Donna Stewart-Hardway
A Child Munchkin
By Way of an Explanation
In the process of putting together this Autobiography it poses several challenges. I believe that my history with the film The Wizard of Oz is of primary importance to my guests. But, I also believe that many will want to know who I am outside the range of the film. So to solve this dilemma I have decided to first put an article that appeared in the magazine Autograph Collectors, this past July. My self appointed Public Relations man, Jeff Pomilla, asked my permission to contact the magazine to see if they wanted to do a story about me? At this point I received E-mail from Anthony Record who is a writer for the magazine. We talked back and forth for a while and then he had me send many photos to him. This that you see here is the end result. Anthony did a superb job. It is accurate, concise, and the writing is in my estimation talent that is rare. I also love his sense of humor. My personal thanks go to Anthony for doing a wonderful job. My gratitude goes to the Editor 'Ev Phillips' at Autograph Collector that allowed the article to first be printed, then allowed us to post it below for you.
However, this is only a small part of my life. I will be adding other things to this site about my life and times. There will be lots of pictures of my children and grandchildren and milestones in my life. I so hope that you enjoy it.
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magazine, Corona, CA © 2000, All Rights Reserved."
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layout format which we are unable to duplicate on this Web site.
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By Anthony D. Record
If you talk to former child actress Donna Stewart-Hardway, one thing becomes very
apparent, very quickly. She is a constant source of surprises, if not contradictions.
| For instance, Donna grew up among the glitter and glamour of Hollywood in the1930s and '40s, yet today is content and thriving in rural West Virginia. Even though she appeared in The Wizard of Oz (1939), arguably the most American of all films, she never even saw the movie until it appeared on television in the 1950s. Finally, if you saw Donna now, you would never guess her role in the film - she was a Munchkin. Given the fact that she stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall - nearly twice the height of your average, run-of-the-mill Munchkin - this surely would surprise you.
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 Donna won the "Los Angeles Herald"Best Baby Contest at the age of 3. |
 A photo of young Donna from her days in the Children's Screen Guild, 1936-39. |
Not only is Donna's story full of surprises, it is also filled with sadness and bittersweet memories. However, like the film itself, Donna's life is a lesson in conversion and inspiration, ultimately embracing with open arms all that Oz has come to mean to those who seek its magic with the wonder of the young at heart. |
| Donna Stewart-Hardway was only 6 years old when the decree from MGM hit the streets: "We Need More Munchkins!" Although little people from all over the country had heeded the call, the producers of the film felt they still didn't have enough. Since no more little people could be found, some 12 non-vertically challenged children were hired to work on Oz. Donna can't say exactly how she came to be a Munchkin, but two factors seemed to be at work. |  Donna at age 10 |
 Donna married Nelson Hardway in 1983. |
First, she was a member of Meglin Kiddies, a workshop for young, aspiring actors and actresses. Such household names as Shirley Temple and Judy Garland were Meglin Kiddies, so when young Donna won the Los Angeles Herald Best Baby Contest at the age of 3, her mother thought she belonged in Meglin. While she can't be sure, Donna believes all of the children who worked on Oz came from Meglin Kiddies. |
| Second, Donna's mother was the archetypical stage mother - but with a twist. "I was my mother's ticket into the studios," Donna explained. "She wanted a career of her own. My mother was possibly one of the most beautiful women I had ever seen. She was a virtual lookalike for Jean Harlow, only her features were more refined." Although Donna has strong feelings about the negative pressures and influences that resulted from her mother's aspirations (as well as other family issues), in true Munchkin spirit she chose to focus on the positive during our interview. "On that subject (the negative), I could surely fill a book," she said. |
 If there's an Oz-function going on, you can bet Donna will be there. |
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Given the fact that there were a dozen or so other children working on the film, this writer was surprised to learn that no true, lasting friendships had developed. When asked about her interaction with the other kids on the set, Donna's fondest memories are of an older, more famous kid.
