Collectors of memorabilia from

"The Wizard of Oz" may be surprised to find that it's possible

to collect and enjoy an ice cream cone at the same time.

The Emerald City Ice Cream

store celebrated its grand opening last weekend with a visit from one

of the Oz Munchkins, Mickey Carroll. The 82-year-old Carroll, a.k.a. Second

Fiddler, shared trivia and interesting tidbits regarding the filming of

the popular movie, his life and those of other cast members with visitors

to their booth at July Jam Saturday and Sunday at the newly opened store.

Sunday, a steady crowd wandered

into the Emerald City to meet Carroll and try an ice cream cone or milkshake,

a cappuccino or munch on other menu items.

Emerald City owner Robert Wike

plans to invite other living Munchkins to visit the shop in the future.

Meinhardt Raabe, the coroner who pronounced the Wicked Witch of the West

officially dead, and Jerry Maren, the Lollipop Kid, are next on Wike's

list of guests.

The store is chocked full of

fun items commemorating the 1939 MGM movie. Artist Shannon Lake lent his

talents to the walls of the ice cream parlor. According to Munchkin Carroll,

Lake did one of the best jobs of replicating the characters that he's

ever seen.

Wike says he will be adding

even more Wizard of Oz items and has plans to have kids' parties and book

readings. Wike, who retired from the military after 23 years, did the

majority of the work inside the store himself. With the

exception of the electrical work and the paintings by Lake, Wike is responsible

for the woodwork, the decorating and the concept. The store is one of

a kind and was designed to have the feel of a 1930s ice cream shop.

Carroll was so impressed with

the shop that he lent Wike his replica of Dorothy's ruby slippers to display

for a few extra days. According to Carroll, the shoes are one pair of

only five crafted by the company that made Dorothy's original shoes.

Emerald City is behind Captain

D's, a few stores down from Baci Italian restaurant in the Main Street

Market Square in Fayetteville.

Some Munchkin Trivia:

"The Wizard of Oz"

was filmed in 1938, and came out to the public in 1939.

Most of the Munchkins were

about 14-17 years old.

There were 124 total Munchkins

that appeared in "The Wizard of Oz."

Fewer than one dozen of the

original Munchkins survive.

In 1938 MGM contracted with

Leo Singer to provide 124 midgets for the Wizard of Oz.

It is believed that Singer

brought approximately 122 "little people" to MGM, and that others

signed on later. Carroll was asked by Judy Garland to join the cast.

As there were not enough little

people for the Munchkin scenes, approximately 12 children were hired to

fill in.

Now 82 years old, 'Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Mickey Carroll, aka Second Fiddler,

bangs on the Tin Man to see if he's real. From left, artist Shannon Lake,

son Lofton Lake, 7, Mickey Carroll, Franklin Lowe, 7, Ian Winslette, 9,

and Emerald City Ice Cream store owner Robert Wike. Photo/Janet McGregor.

Ian Winslette, 9, Lofton Lake,

7, Daniel Lentz, 12 and Hannah Lentz, 9, listen intently as 'Wizard of

Oz' Munchkin Mickey Carroll, aka Second Fiddler, shares a few tales from

the 1939 classic movie. Emerald City Ice Cream store owner Robert Wike

and artist Shannon Lake watch. Photo/Janet McGregor.

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