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.

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