"I adored Judy (Garland) - she was like a kid herself," Donna said. "In my opinion, Judy was the most talented person I have ever known. I was friends with most of the Meglin Kiddies group, but I lost track of them over the years. The memories I have are mainly social occasions like birthday parties and going to the Brown Derby with our parents for dinner. It was that 'be seen' kind of thing." |
| I wondered if she and the other kids were treated differently on the set than the older, adult Munchkins. Donna says they were pretty much kept apart. Although they were the same size, nothing else quite matched. After all, seeing someone your own size smoking, drinking or using questionable language could be a confusing experience to be sure. Like most children of the time, Donna mostly was expected to be seen and not heard. |  Donna with John Fricke, author of "100 Years of Oz" |
| One frightening memory was the awesome size and cacophony of the Wizard's soundstage, but because of her young age, specific anecdotes and memories are a little hazy. Still, one impression is crystal clear. "Mostly I remember Judy's giggling, which was delightful," Donna recalled. For true aficionados of vintage films, Donna's childhood work also can be seen in a couple of early Our Gang episodes. Donna remembers playing a little rich girl named Priscilla. During one particularly memorable scene, she opens the door for some children who are coming to a birthday party. The next thing you know, food and cake are flying everywhere, and a monkey has climbed a chandelier and is throwing cake and ice cream, too. Boy, they don't make 'em like that anymore! On a personal level, Donna has been blessed with a large and loving family. After working on Oz, she attended the California Children's College for eight years and later was graduated from John Marshall High School. Married at 17, Donna gave birth to seven children. Sadly, her husband died of cancer before the two youngest children finished high school. |
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Munchkin-mania is alive and well, thanks to these four Oz originals. Clockwise, from left, are Karl Slover, Meinbardt Raabe , Clarence Swensen, and Jerry Maren (with wife Elizabeth). |
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| Donna remarried, but almost unbelievably, her second husband also succumbed to cancer just two years after her first husband died. The couple had moved to West Virginia, where she eventually met and married her current husband, Nelson Hardway. They have been married for 16 years. Donna became pensive when I asked how being a Munchkin had affected her life. She explained that she had hated everything about show business, but not because anyone in the business ever treated her badly. Rather, it was mistreatment at home that colored everything in her life - including Oz. Donna was nearly 60 years old before her "bad witch became a good witch." Donna explained the metamorphosis. "A friend of mine invited me to a local production of the Wizard of Oz," she said. "That evening the mayor called me on stage to give me the key to the city and a bouquet of flowers. The emotions inside of me went from anger and betrayal by my friend to being embarrassed: 'I am a nobody, so why are you honoring me?' I asked. |
| Four or five years went by, and that evening became simply a pleasant memory. That's when Donna received a call from William Stillman, author of the book The Wizardry of Oz: The Artistry and Magic of the 1939 M-G-M Classic. She began to tell him all of the memories - painful and good - that for so many years had gone unspoken. Then something truly magical happened. Donna and Bill became great friends, and her love affair with Oz truly began, over a half-century after the fact. |  Donna was the grand marshal at a local parade recently. With her are Sarah and Tricia Linderman, daughters of family friend Patti Linderman. |
  These photos of Donna were taken in the 1980s. The one above shows her singing at a friend's wedding. |
Donna now delights in participating in Oz events. She is truly grateful to the surviving Munchkins who have accepted her as one of their own. She especially looks forward to the Oz festival held in Chesterton, Ind. each summer. The fact that she didn't have a speaking part, and can barely even be seen in the film, does not daunt her enthusiasm. On the task of spotting her in the movie, she says people have tried and claimed to have been successful, but really can't be sure. I suggested that with the advent of DVD with its frame-by-frame technology, that might change. |
| In addition to Stillman, Donna credits several others for helping her on her magical journey through Oz. They include Jay Scarfone, David Moyer, John Fricke (author of a new book, 100 Years of Oz), Elaine Willingham, Steve Cox (Cooking in Oz), Jim Whitcomb, Jean Nelson (founder of the Oz festival in Chesterton), Patricia Linderman and, of course, all of the "important little people with all their anecdotes and adult knowledge of the film and its makers." |  The little (and not-so-little) people pose for the camera at a recent Oz event. |
| At the various Oz events, Donna signs autographs alongside the other Munchkins. Each week she also receives 8-10 autograph requests via e-mail (DeeJWay@aol.com) and snail mail (P.O. Box 777, Pinch, WV 25156-0777). To defray the cost of photos and postage, she adheres to the policies of her fellow Munchkins, charging $15 and a SASE for an autographed photo. She also will sign Oz items for a $6 fee per item - a true Oz bargain in this collector's opinion. Even Donna cannot fully explain the enduring allure, charm and inspiration of Oz. That it exists cannot be denied. Perhaps it's because the movie tells a simple story that we all want to believe - that in the end, everything will be OK. Donna loves to tell the story of receiving a touching letter from a young mother who had sung the songs from Oz to her unborn children while they were still in her womb, and now those children watch the movie at least once a week. Or perhaps it's as simple as knowing that, deep down in our hearts, there really is no place like home. |
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Anthony Record writes the "Off the Wall" and "Autograph |
End of The Autograph Collector magazine article.