Munchkin

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox character A Munchkin is a native of the fictional Munchkin Country in the Oz books by American author L. Frank Baum. Although a common fixture in Germanic fairy tales, they are introduced to modern audiences with the first appearance in the classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) where they welcome Dorothy Gale to their city in Oz. The Munchkins are described as being the same height as Dorothy and they wear only shades of blue clothing, as blue is the Munchkins' favorite color. Blue is also the predominating color that officially represents the eastern quadrant in the Land of Oz. The Munchkins have appeared in various media, including the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, as well as in various other films and comedy acts.

Concept

While Baum may have written about it, there are no surviving notes for the composition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The lack of this information has resulted in speculation of the term origins he used in the book, which include the word Munchkin.<ref name="origin">Template:Cite book</ref> Baum researcher Brian Attebery has hypothesized that there might be a connection to the {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, the emblem of the Bavarian city of Munich (spelled {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in German).<ref name="origin"/> The symbol was originally a 13th-century statue of a monk, looking down from the town hall in Munich. Over the years, the image was reproduced many times, for instance as a figure on beer steins, and eventually evolved into a child wearing a pointed hood.<ref>Corinna Erhard: Das Münchner Kindl auf dem Rathaus – wer stand Modell? In: Corinna Erhard: München in 50 Antworten. München-Verlag, München 2011, Template:ISBN, S. 16.</ref> Baum's family had German origins, suggesting that Baum could have seen one such reproduction in his childhood. It is also possible that Munchkin came from the German word {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, which means "mannikin" or "little figure". In 1900, Baum published a book about window displays in which he stressed the importance of mannequins in attracting customers.<ref name=Smithsonian>Emily and Per Ola d'Aulaire, "Mannequins: our fantasy figures of high fashion," Smithsonian, Vol. 22, no. 1, April 1991</ref> Another possibility is a connection to Baron Munchausen.Template:Original research inlineTemplate:Citation needed This fictional character is based on a real baron who told outrageous tall tales based on his military career.<ref name="origin"/><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Like the other Oz terms, the word Munchkin ends in a diminutive which in this case refers to the size of the natives.<ref name="origin"/>

Literature

Oz Books by Frank Baum

The Munchkins are first mentioned (quote shown) in an excerpt from chapter two of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, titled "The Council with the Munchkins". Dorothy initially meets only three of them, along with the Good Witch of the North. The rest of the Munchkins then come out of hiding and are shown to be grateful towards Dorothy for killing their evil ruler the Wicked Witch of the East. Dorothy later eventually finds the yellow brick road and along the way attends a banquet held by a Munchkin man named Boq. Sometime in the book a background story is also given about a "Munchkin maiden" (named Nimmie Amee in later books), who was the former love interest of the Tin Woodman.<ref name="Snow">Jack Snow, Who's Who in Oz, Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1954; New York, Peter Bedrick Books, 1988; p. 144.</ref>

Baum also included the Munchkin characters in his later works as minor and major individual characters. The Munchkin Jinjur is the main antagonist in Baum's second book The Marvelous Land of Oz, where she seeks to overthrow the Scarecrow and take over the Emerald City. Jinjur makes a brief appearance in the next book, entitled Ozma of Oz, and is brought back in Baum's twelfth book, The Tin Woodman of Oz. By this time, she is shown to be a more prominent character who is helpful and friendly to Dorothy and her friends. Two other major Munchkin characters also appear in The Tin Woodman of Oz: Tommy Kwikstep and Nimmie Amee. The former appears in the story asking for a wish for running an errand for a witch; the latter is the name given to the mystery "Munchkin maiden" from the first book, who was the former lover of the Tin Woodman. More information is revealed that tells about the Tin Woodman's origin and their tragic love story.<ref name="Snow"/> Lastly, the Munchkin Unc Nunkie appears in Baum's seventh book, The Patchwork Girl of Oz, where he is accidentally turned to stone. His Munchkin nephew Ojo successfully goes on a quest in search of an antidote while learning more about himself in the process.

Subsequent Oz books

L. Frank Baum died on 6 May 1919 after which other writers took up writing additional Oz stories. In some cases these books were written under Baum's name and included the Munchkins. There is at least one known Munchkin character that was created after Baum's death that appears as a major character. Zif is a Munchkin boy who appears in John R. Neill's first adaptation called The Royal Book of Oz. Zif is a student at the College of Art and Athletic Perfection; he is both respectful and resentful towards his teacher Wogglebog who considers Zif a "nobody or a nothing". The Munchkin characters that Baum had created in his lifetime also appear in these additional works.

