Munchkin

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For other uses, see Munchkin (disambiguation).
The Munchkins
Oz books character
Munchkins.png
W. W. Denslow's depiction of Munchkins, from the first edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
First appearance "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" (1900)
Created by L. Frank Baum

The Munchkins are the natives of the fictional Munchkin Country in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. They first appeared in the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which they are described as being somewhat short of stature, and wear only blue. They are best-known from their depiction in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, in which they are played by adult proportional dwarfs, dressed in brightly multicolored outfits, and live in Munchkinland.

On November 20, 2007, the Munchkins were given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Seven of the surviving Munchkins actors from the film were present.[1] As a result of the popularity of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, the word "munchkin" has entered the English language as a reference to small children, dwarfs, or anything cute of diminutive stature.[2]

Contents

Appearance [edit]

The following is an excerpt from chapter two of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which Dorothy first meets three Munchkins and the Good Witch of the North:

"... she noticed coming down toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to; but neither were they very small. In fact, they seemed about as tall as Dorothy, who was a well-grown child for her age, although they were, so far as looks go, many years older.

Baum apparently did not mean that only Munchkins are short in stature (as depicted in the iconic 1939 film), but that this is the norm for all of the adult humans of Oz. In a scene later in the book, the Guardian of the Gates, the first inhabitant of the Emerald City met by Dorothy and apparently representative of its citizens, is "a little man about the same size as the Munchkins." Still later, the Quadlings of the southern land are described as "short and fat."

In W. W. Denslow's illustrations for The Wonderful Wizard (approved by Baum), the only Oz humans depicted as remarkably taller than Dorothy are the Soldier with the Green Whiskers and Glinda. The short stature of Oz residents is rarely mentioned in the later books of the 'Oz' series written by Baum.

Origin of the term [edit]

Baum never explained where the term came from, but Baum researcher Brian Attebery has hypothesized that there might be a connection to the emblem of the Bavarian city of Munich (spelled München in German). 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. Baum's family had German origins, suggesting that Baum could have seen one such reproduction in his childhood.

It is also conceivable that "Munchkin" is derived from the German word for "mannikin" or "little figure": "Männchen", with "-chen" being the diminutive suffix for "Mann" (man). Southern German dialects use different diminutive suffixes and a "Männchen" is called "Manderl" or "Manschgerl", the latter of which is phonetically very close to munchkin.

Known Munchkins [edit]

The following is a list of the known Munchkins:

Actors [edit]

The following is a list of actors who portrayed the Munchkins in the 1939 film. 124 appeared in the film, with an additional dozen or so child actresses of average size hired to make up for the shortage of little people that the studio found to appear in the film. These actors – including those with speaking parts – were credited on-screen collectively, as "The Munchkins".

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 little people who acted in the film were surviving and were interviewed.

Deceased (121) [edit]

