Elaine Horn, Dorothy Gale Impressinist

Elaine Horn, Dorothy Gale Impersonator

(Interview Recorded November 23rd, 2005)

This recorded interview of myself (Aaron) and Elaine was recorded in November of 2005.

Elaine Horn is a Dorothy Gale impersonator as the "Young Judy Garland" and has performed and worked as Dorothy in many, many Oz events and other events around southern California, and around the country.

Elaine grow up in southern CA near the San Fernando Valley. She has done done Oz events in as Dorothy at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, The Glendale Center Theater, Culver City Hotel, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Judy Garland's 80th birthday in Grand Rapids with the Judy Garland Festival, and even appeared at Christie's in New York for a preview of one of the original pairs of Ruby Slippers sold for over six hundred thousand dollars.

(Kurt Raymond (Wicked Witch), Elaine Horn (Dorothy), and Munchkins at the Culver City Hotel
on a Halloween weekend. Photo used with permission by the Culver City Hotel
- Culver City, CA)

In February 2004, Dorothy (Elaine Horn) and her dog Toto visited the Shriner's Hospital for Children in Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday. This very special visit was in conjunction with the "Sing-A-Long Wizard of Oz" at Kingsbury Hall at the University of Utah that had at the time.

Later in March of the same year she traveled to the CASTRO THEATRE for a showing of "The Wizard of Oz" in San Francisco and appeared on stage at the theater. The event was to honor Flowerpot Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini - declaring March 12, 2004 to be Margaret Pellegrini Day for the 65 anniversary of the film. In 2004 she appeared as Dorothy at the National City Cleveland Home & Garden Show in Cleveland, Ohio at the I-X Center. The year's theme was "There's No Place Like Home," hence Horn's appearance among the 20 acres of floral designs, home-improvement exhibits, and garden-tool vendors. "I am a bit young for my age," she admits in a story for the "Home and Garden Show". "That makes it very real for people." Also keeping it semi-real is the stuffed-toy Toto she totes along wherever she goes. Real dogs, she notes, "don't work well with crowds." Yep, she takes this stuff very seriously. "I've always been told I look so much like [Garland]," she (Elaine Horn) boasts shamelessly. "And although I'm married now to a very fine young man, Joey [Luft] and I are extremely close. He was quite taken with how much I look like his mother." (Ref - http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/stringing-garlands/Content?oid=1485357 )

Later in 2008 she participated in the California Home, Garden and Design Show at the Santa Clara Country Fairgrounds in the Silicon Valley. It was one of the largest consumer shows of the summer in the Bay Area. On July 16th 2010, she appeared for the "STARS UNDER THE STARS OUTDOOR SUMMER MOVIE SERIES", with a showing of "THE WIZARD OF OZ", in Jefferson, Missouri a the Capital Lawn courtesy of U.S. Cellular and Jefferson City Parks and Recreation. For the showing of of the film in Jefferson she attended the event as Dorothy to visit with the children and take photos before the show.

Photo of Elaine from the event shown, here on the left, from
the "Wizard of Oz Day" at the Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne,
Indiana - September 26th 2009

Elaine was asked by Joey Luft, Judy Garland's son, to perform for Judy's 80th Birthday Celebration in her home town MN, for all Judy Garland fans at the Judy Garland Festival.

Worked with the original "Oz" munchkins, along side June Allyson, Margaret O'Brien and Mickey Rooney.

Appeared on The 'Donnie & Marie Show' to help publicize the Re-release of The Wizard Of Oz, onto home video, on which I believe was the 1998 reissue of the Wizard of Oz film.

Appeared at MGM Grand Las Vegas with original "Oz" munchkins, as well as on "E! (E-Entertainment).

Elaine has also been performing all over the country with The Wizard of Oz Storybook theatre show. This was the mini show we did the day before each Sing-Along Oz show nationally. This was a mini publicity show to get more kids & families to come to Sing-Along Oz show. Joey Luft, Garland's son & favorite youngest has been making appearances together on behalf of the 70th OZ anniversary. She interview him & he shares memories with his Mom, Judy Garland. Followed by photographs with the audience members.

Letters of Recommendation

On behalf of all of us at Fantasea Yachts and Event Productions a heartfelt thank you for your participation in our gala Open House on the 24th of July. Simply stated, your portrayal, "the young Judy Garland as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz," was uncanny. The complete and authentic costume down to the ruby slippers, the greeting (customized to our theme) and even the beckoning Toto, it was all magical. Additionally, Elaine, the voice and personal likeness completes an illusion that is unforgettable. The 800 guests were without exception were dazzled and delighted with "Dorothy..."

Sincerely, Jim Deely

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Larry Porricelli, and I am Director of Studio Relations for Edwards Theatres of Newport Beach, Ca which in now the country's 10th largest theatre chain.

At Edwards, we open 1-3 new theatres per month with giant, celebratory weekends full of fun, games, excitement, lots of talent, and of course, lots of media. Much of the excitement is centered of film themes.

Late last year, Warner Bros. Studios highly recommended Elaine to me for a theatre opening and a celebration of The Wizard of Oz. I'm glad I always listen to Warner Bros.! Elaine dazzled the large crowds and media. Customers were surrounding her and loving her, and then watching her perform on a stage setup and in theatres. Many who were going to see other films went and saw The Wizard of OZ because of Elaine's performance skills. I have never seen such a great reaction by crowds..."

Thank You, Larry Porricelli

"I have had the pleasure of working with Elaine Horn ever the past three years. Some of the more notable events include publicity work for Warner Bros; this involved the rerelease of The Wizard of Oz on video (in 1998), Oz Festival and a performance oil a scene from the original movie, in San Jose, CA. Elaine's portrayal of Dorothy matches very closely to that of Judy Garland; her resemblance and qualities are uncanny. She has always been very courteous and professional. Elaine shines as the best among all the Dorothy's we have ever worked with, since Judy Garland... Sincerely your, Jerry Maren (One the original "Munchkins" from the "Wizard Of Oz".)