Film and musicals

Early works (1902–1933)

While the 1939 film is the most well known adaptation (see section below), it was not the first outside work to show the Munchkins in film or musical format. One of the first musical adaptations of Baum's books took place in 1902; it was also dubbed The Wizard of Oz.<ref>Fricke, Stillman, Scarfone. The Wizard of Oz: The 50th Anniversary Pictorial History</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Munchkins make their appearance in act one, called "The Storm", in which they are shown dancing around their maypole, not noticing that Dorothy's house has fallen to earth killing the Wicked Witch of the East.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The first film adaptation of Baum's works, titled The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, was released in 1910, followed by three sequels. However, it was not until 1914 that Munchkin characters first appeared in film works. Ojo the Lucky and Unc Nunkie both appear in a film titled The Patchwork Girl of Oz (based on the book of the same name). This film stars American actress Violet MacMillan as Ojo and was produced by Baum.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

1939 film

File:Munchkins-film.jpg

The Munchkins (specifically the "Lollipop Guild") as depicted in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. L–R: Jackie Gerlich, Jerry Maren, and Harry Doll.

The 1939 movie musical The Wizard of Oz was loosely based on Baum's novel. Notable differences of the Munchkins include their country name of Munchkinland and their clothes of many colors instead of an all-blue attire. In the musical, the Munchkins are portrayed by the thirty-odd members of the Singer Midgets, a European performing troupe made up of adult actors with dwarfism. Their numbers were swelled when a national talent search brought in a further ninety-four little men, women, and teenagers, with a few average-sized children were also included as background extras<ref name="TMC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in order to make up the 124 characters requested by MGM.<ref>Yours Retro magazine; Summer 2024; Issue No. 78; page 40</ref>

In the musical, the Munchkins first appear when Dorothy and Toto arrive in the Land of Oz after her house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East. The Munchkins hide from all the commotion until Glinda the Good Witch arrives reassuring them that everything is okay. Dorothy tells them how she arrived in the Land of Oz (through a musical number) and the Munchkins celebrate. To make it official, a Barrister and a number of City Fathers insist to the Mayor of the Munchkin City that they must make sure that the Wicked Witch of the East is really dead before the celebration continues. The Coroner confirms this by saying that the witch is "not only merely dead" but is indeed "most sincerely dead" while showing a Certificate of Death. The Munchkins then celebrate further as Dorothy receives gifts from the "Lullaby League" and the "Lollipop Guild". Near the end of the song, the Wicked Witch of the West arrives, which causes the Munchkins to panic. After the Wicked Witch of the West leaves, Glinda tells Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City as the Munchkins guide her out of Munchkinland.

File:The Munchkins Star.jpg

Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Munchkin actors have since not avoided controversy with alleged behavior behind the scenes. In a 1967 interview, Judy Garland referred to all of the Munchkins as "little drunks" who got intoxicated every night to the point where they had to be picked up in "butterfly nets". These accusations were denied as fabrications by fellow Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini, who said only "a couple of kids from Germany even drank beer".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 20 November 2007, the Munchkins were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Seven of the surviving Munchkin actors from the film were present. As a result of the popularity of the 1939 film, the word "munchkin" has entered the English language as a reference to small children, persons with dwarfism, or anything of diminutive stature.

Actors and actresses

The following is a list of actors who portrayed the Munchkins in the 1939 film. Most of the dwarfs hired were acquired for MGM by Leo Singer, the proprietor of Singer's Midgets.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A Daily Variety news story from 17 August 1938, stated 124 dwarves had been signed to play Munchkins; modern sources place the number either at 122 or 124. An additional dozen or so child actors were hired to make up for the shortage of dwarves.<ref name="TMC"/> At least one Munchkin actor, Dale Paullin (stage name Paul Dale), did not make the final cut for the movie.<ref name="Paul Dale">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Only two actors (Joseph Koziel and Frank Cucksey) used their actual voices for the dialogue exchanged with Dorothy where she is given the flowers. The rest of the voices, such as the "Munchkin chorus", were created by Pinto Colvig and Billy Bletcher<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with their voices recorded at a slow speed, which were subsequently sped-up when played back.<ref name="Real voice">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 1989, author Stephen Cox researched, found, and wrote about the surviving Munchkin actors fifty years after they made the film. He wrote about them in his book, The Munchkins Remember (1989, E.P. Dutton), which was later revised as The Munchkins of Oz (Cumberland House), and his book remained in print for nearly two decades. When he wrote the book, 33 of the actors with dwarfism who appeared in the film were still alive and were interviewed. Several of them outlived all the major cast, as well as the original Tin Man Buddy Ebsen. Jerry Maren, who played the green "Lollipop Guild" member, was the last living adult Munchkin actor. Maren was the only Munchkin alive when the film's longest living cast member, Shep Houghton, an extra, died in 2016.

