Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin [Paperback]

Jerry Maren (Author), Steve Cox (Introduction), Sid Krofft (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2006

Jerry Maren is perhaps the most famous little person alive. When he came from Boston to California's Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios to work as the Lollipop Munchkin in The Wizard of Oz, he was just over three feet tall. Short and Sweet is his memoir of a sixty-plus-year career -- from The Adventures of Superman to Seinfeld -- in which he carved his own niche in Hollywood.

Short and Sweet is a lavishly illustrated treasury of old Hollywood that will amaze and entertain anyone who loves popular culture. It features candid commentary, mostly unpublished photographs, and a tell-all attitude. Maren writes of:

• How he ended up in Hollywood to make The Wizard of Oz while still in his teens
• Life on the set with Judy Garland and 120 little people
• The truth about rumors of drunken orgies and wild parties at the Culver Hotel
• What it was like to work with the Marx Brothers and to have dinner at Groucho's home
• USO tours during World War II with the midget wrestling act
• Being hired to dress up as a baby and pee on Jimmy Stewart at the actor's bachelor party
• Touring as Little Oscar in the Weinermobile
• His experiences as Buster Brown on television in the 1950s
• Working in television and radio in the Our Gang comedies and with Red Skelton, Jimmy Durante, Lucille Ball, Edgar Bergen, Andy Williams -- even Tiny Tim
• Performing at the White House dressed as Freddy the Frog

...and much more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jerry Maren continues to travel the country to make appearances at Oz-related events, film conventions, nostalgia shows, and Little People of America conventions. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 201 pages
• Publisher: Cumberland House Publishing (October 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581825439
• ISBN-13: 978-1581825435
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,079,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arriving in Spring 2008 !, October 14, 2007

By 

Stephen Cox (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin (Paperback)

Jerry Maren has completed his autobiography, an extraordinary book that he promises will please all of his fans. Producer Sid Krofft (of Sid and Marty Krofft) has contributed a fantastic Foreword for the book which puts Jerry's career in perspective as well as his own fascination for Oz and the inspirations Oz provided. The memoir will be published in the Spring of 2008 with books available in May 2008. The book will include amazing COLOR images throughout (dating back to the 1930s believe it or not)as well as plenty of black and white images, all from his private archive, which illustrate Jerry's lengthy career in radio, film, and television. Lots of surprises! For any fan of popular culture, this will be a "must-have" book. Guaranteed!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique Memoir Spanning Big Screen and Little Screen Cinematic Career, May 26, 2008

By 

Hiram Horwitz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin (Paperback)

Jerry Maren is an enduring actor who headed to Hollywood seventy years ago and has been appearing in motion pictures, television programs, and touring promotions ever since. Most viewers probably don't know his name, but nearly all movie patrons and TV watchers have glimpsed him repeatedly and been delighted by his performances. Usually cast in small roles, Maren always stands out because of his miniature stature, natural charisma, and upbeat personality. These traits have served him well, making him a highlight of such films as the Wizard of Oz, the Marx Brothers' At the Circus, and Our Gang's Tiny Troubles - as well as television programming including The Adventures of Superman, The Lucy Show, Star Trek, Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, The Gong Show, and Seinfeld.

Short and Sweet is a remarkable memoir chronicling Jerry Maren's life and career, from his childhood experiences through his present day activities. This book is chock full of photographs and written in a clear, concise manner that makes reading a pleasure. The information is extremely well organized, with the result that the book has the qualities of a perfect scrapbook merged with a masterfully-honed diary. What makes Maren's memoir so enjoyable is learning about his unique career experiences due to being a "little person," coupled with his personal remembrances (and photographs) of the long list of celebrities encountered along the way. This list includes Jack Oakie, Judy Garland, Humphrey Bogart, Alan Ladd, Jimmy Stewart (the Jimmy Stewart anecdote is my favorite), Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Eddie Cantor, Edgar Bergen, Spike Jones, Abbott and Costello, Oscar Mayer, Ringo Starr, Tiny Tim, Andy Williams, Cheech and Chong, Mel Brooks, and others.

The recollections in Short and Sweet are wholly upbeat and presented with humility and respect. These characteristics seem to define Maren, who comes across as a very stable, hard working, reliable, and amiable gentleman - in other words, a TRUE role model. (What a relief to read about a "stable" actor in this day and age!)

Short and Sweet is a wonderful story of an unusual man's life - a story that will keep you intrigued and smiling from beginning to end. Regardless of whether or not you're familiar with Jerry Maren, I highly recommend this book. It is a treasure and one I'm sure you'll find entertaining, nostalgic, and interesting.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short and Sweet, May 27, 2008

By 

P. Hourihan "Patrick" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin (Paperback)

Short and Sweet: The Life and Times of the Lollipop Munchkin

This is a fascinating look at the life and career of original Lollipop Guild Munchkin, Jerry Maren, which covered the golden age of Hollywood. I was amazed where his long acting career had led him and that he had worked alongside with some of the great stars of the day. A look at this actor's life is long overdue and at last this unusual and heartwarming career has been brought to life and retold in a great book...filled with fabulous photographs from cover to cover! Excellent!