FACTS ABOUT “THE WIZARD OF OZ”

When I was a kid, there were two big events on TV every year. One was the “Charlie Brown Christmas Special” and the other was the annual airing of “The Wizard of Oz”. It was first aired on Nov. 3, 1956. Here are some interesting facts about the movie.

It was based on the book “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum. It was published in 1900 and was a big hit. Baum was paid $75,000 for the book rights.
The movie went through four directors, although only Victor Fleming was credited. Richard Thorpe started the film, but he was fired after a couple of weeks. George Cukor took over, but then he was pulled to work on “Gone With the Wind”. Fleming was next, but he also was sent off to help with GWTW, so King Vidor brought the film home.
Screenwriter Noel Langley changed Dorothy’s slippers to ruby from the book’s silver. Ruby filmed better. The slippers are one of the most popular displays at the Smithsonian Institute. When Dorothy clicks her heels and says “There’s no place like home”, in the book the line was “Take me home to Auntie Em”.
Shirley Temple was considered for Dorothy, but it was decided she didn’t have the musical chops that Judy Garland had.
Ray Bolger was slated to play the Tin Man. Bolger was proud of his fluid dancing style and felt the Scarecrow would be a better showcase for his talents. He talked Buddy Ebsen into switching parts. Bad move for Buddy, it turned out he was allergic to the aluminum powder used for Tin Man. He had to bow out. I guess Bolger told him “no give-backees”. Jack Haley replaced Ebsen. His son later married Judy Garland.
Dorothy was originally imagined as blonde with lots of make-up.
Frank Morgan played five roles. He was Professor Marvel in Kansas, the Doorman at the Emerald City, the Cabbie with the Horse-of-a-Different-Color (the various colors were Jell-O crystals), a Guard, and the Wizard.
Toto’s real name was Terry. Terry was a female Cairn terrier. It was paid $125 per week. Most of the Munchkins were paid $50 per week. During filming, a guard stepped on Terry, breaking a leg. Garland wanted to buy Terry after the film, but her trainer/owner refused.
The oil and tears of the Tin Man was actually chocolate syrup.
During the Scarecrow’s “If I Only Had a Brain”, a female inserts the line “wherefore art thou Romeo?”. The line was sung by Adriana Caselotti, the actress that sang Snow White’s role in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”. She was paid $1,000.
Billie Burke plays the glamourous and young-looking Glinda. She was actually 54. Her old-looking sister, the Wicked Witch, was played by Margaret Hamilton, who was 18 years younger. Hamilton had been a kindergarten teacher before she became an actress. She later made an appearance on Mister Roger’s Neighborhood to explain to kids the concept of make-believe. Hamilton was badly burned on her face and hands in her exit from Munchkinland. She had to leave the production for six weeks. Much of Hamilton’s performance was left on the cutting room floor because it was deemed too scary for kids.
When Dorothy leaves on the Yellow Brick Road, Glinda kisses her on the forehead. This is a reference to in the book Glinda tells her that her kiss would give her protection.
The Cowardly Lion’s costume was made of real lion pelts. It weighed over 100 pounds. Because of the Technicolor process, the film had to have extra lighting, meaning the temperatures on set were over 100 degrees. It must have been a very sweaty experience for Haley.
The movie was not a box office smash. It did get nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture (losing to “Gone With the Wind”). It won for Best Original Song (“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score. “Somewhere…” was almost cut for time reasons, and some thought it was too sad. Judy Garland won an Oscar called the Juvenile Award.
NO MUNCHKIN COMMITTED SUICIDE ON THE SET! This internet “fact” is bogus. What some people with vivid imaginations think is a little person hanging in the background of one of the scenes is actually one of the exotic birds flapping its wings. The birds were brought in to add ambiance to the background.