Jellia Jamb
Encyclopedia
Jellia Jamb is a fictional character from the Oz series
by L. Frank Baum
. She is the head of all the maids at the palace in the Emerald City
and in The Road to Oz
, is described as Princess Ozma
's favorite servant. She is the protagonist of Ruth Plumly Thompson
's Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
.
She is introduced, though unnamed, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
, as the young maid who handles the main protagonists' rooms while staying in the Emerald City. She leads Dorothy through seven hallways and three staircases to her room, and provides her with a fancy dress, and gives a ribbon to Toto, which becomes white upon leaving the city. She is usually referred to as "the green girl" in this book, and her youth and kindness are emphasized.
She is introduced by name in The Marvelous Land of Oz
where we learn that she is a Gillikin
by birth. The Scarecrow
, then ruler of Oz
, asks her to act as an interpreter between him and the Gillikin Jack Pumpkinhead
, who does not realize that all Ozites speak the same language, so Jellia "translates" Jack's words as insult
s as a prank.
After Jinjur
and Mombi
have taken over the Emerald City
, Jellia is compelled to retain her job, and she is brought before Mombi and their forms exchanged in order to trick Glinda
into thinking Mombi has surrendered herself, but Glinda undoes this magic. Jellia refuses to speak about what happened until Glinda promises to protect her.
She is seen briefly in Ozma of Oz
, and shown to have an affectionate relationship with the Scarecrow
. In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
, she and Omby Amby are among the first to greet the Wizard
upon his return to Oz, and he recognizes them as the green girl and the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, in spite of the major change in the latter's appearance.
Jellia Jamb has supporting parts in some of the books written by Baum's successors. She is prominent in Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
(1939), Ruth Plumly Thompson
's nineteenth Oz book.
in The Wizard of Oz
(1939) is Jellia, while The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
anime portrayed her as an old woman, in spite of Baum's text. She appears in The Wonderful Land of Oz
(1969) to do the translation bit, but her role in the climax is eliminated, and the actor, a day player, went unbilled.
In The Wizard of Oz
(1982), she is an unnamed young, tawny-haired girl voiced by Elizabeth Hanna
, who is unbilled for that role, and dressed like a soldier instead of a maid. In the Shirley Temple adaptation of The Land of Oz, she appears for the famous translation scene, and is depicted as a beautiful, yet comical young woman. Perhaps the most substantial portrayal of Jellia has been in the 1981 musical play by Thomas W. Olson, Gary Briggle, and Richard Dworsky
, in which her role has been expanded from the novel to accompany Tippetarius on his journey. In the original production by The Children's Theatre Company and School of Minneapolis, Rana Haugen played the role, also having to mimic the strange movements Wendy Lehr used to create Mombi while portraying Mombi's imperfect disguise, in which she tries to kill Tip. In the novel, Mombi took on the disguise to stay in the Emerald City and away from Glinda, but she still moves like an old lady in Jellia's form. She is also the titular character in Dave Hardenbrook's Jellia Jamb: Maid Of Oz which is a sequel to The Unknown Witches of Oz
.
The Oz books
The Oz books form a book series that begins with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz , and that relates the fictional history of the Land of Oz. Oz was created by author L. Frank Baum, who went on to write fourteen full-length Oz books, all of which are in the public domain in the United States...
by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
. She is the head of all the maids at the palace in the Emerald City
Emerald City
The Emerald City is the fictional capital city of the Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
and in The Road to Oz
The Road to Oz
The Road to Oz: In Which Is Related How Dorothy Gale of Kansas, The Shaggy Man, Button Bright, and Polychrome the Rainbow's Daughter Met on an Enchanted Road and Followed it All the Way to the Marvelous Land of Oz. is the fifth of L. Frank Baum's Land of Oz books...
, is described as Princess Ozma
Princess Ozma
Princess Ozma is a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by L. Frank Baum. She appears in every book of the series except the first, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz .She is the rightful ruler of Oz, and L...
's favorite servant. She is the protagonist of Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson was an American writer of children's stories.-Life and work:An avid reader of Baum's books and a lifelong children's writer, Thompson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began her writing career in 1914 when she took a job with the Philadelphia Public Ledger; she wrote...
's Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz is the thirty-third in the series of Oz books created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the nineteenth and last written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R...
.
She is introduced, though unnamed, in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
, as the young maid who handles the main protagonists' rooms while staying in the Emerald City. She leads Dorothy through seven hallways and three staircases to her room, and provides her with a fancy dress, and gives a ribbon to Toto, which becomes white upon leaving the city. She is usually referred to as "the green girl" in this book, and her youth and kindness are emphasized.
She is introduced by name in The Marvelous Land of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz
The Marvelous Land of Oz: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published on July 5, 1904, is the second of L. Frank Baum's books set in the Land of Oz, and the sequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This and the next...
where we learn that she is a Gillikin
Gillikin Country
The Gillikin Country is the northern division of L. Frank Baum's land of Oz. It is distinguished by the color purple worn by most of the local inhabitants as well as the color of their surroundings.-Elements in Gillikin Country:...
by birth. The Scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
, then ruler of Oz
Land of Oz
Oz is a fantasy region containing four lands under the rule of one monarch.It was first introduced in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, one of many fantasy countries that he created for his books. It achieved a popularity that none of his other works attained, and after four years, he...
, asks her to act as an interpreter between him and the Gillikin Jack Pumpkinhead
Jack Pumpkinhead
Jack Pumpkinhead is a fictional character from the Oz book series by L. Frank Baum.-In Baum:Jack first appeared in The Marvelous Land of Oz. Jack's tall figure is made from tree limbs and jointed with wooden pegs...
, who does not realize that all Ozites speak the same language, so Jellia "translates" Jack's words as insult
Insult
An insult is an expression, statement which is considered degrading and offensive. Insults may be intentional or accidental...
s as a prank.
