R.I.P. Karl Slover, 93 (Wizard of Oz Munchkin who played trumpet when the Mayor arrived)

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Karl Slover Dead: 'Wizard of Oz' Munchkin Dies at 93

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/11/16/karl-slover-wizard-of-oz-dead/



Actor Karl Slover, best known for playing a Munchkin in the 1939 classic 'The Wizard of Oz,' passed away Tuesday. He was 93. You can see Slover playing the lead trumpet when the Munchkin mayor arrives in the land of Oz. According to the AP, the actor was born Karl Kosiczky in what is now the Czech Republic. He moved to the United States in his late 20s and joined a circus vaudeville group called the Singer Midgets; the group would later be cast as Munchkins. Over the years, Slover has made appearances at 'Wizard of Oz' reunions and fan festivals.

"He has a genuine immortality," said John Fricke, author of '100 Years of Oz.' "Of the 124 little people, he's one of the handful who got to enjoy this latter-day fame, to have people know who he was and be able to pick him out of the crowd in the movie."

Prior to Slover's death, he was one of four surviving actors who played Munchkins. According to Laurens County Deputy Coroner Nathan Stanley, Slover died from cardiopulmonary arrest.

[bigwillq]

1. Saw that on the news yesterday.

RIP

They had a segment on him on one of the morning shows.