I’m just sayin’, the fact that L Frank Baum was called the “Royal historian of Oz” and the books were supposedly him receiving info from Dorothy and recording it himself says a lot about the characters in his books who were “best friends”
hello here's my wizard of oz + wicked art so far 💖
as you see they're my own versions of a AU in my head but they're heavily based on a mashup of the MGM 1939 movie + of the wicked musical show because i RLLY love the wicked witches, but i'm getting into the respective books and other adaptations <3 im tentatively posting on tumblr to see if there are other people interested or if its all faded into obscurity, hope we can get along.
So last night I found out from @the-blue-fairie that there was an Oz book written by John R Neill where the Scarecrow and Tin Woodman just straight-up go on a gay cruise together.
Neill wasn't playing around, these two are GAY gay.
(Images are sourced from Queer Oz by Tison Pugh, original illustrations sourced from Lucky Bucky in Oz.)
So, I've seen people on tumblr joke about John R. Neill being a secret Scarecrow/Tin Woodman shipper, and while realistically speaking he probably wasn't, I still think it's nice how they're just as affectionate in Neill's books as they are in Baum's.
This post by @poppies-from-oz inspired me to try and read 'Lucky Bucky in Oz' (I say "try" because the actual writing quality is... not the best) and for a moment I actually wondered if the gay subtext was intentional before remembering that it was written in 1942. Still, here are a few stand-out moments:
For context, at some point the Scarecrow has apparently started ruling the Munchkins, hence why he refers to himself as an emperor. Not sure if it was Neill or Thompson who came up with this.
Then they go on a boat with this club of men who're all uncles (don't question it). The version of Lucky Bucky I found online doesn't have illustrations, but I assume this is where the "gay cruise" image comes from.
Bonus: This scene from 'The Scalawagons of Oz', where Nick is finally able to talk after being severely rusted for a while:
Even if the subtext was completely accidental, it's still clear that Neill really liked their friendship!
My favorite facts so far about the 1902/3 play is that Dorothys love interest
Poet Laureate of Oz Dashemoff Daily Is played by a woman. It is so queer! I love the princely lesbian, or trans masculine vibes that this gives off.
The song, and a link to the Hungry tiger press page.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymAe9eF6UGk
http://www.hungrytigerpress.com/tigertunes/allthetime.shtml
The Song was eventually switched out with another "Love is Love"
Also There is Carrie Barry. Another love by song from Prince Dashemoff, Towards Dorothy. But due to the story, Dorothy sings it to the Prince. And Sapphic story telling ensues. The implication that Dorthy can love them like any other man comes off as EXTREMELY queer. Oddly the hungry tiger lyrics dont seem to match the actual song recorded here?
http://www.hungrytigerpress.com/tigertunes/carriebarry.shtml
http://www.hungrytigerpress.com/tigertunes/carriebarry.mp3
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The Other Queer thing I noticed was the song Hurrah for Baffin bay, sung by stone and Montgomery. It's about tin man and scarecrow Portraying sailors in Baffin Bay, located between Baffin Island and the west coast of Greenland.
This is the best audio recording of the song I'm aware of.
https://youtu.be/EOXZ5fnDkz0
http://www.hungrytigerpress.com/tigertunes/baffinsbay.shtml
It's a fun sea shanty. The 4th verse sadly has a dated slur for inuits :( but Overall the song is very fun and reminds me of Popeye. But as this was early oz before J.R.Neil the relationship was still forming for Tincrow.
I'm very ignorant to theatre so I'm sure theres a lot I don't understand though. I just wanted to share
The aforementioned scarecrow design. (I fucking love him he’s my favorite after Nick) also some misc doodles, tincrow, Trot + Capn Bill, Shaggy Man, Wogglebug and Scraps!!