L. Frank Baum

Lyman Frank Baum (May 15, 1856 – May 6, 1919) was an American author, and the creator of one of the most popular books ever written in American children's literature, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Baum becomes an author

After Baum's newspaper failed in 1891, he and his family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where Baum took a job reporting for the Evening Post, as well as a job selling china door-to-door. In 1897 he wrote and published Mother Goose in Prose a collection of Mother Goose rhymes written as prose stories, and illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. Mother Goose was a moderate success, and allowed Baum to quit his door-to-door job.

Related Topics:
1891 - Chicago, Illinois - China - 1897 - Mother Goose in Prose - Mother Goose - Maxfield Parrish

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In 1899 Baum partnered with illustrator W. W. Denslow, to publish ', a collection of nonsense poetry. The book was a success, becoming the best selling children's book of the year.

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1899 - W. W. Denslow

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The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

In 1901, Baum and Denslow (with whom he shared the copyright) published The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to much critical and financial acclaim. The book was the bestselling children's book for two years after its initial publication. Baum went on to write thirteen other novels based on the places and people of the Land of Oz.

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1901 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Land of Oz

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Two years after Wizards publication, Baum and Denslow teamed up with composer Paul Tietjens and director Julian Mitchell to produce a musical stage version of the book. It ran on Broadway 293 stage nights from 1902 to 1911, and also successfully toured the United States. The stage version starred Dave Montgomery and Fred Stone as the Tin Woodman and Scarecrow respectively, which shot the pair to instant fame at the time. The stage version differed quite a bit from the book, and was aimed primarily at adults. Toto was replaced with Imogene the Cow, and Tryxie Tryfle, a waitress and Pastoria, a streetcar operator were added as fellow cyclone victims.

Related Topics:
Paul Tietjens - Julian Mitchell - Broadway - 1902 - 1911 - Dave Montgomery - Fred Stone - Tin Woodman - Scarecrow

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