Margaret Hamilton: The Wicked Witch from Cleveland

Storyteller: Don Billie

 
 
 
 

Doors open at 5:00pm, with the storytelling beginning promptly at 7:00pm

• Weekly series combining great food with great stories about Cleveland’s past
• FREE ADMISSION – NO COVER CHARGE
• In addition to our regular menu, we will be offering affordable specials on these nights

Story topic this week…

Margaret Hamilton: The Wicked Witch from Cleveland

Don Bille knows the woman behind the Wicked Witch. As the author of a book on Margaret Hamilton, Don dives beyond the green makeup and cackle to reveal the Cleveland native who became one of Hollywood’s most iconic–and misunderstood–figures.

With warmth, wit, and deep research, Don tells the story of a schoolteacher-turned-star who never forgot her roots. From her early days in Cleveland to the set of The Wizard of Oz, Margaret Hamilton’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and hometown pride — and Don Bille tells it like no one else can. If you think you know the Wicked Witch, think again. This is the real story, and Don brings it to life.

Don Billie Bio

Little did author Don Billie realize when writing for the aptly named Cleveland State Cauldron that one day, he’d be uncovering the enchanting tale of Margaret Hamilton, Cleveland’s very own Wicked Witch of the West. Mr. Billie, who has previously written about the Cleveland origin of Freddy Krueger for Cleveland Magazine, is also the author of Hey You Punks! a book that vividly depicts his experiences growing up on Cleveland’s gritty near west side. To embody the principles of The Wizard of Oz as a “good deed doer,” he has dedicated his time to volunteering with both the American Red Cross hurricane disaster relief effort in Florida and the humanitarian organization Bring Hope in refugee camps affected by war in Iraqi Kurdistan.
 

The goal of the Cleveland Stories Dinner Party is to bring to life some of the fun, interesting stories about Cleveland’s past – from sports, to rock ‘n roll, to Millionaire’s Row, — the series will focus on tidbits from Cleveland’s past that will really thrill the audience. The Music Box is presenting this series in partnership with the Western Reserve Historical Society’s new Cleveland History Center. We think the Cleveland History Center is one of the most important museums in Cleveland. An unknown gem that Clevelanders should know more about, and support. It is the only museum in Cleveland dedicated to preserving and documenting the history of Cleveland. The Cleveland History Center includes two mansions, the Crawford Auto Aviation Museum, Chisholm Halle Costume Wing, Research Library, Kidzibits Hands-On Gallery, rotating exhibitions, and the Euclid Beach Park Grand Carousel.

See all Cleveland Stories dates here.