"The Wizard of Oz" Trivia - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

tv star collector · 11-04-2007, 08:03 PM

I just watched again the classic motion picture "The Wizard of Oz" last night,
so I thought I'd post some Oz trivia here ...

Judy Garland began performing in vaudeville when she was only five years old.

The part of Dorothy was originally intended for child star Shirley Temple.

The role of the Wizard was written especially for W.C. Fields. But Frank
Morgan, not content to merely imitate Fields, did an admirable job in the role.

Because the script called for Ray Bolger's Scarecrow to have a few brushes
with fire, the costume was flame-proofed with asbestos. Because it was
stuffed with straw, the costume presented a potential fire hazard, and a
man with a fire extinguisher was always nearby in case of accident.

Jack Haley replaced Buddy Ebsen, the original choice to play the Tin Man.

Margaret Hamilton quit her job as a kindergarten teacher to become an actress.

Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume was made from at least two real lion pelts.

Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion was largely the inspiration for Hanna-Barbera's
cartoon character Snagglepuss. Daws Butler's voice was so close to
Lahr's that the former vaudeville performer insisted that Kellogg's give
Butler an onscreen credit in the Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies commercials
lest anyone think that Lahr had stooped to doing TV ads. (Ironically,
a short time later Lahr himself appeared in commercials hawking potato
chips!)

Recreating the Kansas cyclone that transports Dorothy to the land of Oz
proved to be the most difficult challenge to the special effects department.
As described in the book "THE WIZARDRY OF OZ" by Jay Scarfone & William
Stillman: "Standing 35 feet yet considered a miniature, the cyclone was
filmed on Stage 14, an old tin-roof stage reserved for such models. ...
After painstaking experimentation, the exterior effects of the tornado were
achieved using a large canvas stocking affixed to a gantry crane traveling
the length of the stage. The tornado-shaped canvas cone was rotated by
a D.C. motor on a speed control. The motor assembly was arranged to tip
sideways. The base of the tornado cone was fastened to a car traveling
along a predetermined track and containing an arrangement for Fuller's
earth to act as dust. The car was moved by operators below the set."

"Once completed, the film of the tornado interior was combined with live-
action footage of Judy Garland and Toto via rear projection onto a screen
outside Dorothy's bedroom window."

"The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum was first published in 1900. The
classic MGM film was released in 1939. Considering that the original story
is now 107 years old, and the best-remembered (though not the first)
movie version is 68 years old, it still holds up very well today. A classic.

phoebe7165 · 11-04-2007, 08:42 PM

I think I read somewhere that L.Frank Baum had a really hard time selling his book at first. I guess publishers thought that people didn't want to read about a girl going to a far off land.

L.Frank Baum got the name OZ from a filing cabinet in his office. He looked at the front of the filing cabinet drawers and they read A-N & O-Z.

He also got the name Dorothy from a little girl he knew who died.

The reason Buddy Ebsen was replaced was because he developed a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum dust from his costume and had to go to the hospital.

And I also heard that Margaret Hamilton was burnt pretty bad in the scene where she goes into the ground.

And if you realize it, how much that movie has such an impact on today's pop culture. How often do you hear the phrases "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore", and "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!", on TV, movies, and just from regular people?!!

tv star collector · 11-05-2007, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoebe7165

I think I read somewhere that L.Frank Baum had a really hard time selling his book at first. I guess publishers thought that people didn't want to read about a girl going to a far off land.

L.Frank Baum got the name OZ from a filing cabinet in his office. He looked at the front of the filing cabinet drawers and they read A-N & O-Z.

He also got the name Dorothy from a little girl he knew who died.

The reason Buddy Ebsen was replaced was because he developed a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum dust from his costume and had to go to the hospital.

And I also heard that Margaret Hamilton was burnt pretty bad in the scene where she goes into the ground.

And if you realize it, how much that movie has such an impact on today's pop culture. How often do you hear the phrases "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore", and "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!", on TV, movies, and just from regular people?!!

