OFFBEAT: Buddy Holly and Julia Child in 2013 Chicago Broadway season

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Local actress ready for new role outside of 'Trailer Park'

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Chesterton's Wizard of Oz Fest could end without new sponsor

CHESTERTON | A new sponsoring organization is needed to assume the duties of managing and coordinating Chesterton's annual Wizard of Oz Festival or the event is likely to cease.

State-of-the-art pinball machine takes players to Oz

GRIFFITH | A rainbow contains all the colors of the visible light spectrum.

MHS Actresses Hope Krajnak (left) and Cree Smith with Director Thomas Mackey

MHS student actresses Hope Krajnak (left) of Crown Point as Wicked Witch of the West and Cree Smith of Hobart as Dorothy with Director Thomas Mackey.

OFFBEAT: MHS teacher nets rights to rare 'Wizard of Oz' inspired stage work

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Princess Diana wedding cake slice auctioned next month

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Reading and rainbows

CROWN POINT | More than 600 participants gathered in the Eisenhower Elementary School gym for a literacy assembly at 10 a.m. Oct. 5 to participate in the annual Time Out for Reading event.

MGM Munchkin Wardrobe Test Photo

In a rare studio test photo, Karl Slover is shown in wardrobe, displaying the back of his Munchkin Trumpeter costume for his role in the 1939 film classic "The Wizard of Oz."

OFFBEAT: Munchkin Karl Slover, 93, was a favorite of 'Oz' fans of all ages

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Carol Channing with Munchin couple The Marens

Broadway star Carol Channing, 90, is framed by the late Elizabeth Maren and her husband Jerry Maren, 91, last fall in Hollywood.

OFFBEAT: Readers have questions about Munchkins, Midget Bar in Chicago and TradeWinds celeb poker

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Theatre at the Center's 'The Wiz' a fun and funky trip with old friends

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Chicago South Side actress Felicia Fields eager for 'The Wiz'

Actress Felicia Fields likes to describe it as "as stage story with a message of home."

"Curled Toe" Ruby Slippers by Adrian

The "Curled Toe" Ruby Slippers created by famed Hollywood costumer Adrian, sporting an obvious Arabian theme, were never actually worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in the 1939 MGM film "The Wizard of Oz."

OFFBEAT: Marilyn, Liz and Joan dresses, Harpo's hair and Dorothy's slippers on the block for Debbie's sale

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Debbie Reynolds confident about sale of rare collection

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: 'Wizard of Oz' a film influence on everyone from Oprah to John Waters

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Wizard of Oz Costumes

A DECLARATION - - The Munchkin coroner hat used in the 1939 MGM film classic "The Wizard of Oz" sold at a Los Angeles auction June 12, 2010 for $30,000. (Image courtesy of Profiles in History)

CASTING A SPELL

PAGE BY PAGE - - The catalog for the Hollywood Auction 40 organized by Profiles in History in Los Angeles June 10 -12, 2010 features pages of legendary movie props and costumes, include treasured pieces from the MGM 1939 classic "The Wizard of Oz." (Catalog Image Provided Courtesy of Profile…