The store featured fully-executed OZ décor, including mechanical flying monkeys, who crossed the ceiling on tracks, rapidly transporting tapes of your selection to the cashier. OZ also contained myriad nooks rented by specialty vendors including the all-important head shops.
The brainchild of Southland Music Distributors head David Kaye and his partner Steve Libman, OZ RECORDS was also singular in employing house performers, the principal characters of the story book, namely Dorothy (Martha Eddins), the Scarecrow (Evan Lee), the Tin Man (Richard Bernard), and the Cowardly Lion.
As related by former Scarecrow and veteran Atlanta actor Evan Lee, the characters would perform a choreographed dance hourly (weekends only) to “Ease on Down the Road” from the Broadway musical, THE WIZ, in between sets kissing babies and posing for photos by fascinated patrons, both the stoned and unstoned.
The cast performed for later grand openings of other OZ stores, Birmingham , Alabama and Ft. Walton Beach , Florida among them; for TV spots; and in a full blown tab musical for the Miss Georgia Teen pageant, accompanied by Elaine Evans.
Jim Way functioned as line producer and director, supervising all aspects of production, likely brought in by family friend Journal critic Barbara Thomas, the wife of OZ owner David Kaye.
The three Way children-- James, Caitlin and Siobhan-- “loved the show and the flying monkeys,” according to the Scarecrow Lee.