Wizard of Oz Christmas Tree and Vintage Ornaments on Display

An "Ozsome Christmas" exhibit is currently on display at the Fairport Historical Museum until December 20. The whimsical display, complete with miniature trees, is sure to delight the inner child in everyone, and it is part of the personal Wizard of Oz collection of Fairport Museum Director, Vicki Masters Profitt. Visitors will also have an opportunity to view the vibrant, vintage ornament collection of Caren French Hess that is also on display. These exhibits are free and open to the public and may be viewed during regular museum hours Sunday and Tuesday from 2pm through 4pm, Thursday from 7pm through 9pm, and Saturday from 10am through 1pm. 1939 was an incredible year for motion pictures. Movies such as Gone with the Wind, Love Affair, Wuthering Heights and Goodbye Mr. Chips vied with each other for top honors at the 12th Academy Awards. Another top contender that year was MGM’s film, The Wizard of Oz. Oz became a tradition for many families, as they settled around the television set to watch the movie together each year. New generations came to love the characters of Dorothy Gale, the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow. One of those young people watching was Director Vicki Masters Profitt, who began collecting Oz memorabilia in the 1980s. It began with one gift from her parents, an Oz music box. That eventually led to an entire room in Vicki’s house devoted to all things Wizard of Oz. The expanded collection included books, snow globes, music boxes, clothing, bells, plates, posters, dolls, Christmas ornaments and more, much more. Vicki began attending the annual Ozfest in Chittenango, New York. It was there she had the opportunity to meet several actors who portrayed Munchkins. Her favorite memory of Ozfest was when Meinhardt Raabe, who played the Munchkin Coroner, began singing his coroner song in front of her as she waited at the head of the line for an autograph. As Vicki’s family grew, the Oz collection was begrudgingly diminished to make space for her three children, none of whom have an overwhelming affinity for Oz. Fairport Historical Museum, home of the Perinton Historical Society, is nestled in the Village of Fairport and is a showcase of local artifacts, biographies and history. The Museum houses more than 6 paintings from renowned artist, and late Fairport resident, Carl Peters. Peter’s works include portraits, landscapes, and the Museum’s star attraction, an oil-on-canvas WPA mural commissioned and installed in 1938 by the Fairport Public Library, original tenant of the current building. Fairport Historical Museum, 18 Perrin Street, Fairport, NY 14450 585.223.3989 | www.perintonhistoricalsociety.org The Museum is open each Sunday and Tuesday from 2pm -4 pm, Thursday from 7pm – 9pm, and Saturday from 10am – 1pm, with the exception of major holidays. Admission is free and open to the public. The Museum is closed from mid-December through February, reopening the first week of March. During recess, presentations are hosted at the Fairport Public Library and in the Museum on specific dates when publicized. Free parking in the Fairport Village Landing and limited parking is available on Perrin Street.