1st EDITION

2010 Autumn at Oz

MUSEUM SIGNING

#55/125

Very RARE-All Museum 

Signed Books SOLD OUT!

This is an original 1st Printing Edition that I found recently!

It is a low numbered hand signed edition only offered in the Oz museum at Beech Mountain's 

LAND of OZ Theme Park in 2010!

"LAND of OZ "

"Over the Rainbow at Beech Mountain, North Carolina"

I AM SELLING THIS BOOK DIRECT TO YOU FROM MY PRIVATE INVENTORY, THEY ARE ALMOST ALL GONE!

THE ONLY HARDCOVER HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHIC BOOK ON THE BEECH MOUNTAIN, NC THEME PARK!!!!

ANSEL ADAMS ENCOURAGED ME TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER AND HE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT OWNED A COPY OF MY "YELLOW BRICK ROAD" COVER SHOT SINCE 1980!!! THIS HAS NEVER BEEN GIVEN, OWNED OR SOLD TO ANYONE OTHER THAN ANSEL ADAMS UNTIL NOW! IT IS AN AWARD WINNING PHOTOGRAPH I TOOK!

Hardcover, all color photographs and a historical account by famous North Carolina author and fine art photographer Gregory Hugh Leng

The only true history of the theme park based on the Oz book!!! Now in bookstores! No other book this nice has ever been released on the North Carolina famous Oz theme park!

I have already seen my signed and numbered Oz book selling on the secondary market for $75.00-$125.00 each!!! WOW, this is Oztastic! You can buy it direct from me and save!

Many people that visited The Land of Oz or worked for the park are buying my book! I love hearing about all the personal stories on what the Oz park meant to those that loved it as much as I did! Recently someone that played the "Tin Man" purchased my book. I have sold books to perhaps each character that performed at Oz and the first was to "Dorothy" herself!

David McCullough the 2 time Putlizer Prize winning author loved my book!!! He also kept the copy I signed for him and then mailed me back a second copy of my book that he autographed to me and stated how well the book was done and how much he loved it! He is a historian and has written books such as the Johnstown Flood, 1776 and John Adams! His next book will be released in May 2011 and I am certainly looking forward to buying it!

40th anniversary of theme park 1970-2010 hand signed and numbered limited edition photography book on the history of the Land of Oz theme park! Book was actually in the making for 31 years!!! It is being released to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the park being opened in 1970. Much like the tag line celebrating the 40th anniversary of the MGM movie "The Wizard of Oz" in 1979 which still appears at the beginning of the movie, I am releasing this 40 years after the theme park opened. In it's 1st year the "Land of Oz" had over 400,000 visitors! Ray Bolger who played "The Scarecrow of Oz" broke ground with a special shovel before the park was constructed, Daniel Boone IV created iron work for the park during construction, Debbie Reynolds the famous Hollywood actress cut the ribbon when the park opened, Muhammad Ali visited the theme park!

I was the guest of honor at this year's "Autumn at Oz" and hand signed and sold copies of my book for visitors in the Oz museum! The limited edition is almost sold out but I am selling the few I have left on eBay. An unlimited edition which is not signed and numbered was in major book stores in 2011 and will retail for $75.00 each. 

Spencer Robbins (previous "Land of Oz" theme park owner) just bought 10 signed books for each of his grandchildren from me. He stated "the book was wonderful and anyone that visited the theme park during the time it was opened, would cherish owning my book." Spencer also hand signed a copy of my book to me and stated how much he loved the book!

Jack Pentes (designer of The Land of Oz park) and whom I dedicated the book to, stated that "he loved everything about my book, the photography, history of Oz theme park, the type fonts I used, the design of the book, the quality of it and everything down to the smallest detail," he complimented me one! He also stated "I am honored to have the book dedicated to me and appreciate the kind words you said about me." Recently Jack Pentes signed a copy of my book and sent it back to me! This I will treasure for the rest of my life! Jack Pentes is in poor health, so keep him in your prayers! I know I certainly will do so!

SPECIAL UPDATE FOR INTERNATIONAL WIZARD of OZ FAN CLUB MEMBERS!

I have also written a special story and sent photographs of the Land of Oz theme park to "The International Wizard of Oz" fan club. The story will be on the Land of Oz and is going to be in the Spring issue of "The Baum Bugle!" This was a huge honor for me. They also invited me to be a guest at their annual meeting this summer which will be in Banner Elk and also at Beech Mountain, North Carolina. I am not able to attend this festival and so my contribution was the story for fans all over the world that will appear in "The Baum Bugle." If you are not already a member of the IWOC, check it out on the Internet and join the legion of fans that are Wizard of Oz loyals! The fan club has been around a long time and I recommend it!

My photography throughout the book is arranged in the order of events as if you were visiting the park back during the 1970's. Starting with riding the chairlift to the top of Beech Mountain to visiting the Oz museum and then proceeding through the theme park until you end up at "The Emerald City of Oz." Also included are photographs of the original dress that "Dorothy" (Judy Garland) wore in the movie, her "Red Ruby Slippers", munchkin costumes, winkie guard swords and many other items from "The Wizard of Oz" 1939 film!