After Jinjur
Jinjur
Jinjur is the main antagonist of The Marvelous Land of Oz. She is a character in the Oz books by L. Frank Baum and his successors. She first appears in The Marvelous Land of Oz as a self-appointed general leading an "Army of Revolt"—an all-woman force seeking to end the reign of the Scarecrow and...
and Mombi
Mombi
Mombi is a wicked old witch from L. Frank Baum Oz Books. She appears in the book The Marvelous Land of Oz and is alluded to in other works. Of all the wicked witches in L...
have taken over the Emerald City
Emerald City
The Emerald City is the fictional capital city of the Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
, Jellia is compelled to retain her job, and she is brought before Mombi and their forms exchanged in order to trick Glinda
Glinda
Glinda is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. She is the most powerful sorceress of Oz, ruler of the Quadling Country south of the Emerald City, and protector of Princess Ozma.- Literature :Baum's 1900 children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
into thinking Mombi has surrendered herself, but Glinda undoes this magic. Jellia refuses to speak about what happened until Glinda promises to protect her.
She is seen briefly in Ozma of Oz
Ozma of Oz
Ozma of Oz: A Record of Her Adventures with Dorothy Gale of Kansas, the Yellow Hen, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman, Tiktok, the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger; Besides Other Good People too Numerous to Mention Faithfully Recorded Herein published on July 30, 1907, was the third book of L....
, and shown to have an affectionate relationship with the Scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
. In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz: A Faithful Record of Their Amazing Adventures in an Underground World; and How with the Aid of Their Friends Zeb Hugson, Eureka the Kitten, and Jim the Cab-Horse, They Finally Reached the Wonderful Land of Oz is the fourth book set in the Land of Oz written by L....
, she and Omby Amby are among the first to greet the Wizard
Wizard (Oz)
The Wizard of Oz, known during his reign as The Great and Powerful Oz, is the epithet of Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs, a fictional character in the Land of Oz, created by American author L...
upon his return to Oz, and he recognizes them as the green girl and the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, in spite of the major change in the latter's appearance.
Jellia Jamb has supporting parts in some of the books written by Baum's successors. She is prominent in Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz is the thirty-third in the series of Oz books created by L. Frank Baum and his successors, and the nineteenth and last written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was illustrated by John R...
(1939), Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson
Ruth Plumly Thompson was an American writer of children's stories.-Life and work:An avid reader of Baum's books and a lifelong children's writer, Thompson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began her writing career in 1914 when she took a job with the Philadelphia Public Ledger; she wrote...
's nineteenth Oz book.
Portrayals
Jellia has not proven a major figure in Oz adaptations. Glenna Vaughn is the first person credited with the role, who did not appear in any silent versions, in The Land of Oz (1932). Some fans like to think that the Wash and Brush-Up girl portrayed by Lois JanuaryLois January
Lois January was an American actress who performed small roles in several B-movies during the 1930s.Born in McAllen, Texas as Laura Lois January, her first credited role was in 1933, in the film UM-PA...
in The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
(1939) is Jellia, while The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (anime)
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz may refer to:*The Wonderful Wizard of Oz* The Wizard of Oz, a 1982 Japanese feature film* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a 1986 Japanese animated TV series* The Wonderful Galaxy of Oz, a 1992 Japanese animated TV series...
anime portrayed her as an old woman, in spite of Baum's text. She appears in The Wonderful Land of Oz
The Wonderful Land of Oz
The Wonderful Land of Oz is a 1969 film by Barry Mahon, based on the novel The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum. A low budget but faithful adaptation, the film stars Mahon's son, Channy as Tip, Zisca Baum as Mombi, Caroline Berner as General Jinjur, George Wadsworth as Jack Pumpkinhead, Gil...
(1969) to do the translation bit, but her role in the climax is eliminated, and the actor, a day player, went unbilled.
In The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1982 film)
is a 1982 Japanese anime feature film directed by Fumihiko Takayama, from a screenplay by Yoshimitsu Banno and Akira Miyazaki, which is based on the 1900 children's novel by L...
(1982), she is an unnamed young, tawny-haired girl voiced by Elizabeth Hanna
Elizabeth Hanna
Elizabeth Hanna is a Canadian film and television actress, most notable for her voice acting work in animated films. She later complemented her voice acting skills by becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist.-Early history:...
, who is unbilled for that role, and dressed like a soldier instead of a maid. In the Shirley Temple adaptation of The Land of Oz, she appears for the famous translation scene, and is depicted as a beautiful, yet comical young woman. Perhaps the most substantial portrayal of Jellia has been in the 1981 musical play by Thomas W. Olson, Gary Briggle, and Richard Dworsky
Richard Dworsky
Richard A. Dworsky is a pianist, a composer, and appears weekly on the A Prairie Home Companion public radio variety show from American Public Media as the resident pianist and band leader...
, in which her role has been expanded from the novel to accompany Tippetarius on his journey. In the original production by The Children's Theatre Company and School of Minneapolis, Rana Haugen played the role, also having to mimic the strange movements Wendy Lehr used to create Mombi while portraying Mombi's imperfect disguise, in which she tries to kill Tip. In the novel, Mombi took on the disguise to stay in the Emerald City and away from Glinda, but she still moves like an old lady in Jellia's form. She is also the titular character in Dave Hardenbrook's Jellia Jamb: Maid Of Oz which is a sequel to The Unknown Witches of Oz
The Unknown Witches of Oz
The Unknown Witches of Oz: Locasta and the Three Adepts is a 2000 novel written by Dave Hardenbrook, with illustrations by Kerry Rouleau. As its title indicates, the book is an entry in the long-running series of books about the Land of Oz, written by L...
.