Notes: Some of the information presented in the table below may never be complete as Social Security records remain sparse prior to the mid-twentieth century. Stage names and/or aliases are present in italics and quotation marks.

Actor	Born	Died	Part(s) played
Gladys W. Allison<ref name="Munchkin Actors">Template:Cite book</ref>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
John Ballas<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3">Template:Cite book</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Unknown || Played a villager
Franz Balluch ("Mike")<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Josefine Balluch<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	Template:Unknown	1984Template:Sfn	Played a villager
John T. Bambury<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1891<ref name="Bambury">Template:Cite book</ref>	1960<ref name="Bambury"/>	Played a soldier
Charlie Becker	1887<ref name="Becker">Template:Cite book</ref>	1968<ref name="Becker"/>Template:Sfn	Played "The Mayor of Munchkinland".<ref name="Becker"/>Template:Sfn
Freda Betsky<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Henry Boers	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Unknown || Played a villager
Theodore Boers	1894<ref name="1938 Midget Jamboree"/>	1945<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	Played a villager
Christie Buresh	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Eddie Buresh	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Lida Buresh<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Mickey Carroll	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2009<ref name="Carroll"/> || Played a fiddler, a town crier, and a soldier
Casper "Colonel" Balsam<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1968<ref name="Balsam"/> || Played a villager
Nona A. Cooper<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	1875<ref name="Cooper">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	1953<ref name="Cooper"/>	Played a villager
Thomas J. Cottonaro<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2001<ref name="Cottonaro"/> || Played a villager
Elizabeth Coulter<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Lewis Croft	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2008<ref name="Croft"/> || Played a soldier<ref name="Croft"/>
Frank Cucksey	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1984<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a villager who gives Dorothy flowersTemplate:Efn
Billy Curtis	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1988<ref name="Curtis"/> || Played the BraggartTemplate:Efn
Eugene S. David Jr.	1915	1984	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Eulie H. David	1921Template:Sfn	1972Template:Sfn	Played a soldier<ref name="SRP"/>
Ethel W. Denis<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1894<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1968<ref name="Prince Denis">Template:Cite news</ref>	Played a villager
Prince DenisTemplate:Sfn	1900<ref name="Prince Denis"/>	1984<ref name="Prince Denis"/>	Played the Sergeant-at-ArmsTemplate:Efn
Hazel I. Derthick	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1989 || Played a villager
Daisy Earles	1907	1980<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll">Template:Cite news</ref>	Played a "munchkin maiden"<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>
Gracie Doll Earles	1899<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1970<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>	Played a "munchkin maiden"<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>
Harry Doll Earles	1902	1985<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Tiny Doll Earles	1914<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>	2004<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>	Played a "munchkin maiden"<ref name="Telegraph Tiny Doll"/>
Major Doyle ("James D. Doyle")<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1869Template:Sfn	1940Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Ruth Robinson Duccini	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2014<ref name="Duccini"/> || Played a villager
Carl M. Erickson<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1958<ref name="Erickson"/> || Played the 2nd Trumpeter
Fern Formica	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Unknown || Played a villager and a "sleepyhead"
Addie Eva Frank<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Thaisa L. Gardner<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Jakob "Jackie" Gerlich	1925Template:Efn	1960<ref name="Jakob">Template:Cite book</ref>	Red member of The Lollipop Guild
William A. Giblin	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1985<ref name="Giblin"/> || Played a soldier<ref name="Giblin"/>
Jack S. Glicken	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1950<ref name="Glicken"/> || Played a city father
Carolyn E. Granger<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1973<ref name="Granger"/> || Played a villager
Joseph Herbst<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1908Template:Sfn	Template:UnknownTemplate:Efn	Played a soldier
Jakob Hofbauer	1898Template:Sfn	Template:UnknownTemplate:Efn	Played a soldierTemplate:Sfn
