By now, the characters in The Wizard of Oz and the actors who played them are iconic. What you might not know is many people came close to working on the film, including actors and other filmmakers. Here’s why the film you know was almost very different. The example that most people … Read more
Billie Burke was a special star in the movie world, best known for her role as the kind and gentle Glinda the Good Witch in the famous film “The Wizard of Oz.” Born in 1884, her journey to Hollywood stardom was filled with interesting twists and turns. Before she became a household … Read more
Of all of the wonderful elements that made The Wizard of Oz shine, one of the most memorable is its clever use of color. While the 1939 film was not the first to be shot in color, its bright production design and saturated palette made it stand out. So why did the … Read more
This month we dispel one of the most common Wizard of Oz “myth” understandings. Myth: Dorothy keeps the Ruby Slippers. Many fans of The Wizard of Oz retain a false memory of how the film ends. It seems there are legions of people who remember that once Dorothy awakens back in Kansas and exclaims, … Read more
Our blog post this month is in honor of Margaret Hamilton, the wonderfully Wicked Witch of the West, who was born on December 9, 1902. Mention The Wicked Witch to any fan of The Wizard of Oz and chances are they’ll either react with an imitation of the green-complexioned villainess’s evil cackle … Read more
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
Thanks to the enthusiastic reception that Oz bloggers gave to our Q&A posting last month, we have graciously been invited back to host another feature that celebrates our favorite movie—The Wizard of Oz! In deciding upon an Ozzy topic about which to write, we thought it might be amusing to highlight a … Read more
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
We recently profiled Pink’s performance of “Over the Rainbow” at this year’s Academy Awards® show. Her stunning rendition, a tribute to the 75th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, was enthusiastically applauded by everyone in attendance, most notably perhaps, Judy Garland’s own three children. Most aficionados of the film know that The … Read more
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
What? The Wicked Witch had glasses like Miss Gulch? Hot air balloons on Professor Marvel’s wagon? Dorothy’s hidden dress pocket? The film’s homage to Snow White’s Evil Queen? If you thought you knew everything about your favorite movie, you may want to check this out. The book The Wizard of Oz: The … 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