Actor Born Died Notes Source
Gladys W. Allison played a villager
John Ballas
Franz Balluck September 8, 1913 in Vienna, Austria January 24, 1987 played a villager [3]
Josefine Balluck September 9, 1908 in Vienna, Austria 1984 played a villager [4]
John T. Bambury July 10, 1891 November 4, 1960 played a soldier
Charlie Becker November 24, 1887 December 28, 1968 played "The Mayor of Munchkinland"
Freda Betsky played a villager
Henry Boers 1896 in Cologne, Germany 1962
Theodore Boers 1894 in Cologne, Germany
Christie Buresh April 21, 1907 in Czechoslovakia October 7, 1979 in St. Petersburg, Florida (buried in Lakeland, Georgia) played a villager [5]
Eddie Buresh March 16, 1909 in Czechoslovakia January 1982 in St. Petersburg, Florida (buried in Lakeland, Georgia) played a villager [6]
Lida Buresh June 16, 1906 in Czechoslovakia September 21, 1970 in St. Petersburg, Florida (buried in Lakeland, Georgia) played a villager
Mickey Carroll July 8, 1919 May 7, 2009 played a fiddler, a town crier, and a soldier [7]
Colonel Casper May 5, 1904 January 17, 1968 in Gibsonton, Florida
Nona A. Cooper 1875 1953 in Burbank, California played a villager [8]
Tommy Cottonaro March 20, 1914 in Italy February 7, 2001 in Niagara Falls, New York played the Bearded Man
Elizabeth Coulter played a villager
Lewis Croft May 2, 1919 April 28, 2008 played a soldier
Frank Cucksey January 5, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York September 9, 1984 in Sarasota, Florida played the villager that gives Dorothy the flowers [9][10]
Billy Curtis June 27, 1909 November 9, 1988 played the Braggart ("and ohhhh what happened then was rich")
Eugene S. David, Jr.
Eulie H. David April 10, 1921 September 1972
Ethel W. Denis March 23, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois December 1968 in Phoenix, Arizona played a villager
Prince Denis January 26, 1892 June 21, 1984 played the Sergeant-at-Arms [11]
Hazel I. Derthick January 7, 1906 in Oklahoma February 13, 1989 in Los Angeles played a villager [12]
Daisy Doll April 29, 1907 Germany March 15, 1980 in Sarasota, Florida played a villager
Gracie Doll March 12, 1899 Germany November 8, 1970 in Sarasota, Florida played a villager
Harry Doll April 3, 1902 Germany May 4, 1985 in Sarasota, Florida member of "The Lollipop Guild"
Tiny Doll July 23, 1914 Germany September 6, 2004 in Sarasota, Florida played a villager
Major Doyle September 5, 1893 October 11, 1940 played a villager
Carl M. Erickson September 12, 1917 in Corson, South Dakota 1958 in Phoenix, Arizona played the 2nd Trumpeter & a Sleepyhead [13]
Fern Formica January 17, 1925 in Drumright, Oklahoma January 23, 1995 in Hemet, California played a villager and a "sleepyhead" [14]
Addie Eva Frank played a villager
Thaisa L. Gardner September 11, 1909 November 19, 1968 played a villager
Jakob "Jackie" Gerlich September 21, 1917 in Vienna, Austria December 27, 1960 in Sarasota, Florida Member of "The Lollipop Guild" [15]
William A. Giblin
Jack S. Glicken 1900 in Russia March 6, 1950 in Miami Beach, Florida played a city father
Carolyn E. Granger November 8, 1915 in Ohio July 15, 1973 in Cleveland, Ohio played a villager
Joseph L. Herbst April 7, 1908 July 6, 1993 played a soldier
Jakob Hofbauer April 19, 1908 played a soldier [16]
Clarence C. Howerton "Major Mite" February 9, 1913 in Oregon November 18, 1975 in Oregon played the 3rd Trumpeter & Sleepyhead [17]
Helen M. Hoy played a villager
Marguerite A. Hoy January 26, 1906 November 6, 1969 [18]
James R. Hulse March 16, 1915 December 29, 1964 played a villager [19]
Robert Kanter played a soldier
Eleanor Keaton July 29, 1918 October 19, 1998
Charles E. Kelley
Jessie E. Kelley June 4, 1907 in Mahaska, Kansas August 16, 1968 in Oakland, California played a villager
Frank Kikel
Bernard "Harry" Klima c.1897 in Germany December 9, 1957 in Mexico City, Mexico [9][20]
Mitzi Koestner June 4, 1894 August 1975
Emma Koestner December 5, 1900 January 1984 played a villager
Willi Koestner December 29, 1908 November 1974 played a soldier
Adam Edwin "Eddie" Kozicki December 19, 1917 April 1986 played a fiddler
Joseph J. Koziel played a villager
Dolly F. Kramer June 24, 1904 in New York July 9, 1995 in Florida played a villager [21]
Emil Kranzler December 1, 1911 in South Dakota April 7, 1993 in Tempe, Arizona played a villager [22]
Nita Krebs October 8, 1905 January 18, 1991 member of The Lullaby League and a villager
"Little Jean" LaBarbera August 4, 1909 in Italy August 17, 1993 in Tampa, Florida played a villager [23]
Hilda Lange played a villager [24]
Raenell Laskey child actress
Johnny Leal February 26, 1905 November 9, 1996 played a villager and soldier
Ann Rice Leslie July 4, 1900 July 27, 1973 played a villager
Charles Ludwig played a villager
Dominick Magro
Carlos Manzo 1914 1955 [25]
Howard Marco
Bela "Mike" Matina 1903 Budapest, Hungary played a villager
Lajos "Leo" Matina September 12, 1893 Budapest, Hungary December 1975 played a villager
Matjus "Ike" Matina 1903 Budapest, Hungary played a villager
Walter M. B. Miller February 26, 1906 October 26, 1987 played a soldier and a flying monkey
George Ministeri August 9, 1913 in Boston, Massachusetts January 29, 1986 in Boston played the coach driver and a villager
Harry Monty April 15, 1904 December 28, 1999 played a villager and a flying monkey
Yvonne Bistany Moray January 24, 1917 member of The Lullaby League and a villager
Olga C. Nardone June 8, 1921 September 24, 2010 one of the sleepyheads, a villager, and a member of The Lullaby League
Nels P. Nelson November 24, 1918 May 2, 1994 played a villager
Margaret C.H. Nickloy August 12, 1902 April 29, 1961 played a villager [26]
Franklin O'Baugh
William H. O'Docharty September 12, 1920 December 20, 1988 The coach footman and villager
Hildred C. Olson played a villager
Frank Packard
Nicholas Page May 2, 1904 August 18, 1978 played a city father [25]
Leona M. Parks April 10, 1897 in Belgium played a villager
Johnny Pizo
"Prince Leon" Polinsky July 5, 1918 July 1955 played a villager
Meinhardt Raabe September 2, 1915 April 9, 2010 played the coroner
Margaret Raia 1928 in Long Island, New York August 17, 2003 Port Richey, Florida played a villager (Left Filming) [27]
Matthew Raia Long Island, New York played a city father who welcomed Dorothy to Oz
Friedrich "Freddie" Retter July 8, 1913 Pöllau, Austria played a fiddler and villager
"Little Billy" Rhodes August 15, 1894 in Illinois July 24, 1967 Hollywood, California played the barrister [28]
Gertrude H. Rice played a villager
Hazel Rice played a villager
Sandor Roka 1899 1957
Jimmy Rosen August 4, 1892 March 1973 [29]
Charles F. Royal November 7, 1900 in Strusina, Poland 1947 in Chicago, Illinois played a soldier
Helen J. Royal April 29, 1897 in Strusina, Poland 1958 in Chicago, Illinois played a villager
Stella A. Royal October 20, 1903 in Strusina, Poland January 9, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois played a villager
Albert Ruddinger
Elsie R. Schultz December 7, 1892 July 1l, 1987 played a villager [25]
Charles Silvern September 24, 1902 April 1, 1979
Garland "Earl" Slatten February 17, 1917 in Walters, Oklahoma April 30, 1995 in Pasco, Washington played a soldier [30]
Karl Slover September 21, 1918 November 15, 2011 played lead trumpeter, a soldier, a "sleepyhead" and a villager
Ruth E. Smith February 1, 1895 September 5, 1985 played a villager
Elmer Spangler 1910
Pernell St. Aubin December 19, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois December 4, 1987 in Chicago, Illinois played a soldier
Carl Stephan
Alta M. Stevens August 28, 1913 September 3, 1989 played a villager
Donna Jean Johnson Stewart-Hardaway April 2, 1933 November 12, 2008 child actress
George Suchsie
Charlotte V. Sullivan April 15, 1906 December 23, 1966 played a villager
Clarence Swensen December 29, 1917 February 25, 2009 played a soldier
Betty Tanner February 5, 1916 November 8, 1994 played a villager
Arnold Vierling May 24, 1919 in Seymour, Indiana June 11, 1949 in Seymour, Indiana played a villager [31]
Gus Wayne October 16, 1920 The Bronx, New York January 23, 1998 in Lakeland, Florida played a soldier [32]
Victor Wetter June 11, 1902 December 8, 1990 The Captain of the Army [33]
Viola White child actress
Gracie B. Williams played a villager
Harvey B. Williams played a soldier
Johnny Winters November 19, 1905 in Pennsylvania February 1985 San Diego, California played The Commander of the Navy
Marie Winters September 14, 1901 in France March 1979 in San Diego, California played a villager [25]
Gladys V. Wolff August 13, 1911 May 14, 1984 played a villager [25]
Murray Wood June 12, 1908 September 25, 1999 played a city father [34]

