September 24, 2009 NEW YORK, NY: Warner Bros. Entertainment to Stage Spectacular Events in New York City to Culminate Worldwide 70th Anniversary Celebration of The Wizard of Oz at Tavern on The Green.
Grammy Award Winner Ashanti and Judy Garland's Daughter Lorna Luft to Perform at the Emerald Gala; Original Munchkins to Make a Rare Appearance.
The Emerald Gala was a glorious event at Manhattan's historic Tavern on the Green, hosted by its owner and CEO Jennifer Oz LeRoy, granddaughter of The Wizard of Oz producer Mervyn LeRoy.
The entire restaurant and surrounding grounds transformed for a night into the Emerald City, replete with a winding Yellow Brick Road.
The Emerald Gala featured a musical performance by Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Ashanti, who recently made her theatrical debut as Dorothy in the City Center Encores! production of The Wiz. In addition, Lorna Luft, the daughter of Judy Garland will honor her mother's legacy with a special musical tribute.
Also contributing to the grand affair was a rare appearance by five of the original actors who played the "Munchkins" characters in 1939's The Wizard of Oz, along with members of the cast of The Wizard of Oz National Tour performing acts from the traveling show.
The week in New York City will also include appearances in various Big Apple locations by the grand Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon, a seven-and-a-half story stunningly decorated balloon that will be concluding the final leg of its nationwide tour in October.
July 24, 2009 SAN DIEGO, CA: Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon lights up the skies of San Diego at Comic-com 2009. Over 125,000 people flooded the San Diego Convention Center for this year's Comic-con convention. This year surprise visits to the convention included Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington and.....Dorthy and friends from the Land of Oz.
FIDM 'Yellow Carpet' Wizard of Oz Exhibition Opening
June 9, 2009 - LOS ANGELES, CA:Brad Globe,President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Ron Sanders, President Warner Home Video, and Jeff Baker, WHV's Senior Vice President and General Manager attended the 'Yellow Carpet' Opening Night Gala for Warner Bros. Consumer Products' The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition.
The evening included the official announcement of Warner Home Video's The Wizard of Oz Ultimate Collector's Edition on Blu-ray and DVD September 29, as well as the debut of jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino's My Pretty collection, celebrating the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz at FIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising.
Nick Verreos, Star of Project Runway, instructor and alum of FIDM, Nikolaki Fashion Owner/Designer; was mentor to FIDM, Debut Graduates in producing fashions, inspired by the four main characters in The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion and The Tin Man and FIDM students dressed up as Dorothy girls attended the ‘Yellow Carpet’ Opening Night Gala for Warner Bros. Consumer Products' The Ruby Slipper Collection.
May 10, 2009: Warner Home Video is celebrating the 70th anniversary of The Wizard of OZ by launching a grand Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon Tour that will travel across the United States from Los Angeles to New York visiting cities and hot air balloon festivals all across the United States to celebrate the anniversary.
The Emerald City Green balloon is encircled with the Yellow Brick Road, stands over 75 feet tall, is 55 feet in diameter and holds 90,000 cubic feet of air.
The OZ balloon also carries the 70th anniversary logo that includes Dorothy’s Ruby Red Slippers. Another side of the balloon has a larger–than-life image of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion. The famous movie characters stand nearly 30-foot tall and seem to be skipping off the side of this beautiful balloon. Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers are size 8 and a half – feet long!
Warner will also be releasing a limited and numbered DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Definition editions of the beloved film, packed with treasured collectibles and all-new bonus content later this year.
Consumer Products, Ron Sanders, President Warner Home Video, and Jeff Baker, WHV's Senior Vice President and General Manager attended the 'Yellow Carpet' Opening Night Gala for Warner Bros. Consumer Products' The Ruby Slipper Collection and Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Exhibition.
Owner/Designer; was mentor to FIDM, Debut Graduates in producing fashions, inspired by the four main characters in The Wizard of Oz: Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Cowardly Lion and The Tin Man and FIDM students dressed up as Dorothy girls attended the ‘Yellow Carpet’ Opening Night Gala for Warner Bros. Consumer Products' The Ruby Slipper Collection.