THE WIZARD OF OZ

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)

Lyman Frank Baum published "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" in May 1900. It became the best-selling children's book of that year. Baum had written it to be a modern American fairy tale - one without the dark European elements of violence and horror.

Baum claimed the name "Oz" came from looking at his filing cabinet and seeing the drawer labeled "O-Z." Whether true or legend, the name stuck.

The Silver Slippers

In Baum's original novel, Dorothy's magical footwear was silver, not ruby. The change to ruby red was made for the 1939 film to show off the new Technicolor process. The silver shoes in the book are often interpreted as a symbol of the silver monetary standard in late 1890s American politics.

14 Oz Books

Due to popular demand, Baum wrote 13 sequels to the original Oz book. After his death in 1919, other authors continued the series, which now includes over 40 books. The Land of Oz became one of the most detailed fantasy worlds in literature.

Major sequels include "The Marvelous Land of Oz" (1904), "Ozma of Oz" (1907), and "The Emerald City of Oz" (1910).

Five Directors

The film went through an unusual number of directors:

• Richard Thorpe - Fired after two weeks; his footage was scrapped
• George Cukor - Briefly consulted, changed Judy Garland's look
• Victor Fleming - Primary director, left to finish Gone with the Wind
• King Vidor - Directed the Kansas sequences
• Mervyn LeRoy - Producer who oversaw everything

Budget and Box Office

The film cost $2.8 million to produce - an enormous sum in 1939 (equivalent to about $60 million today). It initially earned $3 million at the box office, which was considered disappointing given the investment.

The film didn't turn a profit until its 1949 theatrical re-release. It was the annual CBS television broadcasts starting in 1956 that made it a cultural phenomenon watched by generations.

Shirley Temple Was Almost Dorothy

MGM originally wanted Shirley Temple for the role, but she was under contract to 20th Century Fox. Fox refused to loan her out, and the role went to 16-year-old Judy Garland instead.

Garland had to wear a painful corset to flatten her chest and appear younger. She was also put on a strict diet and given pills to control her weight - the beginning of a lifelong struggle with addiction.

The Kansas to Oz Transition

The famous shift from sepia-toned Kansas to colorful Oz was achieved practically. The farmhouse interior was painted entirely in sepia tones, and Dorothy's stand-in wore a sepia-colored dress. When the "real" Dorothy opens the door, the audience sees Technicolor for the first time.

This transition cost more than many entire films of the era. The sepia sequences were actually filmed in Technicolor and then processed to appear monochrome.

The Emerald City Glasses

In Baum's book, everyone in the Emerald City wears green-tinted glasses, which is why everything appears green. The city itself isn't actually emerald-colored. The film simplified this by just making everything genuinely green, though the concept of the glasses remains a brilliant metaphor about perception.

Horse of a Different Color

The famous "horse of a different color" in the Emerald City was achieved using four white horses coated with different flavors of Jell-O powder. The horses would lick themselves, so scenes had to be filmed quickly before the color disappeared.

Toto the Dog

Toto was played by a Cairn Terrier named Terry. She earned $125 per week - more than many of the Munchkin actors. Terry was stepped on by a crew member during filming and had to be replaced by a double for two weeks while she recovered.

Terry appeared in 16 films during her career and is buried in the pet memorial park in Studio City, California.

Multiple Pairs Made

At least seven pairs of ruby slippers were made for the production. They were covered with hand-sequined red silk and featured butterfly-shaped bows. Each pair took weeks to create and was valued at about $15,000 in 1939.

Only four pairs are confirmed to still exist today.

The Smithsonian Pair

The most famous pair is on permanent display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. They were donated anonymously in 1979 and are one of the museum's most popular exhibits. A 2016 Kickstarter campaign raised $300,000 for their conservation.

The Stolen Pair

A pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005. The thief broke through a door and smashed the display case. The FBI recovered them in 2018 during a sting operation. A man was later convicted of the theft in 2024.