Living as of 1989 (32) [edit]

Actor Born Notes Source
Betty Ann Cain 1931 child actress [35][dead link]
Ardith Dondanville 1930 child actress [36][dead link]
Ruth Robinson Duccini July 23, 1918 played a villager
Joan Kenmore November 3, 1931 child actress [37][dead link]
Jerry Maren January 24, 1920 member of "The Lollipop Guild"
Elaine Mirk child actress
Priscilla Montgomery 1929 child actress [38][dead link]
Donna Jean Johnson Stewart-Hardaway April 2, 1933 - November 12, 2008 child actress
Margaret Williams Pellegrini September 23, 1923 played a "sleepyhead"
Meinhardt Raabe September 2, 1915 - April 9, 2010 played the coroner
Valerie Shepherd child actress
Karl Slover September 21, 1918 - November 15, 2011 played a soldier, a "sleepyhead" and a villager
Murray Wood June 12, 1908 - September 25, 1999 played a city father
Victor Wetter June 11, 1902 - December 8, 1990 The first tall soldier in line
Gus Wayne October 16, 1920 - January 23, 1998 played a soldier
Clarence Swensen December 29, 1917 - February 25, 2009 played a soldier
Betty Tanner February 5, 1916 - November 8, 1994 played a villager
Garland "Earl" Slatten February 17, 1917 - April 30, 1995 played a soldier
Margaret Raia 1928 - August 17, 2003
Nels P. Nelson November 24, 1918 - May 2, 1994
Olga C. Nardone June 8, 1921 - September 24, 2010 one of the sleepyheads, a villager, and a member of "The Lullaby League"
Harry Monty April 15, 1904 - December 28, 1999 played a villager and a flying monkey
Johnny Leal February 26, 1905 - November 9, 1996 played a villager
Dolly F. Kramer June 24, 1904 - July 9, 1995 played a villager
Emil Kranzler December 1, 1910 - April 7, 1993 played a villager
Nita Krebs October 8, 1905 - January 18, 1991 member of "The Lullaby League" and a villager
"Little Jean" LaBarbera August 4, 1909 - August 17, 1993 played a villager
Eleanor Keaton July 29, 1918 - October 19, 1998
Fern Formica January 17, 1925 - January 23, 1995 played a villager and a "sleepyhead"
Tiny Doll July 23, 1914 - September 6, 2004 A villager
Tommy Cottonaro March 20, 1914 - February 7, 2001 played a villager
Lewis Croft May 2, 1919 - April 28, 2008 played a soldier
Mickey Carroll July 8, 1919 - May 7, 2009 played a fiddler, a town crier, and a soldier