Clarence C. Howerton ("Major Mite")	1913<ref name=AS>Template:Cite book</ref>	1975<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Played the 3rd Trumpeter<ref name=AS/>
Helen M. Hoy<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1945<ref name="HHoy"/> || Played a villager
Marguerite A. Hoy<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
James R. Hulse IV<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1915Template:Sfn	1964Template:Sfn<ref>Per records at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, OH James R. Hulse IV died in 1964 and is buried in section 106</ref>	Played a villager
Robert Kanter ("Little Lord Robert")<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	1886Template:Efn	Template:Unknown	Played a soldier
Charles E. Kelley<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a soldier
Jessie E. Kelley ("Jessie Becker")<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Frank Kikel<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Bernard Klima ("Harry")	1897<ref name="phreeque.com"/>	1957<ref name="phreeque.com"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	Played a villager
Mitzi Koestner<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1894Template:Sfn	1975Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Emma Koestner<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1900Template:Sfn	1984Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Willi Koestner<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1908Template:Sfn	1974Template:Sfn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Adam Edwin Kozicki ("Eddie Adams")<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Joseph J. Koziel<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1967<ref name="Koziel"/> || Played a villager who gives Dorothy flowersTemplate:Efn
Dolly F. Kramer<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1904<ref name="1938 Midget Jamboree"/>	1995<ref name="1938 Midget Jamboree"/>	Played a villager
Emil Kranzler<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1993<ref name="LPOA"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a villager
Nita Krebs	1905<ref name="phreeque.com"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Member of The Lullaby League and a villager<ref name="Krebs"/>
Jeane LaBarbera ("Little Jean")	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1993<ref name="LaBarbera"/> || Played a villager
Hilda Lange<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1911<ref name="LPOA"/>	1975<ref name="LPOA"/>	Played a villager
John Leal ("Johnny")<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1996<ref name="Leal"/> || Played a villager
Ann Rice Leslie<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1973<ref name="Leslie"/> || Played a villager
Charles Ludwig<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1941<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a villager
Dominick Magro<ref>Scarfone, Jay (2004). The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 M-G-M Classic. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 248. Template:ISBN.</ref>	1909<ref name="Magro">Template:Cite news</ref>	1959<ref name="Magro"/>	Played a villager
Carlos Manzo<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1955<ref name="Manzo"/> || Played a villager
Howard Marco<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Unknown || Played a villager
Jerry Maren	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2018<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Green member of The Lollipop Guild
Bela Matina ("Mike Rogers")<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/><ref name="Guinness">Template:Cite book</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1954<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a villager
Lajos Matina ("Leo Rogers")<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	1893<ref name="MatinaFH"/>	1975<ref name="MatinaFH"/>	Played a villager
Matyus Matina ("Ike Rogers")<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/><ref name="Guinness"/>	1902<ref name="MatinaFH"/>	1965<ref name="MatinaFH"/>	Played a villager
Walter M. B. Miller<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1906Template:Sfn	1987Template:Sfn	Played a soldier and a flying monkeyTemplate:Sfn
George Ministeri<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1906Template:Sfn	1986Template:Sfn	Played the coachman and a villagerTemplate:Sfn
Harry Monty	1904<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	1999<ref name="Monty">Template:Cite news</ref>	Played a villager and a flying monkey<ref name="Monty"/>
Yvonne Bistany Moray<ref name="Munchkin Actors"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:UnknownTemplate:Efn	Member of The Lullaby League and a villagerTemplate:Sfn
Johnny Maroldo ("Johnny Winters")	1905Template:Sfn	1985Template:Sfn	Played the Commander of the NavyTemplate:Sfn
Marie Bernadet Maroldo ("Marie Winters")	1901Template:Sfn	1979Template:Sfn	Played a villagerTemplate:Sfn
Olga C. Nardone	1921<ref name="Nardone">Template:Cite news</ref>	2010<ref name="Nardone"/>	Member of The Lullaby League, and a sleepyhead.<ref name="Nardone"/>
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn || 1918<ref name="Nelson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1994<ref name="Nelson"/> || Played a villager
