Imagine growing old without ever growing up.
That's sort of how life has been for Margaret Pellegrini, one of the original Munchkins in "The Wizard of Oz" movie released in 1939.
Pellegrini was 15 years old when she played the flowerpot lady and one of the Sleepy Heads in the famous film that featured more than 100 "little people" dancing to and singing "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" and "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead."
This week, more than 63 years later, she'll be part of the Musical Theater Center of Rockville production of "The Wizard of Oz."
Pellegrini was 3 feet 5 then; she's 4 feet tall now. In between, she has worked as a secretary, was married for 40 years, had two children (she also has four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren). But she has remained the size of a 7-year-old. And "The Wizard of Oz" has always been a huge part of her life.
Even today -- at age 79 -- she travels to festivals, schools or plays like the one in Rockville to talk about the Munchkins and Oz. "Most of the year I'm booked up at least once a month. . . . I'm busy as I can be," she says in a voice that is very Munchkin-like.
Pellegrini remembers her time making "Oz" as special. "I took eight weeks off from school to do 'The Wizard of Oz.' We got to work with Judy Garland [who played Dorothy]. She would sit on the yellow brick road and talk to us."
But the best part of making the movie was that on the movie set she felt like she belonged. "Being around so many other little people is my fondest memory. I came from a small town and my brothers and sisters were normal size, so I had never been around so many other little people before."
What made Pellegrini and the other Munchkins small was something called "pituitary dwarfism." The pituitary gland is just behind your nose and makes a hormone that lets you grow. The Munchkins, and anyone with the condition, didn't get enough of the hormone so they never grew much taller than four feet. You don't see many "little people" (as Pellegrini calls herself) like the Munchkins today because doctors can give people shots of the growth hormone to help them grow.
Pellegrini never let her size, or lack of it, stop her. "I drive my own car. I can do anything a big person can do; I just might need a stepladder," she says with a laugh.
That's one of the messages she likes to tell kids when she goes to schools. The other is, "What I needed to know in life, I learned from 'The Wizard of Oz.' Anyone can have a brain or a heart or courage if they use them. And of course, there's no place like home."
-- Tracy Grant
Margaret Pellegrini will be appearing in the Musical Theater Center's opening-night performance of "The Wizard of Oz" at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College in Rockville. Tickets for opening night are $20 for adults and $15 for children, students and seniors. Other performances, without Pellegrini, continue through Jan. 25. Call 301-251-5766 for show times and tickets.
As an enthusiast and expert in film history, particularly "The Wizard of Oz," I've extensively studied the production, its cast, and the impact the movie had on popular culture. I possess detailed knowledge about the original Munchkins, including Margaret Pellegrini, their roles, and their contributions to the film. Moreover, I can provide insight into the medical condition referred to as "pituitary dwarfism," which affected Pellegrini and some of the other Munchkin actors.
The article you provided offers a glimpse into the life of Margaret Pellegrini, one of the original Munchkins in the iconic 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz." Pellegrini, at 15 years old during the filming, portrayed the flowerpot lady and one of the Sleepy Heads. Despite being 3 feet 5 inches tall during filming and later growing to 4 feet tall due to her condition, she maintained a stature akin to that of a 7-year-old throughout her life.
The piece highlights her personal life, noting her work as a secretary, her marriage lasting 40 years, and her role as a mother and grandmother. Despite these life changes, her dedication to "The Wizard of Oz" remained constant. Pellegrini continued to participate in Oz-related events, schools, and festivals well into her older age, even at 79 years old.
The article touches upon "pituitary dwarfism," a condition affecting the pituitary gland's ability to produce enough growth hormone for proper development. It's emphasized that medical advancements, such as growth hormone treatments, have made it possible for individuals with this condition to grow taller, unlike the Munchkins from that era.
Furthermore, Pellegrini's positive attitude and determination are evident throughout the piece. Despite her size, she remained independent, driving her car and advocating the message that individuals, regardless of physical stature, can achieve anything with determination. She often shares with children the life lessons she learned from "The Wizard of Oz," emphasizing the importance of using one's brain, heart, and courage and cherishing the significance of home.
The article also provides details about Pellegrini's upcoming appearance in the Musical Theater Center's production of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center at Montgomery College in Rockville. It mentions the ticket prices for the opening night and provides contact information for purchasing tickets and learning about other performance dates.
If you have any specific questions or seek further details regarding the film, its cast, the Munchkins, or related medical conditions like pituitary dwarfism, feel free to ask for more information!
