Jerry Maren, one of the original Lollipop Guild munchkins, was honored with a hand-and-footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Sunday, the same day the Wizard of Oz premiered for the first time in IMAX 3D. The film originally premiered in this theatre in 1939 as well. During the ceremony, Jerry … Read more
Go behind-the-scenes with Warner Bros.’ Chief Preservation Officer, Ned Price, and IMAX’s SVP Film Production, Lorne Orleans to see how one of the most iconic films of all time was re-mastered into IMAX® 3D in this exclusive IMAX featurette. About the IMAX Digital Re-mastering Process: The IMAX® release The Wizard of … Read more
It was a long road to Oz as we know it. In fact, the journey started in 1900, nearly 40 years prior to the premiere of the film. And it all began in the imagination of author L. Frank Baum who began the series that created the Land of Oz. His stories … Read more
Months before The Wizard of Oz was to be released in Los Angeles, MGM began a massive promotional campaign. Having spent over $3 million creating the film, MGM instituted a well-timed, comprehensive publicity plan to assure its success. In a pre-television era, where newspapers and magazines were the major advertising and promotional … Read more
Marking the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will bring the cherished classic into the present and beyond with a brand new kind of magic: a stunning 3D version that will premiere theatrically and will be the highlight of the studio’s 75th Anniversary Collector’s Edition. “People … Read more
Everyone knows the faces of their favorite characters from The Wizard of Oz. Change one freckle, one mustache, or wrinkle and it would be immediately noticeable to true fans of this legendary movie. Interestingly, these faces we know so well often took on several incarnations in pre-production makeup testing before the familiar … Read more
Published: Wednesday, 23 Jan 2013 | 11:27 AM ET NEW YORK, Jan. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Scholastic Parent & Child magazine unveiled the second installment of its “100 Greatest…” series today with the release of its “100 Greatest Movies for Kids” list, celebrating the most treasured family films of all time. Earning … Read more
“What kind of a horse is that?” you may remember Dorothy asking as she and her friends rode through the Emerald City, watching the horse that pulled their carriage repeatedly change colors. “I’ve never seen a horse like that like before.” “No, and never will again, I fancy,” came the driver’s reply. … Read more
Prior to its national release on August 25th, 1939, The Wizard of Oz premiered in 1939 at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (August 12), Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater (August 15), and New York’s Loew’s Capitol Theater (August 17). The New York premiere was especially notable because for a short time it … Read more
The Wizard of Oz officially became a part of American culture in 1956 when it made its television debut on CBS as part of the popular Ford Star Jubilee. The film was made in and promoted as Technicolor, yet American TV sets were still mainly black and white so most of the … Read more
Ever since its premiere in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has been a critically acclaimed motion picture. It was groundbreaking then and it remains a remarkable achievement in filmmaking to this day. One of the first reviews of the film appeared on August 18, 1939, in the New York Times, and was … Read more
Folks who see The Wizard of Oz often find themselves singing or humming many of the film’s delightful tunes for days and even weeks after viewing it. Small wonder since The Wizard of Oz is widely known for its musical selections and soundtrack. The terrific music and lyrics were written by the … Read more