Meinhardt Raabe Wizard of Oz Archive

Meinhardt Frank Raabe, September 2, 1915 – April 9, 2010, was an American actor. He was one of the last surviving Munchkin actors in the “Wizard of Oz,” and the last surviving cast member with any dialogue in the film. He portrayed the Coroner of Munchkinland who certified the death of the Wicked Witch of the East. Raabe’s role lasted 13 seconds and his lines were: “As coroner, I must aver I thoroughly examined her, and she’s not only merely dead. She’s really, most sincerely dead.”

In addition to his role in the film, Raabe worked for many decades as a spokesman for Oscar Mayer, where he was known as "Little Oscar, World's Smallest Chef". He traveled in the first Wienermobile, produced in 1936.

Raabe published an autobiography, “Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road.” In 2008, he was honored by the International Wizard of Oz Club with the organization’s L. Frank Baum Memorial Award. For more biographical information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meinhardt_Raabe.

This personal archive includes (58 pieces total): Click here to bid

C. 18 Autographs mounted on cards, 3.25” x 5.25” each, signatures on paper, burned edge detail, laid down on cards, all mounted in same photo album as above, with a title card (19 pieces total):

1. Wizard of Oz title card

2. Victor Flemming - “To Meinhardt with best wishes, Dec. 1938”

3. Adrian – costumes

4. Jack Dawn – character makeup, inscribed “To the Coroner”

5. U.M. Brown – production design (Malcolm Brown)

6. Jack Haley – Tin Man, inscribed “To Meinhardt, Sincerely”

7. Bert Lahr – Cowardly Lion

8. Janet Gaynor – actress and wife of Adrian (not pictured)

9. Victor Laszio? (not pictured)

10. Norma Shearer

11. Mickey Rooney

12. Eleanor Parnell – inscribed “Good luck always”

13. Bobby Brien

14. Gloria (unreadable)

15. Appears to be Gary Ketter or Guy Kohler

16. Roselind Russell

17. Ann Rutherford

18. John Comack - inscribed “Good Luck”, burn hole to center

19. Dizzy Dean

D. Other

1. Certificate of Death, signed lower center left in ink, “Meinhardt Raabe, Munchkin Coroner,” #3137 lower right corner, 8” x 10”, mounted in album.

2. Photograph of Munchkins crossing the street, en masse, with police stopping traffic, 8” x 10”, wavy paper, minor smudges and creases upper right and lower left corners.

3. National Press Service, 1949, “The Wizard of Oz,” an MGM reprint, 49/140, Dorothy with the Munchkins, 8” x 10.25”, smudges to right margin, stain and crease lower left.

4. Certificate of Death, glossy photograph, 8” x 10”.

5. Certificate of Death, glossy photograph, 8” x 10”.

6. Certificate of Death, glossy photograph from a different angle, 8” x 10”.

7. Dorothy with Glinda the Good Witch and Munchkins, signed “Best Wishes, Margaret Pellegrini.”

8. Dorothy, Glinda the Good Witch, and Munchkins at the Fountain, inscribed and signed “Munchkinlove to Meinhardt and Marie, Fern Formica – The Munchkin Villager,” 8” x 10”.

9. 2 painted postcards, each inscribed by Fern Formica, each 5” x 7”.

10. Part of a handwritten letter dated April 12, 1989, related to the publishing of Raabe’s book, “Memories of a Munchkin.”

11. “The 50th Anniversary of Oz, Celebrate Final Showing of Oz,” Meinhardt and Marie Raabe at the top in red ink, Munchkin invitation.

12. Studio photograph of Michael Shaw, signed and inscribed by Shaw, “To Meinhardt and Marie, Wishing you only the best always, Your Pal, Michael (Kitt) Shaw,” possibly unrelated.

13. Press photograph of Meinhardt Raabe for his book, “Memories of a Munchkin.”

14. 2 pages, “A Giant Success,” article reprint of Meinhardt Raabe’s career by Tom Collins.

15. 3 photographs of Meinhardt Raabe as Little Oscar, 2 glossy, 1 reprint.

16. Glossy press photograph, “Terror of Tiny Town,” picture of a busload of small people headed to Hollywood, 8” x 10”.

17. 3 pages, printed “Daily Time Report,” possibly unrelated.

18. Reproduction of the Certificate of Death Lobby Card, signed before printing in pen by Ruth R. Duccine, Karl Slover, Luis Craft, Jamy Mane, Clarence Swenson, Soldier, Margaret Pellegrini, 11” x 14”. Fine overall.

19. Old reproduction of lobby card “The Wizard of Oz Says Farewell…and a Runaway Balloon Does the Rest,” 1939, 11” x 14”, on Kodak paper. Large crease top center, minor spots.

B. 9 Inscribed and Signed Photographs, all mounted on black construction paper in a photo album:

1. Judy Garland photograph, signed and inscribed by Garland, “For Meinhardt, the perfect coroner and person, too, love from Judy,” 10” x 8”. Black residue lower right corner from previous mounting triangle, rub to edge of sheet in upper right corner and lower left corner, tiny spots to area above right shoulder, also small red smudge to that area, small line to center right margin, tiny spot to forehead at hairline.

2. Margaret Hamilton photograph, signed and inscribed by Hamilton, “Best wishes to Meinhardt, from Margaret Hamilton, (Wicked Witch),” 7” x 5.125”. Creases to center left margin and lower left margin, curls at corners.

3. Spencer Tracy, signed and inscribed by Tracy, “To Meinhardt with very best wishes, Spencer Tracy, December 1938,” 10” x 8”.

4. Hedy Lamarr, signed and inscribed by Lamarr, “Meinhardt Raabe, Sincerely Hedy Lamarr, 1938,” 10” x 8”. Smudging to ink on date.

5. Jeanette McDonald, signed and inscribed by McDonald, “To Meinhardt Raabe with Best Wishes,” 10” x 8”.

6. Nelson Eddy, signed and inscribed by Eddy, “To Meinhardt Raabe, Best Wishes, Nelson Eddy,” 12” x 8”.

7. Edward Arnold, signed and inscribed by Arnold, “For Meinhardt Raabe, Sincere Good Wishes, Edward Arnold.” Corner curl lower left, slight spots to right margin.

8. Richard Thorpe, Director, signed and inscribed by Thorpe, “To Meinhardt Raabe, My Best Wishes, Richard Thorpe.” Small spot to chin, lower left margin, and left of head.

9. Robert Montgomery, signed and inscribed by Montgomery, “…(unreadable)…good wishes, Robert Montgomery.” Crease upper right corners, spots to bookcase above pipe.

A. 7 Lobby Cards

1. “Wizard of Oz” title card, 1939, 10.75” x 13.875”. Small brown spot upper left margin.

2. “If I Only Had Some Courage,” 1939, 11” x 14”. Very minor foxing spots.

3. “Bravely, Up The Yellow Brick Road Towards The Emerald City,” 1939, 11” x 14”. Very fine overall, little nicks, very minor rubs to top edge of sheet.

4. “Wizard of Oz” cast overview, 1939, 11” x 14”. Fine overall, very minor damage to edge of lower margin, small nick to lower center edge of sheet, corners slightly worn.

5. “The Wicked Witch Must Die Shouted The Munchkins,” 1939, 11” x 14”. Fine, with small loss to lower center edge of sheet, very minor spots, with original brown release envelope.

6. “Whoops! Here I Go Again,” 1939, 11” x 14”. Fine overall, with very minor spot to upper right margin edge, corners slightly worn.

7. “Disguised,” 1939, 11” x 14”. Fine overall, with very minor red ink spots, upper margin, upper left corner slightly worn.