Margaret C. Nickloy ("Princess Marguerite")	1902<ref name="Nickloy">Template:Cite book</ref>	1961<ref name="Nickloy"/>	Played a villager
Franklin H. O'Baugh	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="OBaugh">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1963<ref name="OBaugh"/> || Played a soldier<ref name="OBaugh"/>
William H. O'Docharty<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1920Template:Sfn	1988Template:Sfn	Played the coach footman and a villagerTemplate:Sfn
Hildred C. Olson<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Frank Packard<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Nicholas Page ("Nicky")	1904Template:Sfn	1978Template:Sfn	Played a soldier and a city father<ref name="TMC"/>Template:Sfn
Leona Megest Parks ("Duchess Leona")	1897<ref name="1938 Midget Jamboree"/>	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Margaret Williams Pellegrini	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2013<ref name="Pellegrini"/> || Played a "sleepyhead" and the "flower pot munchkin".<ref name="Pellegrini"/>
Johnny Pizo<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Leon Polinsky ("Prince Leon")<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1918Template:Sfn	1955Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Lillian PorterTemplate:Sfn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1997<ref name="Porter"/> || Played a villager
Meinhardt Raabe	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2010<ref name="Raabe"/> || Played the coronerTemplate:Efn
Margaret Raia	1928Template:Efn	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a villager<ref name="Margaret Raia"/>
Matthew Raia	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a city father<ref name="Margaret Raia"/>
Friedrich Retter ("Freddie")<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Template:Unknown || Played a fiddler and villager
Billy Rhodes ("Little Billy")<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1895	1967	Played the barrister
Gertrude H. Rice<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Hazel Rice<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Sandor Roka<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1954<ref name="Roka"/> || Played a villager
Jimmie Rosen	1892Template:Sfn	1973Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Charles F. "Wojnarski" Royal<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1947<ref name="Wojnarski"/> || Played a soldier
Helen J. "Wojnarski" Royal<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1897<ref name="Wojnarski"/>	1958<ref name="Wojnarski"/>	Played a villager
Stella A. "Wojnarski" Royal	1903<ref name="Wojnarski"/>	1959<ref name="Wojnarski"/>	Played a villager
Albert Ruddinger<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Elsie R. Schultz<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1892Template:Sfn	1987	Played a villager
Charles Silvern<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1902	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a villager
Garland Slatton ("Earl")	1917<ref name="1938 Midget Jamboree"/>	1995<ref name="1938 Midget Jamboree"/>	Played a soldier
Karl Slover<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1918<ref name="Slover">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2011<ref name="Slover"/> || Played the lead trumpeter, a soldier, and a villager<ref name="Slover"/>
Ruth E. Smith<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	1985<ref name="Paul Dale"/>	Played a villager
Elmer Spangler<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1992 || Played a villager
Pernell St. Aubin	1922<ref name="phreeque.com"/>	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || Played a soldier<ref name="phreeque.com"/>
Carl Stephan<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1901	1959	Played a villager
Alta M. Stevens<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1913	1989	Played a villagerTemplate:Sfn
George Suchsie<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Charlotte V. Sullivan<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
Clarence Swensen	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2009<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> || Played a soldier<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1916 || 1994Template:Sfn || Played a villager
Arnold Vierling	1919Template:Sfn	1949Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Gus Wayne	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1998<ref name="Wayne"/> || Played a soldier<ref name="Wayne"/>
Victor Wetter	1902Template:Sfn<ref name="Wetter">Template:Cite book</ref>	1990Template:Sfn<ref name="Wetter"/>	Played the Captain of the Army<ref name="TMC"/>Template:Sfn<ref name="Wetter"/>
Grace G. Williams<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	Template:Unknown	Template:Unknown	Played a villager
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 1905 || 1968 || Played a soldier
Gladys V. Wolff<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1911Template:Sfn	1984Template:Sfn	Played a villager
Murray Wood<ref name="British Film Institute Film Classics 3"/>	1908<ref name="Wood">Template:Cite book</ref>	1999<ref name="Wood"/>	Played a city father

