They boldly knocked on the front door of number 618 and announced to the surprised maid that they had come to see Mr. Bolger. She explained to them that Mr. Bolger was upstairs watching a golf game and could not be disturbed at the moment. Then, seeing what must have been a very disappointed look on their faces, she told them to wait. She returned a few minutes later to announce that if they would come back the next day (Sunday) perhaps Mr. Bolger would see them then.

Of course, they returned the following day only to find from the lady who answered the door (this time, it was Mrs. Bolger), that Mr. Bolger was watching the golf game and shouldn’t be disturbed. The boys told Mrs. Bolger of their previous visit and the promise made to them by the maid. Mrs. Bolger smiled and asked them to wait a moment.

When the door opened for the second time who should be there but the Scarecrow of Oz, Mr. Bolger himself. He joked with the boys and demonstrated his loose, wobbly, Scarecrow walk and handshake, then signed a copy of Jean Harmetz’s The Making of The Wizard of Oz that Robert had brought with him. He then graciously posed for photos.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bolger have now passed away, but I like to think that they have merely chosen to reside permanently in Oz with all the other wonderful people who were Oz characters from the MGM movie.