Karl Slover

In late 1938, 20 year-old movie actor and vaudeville star Karl Slover began a journey that would become an adventure and propel him to international stardom. His life was changed forever when he was cast as a Munchkin in MGM’s “The Wizard of Oz” starring Judy Garland. The film was released by MGM in 1939 and to this day, Oz fans enjoy spotting Slover performing his two roles in “The Wizard of Oz.” He played one of the Sleepy Heads in a cute pink outfit and the first of the three trumpeters who help the Munchkinland Mayor herald the arrival of Dorothy. The film has become an American classic. Now, nearly seven decades later, Slover is being memorialized by famed sculptor Michael Roche. The folks at www.YellowBrickRoadonline.com have commissioned Roche to create this special piece to honor Karl and mark the 70th anniversary of the movie in 2009.

Karl’s motion picture career began in 1929. He appeared on screen with Laurel & Hardy, the Ritz Brothers, Alice Faye and Tony Martin and on the radio with Eddie Cantor. In 1935 he got a job in Billy Rose’s musical “Jumbo” at the Hippodrome Theater with Jimmy Durante. He flew to Hollywood in 1938 to appear as a Munchkin. Karl was the tiniest of the male Munchkins. At the time, he didn’t have any idea that the picture would be such a classic. However, he remembers producer Mervyn Leroy saying, “This picture will still be running when we are all gone!”

Karl’s father was over six feet tall, his mother just a head smaller, and his four sisters were all normal size. Karl was the only little person in his family. Born in Hungary with the last name of Kosiczky, Karl came to the United States in 1928. He was a member of the World Famous Singer Midgets.

In 1942 Karl left the Singer Troupe and was offered a job by Bert Slover and his wife to sell tickets on their rides in a traveling amusement show. The Slovers were unable to travel the next year so Mrs. Slover got him a job at the Tampa Terrace Hotel as an information clerk and eventually he became superintendent.

Karl changed his last name to Slover and in 1943 he became an American citizen with the help of Mrs. Slover. Early in 1944 Karl went back on the road with his adopted family. Later he began training dogs and this became Karl’s favorite pastime. He enjoys attending the various Oz events around the country and has made many friends in Chesterton because of his many visits. He is pleased to be at the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival again because . . . “I love to see all of my old friends and make many new ones!”

Festival go-ers will also have the opportunity to purchase the newest Wizard of Oz statue by Michael Roche of Karl Slover as Trumpeter which is sign by both Michael and Karl. Limited quantities available.

Biography by Allen Pease