“As I was growing up in St. Louis, MO., the oldest of four kids every year we would gather around our TV and watch the Wizard of Oz. But, first, we prepared by popping popcorn on the stovetop and coating it with real butter and pouring big glasses of 7Up to go with it.
As I began my own family I greatly anticipated sharing this family favorite with my own children, along with the popcorn and soda. And, now I share it with great delight with all four of my grandchildren who also enjoy the family time with Nana and PawPaw. The Wizard of Oz has spanned three generations in our family so far and I look forward to carrying on the tradition with all of our progeny.”
– Deborah K.
“I am an army brat and quite proud of that. Yet, growing up my parents weren’t around very often. I lived with a variety of relatives in four different states and two different countries. There were times my younger brother and I didn’t reside in the same household. The only constant in my life was The Wizard of Oz. I watched it on television when it aired, I wore out my VHS copy numerous times, own it on DVD and hope to get it on Blu-ray soon. It was a reminder that home wasn’t where I was it was being with people that loved me and there is no place like home.”
– Iona M.
“When I was little, people did not have VCR’s, and movies weren’t shown over and over on cable. Once a year, The Wizard of Oz would come on television, and it was a special time for my mom, my little sister, and me. We always watched together. One year, it came on later than usual on a work night, and my father did not want us to stay up to watch together. He just did not understand; he thought this tradition was silly. Mama tucked us in and whispered for us to wait until we heard our father start to snore, and then, she said, we could crawl in and lay on the floor at the foot of her bed. She had a blanket there, ready for us, and the Wizard of Oz came on with the three of us girls together, watching as always. I have three little boys, no girls, but I have shared this story with them, and they now enjoy camping out in the living room in the blankets to watch with me on occasion. They have grown to love this tradition just like their mama.”
– Kimberly K.
“I used to watch the Wizard of Oz with my grandma all the time. She loved the theater, and the music from The Wizard of Oz was her absolute favorite. We would always sing along with the movie and act out the scenes as the movie was playing. I always wore my Dorothy costume while we watched, and she would braid my hair as she sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” I would pull the carpet off the floor during “If I Were King of the Forest” and wrap it around my shoulders, and I always kept my tinfoil crown next to the TV. That was my favorite scene. To this day I still wrap a blanket over my shoulders when I watch the movie, and I am 24 years old. It makes me so happy that I have been watching that movie for more than 20 years. I know that I will make sure my children have the same connection and memories associated with that movie that I do.”
– Randi C.