If He Only Had Grave: An Effort to Honor Toto From 'Wizard of Oz'

(Nov. 4) -- The Wizard of Oz may have looked after the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy, but what about Toto, that cute terrier who barely escaped the evil clutches of the Wicked Witch of the West?

Thankfully, two fans of the famed cinema canine have joined forces in the hope of creating a historic marker to honor the pooch (whose actual name was "Terry").

THE WIZARD OF OZ, Judy Garland, Toto, 1939

Everett Collection

Judy Garland as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," with her faithful companion Toto.

Some AOL News readers may recall J.P. Myers, the fan who started a Facebook page last summer to try to get a marker placed for Jack Norworth, the man who wrote the lyrics for "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

The project succeeded after a number of participants lined up to help, and now he's at it again, this time going to bat for Toto.

After seeing a recent TV show featuring a segment with author Steve Goldstein detailing how Toto's original gravesite was lost because of construction of a freeway in California's San Fernando Valley, Myers contacted Goldstein.

Goldstein, the author of "LA's Graveside Companion: Where the V.I.Ps R.I.P.," offered to help Myers in his quest to have a marker placed in honor of Toto.

"Originally, Toto was buried behind Carl Spitz's house in Studio City," Goldstein told AOL News. "Spitz was the famed Hollywood animal trainer, and once the home was razed, it was believed Toto's grave was lost forever.

"We have some info that Spitz may have actually transported Toto's remains to the North Hollywood home he moved to later. Regardless though, J.P. contacted me with his idea and we both feel it would be a good project to try and create a lasting memorial for Toto."

So a new Facebook page was created to help raise funds.

As well, at 11 a.m. Sunday, the pair will have a fundraising table set up in Calabasas, Calif., at the famed L.A. Pet Memorial Park, where the first annual Pet Memorial Day and Blessing of the Animals will take place.

The pet cemetery, which dates back to 1928, features many notable celebrity animals, including Hopalong Cassidy's horse Topper, Rudolph Valentino's Great Dane Kabar, frisky Pete the Pup of "The Little Rascals," Charlie Chaplin's cat and Humphrey Bogart's dog.

"We want to place the marker at this park given its history," Myers told AOL News. "Even though Toto won't actually be here, this is where folks will be able to pay their respects. We're looking to raise $650 for the actual plot, then about another $3,000 for a marker.

"I want to do this to achieve a lasting reminder of a gem of our American culture that is very important to millions of people. This movie and this dog have had a permanent affect on the world, and we need to have a special piece of granite and make it physically permanent. With no plaque or marker for Toto, a wrong needs to be righted."

THE WIZARD OF OZ, Terry as Toto the dog, 1939.

Everett Collection

Terry stars as Toto in 1939.

Mercedes Michalowski, director of the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kan., was thrilled to hear of the efforts being made. "I think it is a fantastic project to raise funds for a marker for Toto! In many opinions, he was the most beloved character in the movie. I think it is only right that Toto be honored and remembered in a loving, respectful and proper way," she told AOL News.

She also provided some more historic background on the popular pooch.

"Toto, a female Cairn terrier named Terry, starred in about one dozen films -- only 'The Wizard of Oz' gained him film credit. Terry, who was officially renamed Toto after the film, was paid even more than the Munchkin actors. Terry sustained a terrible broken leg during the filming that almost ended his gig.