How did L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, create the stage show called The Tik-Tok Man of Oz? How did Louis F. Gottschalk, celebrated Broadway conductor, agree to compose the score? All Wound Up gives the answers to these questions-and much more.
In 1913, playwright Baum and composer Gottschalk set out to astound the theatrical world with a stage extravaganza. They created stupendous special effects, such as the storm at sea and the Rose Princess born from a giant blossom. They wrote rollicking musical numbers, such as the rousing march "The Army of Oogaboo" and the lovely ballad "The Magnet of Love." Audiences packed Los Angeles's Majestic Theater when The Tik-Tok Man of Oz opened there in March 1913. The cast included such luminaries as Charlotte Greenwood and Charlie Ruggles, with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But the show faced a daunting task-to challenge powerful New York theatrical interests. With lively text and rare photographs, All Wound Up reveals the whole history of the show, from conception to production and beyond.
Inside All Wound Up you'll find:
Hundreds of photographs of the show, its creators, and its cast
How producer Oliver Morosco and The Tik-Tok Man of Oz challenged the theatrical establishment
L. Frank Baum's complete surviving script, published for the first time
The Rainbow's Daughter, Baum's complete surviving scenario, published for the first time
Peeks into the lives of the cast members and production team
The life and career of Louis F. Gottschalk, composer of The Tik-Tok Man of Oz
How the show's Hank the Mule achieved worldwide fame
And much more!
