R.I.P. Karl Slover

Wizard of Oz fans were saddened this week to learn of the death of former Munchkin Karl Slover. Mr. Slover was 93 years old and traveled the world entertaining children at Wizard of Oz conventions. He attended 8 Judy Garland Festivals in Grand Rapids, Minnesota after receiving a warm welcome at the Grand Munchkin Reunion in 1990.
Karl was born in Hungary where his family tried to make him grow taller by immersing him in oil and attaching him to a stretching machine. His father sold him to a circus in Europe when he was nine years old. He moved to the United States in his late twenties.
A couple weeks ago we aired a story on Judy Garland that included portions of an interview producer Susan Gray had with Karl this summer in Grand Rapids. Here is some more of Susan’s interview with Karl Slover. Munchkin Karl Slover. He died this week at the age of 93.