Child actresses

About a dozen children of average height were hired so they could be used for background fill. Sources differ on the number of children used for these roles ranging anywhere from 10 to 12.<ref name="Joan Kenmore">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The names used for the women are maiden names with known aliases present in italics and quotation marks.

Template:As of, at least three "child munchkins" are known to be living.

Actor	Born	Died	Part(s) played	Source
Betty Ann Cain ("Bruno")	1931	2023	Munchkin hatchling	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Meet Joan Kenmore who once danced on the yellow brick road"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Priscilla Ann Montgomery Clark	1929	Living	Munchkin Child	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Donna Jean Johnson ("Stewart Hardaway")	1933	2008	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Joan Kenmore	1931	2022	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Child actors recall joining Munchkin ranks"/><ref name="Meet Joan Kenmore who once danced on the yellow brick road"/><ref name="Joan Kenmore"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Eva Lee Kuney	1934	2015	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=press>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Rae-Nell Laskey ("Alsbury")	1930	1991	unknown	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Elaine Mirk ("Merk")	1930	Living	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Better source needed</ref>
Valerie Lee ShepardTemplate:Efn	1931	Living	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}Template:Better source needed</ref>
Ardith Dondanville ("Mae") Todd	1930	2022	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Shirley Ann Kennedy ("Vegors")	1932	2005	Background fill	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Sfn
Viola White ("Banks")	1931	2000	Background fill	<ref name="TMC"/>

Later works (1940–1989)

The 1939 film was adapted into a musical that was released in 1942 that includes the Munchkin characters. The events that take place mirror the film including the song "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Twenty-seven years later an animated film called The Wonderful Land of Oz was made featuring Jinjur as a main antagonist.

Other works

• The Munchkins appeared in The Wiz and were played by children and teenagers. (1978)
• The Munchkins appear at the end of Return to Oz. They are seen celebrating Dorothy's return after defeating the Nome King and are present at Princess Ozma's coronation. Tommy Kwikstep was also seen there. (1985)
• In The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, the Munchkins were played by Rizzo the Rat (who portrayed the "Mayor of Munchkinland") and his fellow rats, allowing them to also pull double duty as the Field Mice that rescue Dorothy from the poppies. (2005)
• In Strawberry Shortcake, more specifically the 2003 cartoon, the fourth season contains an episode called Berry Brick Road that involves a story where Strawberry Shortcake gets whisked from her home. When she lands, she is greeted by three Munchkins that call themselves the Berrykins (after a feylike being from the 1980s cartoon), were tormented by the Wicked Witch of the West, thank Strawberry Shortcake for knocking out the Wicked Witch of the West (which she only did by landing nearby) and pressure her into stealing the latter's magic slippers (which she later uses to return to her home) as a reward. She later returns to Oz to teach the trio a lesson about caring for the environment. The Berrykins do not sing as much as their people had in the original version, and they and the other Munchkins look very small; however, the Berrykins specifically look just like Blueberry Muffin, Rainbow Sherbet, and Lemon Meringue. (2007)
• The Munchkins appeared in Dorothy and the Witches of Oz. The Munchkins were first seen in the battle against the Wicked Witch of the West's forces in Oz. They were later brought to Earth by Glinda in order to combat the forces of the Wicked Witch of the West. (2012)
• The Munchkins appear in Oz the Great and Powerful. They alongside the Quadlings and the Tinkers as inhabitants of Glinda's protectorate. Although the film is not otherwise a musical, the Munchkins sing and dance much as they do in the 1939 film. (2013)
• The Munchkins appear in more than one skit on Mad TV where the 1939 film is parodied. The actors are played by people with dwarfism.
• The Munchkins appear in the television series Once Upon a Time. Not much is known about them, but they seem to be similar to the Dwarves in the Enchanted forest as Zelena originally thought that Sneezy was a Munchkin. Also, Regina Mills once mistakenly referred to the Seven Dwarfs as Munchkins.
• The Munchkins appear in Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz with the "Mayor of Munchkinland" voiced by Bill Fagerbakke and the background Munchkins voiced by Steven Blum and Jessica DiCicco. Ojo, Dr. Pipt, the Lollipop Guild, and the Lullaby League are also featured. Also, Smith & Tinker are depicted as Munchkins in this show.
• The Munchkins appear as a culture of farmers in Wicked. Director Jon M. Chu decided to cast people closer to the book's original description being about as tall as Dorothy, rather than the 1939 film's cast of much shorter Munchkins. The main Munchkin character in this story, Boq Woodsman, is played by Ethan Slater who stands at 5'7". Chu also chose to focus more on their culture than their physical appearance.

References

Works cited

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External links

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