What Were the Flying Monkeys in the Wizard of Oz?

Illustration of Dorothy and the characters of the Emerald City on the background of a wonderful sky.

Flying monkeys, better known as winged monkeys, are fictional characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900).  These jungle monkeys with bird-like feathered wings are best known for MGM’s 1939 musical film. Since then, they’ve established their place in popular culture, frequently appearing as a source of evil or fear in ironic … Read more

20 Facts About Oz’s Bewitching Billie Burke

20 Facts About Oz’s Bewitching Billie Burke

This month, we present some interesting information about actress-comedienne Billie Burke, who portrayed Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, in the classic film. Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, in The Wizard of Oz serves as Dorothy’s benevolent protector against the threatening danger of the Wicked Witch of the West. … Read more

A Heart for the Tin Man

Tin Man

This month we honor the character of the Tin Man. In celebration of the month in which Valentine’s Day falls, we thought it would only be fitting if the February blog was dedicated to that character of divine paradox, the “heartless” yet tender Tin Man. In L. Frank Baum’s original story, The … Read more

Frank Morgan: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Frank Morgan: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – A Guest Blog Post by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman

In 1938, Frank Morgan was one of Hollywood’s “featured players,” that is, an actor who was not a major star in terms of box office draw and revenue, but was a reliable and competent performer who was an audience favorite. Morgan was born Francis Phillip Wuppermann on June 1, 1890, in New … Read more

Oz Around The World

Tin Woodman from The Wizard of Oz

It’s no secret that The Wizard of Oz has been an American Treasure, certainly one of the most loved and respected films Hollywood has ever produced. While it’s natural to think of the film and its impact in the US, it’s remarkable also to contemplate the effects The Wizard of Oz has … Read more

Meet the Scarecrow!

Meet the Scarecrow

Faithfully based on the beloved character immortalized by Ray Bolger in the 1939 film, The Scarecrow™ has been brought to life by R. JOHN WRIGHT DOLLS for the first time in the medium of molded felt and cloth. Standing 18 inches tall, he is fully jointed at the shoulders, hips, knees, elbows, … Read more

Fantastically Fashionable

dorothy gale

Like so many of you, we were intrigued and excited to learn of the initiative between Warner Bros. and Tonner Doll to invite twenty top fashion designers to recreate outfits for the “three leading ladies of Oz”— Dorothy, Glinda, and The Wicked Witch. In fact, this inspired us to look at how … Read more

25 Fun Facts About Judy Garland

25 Fun Facts About Judy Garland – A Guest Blog Post by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman

In 1939, Judy Garland charmed moviegoers with her portrayal of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, earning her a spot in our collective hearts for all time. In honor of her birth month, here are 25 tidbits about Judy that may surprise and entertain you. Her birthday is on June 10. Prior … Read more

Oz Experts Answer Your Questions

Oz Experts Answer Your Questions on Facebook

Fans were recently invited to ask questions about The Wizard of Oz movie or anything else Oz related. The response was extraordinary, which probably comes as no surprise to Oz fans.  There has been enormous fan participation which has proven that this timeless classic is still a favorite among young and old. … Read more

More Fun Facts From The Making of The Wizard of Oz!

The Wizard of Oz Lahr Garland Bolger Haley 1939

Here are some more fun facts about the making of The Wizard of Oz! Enjoy! The flying monkeys were originally going to be animated, but it didn’t work with the rest of the film. In the scenes where they are flying in to capture Dorothy, the monkeys are actually made out of … Read more