![]() ![]() ![]() "He would have been impressed by the architecture of the (World's) fair The White City (exhibition) may have been the inspiration for Emerald City," says William Stillman, co-author of "The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 MGM Classic." "He certainly was aware of the extraordinary power of cyclones in the Great Plains - he'd lived in South Dakota. Just a block south of Baum's home, Humboldt Boulevard cut a swath through the lush greenery of Humboldt Park, twisting and turning -imagine it at night, in the glow of street lamps not unlike his famous yellow brick road. ![]() Built as part of the city's park and boulevard system for the 1893 World's Fair Exhibition, the avenue was lined by majestic homes that suggested the new American prosperity. Though his original home has been razed and subsidized townhomes now exist on that corner (only a modest marker serves as a reminder), at the time Baum was alive, Humboldt Boulevard was a splendorous thoroughfare. ![]() Trapped on a pedestal of admiration, Baum became the Wizard incarnate: Wanting very much to do other things but too good-natured (and sometimes too broke) to turn away his fans.īaum wrote "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" while living in Chicago at 1667 N. The success of the original "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" book was so overwhelming that every time Baum tried to put an end to the 14 sequels that followed it, legions of children would write him feverish letters that would drive him back to his writing desk. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |