Meinhardt Raabe
Encyclopedia
Meinhardt Frank Raabe was an American
actor
. He was one of the last surviving Munchkin
-actors in The Wizard of Oz
, and was also 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 was born in Watertown, Wisconsin
, and in later life resided at Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida
. He died at a medical center in nearby Orange Park, Florida
, on April 9, 2010, at the age of 94 after going into cardiac arrest
as averred by the local coroner. Raabe graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1937, with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. He later went on to get his MBA at Drexel University
.
Raabe did not hear the words "midget" or "dwarf" until young adulthood, and for a long time believed no one else might also be like him. After visiting the Midget Village at Chicago's Century of Progress
in 1933, he realized he was not alone and took a summer job with the fair the next year. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he was turned down for employment by one company after another until Oscar Mayer hired him as a salesman. Raabe took a leave of absence from his sales job to audition for a Wizard of Oz role.
At about 107 centimetres (42.1 in) tall, he played the role of the coroner in The Wizard of Oz in 1939. Raabe, however, went uncredited in the role, which lasted only 13 seconds. In the film, the coroner confirms the death of the Wicked Witch of the East, with Raabe's lines being:
These lines, unlike most of those delivered by the Munchkins, were not dubbed over with the speeded-up voices of other performers. 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
, which was the idea of the company founder's nephew, Carl Mayer, in 1936. Because the vehicle had little space for any passengers, Mayer realized the spokesman would have to be small and Raabe got the job.
during World War II
. During this time, he served as a pilot, flying fire and lake patrol missions as well as serving as a ground instructor. In 1970, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Drexel University
. He married a cigarette girl who was his height, Margaret Marie Raabe (1915–1997). They were married for 50 years until her death in a car accident in 1997, in which he was also injured.
Raabe published an autobiography, Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road. (ISBN 0-8230-9193-7). As of 2007, he lived alone at the Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida.
Raabe appeared in an October 2005 episode of Entertainment Tonight
with eight other surviving Munchkins, and he made a guest appearance on The Jimmy Kimmel Show on April 11, 2005. On November 21, 2007, he appeared with six other surviving Munchkin actors, including Jerry Maren
, at the unveiling of a Hollywood Star for the Wizard of Oz Munchkins on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
. On September 19, 2009, he appeared on National Public Radio program Weekend Edition Saturday.
Raabe still made occasional appearances at Wizard of Oz conventions and celebrations across the country. In 2008 he was honored by the International Wizard of Oz Club with the organization's L. Frank Baum Memorial Award.
He is buried in Farmington, Wisconsin
's Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.
in Columbia, Missouri
, created a cartoon using a nearly-verbatim version of Raabe's coroner character to announce the death of Osama bin Laden
the previous day, which also poked fun at people who did not believe in bin Laden's actual death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He was one of the last surviving Munchkin
Munchkin
The Munchkins are the natives of the fictional Munchkin Country in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum. They first appeared in the 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which they are described as being somewhat short of stature, and wear only blue...
-actors in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, and was also 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
Wicked Witch of the East
The Wicked Witch of the East is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum in his Oz series of books....
.
Raabe was born in Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown, Wisconsin
Watertown is a city in Dodge and Jefferson counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Most of the city's population is in Jefferson County. Division Street, several blocks north of downtown, marks the county line. The population of Watertown was 21,598 at the 2000 census...
, and in later life resided at Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida
Penney Farms, Florida
Penney Farms is a town in Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 580 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 617.- History :...
. He died at a medical center in nearby Orange Park, Florida
Orange Park, Florida
Orange Park is a town in Clay County, Florida, USA, and a suburb of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island, Lakeside, and...
, on April 9, 2010, at the age of 94 after going into cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
as averred by the local coroner. Raabe graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1937, with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. He later went on to get his MBA at Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
.
Raabe did not hear the words "midget" or "dwarf" until young adulthood, and for a long time believed no one else might also be like him. After visiting the Midget Village at Chicago's Century of Progress
Century of Progress
A Century of Progress International Exposition was the name of a World's Fair held in Chicago from 1933 to 1934 to celebrate the city's centennial. The theme of the fair was technological innovation...
in 1933, he realized he was not alone and took a summer job with the fair the next year. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he was turned down for employment by one company after another until Oscar Mayer hired him as a salesman. Raabe took a leave of absence from his sales job to audition for a Wizard of Oz role.
At about 107 centimetres (42.1 in) tall, he played the role of the coroner in The Wizard of Oz in 1939. Raabe, however, went uncredited in the role, which lasted only 13 seconds. In the film, the coroner confirms the death of the Wicked Witch of the East, with Raabe's lines being:
- As coroner, I must aver
- I thoroughly examined her
- And she's not only merely dead
- She's really, most sincerely dead!
These lines, unlike most of those delivered by the Munchkins, were not dubbed over with the speeded-up voices of other performers. In addition to his role in the film, Raabe worked for many decades as a spokesman
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
for Oscar Mayer
Oscar Mayer
Oscar Mayer is an American meat and cold cut production company, owned by Kraft Foods, known for its hot dogs, bologna, bacon and Lunchables products.-History:...
, where he was known as "Little Oscar, World's Smallest Chef". He traveled in the first Wienermobile
Wienermobile
A "Wienermobile" is an automobile shaped like a hot dog on a bun that is used to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products. It was created in 1936 by Oscar's nephew, Carl G. Mayer, and variants are still used by Oscar Mayer today. In 2004, Oscar Mayer announced a contest whereby customers could...
, which was the idea of the company founder's nephew, Carl Mayer, in 1936. Because the vehicle had little space for any passengers, Mayer realized the spokesman would have to be small and Raabe got the job.
Post-Oz
Raabe joined the Civil Air PatrolCivil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During this time, he served as a pilot, flying fire and lake patrol missions as well as serving as a ground instructor. In 1970, he earned a master's degree in business administration from Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
. He married a cigarette girl who was his height, Margaret Marie Raabe (1915–1997). They were married for 50 years until her death in a car accident in 1997, in which he was also injured.
Raabe published an autobiography, Memories of a Munchkin: An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road. (ISBN 0-8230-9193-7). As of 2007, he lived alone at the Penney Retirement Community in Penney Farms, Florida.
Raabe appeared in an October 2005 episode of Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
with eight other surviving Munchkins, and he made a guest appearance on The Jimmy Kimmel Show on April 11, 2005. On November 21, 2007, he appeared with six other surviving Munchkin actors, including Jerry Maren
Jerry Maren
Jerry Maren is an American actor and one of only three confirmed surviving dwarf munchkins from the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The other two surviving munchkin cast members are Margaret Williams Pellegrini and Ruth Robinson Duccini, making Maren the last surviving male Munchkin from the...
, at the unveiling of a Hollywood Star for the Wizard of Oz Munchkins on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of more than 2,400 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California...
. On September 19, 2009, he appeared on National Public Radio program Weekend Edition Saturday.
Raabe still made occasional appearances at Wizard of Oz conventions and celebrations across the country. In 2008 he was honored by the International Wizard of Oz Club with the organization's L. Frank Baum Memorial Award.
He is buried in Farmington, Wisconsin
Farmington, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Farmington is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population in 2000 was 1,498.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.9 square miles , of which, 35.8 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square miles of it is...
's Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Popular culture
On May 2, 2011, John Darkow, an editorial cartoonist at the Columbia Daily TribuneColumbia Daily Tribune
The Columbia Daily Tribune, commonly referred to as the "Columbia Tribune" or the "Tribune," is one of two daily newspapers in Columbia, Missouri. It is also the only daily newspaper in Columbia, Missouri that has circulation verified by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and has been a member of...
in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
, created a cartoon using a nearly-verbatim version of Raabe's coroner character to announce the death of Osama bin Laden
Death of Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Laden, then head of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011, shortly after 1 a.m. local time by a United States special forces military unit....
the previous day, which also poked fun at people who did not believe in bin Laden's actual death.