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Matina Brothers

December 04, 2023

The Matina Brothers (a.k.a. Matina Midget Troupe) were an American trio of entertainers known for their short height. Lajos, Bela, and Matyus were brothers who immigrated to the US together from the Kingdom of Hungary.[when?] Cast as Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz, they were nicknamed Leo, Mike, and Ike, respectively, during production, and listed in the credits with the surname 'Rogers'.[a] Bela and Matyus currently hold the world record for the "shortest twins" at just 76 cm (30 in) each.[1]

History edit

Lajos Matina, the eldest, was born in Hungary on September 12, 1893, followed by twin brothers Bela and Matyus in 1901. The trio of brothers later moved to America where they became naturalized American citizens.[1] The brothers soon joined a troupe which was led by an individual named Prince Ludwig who dubbed them the "Matina Midget Troupe".[2] In 1915, Lajos married Elise Broek who was a suffragette.[2]

Each brother played a Munchkin villager in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, where Bela was billed as "Mike Rogers" (Matina), and Matyus "Ike Rogers" (Matina).[1] Lajos also became known as "Leo" Matina while working beside his brothers "Mike" and "Ike". In his biography of Daisy and Violet Hilton, Dean Jensen reported that the Matina twins became very popular in America to such an extent that the candy Mike and Ike, which first appeared in 1940, was named after them.[3]

The brothers continued in show business after the movie, and Leo eventually filled in as a chef for the troupe. The first brother to pass away was Mike Matina (Bela), who died on June 1, 1954.[4][5] Matjus "Ike" Matina died on September 14, 1965, and Lajos "Leo" Matina on December 14, 1975.[6]

Controversy edit

Bela, and Matyus ("Mike & Ike") were described as problem drinkers, who tried to get fellow Munchkins to share in their overindulgence while the Wizard of Oz was in production (it is unclear if this was done on or off site).[7] In a 1967 interview, Judy Garland referred to all of the Munchkins as "little drunks" who got intoxicated every night to the point where they had to be picked up in "butterfly nets". These accusations were denied as fabrications by fellow Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini, who said only "a couple of kids from Germany even drank beer".[8]

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Except Leo, who was credited simply as "Leo".

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Shortest Twins. Guinness World Records. 30 April 2013. ISBN 9780345547118. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Kim (November 13, 2012). . insroland.org. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
  3. ^ Dean Jensen (September 1, 2006). The Lives and Loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton: A True Story of Conjoined Twins. Ten Speed Press. p. 53. ISBN 978-1580087582. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "Full text of "Billboard" June 12, 1954". Billboard Magazine. June 12, 1954. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "From The Lots: Virginia Greater". Billboard Magazine. April 17, 1948. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  6. ^ "Lajos and Majtus & Bela Matina". R. W. Baker & Company Funeral Home. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ^ Megan Rosenfeld (June 20, 2001). "The Rainbow Connection". Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  8. ^ . Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2017.



  

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December 04, 2023
matina, brothers, matina, midget, troupe, were, american, trio, entertainers, known, their, short, height, lajos, bela, matyus, were, brothers, immigrated, together, from, kingdom, hungary, when, cast, munchkins, wizard, they, were, nicknamed, mike, respective. The Matina Brothers a k a Matina Midget Troupe were an American trio of entertainers known for their short height Lajos Bela and Matyus were brothers who immigrated to the US together from the Kingdom of Hungary when Cast as Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz they were nicknamed Leo Mike and Ike respectively during production and listed in the credits with the surname Rogers a Bela and Matyus currently hold the world record for the shortest twins at just 76 cm 30 in each 1 Contents 1 History 2 Controversy 3 See also 4 Notes 5 ReferencesHistory editLajos Matina the eldest was born in Hungary on September 12 1893 followed by twin brothers Bela and Matyus in 1901 The trio of brothers later moved to America where they became naturalized American citizens 1 The brothers soon joined a troupe which was led by an individual named Prince Ludwig who dubbed them the Matina Midget Troupe 2 In 1915 Lajos married Elise Broek who was a suffragette 2 Each brother played a Munchkin villager in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz where Bela was billed as Mike Rogers Matina and Matyus Ike Rogers Matina 1 Lajos also became known as Leo Matina while working beside his brothers Mike and Ike In his biography of Daisy and Violet Hilton Dean Jensen reported that the Matina twins became very popular in America to such an extent that the candy Mike and Ike which first appeared in 1940 was named after them 3 The brothers continued in show business after the movie and Leo eventually filled in as a chef for the troupe The first brother to pass away was Mike Matina Bela who died on June 1 1954 4 5 Matjus Ike Matina died on September 14 1965 and Lajos Leo Matina on December 14 1975 6 Controversy editBela and Matyus Mike amp Ike were described as problem drinkers who tried to get fellow Munchkins to share in their overindulgence while the Wizard of Oz was in production it is unclear if this was done on or off site 7 In a 1967 interview Judy Garland referred to all of the Munchkins as little drunks who got intoxicated every night to the point where they had to be picked up in butterfly nets These accusations were denied as fabrications by fellow Munchkin Margaret Pellegrini who said only a couple of kids from Germany even drank beer 8 See also editList of the verified shortest peopleNotes edit Except Leo who was credited simply as Leo References edit a b c Shortest Twins Guinness World Records 30 April 2013 ISBN 9780345547118 Retrieved April 27 2017 a b Kim November 13 2012 The Los Angeles Prosperity Carnival and Indoor Fair of 1915 insroland org Archived from the original on April 21 2017 Retrieved February 28 2016 Dean Jensen September 1 2006 The Lives and Loves of Daisy and Violet Hilton A True Story of Conjoined Twins Ten Speed Press p 53 ISBN 978 1580087582 Retrieved April 28 2017 Full text of Billboard June 12 1954 Billboard Magazine June 12 1954 Retrieved April 26 2017 From The Lots Virginia Greater Billboard Magazine April 17 1948 Retrieved April 26 2017 Lajos and Majtus amp Bela Matina R W Baker amp Company Funeral Home Retrieved 2023 03 08 Megan Rosenfeld June 20 2001 The Rainbow Connection Washington Post Retrieved April 28 2017 Margaret Pellegrini dies at 89 actress played Munchkin in Oz Los Angeles Times Archived from the original on December 29 2014 Retrieved April 21 2017 nbsp nbsp This Hungarian biographical article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matina Brothers amp oldid 1159093361, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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