Ruth Robinson Duccini, the sole surviving actress who played a Munchkin in the 1939 classic ‘The Wizard of Oz’, died on Jan. 16 at age 95.

Ruth Robinson Duccini, one of the last remaining Munchkins from “The Wizard of Oz,” died after a short illness at a hospice in Las Vegas, Nev., her son Fred Duccini said. Now there is just one surviving male little person who starred in the film.

Ruth Robinson Duccini Dies — Last Female Munchkin From ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Dead At 95

Ruth, who was 4 feet tall, was one of the 124 little people who appeared with legendary actress Judy Garland in the acclaimed musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz, which was based on the novel of the same name by author L. Frank Baum.

Munchkin From ‘Wizard Of Oz’

Ruth never lost touch with her Wizard of Oz roots, making appearances at Oz-related events across the country in her later years.

A female Munchkin who appeared in The Wizard of Oz has died, aged 95.

Ruth Robinson Duccini passed away of natural cases today (January 17) at a Las Vegas hospice centre. There is now one surviving Munchkin from the movie.

Duccini was born in Minnesota and stood 4 feet tall. Her role in the film as a Munchkin villager was not credited.

She was present when the Munchkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

Margaret Pellegrini, the actress who played the flowerpot Munchkin, died at the age of 89 in August.

The last surviving Munchkin is Lollipop Kid Jerry Maren, aged 93.

An actress who played a Munchkin in the "The Wizard of Oz" has died at age 95 ... and now there's just one surviving little person from the flick.Ruth Robinson Duccini -- who stood 4 feet tall -- was the longest surviving female Munchkin ... she died of natural causes today at a hospice center in Las Vegas.Duccini received no screen credit for her role as a Munchkin townsperson -- she was one of 124 little people cast in the movie.

Washington, Aug 09: Margaret Pellegrini, who played a Munchkin named Sleepy Head in the original 'The Wizard of Oz' movie, has died. She was 89.

Ted Bulthaup, who owns a Chicago theatre where Pellegrini and other Munchkins have made special appearances, revealed that Pellegrini suffered a stroke on Monday at her Glendale home and died on Wednesday at a Phoenix-area hospital, the BBC reported.

With her death, only two of the original 124 Munchkins in the movie are still alive.

Bulthaup said that the surviving Munchkins are Jerry Maren, 93, who lives in Los Angeles, and Ruth Duccini, 95, who lives in Phoenix.

Meanwhile,.

Margaret Pellegrini, one of the remaining Munchkins from the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz," passed away yesterday after suffering a stroke in her Phoenix home. She was 89.

Pellegrini played one of the "Flowerpot" Munchkins who greet Dorothy upon her arrival in Oz. She was in attendance in 2007 when the Munchkins received their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In an interview with Phoenix's CBS5 earlier this year, Pellegrini gushed about her experience filming "The Wizard of Oz" as a teenager: "It's wonderful to know that I had part of it, that I was in it," she said. "It showed that we were not only little, but we could do what big people did."

Of the 124 actors who appeared in the classic movie as Munchkins, two are still alive and kicking: Lollipop Kid Jerry Maren, 93, and Ruth Duccini, 95.

[via CNN, CBS5 h/t Yahoo!]...

As The Wizard of Oz opened in 1939, it.s not so shocking that much of its cast has passed away since then, and many of them.including Judy Garland (Dorothy Gale), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Jack Haley (Tin Man), and Bert Lehr (Cowardly Lion)--decades ago. But some of the film.s smaller stars have lasted longest, helping to maintain the legacy of the adaptation of L. Frank Baum.s beloved book The Wonderful World of Oz. Of course, I.m referring to the Munchkins, but with CNN announcing the death of Margaret Pellegrini, there are only two left. Survived by 93-year-old Jerry Maren, who played a Lollipop Kid, and ninety-five-year-old Ruth Duccini, Pellegrini passed away on Monday at the age of 89 from complications following a stroke she suffered in 2012. Pellegrini, who was only three foot five inches tall, made her screen debut in The Wizard of Oz, playing a villager...

