Wicked

 

With all the hoopla of the film release of the popular play Wicked, thought it was high-time to recognise the OG film Wicked Witch of the West and Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch: Margaret Hamilton.                                                                                      Cleveland born Margaret Brainard Hamilton (December 9, 1902 – May 16, 1985) was an American actress, singer and educator, whose fifty year career in entertainment spanned theatre, film, radio and television.  A former schoolteacher, she worked as a character actress in films for seven years before she was offered the role that defined her public image. In later years, Hamilton appeared in films and made frequent cameo appearances on television sitcoms and commercials.  She also gained recognition for her work as an advocate of causes designed to benefit children and animals and retained a lifelong commitment to public education.

Check her out on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1975)

Entry in Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

From what I could gather, there's a travelling Wizard of Oz festival that occurs in October in Ohio.  In 2025, it is expected to be in Canal Fulton.                          From OzWiki:  October (exact dates to be announced, we hope), 2025: Wizard of Oz Festival Ohio, Putters Amusement Park, Canal Fulton, Ohio. For more information, see the website at https://wizardofozohio.com/, and the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/wizardofozfestivalohio/