The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX to Pay a Major Theatrical Gesture Tonight to Original Wizard of Oz Munchkin, MARGARET PELLIGRINI

Margaret Pellegrini, who played one of the Munchkins in the 1939 MGM musical, "The Wizard of Oz"

Margaret Pellegrini, who played one of the Munchkins in the 1939 MGM musical, “The Wizard of Oz”

Recently, Warner Bros., IMAX Corporation and the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX have teamed up to host the world premiere of the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz IMAX® 3D release.  It will take place at the new TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood on Sept. 15, followed by an exclusive one-week IMAX engagement at the new theatre and IMAX® theatres across North America.

Over the years,  The Wizard of Oz has had many historic ties to the TCL Chinese Theatre … Composer Harold Arlen, desperate to write a song for the Dorothy-Kansas sequence, sought refuge in the Chinese Theatre one evening and was inspired to write the iconic “Over The Rainbow.” The film had its original Hollywood premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug. 15, 1939, and The Wizard of Oz’s “Dorothy” – Judy Garland – was the honoree for the 50th handprint & footprint ceremony in the theatre’s famous forecourt in 1939. The beloved Munchkins have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6915 Hollywood Blvd. in front of the historic TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX as well.

It was on that spot that flowers have been placed by fans of the film in tribute to Wizard of Oz Munchkin, Margaret Pellegrini, who played the Flower Pot Munchkin and passed away on August 5th at the age of 89. In honor of her, the TCL Chinese Theater IMAX in Hollywood will dim their forecourt lights tonight for one minute at 9pm. Considered as one of three of the “last surviving Munchkins”, she will be greatly missed.  The two surviving Munchkins are 95-year-old Ruth Robinson Duccini, (a villager) and 93-year-old Jerry Maren, who was a member of the Lollipop Guild.

 

(L to R) Mickey Carroll, Steve Czarnecki, Clarence Swensen, Karl Slover, Margaret Pellegrini and Myrna Swensen (wife of Clarence)

(L to R) Mickey Carroll, Steve Czarnecki, Clarence Swensen, Karl Slover, Margaret Pellegrini and Myrna Swensen (wife of Clarence)

 

Beyond the Marquee‘s own Founder and Creative Director Steve Czarnecki, had the chance to meet some of the last remaining Munchkins at a private promotional event in Hollywood back in 2007. All the original Munchkin actors pictured with him above (minus Myrna Swensen, who was not a Munchkin in the film) have sadly passed in the years since.

 

 

About TCL Chinese Theatres

Since 1927, The TCL Chinese Theatre has been the home of the most important, star powered red carpet movie premieres and special events, where Hollywood’s biggest and brightest talents have come to watch their movies.  The most famous movie theatre on the globe is world-renowned for its unique forecourt of the stars, featuring cement hand and footprints of major movie stars, from Marilyn Monroe to Brad Pitt, and numerous stars from all eras of Hollywood.  In addition to being a major international tourist destination, The TCL Chinese Theatre, and its six adjacent cinemas, the Chinese 6, are everyday working movie theatres, hosting millions of moviegoers year round.  The TCL Chinese Theatre was declared a historic-cultural landmark in 1968, and there has always been a restoration program in process to maintain the theatre’s beauty. With its current, on-going facelift and new name and new added amenities and event spaces, guided by a new and vigorous ownership team, the TCL Chinese Theatre and its famed “hands and footprints in cement” forecourt will continue to be the preferred location for tourist visits and the entertainment industry’s most prestigious red carpet premieres for years to come.

 

 

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2 Responses to “The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX to Pay a Major Theatrical Gesture Tonight to Original Wizard of Oz Munchkin, MARGARET PELLIGRINI”

  1. Ray Juicewater says:

    You left out the part of the story where they are burying her in a tiny flower pot out side the Theatre.

    • kelly says:

      Sorry but thats not true and not funny!! Margaret was a wonderful woman and a very cherished member of our community, Many people loved her Why dont you learn to have some class

Leave a Reply to kelly

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