As The Wizard of Oz opened in 1939, it.s not so shocking that much of its cast has passed away since then, and many of them.including Judy Garland (Dorothy Gale), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Jack Haley (Tin Man), and Bert Lehr (Cowardly Lion)--decades ago. But some of the film.s smaller stars have lasted longest, helping to maintain the legacy of the adaptation of L. Frank Baum.s beloved book The Wonderful World of Oz. Of course, I.m referring to the Munchkins, but with CNN announcing the death of Margaret Pellegrini, there are only two left. Survived by 93-year-old Jerry Maren, who played a Lollipop Kid, and ninety-five-year-old Ruth Duccini, Pellegrini passed away on Monday at the age of 89 from complications following a stroke she suffered in 2012. Pellegrini, who was only three foot five inches tall, made her screen debut in The Wizard of Oz, playing a villager...

Margaret Pellegrini, the actress who played the flowerpot Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, has died at the age of 89.

She passed away on Wednesday (August 7) in Phoenix after suffering a stroke. Pellegrini was one of only three surviving Munchkins.

The star, born Margaret Williams in Alabama, appeared in the movie aged 16 as both the flowerpot Munchkin and one of the sleepyhead kids in another scene.

Pellegrini regularly attended Wizard of Oz-themed events. She was present when the Munchkins received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

She was discovered at a state fair when she joined Henry Kramer's Midgets act. The actress later married Willie Pellegrini.

The two surviving Munchkins are Lollipop Kid Jerry Maren, 93, and Ruth Duccini, 95.

Ding dong ... one of the last remaining Munchkins from the "Wizard of Oz" movie has passed away.Margaret Pellegrini reportedly died this morning around 7Am near her home in Phoenix, Az after suffering a stroke. She was 89.Standing at 3 ft. 4 inches, Pellegrini played multiple "Munchkin" parts in the movie, including a "sleepyhead" and a Munchkin villager.Pellegrini was one of three surviving Munchkins from the 1939 classic film, leaving only two behind: 93-year-old Jerry Maren, and 95-year-old Ruth Duccini.

Two of the stars of The Wizard of Oz have blasted a campaign linking one of the 1939's iconic songs to Margaret Thatcher's death.

Munchkins Ruth Duccini, 94, and Jerry Maren, 93, told The Sun it was "terrible" that 'Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead' is on course to re-enter the chart after the former prime minister died this week, aged 87.

The pair, who were among the performers to sing on the track, said that it was wrong to hijack the song to celebrate someone's death.

Duccini said: "Nobody deserves to be treated in such a way. When we were filming the movie no-one intended it to be used in this way. I am ashamed, I really am."

She added: "All over the world The Wizard of Oz is cherished as a family film.

"Mums and dads and their children sit down to watch it together and enjoy the story,...

With the release of Sam Raimi’s CGI-heavy fantasy film Oz the Great and Powerful coming this weekend, it seems appropriate to look back in time more than 70 years to the release of one of the most influential films of all time: The Wizard of Oz. Based on L. Frank Baum’s children’s book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” the story had been made into a film previously (once as a silent film in 1925 and again as a short film in 1933). However, it was Victor Fleming’s musical rendition of the story that left the brightest mark on the cinema landscape. This commentary was included on the 2005 DVD release, which is also included on the 70th anniversary 2009 DVD and Blu-ray discs. The late Sidney Pollack serves as emcee for the commentary, introducing archival interviews with cast, as well as family members of deceased cast and crew. The Wizard of Oz (1939) Commentators: John Fricke (historian), with archival...

5) The Wizard of Oz

It shocks people to know that The Wizard of Oz is actually a remake of hundreds of other “wizards of oz.” It was adapted from a theater production, starring Fred Stone. Ray Bolger was set to play the Tin man, but decided he wanted to play the Scarecrow after his idol Stone, so he switched the role with Buddy Ebsen. The Tin man costume was made out of aluminum, which Ebsen was allergic to and ended up almost suffocating him, so he was rushed to the hospital while his role now became Jack Haley’s. Haley wasn’t told why Ebsen had to leave but the costume was changed to aluminum paste. And after all this humility (since Ebsen had said it was the most humiliating moment of his life), Ebsen’s vocal are still in the movie- he sings most of the songs, while Haley...