I knew about the origin of the name "Oz" and about Buddy Ebsen's allergic
reaction to his makeup. Yes, the movie has given us some popular phrases.
And, back in 1967, the rock group Fifth Estate recorded their version of
"Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead" which went all the way to No. 11 on
Billboard's Top 40. Did you know that the most popular song from the
film, "Over the Rainbow," was almost cut? The powers-that-be thought it
slowed down the picture. Fortunately, reason prevailed and it was restored.

OH Nuts! · 11-09-2007, 09:10 AM

Thank you for this interesting trivia, I learned some more about one of the most beloved films ever..

11-04-2007, 08:03 PM	#1
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,486	"The Wizard of Oz" Trivia I just watched again the classic motion picture "The Wizard of Oz" last night, so I thought I'd post some Oz trivia here ... Judy Garland began performing in vaudeville when she was only five years old. The part of Dorothy was originally intended for child star Shirley Temple. The role of the Wizard was written especially for W.C. Fields. But Frank Morgan, not content to merely imitate Fields, did an admirable job in the role. Because the script called for Ray Bolger's Scarecrow to have a few brushes with fire, the costume was flame-proofed with asbestos. Because it was stuffed with straw, the costume presented a potential fire hazard, and a man with a fire extinguisher was always nearby in case of accident. Jack Haley replaced Buddy Ebsen, the original choice to play the Tin Man. Margaret Hamilton quit her job as a kindergarten teacher to become an actress. Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion costume was made from at least two real lion pelts. Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion was largely the inspiration for Hanna-Barbera's cartoon character Snagglepuss. Daws Butler's voice was so close to Lahr's that the former vaudeville performer insisted that Kellogg's give Butler an onscreen credit in the Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies commercials lest anyone think that Lahr had stooped to doing TV ads. (Ironically, a short time later Lahr himself appeared in commercials hawking potato chips!) Recreating the Kansas cyclone that transports Dorothy to the land of Oz proved to be the most difficult challenge to the special effects department. As described in the book "THE WIZARDRY OF OZ" by Jay Scarfone & William Stillman: "Standing 35 feet yet considered a miniature, the cyclone was filmed on Stage 14, an old tin-roof stage reserved for such models. ... After painstaking experimentation, the exterior effects of the tornado were achieved using a large canvas stocking affixed to a gantry crane traveling the length of the stage. The tornado-shaped canvas cone was rotated by a D.C. motor on a speed control. The motor assembly was arranged to tip sideways. The base of the tornado cone was fastened to a car traveling along a predetermined track and containing an arrangement for Fuller's earth to act as dust. The car was moved by operators below the set." "Once completed, the film of the tornado interior was combined with live- action footage of Judy Garland and Toto via rear projection onto a screen outside Dorothy's bedroom window." "The Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum was first published in 1900. The classic MGM film was released in 1939. Considering that the original story is now 107 years old, and the best-remembered (though not the first) movie version is 68 years old, it still holds up very well today. A classic.

11-04-2007, 08:42 PM	#2
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	I think I read somewhere that L.Frank Baum had a really hard time selling his book at first. I guess publishers thought that people didn't want to read about a girl going to a far off land. L.Frank Baum got the name OZ from a filing cabinet in his office. He looked at the front of the filing cabinet drawers and they read A-N & O-Z. He also got the name Dorothy from a little girl he knew who died. The reason Buddy Ebsen was replaced was because he developed a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum dust from his costume and had to go to the hospital. And I also heard that Margaret Hamilton was burnt pretty bad in the scene where she goes into the ground. And if you realize it, how much that movie has such an impact on today's pop culture. How often do you hear the phrases "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore", and "I'll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!", on TV, movies, and just from regular people?!!
	__________________ Rest in Peace to my Penny-pie. You really were a GREAT dog. I'll see you at the Rainbow Bridge. Penny 9/1/97-12/9/09 Rescued animals make the best pets. Opt to Adopt!!

11-09-2007, 09:10 AM	#4
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Thank you for this interesting trivia, I learned some more about one of the most beloved films ever..