Mary Ellen St. Aubin

Parnell St. Aubin appeared in “The Wizard of Oz” almost ten years before he met his wife Mary Ellen. At 43 inches, he was the smallest little person in the film. As the excitement of Dorothy’s arrival in Munchkinland spreads, Parnell can be seen in a long black coat and tall gray hat as he peeks out from behind a bush to see the flurry of activity as Dorothy and Toto come forward. He is next seen as a Munchkin Soldier marching in the first row of soldiers directly behind Dorothy’s carriage. He’s the soldier closest to the screen. After Oz, Parnell went to Chicago and during WWII he became a riveter for Pullman Aircraft. After the war he returned to show business as a spokesperson for a variety of products including Silver Cup Bread and Sherwyn Williams Paint. Myrna began her show business career at the age of 13. Her small stature along with her big talent in tap, ballet and acrobatic dancing made her an entertainment natural. Throughout the 1930s she appeared with such travelling troupes as Rose’s Royal Midgets, The Henry & Dolly Kramer Midget Troupe and Nate Eagle’s Hollywood Midgets. Mary Ellen continued her show business career through the 1940s including appearing as a leprechaun in the movie “Three Wise Fools” starring Margaret O’Brien and Lionel Barrymore. The couple finally met in 1947 during the Christmas season when Mary Ellen was appearing on State Street in Chicago at Goldblatt’s Department Store’s toy department. They married in 1948 and that same year opened The Midget Club, perhaps the most unique neighborhood bar in Chicago and the nation! It was custom built to accommodate little people and remained in business until 1982, when Parnell retired. Also in 1982, Parnell became the first Munchkin to appear at a Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival and Mary Ellen became the first MBM (Munchkin by Marriage) to do so. For the second Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival, founder Jean Nelson came to Parnell and Mary Ellen’s famed bar and invited them to attend. They were thrilled at the invitation and eagerly attended. The couple helped Jean track down other little people who played Munchkins in the film. Since 1982, Mary Ellen has only missed two Oz Festivals. The first was the 1986 festival when Parnell was ill and the second was 1987 when Parnell passed away. “Except for those sad times,” Mary Ellen says, “I’ve been at every single one and wouldn’t miss another for the world!” That’s why many people refer to Mary Ellen as the First Lady of the Chesterton Wizard of Oz Festival. Biography by Allen Pease

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