American Experience: American Oz

By 1900, Lyman Frank Baum was a 44-year-old Chicago journalist whose aspirations had taken him around the nation, seeking but not finding fortune as an actor, dry grocer, publisher, and traveling salesman. That year, his dreams to craft children's literature brought the publication of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," and this "American Experience" entry offers a revealing look at both his remarkable life and enduring legacy. 60 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.