There's an old adage that "short people live longer," and Karl Slover was a testament to that. The diminutive actor and singer, most famous for playing one of the Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz," passed on yesterday at the age of 93.

The Associated Press reports that Slover, born Karl Kosiczky in what is now the Czech Republic in 1918, died of cardiopulmonary arrest at a hospital in Georgia. He was still appearing at events as recently as last week.

In addition to his most famous role as the first trumpeter to herald the Munchkin mayor's entrance, Slover had three other roles in the 1939 fantasy classic: a soldier, one of the sleepy heads, and one of the singers of "Follow the Yellow Brick Road." He was 21 at the time, the shortest of the Munchkins at 4-feet-4, making the mere 5-foot Judy Garland a towering giant in comparison.

Other parts included the...

Freddy vs. Jason. King Kong vs. Godzilla. Alien vs. Predator. Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus. We've seen many famous fiends square off on film, but will any of those other great all-time match-ups compare to Dahmer vs. Gacy? The world will finally find out when the award-winning (yes, award-winning!) film hits Blu-ray and DVD shelves in May.

The serial killer smackdown produced and directed by Ford Austin from a script by Chris Watson and Andrew Rausch starring Austin as Jeffrey Dahmer and Randal Malone as John Wayne Gacy has already garnered "Outstanding Cast Performance" at the Action on Film International Film Festival in Pasadena, California, and was voted "Audience Choice Award" winner at the Bare Bones Independent Film Fest in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

A secret government lab has been trying to create the ultimate killer using the DNA of infamous killers Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy, but there's one big problem: They've escaped!

A film titled Dahmer vs. Gacy doesn't seem the type to be garnering awards at film festivals across the country, but that's exactly what's happening. It just won "Outstanding Cast Performance" at the Action on Film International Film Festival in Pasadena, California, and earlier this year the film also was voted "Audience Choice Award" winner at the Bare Bones Independent Film Fest in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Produced and directed by Ford Austin from a script by Chris Watson and Andrew Rausch, Dahmer Vs. Gacy stars Ford Austin and Randal Malone as Dahmer and Gacy in a slaughter-filled rampage that includes appearances by Harland Williams (Half Baked), Art Lafleur (The Replacements), Steven Adler (Guns 'N Roses), Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Jerry Maren (Wizard of Oz), Bonnie Aarons (Drag Me to Hell), Irwin Keyes (House of 1000 Corpses), Jed Rowen (Acts of Violence), Lee Perkins (Live Evil), Brooke Lewis (iMurders), and many more!

Dahmer vs. Gacy will have a premiere at the Sunset 5 Theatre this January 15th through until the 16th. A film that pits two serial killers against each other an interview with the director, Ford Austin can be found here (Dahmer vs. Gacy Interview). If your in the Hollywood area this will be a definite highlight for 2010 for indie horror films, as the premiere will host the following stars Harland Williams (Half Baked), Art Lafleur (The Replacements), Steven Adler (Guns ‘N Roses), Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Jerry Maren (Wizard of Oz), Bonnie Aarons (Drag Me to Hell), Irwin Keyes (House of a 1,000 Corpses), Jed Rowen (Acts of Violence), Lee Perkins (Live Evil), and Brooke Lewis (iMurders). Have a look at the concept artwork for the movie poster, synopsis, and location right here.

A film synopsis for Dahmer vs. Gacy here:

"A secret government lab has been...

Reactions were definitely mixed when a promo trailer surfaced for the horror/comedy known as Dahmer Vs. Gacy a couple of months ago, but if you live in or around Hollywood, CA, you can be among the first to see the whole thing when the film premieres at midnight at the Laemmle Sunset 5 on January 15th and 16th.

Produced and directed by Ford Austin from a script by Chris Watson and Andrew Rausch, Dahmer Vs. Gacy stars Ford Austin and Randal Malone as Dahmer and Gacy in a slaughter-filled rampage that includes appearances by Harland Williams (Half Baked), Art Lafleur (The Replacements), Steven Adler (Guns 'N Roses), Ethan Phillips (Star Trek: Voyager), Felissa Rose (Sleepaway Camp), Jerry Maren (Wizard of Oz), Bonnie Aarons (Drag Me to Hell), Irwin Keyes (House of 1000 Corpses), Jed Rowen (Acts of Violence), Lee Perkins (Live Evil), Brooke Lewis (iMurders), and many more!