I recently interviewed Spencer Robbins (Land of Oz co-owner and brother to Grover Robbins), Jack Pentes (Land of Oz designer and Cynthia Keller (Caretaker of The Land of Oz) for my written text on the history of the most amazing theme park ever created in America and also the true story on what ever happened to the "Land of Oz?"

Only 125 museum signed special editions have been printed in hardcover and will be sold autographed and numbered by Gregory Hugh Leng (Author and photographer)

Premium quality printing in color and very nice paper, binding is excellent and hard cover is glossy on front and back! I spared no expense to have these books published so you will treasure them for a lifetime and more! Printed in the United States of America!

MANY BUYERS HAVE STATED THEY PLAN TO PASS MY BOOK TO THEIR CHILDREN ONE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS SO MUCH TO THEM! THIS MEAN A LOT TO ME AND I AM HONORED TO HEAR SUCH THINGS!

ONE LITTLE BOY ACTUALLY ASKED ME WHEN I WAS SIGNING BOOKS AT THE "OZ MUSEUM" DURING THE 2010 "AUTUMN AT OZ" WEEKEND "WERE YOU IN THE WIZARD of OZ MOVIE?" I TOLD HIM OF COURSE NOT PRETTY QUICK AND THEN EXPLAINED "I AM NOT AS OLD AS MY HAIR!" THIS COMING FROM A YOUNG MAN WITH ALL GRAY HAIR! :) I ALSO EXPLAINED I WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE ALIVE IF I WAS IN THE 1939 MOVIE SINCE ONLY VERY FEW MUNCHKINS STILL ARE LIVING! IT WAS QUITE A FUNNY QUESTION!

If you collect "The Wizard of Oz" or "Land of Oz" theme park memorabilia, this book is something you will want to add to your collection! I own an original piece of Judy Garland's blue gingham dress, straw from Ray Bolger's scarecrow costume, hair from Bert Lahr's costume, pieces of the yellow brick road from the 1939 movie and autographs from all the major cast members. I value my new "Land of Oz" photography book just as much as those items and perhaps more!

Ansel Adams, the world famous photographer and my Award winning photograph of "The Yellow Brick Road" are what launched my major in college and career as a professional photographer!

The hard cover book 8x8 inches,  features 25 pages with 127 color photographs of the Land of Oz from the 1970's to 2010 and 2,500 words telling the rich history of the theme park and what lead to it's sad demise in 1980. It also gives you behind the scenes information and photography that you can not see anywhere else!

The "Yellow Brick Road" cover shot is an Award winning photograph!!!

Ansel Adams is the only person that ever owned a copy of my "Yellow Brick Road" photograph until now! It has never been offered for sale although everyone that has seen it, ask's to buy a print! Also included in the book is a photograph of "The Red Ruby Slippers," Judy Garland wore in "The Wizard of Oz" movie in 1939. This photograph is one I have regularly sold as a signed and numbered matted print on eBay. I sell this photograph signed and matted on eBay as an 8x10 for a minimum of $37.00 each! I had the honor to shoot a very special close up photograph of the original red ruby slippers that were seen in the movie more than any other pair of slippers Judy was given. There were at least five pairs created and Judy wore different shoes depending on what she was doing in the film. When she danced on the yellow brick road, those shoes had felt glue to the bottoms, so she would not fall down. Recently a pair of the original slippers sold for $666,000! The photograph is one I was able to take in the "Museum of American History" at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

As a commercial photographer, I worked for Better Homes & Gardens, Belk, JC Penney, Macy's, the United States Navy and many other well known national clients. My photography has appeared in catalogs, magazines, books and newspapers as published work. Over the past 30 years I have worked as a landscape photographer and traveled extensively. I am currently working on a photography book of North Carolina that will be released soon. I have written numerous self help courses, short stories and poetry. I am a contributing travel reporter for the Charlotte Examiner.

I am a member of the PSA (Professional Photographers of America) and CNPA (Carolina Nature Photographers Association) as well as the local Chamber of Commerce.

Only one other book has ever been written on The Land of Oz theme park and it was just B&W photography, it sells for over $40.00 and is not anywhere near the quality of this book!

Each book is hand signed and numbered on the title page, which features the original "Land of Oz" park logo!

Important Information below if you want me to sign the book to you or another person!!!

If you would like for me to "personalize the book to your name or someone else," please let me know when you pay for the auction in a paypal message or send me an e-mail with your request at the time you make a purchase so I can honor your request! I will sign the book a second time to the person requested and include a written message.

Personalized books may not be returned due to the nature of this special request.

This book has been featured in the Charlotte Examiner and is also being run in major newspapers throughout North Carolina in the next week! The limited edition is expected to sell out quickly! "Land of Oz" theme park collectibles are very rare and highly desired. There is a waiting list for these books so the amount offered on eBay will be much less than the 200 special editions being sold at this time! If you want one, now is the time to buy it! You will absolutely love the color photography and the behind the scenes text! Learn how the park started and if it is still on Beech Mountain today???

SHIPPING & HANDLING IS $6.80.

Ships very secure for protection and by USPS PRIORITY MAIL!!!

"See you over the rainbow!" Gregory Hugh Leng

GOOD LUCK WINNING THIS GEM!