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Welcome to the third
incarnation of The Wizard of Oz Fan Site. The site was officially born on May 5, 2002 and we have come quite a long way since
then! The site started as The Wizard of Oz Fan Page by Zach Allen. The original version was nothing more than a glorified (if that) Word Document. It was a single page, had not pictures,
no color, no...well, anything really! It was originally hosted by Webspawner.
That version of the site last a day and half to two days at the most.
I immediately began looking for a new host. I soon found 20 Free. They were the perfect host for me at the time. I had absolutely no experience in webdesign. 20 Free gave me template
and I filled in the blanks. It wasn't bad for my first try and considering the fact that I was only 12 years old. After
about a day, The Wizard of Oz Fan Site by Zach Allen was up and running.
Looking back, I realize that I rushed through it and put it together
way too quickly. There was very little info, it was unorganized, there were broken HTML codes, etc. Regardless, it got noticed.
I began getting good feedback and a lot of hits and e-mails...I guess I did something right. The website slowly, but surely
began to grow. Then I got into high school; and I got into extracurriculars; and I got into being a teenage. Needless to
say, the site got neglected. Updates were far and few between.
Toward the end of my senior year, I returned to it to check in. I
was shocked that I could have such incomplete information. I was also appauled by my own spelling and grammar. Since I had
gone, 20 Free had updated how their site builder worked. So when I tried to edit the site, the whole format got messed up:
Columns out of alignment, text the wrong size, etc. I also tried to update the layout to give it a fresh look and just made
it worse. The site became, as a friend of mine would say, "a hot mess." I wanted to update it, but in the midst of college
applications, financial aid paperwork, etc. I got frustrated and abandoned it.
In the winter of 2008, I realized I really wanted to return to my website.
However, 20 Free had left me wanting more. I wanted more options, I wanted more room, more pictures, more info, more everything.
Also, the old site was in such disrepair, I felt it would be easier to just start all over. And so I did. That's where my
labor of love began. I decided I would make the website more thorough. This required me to go slower. I am usually a go-go-go
person; however, I wanted this site to be much better than before.
This Site is Hosted by
Site Building Software
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Why I Created a Wizard of Oz Website
Why
create a Wizard of Oz fan site? When I first got "online" in 2000, the first thing I did was look up Oz sites.
I saw so many different ones. I really wanted one of my own. I could use it as an outlet to express my love for
Oz and share my knowledge on the subject. I also remember that I wanted to create a website that would have all sorts
of Oz information and not be strictly about the movie or the books. I wanted to create a resource for young fans like
myself to come and find tons of information.
Dedication and Thanks
There are so many people that I want to and should thank here; however, the limits of a website only
permit me to write so much.
First of all, keeping with the original dedication,
I must first and foremost dedicate this site to Grandma and Grandpa Allen: Dorothy and George. It was Grandma Dorothy
who helped transport me to Oz every day so many years ago. Honestly, when I was little I thought that Grandma Dorothy
was THE Dorothy. I remember that Grandma would read me The Wizard of Oz storybook almost everyday; however, it
was Granpa's job to read the Return to Oz storybook! There is no way to thank them enough for all the love and
support they gave me.
I also dedicate this site to my mother, Roxanne.
She did everything she ever could to be a great mother. She truly put her kids first in everything. She was also
very supportive of my love for Oz. In fact, Oz grew on her and she is now just as much a fan as anybody. I also
must thank her for helping my collection to grow. Mom also was the one who drove me to Oz events as a kid and later
on became a big help once I began working as the Scarecrow. Not to mention she made the costumes! She
also drove me back and forth to theatre and music rehearsals and lessons for years. Who would have thought that one videotape
could have such an impact?
I would also like to thanks the rest of my
family for all their support and love. Also, a very special thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Richard. Without them,
my collection would not be what it is today!
Much of my Oz knowledge is owed to John Fricke,
a great friend and mentor. I learned most of what I know today from his books and also from our conversations.
When I was little and I read his books, he was my hero; and he still is to this day. So, John, thanks for the friendship
and long conversations about Oz and everything else!
I must also recognize Donna Stewart-Hardway,
who was a child Munchkin in the MGM film. She was one of the kindest, most loving, supportive people I ever knew.
She will be greatly missed.
Love and thanks to my extended Oz family:
Wayne, Auntie M, Patrick, Sean, Randy, Pebz, Lisa (of the East), Lisa, Kelly, Mike, Brenda, Mary, Michael, Marilyn,
Jean, Laurae, and anyone else that I may have missed!
Last, but certainly not least, my best friends
Rachael, Pete, Jon, Cyndi, Anita, and Kristen. They are not only my friends in real life, but they care enough to put
on those uncomfortable costumes and makeup and play them in Oz as well!
Copyright Information
I, in no way,
claim ownership to any of the books, plays, movies, photos, or any other copyrighted materials present on this website. I
have tried to accurately credit all material to its rightful owner on the pages relating to the material.
I have absolutely NO intent to infringe upon anyone's copyright.
Copyrighted material is used on this site for the sole purpose to inform and educate. I make no profit from the use herein.
I wrote all the articles and reviews on this site. Therefore,
they are my intellectual copyright. All of the photos are from my personal collection; however, many were found on the internet
over the years. If you see a photo that you believe belongs to you, please contact me and I will give you proper credit.
If you would like to use any of the content on my site please contact me.
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