Where can I find the same type of straw or grass that was used for the Witch's broom in "The Wizard of Oz?"
Question:Others who have made prop reproductions chose raffia for the straw. However, I believe it is something else. If you go to www.photobucket.com and type in Wicked Witch of the West there is a photo at the bottom of the first page of someone dressed as the Witch, holding a broom with what looks like the kind of straw I'm looking for. It looks like regular broom straw but it is very pliable instead of breakable. Any helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Answers:
Arcola Illinois is, or was, known as the Broom Corn Capital of the world. 80 years ago, and even now, Broom straw comes from broom corn. Although most is imported from China, Mexico, and India, once every year the city grows a demonstration patch for the Broomcorn festival that is held in Sept. The Thomas Monahan Co. was the largest supplier of broomcorn for several years and we still ship some now, but its been cut to make brooms. Check out thomasmonahan.com. It should help. Jim Monahan is the Prez and his brother Pat deals with the broomcorn I think. I've worked there 10 years. Can't beat that for an inside line!
soaking broom straw in salted boiling water will ,make it more pliable
you could probaly search for it in ebay, ask, yahoo, aol and google.
Witches brooms are called `besom brushes`and are made with Hazel or Birch twigs and are sold in some Garden centres. Straw is used for theatrical convenience, and would be useless for a true broom.
its made from the straggley ends of a willow tree.
Have you tried hay straight from the fields? or what we in south call Broom Sedge? I thought I might find you a link but they all wanna show the flower not the meat of the matter, They grow in tufts bout 4 ft tall orange/tan in color..It only took a couple good tufts to make a broom for greatgrandma so I hope this helps w/no pics tho..
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