Auction Records

In 2011, a pair sold at auction for $2 million. Another pair was sold in 2023 for $28 million - a record for movie memorabilia. The slippers have become priceless artifacts of Hollywood history.

Singer's Midgets

MGM hired 124 little people, many from a vaudeville troupe called "Singer's Midgets." They were paid $50-100 per week - less than Toto the dog. Many had escaped Nazi persecution in Europe and found unexpected safety in Hollywood.

The "Wild Party" Legend

Stories of wild Munchkin parties have been exaggerated over the decades, largely spread by Judy Garland herself on talk shows. While there were some incidents, surviving Munchkin actors have disputed the wilder claims.

Many Munchkin actors were actually children or young adults from respectable families, and the stories have been called unfair to their memory.

The Last Munchkin

Jerry Maren, who played a member of the Lollipop Guild, was the last surviving Munchkin. He passed away in 2018 at age 98. He had spent decades attending Wizard of Oz conventions and preserving the film's legacy.

The Tin Man Makeup Nearly Killed an Actor

Buddy Ebsen was originally cast as the Tin Man. The aluminum powder in his makeup got into his lungs, causing a severe allergic reaction that hospitalized him. Jack Haley replaced him, and the makeup was changed to an aluminum paste.

Margaret Hamilton's Burns

During the Wicked Witch's fiery exit from Munchkinland, the pyrotechnics went off early. Margaret Hamilton suffered second and third-degree burns on her face and hands. She was absent from filming for six weeks and refused to do any more fire scenes.

The Cowardly Lion's Costume

Bert Lahr's lion costume was made from two real lion skins. It weighed between 50-90 pounds depending on the scene. There was no air conditioning on set, and the hot lights made wearing the costume torture. Lahr lost significant weight during filming.

The Snow Was Asbestos

The snow in the poppy field scene was 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. This was standard practice in Hollywood at the time. The dangers of asbestos weren't widely known until decades later.

Judy Garland's Treatment

The studio's treatment of Judy Garland was horrific by modern standards. She was given amphetamines to keep her energy up and barbiturates to help her sleep. She was fed a diet of chicken soup and coffee, with studio executives mocking her as "the fat one."

These experiences contributed to addiction and mental health issues that plagued Garland for the rest of her life.

The Hanging Munchkin Myth

Urban legend claims a Munchkin actor can be seen hanging in the background of a scene. This has been thoroughly debunked. The shape is actually a large bird - the production borrowed exotic birds from the Los Angeles Zoo for background ambiance.

"Over the Rainbow" Almost Deleted

MGM executives wanted to cut "Over the Rainbow" from the film, believing it slowed the pace and was inappropriate for a barnyard setting. Producer Arthur Freed fought to keep it. The song went on to become one of the most beloved in cinema history.

National Film Registry

The Wizard of Oz was among the first 25 films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1989, recognized as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

LGBT Icon

Judy Garland became a major icon in LGBT culture. The phrase "friend of Dorothy" became code for gay identity. Some historians connect the rainbow flag to "Over the Rainbow," though this is debated. Garland's performances and struggles resonated deeply with marginalized communities.

Influence on Fantasy

The film's visual style influenced countless fantasy productions. The yellow brick road, the Emerald City, and the contrast between gray reality and colorful fantasy became storytelling templates used in everything from "Pan's Labyrinth" to "Pleasantville."

Return to Oz (1985)

Disney's darker sequel flopped at the box office but gained a cult following. Featuring Fairuza Balk as Dorothy, it drew more from Baum's books than the MGM film, with disturbing imagery that terrified children.

Wicked: The Musical (2003)

Gregory Maguire's novel "Wicked" was adapted into a Broadway musical that became one of the most successful in history. It reimagines the Wicked Witch as Elphaba, a misunderstood hero. The show has grossed over $5 billion worldwide.

Wicked: The Movie (2024)

The long-awaited film adaptation starring Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba brings the musical to the big screen. The first of two parts, it has reignited interest in the entire Oz universe.