By Stephen Murray

“A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others” ― L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Thank you for posting details about the Culver City Historical Society event happening this Wednesday evening at 7:30 in the Teen Center next to the Vets Auditorium.

I would also like to invite moviemaking and Wizard of Oz trivia buffs to attend this event, since Aljean Harmetz, my mother-in-law, who has written a book about the making of the film, will be the featured speaker.

[img]2771|right|||no_popup[/img]Ms. Harmetz, formerly of The New York Times, is the go-to expert on the Wizard of Oz movie, having literally written the book on it. This summer Ms. Harmetz was a featured speaker at Winkie Con, the annual convention of all things Wizard of Oz. She also introduced the digitally remastered 3-D screening of The Wizard of Oz at the Coronado Film Festival.

Whether audience members wear magical slippers or not, I believe that she will be able to transport listeners to a place over the rainbow.

Ms. Harmetz's daughter, Elizabeth Harmetz, will take time out from her  current run in “The Mikado”, with the Ventura County Gilbert & Sullivan  Repertoire Company, and rehearsals for her upcoming role in “Un Ballo in Maschera” with the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera, and sing a song from the movie.

And that's just the beginning of the little party. Another special guest will have the audience melting in the aisles, or carried off by flying monkeys. I'm not sure which.

In our home, of which there is no place quite like, the Wizard of Oz  series by L. Frank Baum is required reading.

Mr. Murray, a candidate for the West Basin Water District Board, may be contacted at stephen@sunstruction.com