l. frank baum, the wizard of oz
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hotel del coronado
from l. frank baum, the wizard of oz posted in literature by elvis_crabs
At the time of its opening in 1888, the Hotel del Coronado (a.k.a. "The Del" or "Hotel del") was the largest resort hotel in the world. It has been featured in several books and films.
L. Frank Baum wrote many of his Oz books at the resort.
Stephen King wrote his story 1408 (film release in 2007) from a collection of real-life news stories about parapsychologist Christopher Chacon's investigation of a notoriously haunted room at the hotel.
It also was the setting for the 1975 novel Bid Time Return by Richard Matheson; however, for the movie version, Somewhere in Time (1980), the story setting and filming were moved to the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.
The hotel is featured on a US Postage Stamp honoring director Billy Wilder, with images of Marilyn Monroe and the hotel from Some Like It Hot (1959). Other films shot here include My Blue Heaven (1990), The Stunt Man (1980), and Wicked, Wicked (1973).
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from l. frank baum, the wizard of oz posted in literature by elvis_crabs
The annual International Wizard of Oz Convention (IWOC) is held in nearby Holland, MI, with group trips to this location.
the yellow brick road
from l. frank baum, the wizard of oz posted in literature by elvis_crabs
Founded in 1833, the Peekskill Military Academy was a military school for boys until its closure in June 1968.
L. Fran Baum, author of The Wonderful World of Oz, attended the academy for two years as a youth.
Maps of Peekskill from that time show there was an actual yellow brick road made from Dutch pavers. The road extended from the river, up a hill, and to the Military Academy.
A portion of this "yellow brick road" still exists in a parking lot in Peekskill. The owner of the lot is willing to commemorate the literary road, but the $225,000 necessary for its restoration hasn't yet been secured.
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from l. frank baum, the wizard of oz posted in literature by elvis_crabs
L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, used to summer on Lake Michigan near Holland, Michigan at Castle Park. An unincorporated community, Castle Park is a collection of cottages and a massive German-style castle that was built in 1894. The castle was an inspiration for Baum as he wrote about the Emerald City of Oz.
Today, the castle serves as a library and occasional bingo hall for Castle Park residents.
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