Living today (3) [edit]

As of July 2012 there are three known surviving munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz[39]

Actor Born Notes
Ruth Robinson Duccini July 23, 1918 played a villager
Jerry Maren January 24, 1920 member of "The Lollipop Guild"
Margaret Williams Pellegrini September 23, 1923 played a "sleepyhead" and a villager

Appearances [edit]

The Munchkins (specifically the "Lollipop Guild") as depicted in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
  • The Munchkins appeared in The Wizard of Oz. When Dorothy and Toto first arrived in the Land of Oz after her house landed on the Wicked Witch of the East, the Munchkins have been hiding until Glinda the Good Witch arrived and had the Munchkins come out of their hiding place. During the musical number, Dorothy told them how she arrived in the Land of Oz and the Munchkins celebrate. The Mayor of Munchkinland and his assistant had to make sure that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead before the celebration continued. The coroner tells the Mayor of Munchkinland that the Wicked Witch of the East is not merely dead and that she is most sincerely dead while showing the Certificate of Death. The Munchkins then celebrate further as Dorothy receives gifts from the Lullabye League and the Lollipop Guild. Near the end of the song, the Wicked Witch of the West arrived causing the Munchkins to hit the deck. After the Wicked Witch of the West left, Glinda had Dorothy follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City as the Munchkins guide her out of Munchkinland.


  • The Munchkins appeared in The Wiz and were played by children and teenagers.
  • In The Muppets' Wizard of Oz, the Munchkins were played by Rizzo the Rat (who portrayed the Mayor of Munchkinland) and his fellow rats.
  • The Munchkins appeared in Dorothy and the Witches of Oz. They were brought to Earth by Glinda in order to combat the forces of the Wicked Witch of the West.

References [edit]

  1. ^ City-Data.com (with CNN reference)
  2. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2004. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 
  3. ^ Info re Franz Balluck
  4. ^ Find a Grave website/Josefine Balluck
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ [2]
  7. ^ AP Obituary in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
  8. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63938978
  9. ^ a b http://www.phreeque.com/nate_eagle.html
  10. ^ http://www.weblo.com/celebrity/available/Frank_H_Cucksey/472888/
  11. ^ "Prince Denis, 84, Performer Who Played Munchkin Mayor". The New York Times. June 24, 1984. Retrieved May 13, 2010. 
  12. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Derthick&GSfn=hazel&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=6805339&
  13. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Erickson&GSfn=Carl+&GSmn=M&GSby=1917&GSbyrel=in&GSdy=1958&GSdyrel=in&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=95110738&df=all& Carl "Kayo" Erickson]
  14. ^ [3]
  15. ^ IMDb
  16. ^ Info re Jakob Hofbauer
  17. ^ [4]
  18. ^ Info re Marguerite Hoy
  19. ^ Info re James R. Hulse
  20. ^ Info re Harry Klima
  21. ^ Info re Dolly Kramer
  22. ^ Find a Grave website/Emil Kranzler
  23. ^ Info re "Little Jean" LaBarbera
  24. ^ Hogoboom Family Tree, Ancestry.com
  25. ^ a b c d e Info re Carlos Manzo
  26. ^ Find a Grave website/Margaret C.H. Nickloy
  27. ^ Find a Grave website/Margaret Raia
  28. ^ Find a Grave website/"Little Billy" Rhodes
  29. ^ Info re Jimmie Rosen
  30. ^ Info re Garland Slatten
  31. ^ Find a Grave website/Arnold Vierling
  32. ^ Find a Grave website/Gus Wayne
  33. ^ Victor Wetter info.
  34. ^ Info re Murray Wood
  35. ^ Info re Betty Ann Cain
  36. ^ Info re Ardith Dondanville
  37. ^ Info re Joan Kenmore
  38. ^ Info re Priscilla Montgomery
  39. ^ http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/columnists/offbeat/article_0d30beff-4719-5852-a813-0659e9cf1d39.html
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