Here's the...

A bit more video content has come out of this year's Afm, this time for the horror/comedy known as Dahmer Vs. Gacy, which promises to leave blood on the walls and laughs in your belly!

Foy first told us about this flick back in August (click here for that story). Here are a few more plot details: A secret government lab has been trying to create the ultimate killer using the DNA of infamous killers, but there's one big problem: They've escaped! Bloody mayhem stretches across the United States as they go on the ultimate killing spree. Trying to stop the maniacal madness is Ringo, a hick warrior being trained by God, using only a shotgun and a bottle of whiskey. In his road trip to hell, he must first fight off his own demons, not to mention an army of Japanese ninjas! It all leads up to the Ultimate Showdown!

Chicago – The Warner Brothers Blu-Ray release to mark the 70th anniversary of the beloved “The Wizard of Oz” is perhaps the most exhaustive and complete “Collector’s Edition” release to date. Warner Brothers, a studio that knows how to treat their classics, releasing gigantic sets for “Blade Runner” and “Casablanca” in recent years and with another for “Gone With the Wind” coming soon, has done it again, and arguably better than ever.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

As for the film itself, what more could possibly be written about “The Wizard of Oz”? By some standards, it’s the most watched movie in world history, a film that has transcended its genre to simply become a part of the history of the planet. Have you ever heard someone criticize or complain about “The Wizard of Oz”? Me either.

The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’s Edition was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on September 29th,...

If I hear “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” one more time, I’m gonna send Dorothy “way up high”—with a kick from my friggin’ boot! Now, before you Oz enthusiasts jump all over me for being such a surly, curmudgeonly son of a witch, I want to profess my love for The Wizard Of Oz and this four-disc DVD set (Warner, $69.92). Allow me to explain my castigatory opening remark. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” is a beautiful, seminal, touching song—the first 50 Times you hear it during the Same week. That’s how long it took me to review this exceptional box set, because The Wizard Of Oz: 70Th Anniversary Ultimate Collector’S Edition has more extras than a Cecil B. DeMille picture.

That’s why I’m fed up with “Over the Rainbow”—between the movie and the main menus and the endless documentaries and the featurettes, etc., etc.

Hitting shelves tomorrow, The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary DVD Editions are amazing treatments for the classic film. Newly remastered and filled with bonuses, the DVD releases are absolute must-owns. The Blu-Ray release is obviously the clear winner here, but this is a great example of not skimping for those who haven't made that upgrade yet. The 2-disc edition gives you a treasure trove of bonuses, and a brilliant-looking version of the film that gives you the advantages of the 8K resolution scan remastering, which results in an instantly noticeable improvement over previous DVD releases. The 2-disc includes - Disc 1 Remastered feature with Dolby Digital 5.1 Audio (New) Sing-along Track (New) Commentary by John Fricke with Barbara Freed-Saltzman (daughter of Arthur Freed), Margaret Hamilton, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, John Lahr (son of Bert Lahr), Jane Lahr (daughter of Bert Lahr), Hamilton Meserve (son of Margaret Hamilton), Dona Massin (MGM choreographer), William Tuttle (make-up artist), Buddy Ebsen,...

Godzilla fought King Kong. Alien battled Predator. Freddy faced off with Jason. Mega Shark duked it out with Giant Octopus. Now we're about to get Dahmer Vs. Gacy. No, it isn't the ultimate Ulli Lommel crossover movie. It's a horror comedy that pits two of the most notorious serial killers of all time against each other and unscrupulous rogue military scientists. Set your taste buds to tasteless.

A secret government program is cloning infamous serial killers and genetically splicing their DNA into a super serial killer for undisclosed purposes. Ultra low budget indie genre movie mainstays Ford Austin and Randal Malone star as the resurrected Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy, respectively. Dahmer Vs. Gacy, also directed by Ford Austin, is slated to be the first of five underground Grindhouse-style films produced by Angry Baby Monkey Pictures. The film is currently in post-production and gearing up for select independent film festivals.