Frank Baum (back center), dressed in a white suit, poses with the cast of his traveling show, “Fairylogue and Radio Plays.” (L. And while many believe Baum most identified himself with the Wizard, Aronstein and Drummond contend the author saw a little bit of himself in all of his characters. All of these experiences enabled him to shrewdly market his Oz books when the time came to do so.”īaum created many colorful and memorable characters in his book, from Dorothy to the Tin Man to the Wicked Witch of the West.
He also designed elaborate show windows for premium department stores he literally wrote the book on that subject. “He worked in a variety of professions before he wrote the Oz books, including his family’s motor oil firm, a fancy poultry company and a high-end gift boutique in Aberdeen, S.D.
“Most people don’t realize this, but Baum was a savvy marketer and brand manager,” Drummond explains. But that experience is what made Baum ready when his moment came, according to Drummond, a UW associate professor of English.
When his signature book was published, Baum was 44 years old and had spent much of his life in restless pursuit of success. We really enjoyed working with the producers - Randall MacLowry and Rebecca Taylor - and it was fascinating to observe the documentary take shape.”
So, when the opportunity came to convey our research in a new medium, we jumped at the chance. “And the first several chapters deal directly with him. Of course, in order to write a book about the staying power of Oz, we had to delve into Baum’s life and work,” says Aronstein, a UW professor of English. “We’re still not sure how the producers of ‘American Oz’ heard about our book. Both Aronstein and Drummond feel it is a great honor to have been chosen to help narrate the episode, and they hope the documentary will lead to a whole new audience for Baum, his works and books about his works. Frank Baum to Broadway,” which was published in 2018. The two, along with Terri Rittenburg, a UW professor emeritus of management and marketing, wrote “The Road to Wicked: The Marketing and Consumption of Oz from L. The book spawned the classic 1939 MGM film “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland, as well as plays and musicals, including 2003’s “Wicked.” Susan Aronstein and Kent Drummond, both in the UW Department of English, are two of the narrators for this documentary, which explores the life of Baum, best known as the author of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” which was published in 1900.
Frank Baum’s life during “American Oz,” the latest entry in the “American Experience” series that will air on PBS from 8-10 p.m. Two University of Wyoming faculty members will help lead viewers down the Yellow Brick Road and pull back the curtain on author L. Frank Baum Papers, University of Syracuse) Frank Baum, author of “Maid of Arran.” Susan Aronstein and Kent Drummond, both in the UW Department of English, are two of the narrators for “American Oz,” the latest entry in the “American Experience” series that will air on PBS from 8-10 p.m.