During the Munchkinland sequence, a faulty trap door was responsible for inflicting serious burns upon Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West. She missed six weeks of filming and subsequently insisted her stand-in handle any scenes involving fire.

What happened behind the set of Wizard of Oz?

The Snow Was Made From Asbestos

The "snow" was actually just chrysotile asbestos, otherwise known as carcinogens (or cancer-causing substances). Substances surrounded the cast that, if inhaled, could increase the risk of several serious diseases, including lung cancer.

What is the real story behind The Wizard of Oz?

As conceived and written by Lyman Frank Baum in 1900, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was a political allegory of turn-of-the-century America. Written in the waning days of the Populist movement of the late 1800s, it was the story of the sad collapse of Populism and the issues upon which the movement was based.

What happened to the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz in real life?

Today in 1987, the last surviving member of the main characters of The Wizard of Oz passed away from bladder cancer, and the world lost its most famous scarecrow or, Ray Bolger. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What happened to the cowardly lion costume?

Thankfully, it was rescued by an antique dealer. But the costume was ripped, it was molding, and it was in terrible condition. But it ended up in the hands of James Commissar, a costume collector, who set out to properly restore it. It took 2 years.

Horrors Behind the Scenes of the Wizard of Oz

What happened to Dorothy's dress from The Wizard of Oz?

The dress eventually disappeared, apparently passed from Gilbert Hartke to Thomas Donahue, a now-retired drama professor, who left it for lecturer Matt Ripa. It got stashed atop a row of faculty mailboxes, and Ripa happened to discover it last year.

Who owns the lion suit from Wizard of Oz?

The Cowardly Lion costume, owned by Los Angeles TV museum founder James Comisar, fetched $3,077,000, which includes a buyer's premium of $477,000. The costume had been left in an old MGM building before it was rescued by a junk dealer cleaning out the abandoned building.

What does the Yellow Brick Road represent in The Wizard of Oz?

The Yellow Brick Road represents strategy—how you will get there; the path you identify as the best, smartest way to accomplish your goal. And each of the shiny yellow bricks in the road represents an action step—the smaller tactics that go into executing your strategy.

How were The Wizard of Oz actors treated?

There were reports of lewd behaviour from cast members, drunken orgies, and abusive control of 17-year-old Judy Garland, who was forced to go on a diet and wear an iron corset because she was too 'fat' for the lead role.

Why didn t Dorothy leave in the balloon with Oz?

Toto took off chasing a kitten. Dorothy couldn't leave without him. Once she had found Toto and was racing toward the balloon, the ropes holding the balloon cracked, and the balloon took off without Dorothy in it.

Who is the real villain in Wizard of Oz?

In Baum's subsequent Oz novels, it is the Nome King who is the principal villain; the Wicked Witch of the West is rarely even referred to again after her death in the first book. The witch's most popular depiction was in the classic 1939 film based on Baum's novel, where she was portrayed by Margaret Hamilton.

Why is the original Wizard of Oz cursed?

The true curse of The Wizard of Oz is the neglect and abuse its cast suffered at the hands of MGM during a time when actors were not protected as they are now. The set's horrors jarringly contrast with the completed film's light-hearted and whimsical tone.

What is the hidden meaning of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz?

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as a Metaphor

The story is an allegory for the rise of Populism that was occurring in the 1890s, as well as for the debate over whether to hold on to the gold standard for currency or to begin using silver.

What mental illness did Dorothy have in The Wizard of Oz?

Histrionic Personality Disorder (HPD)

We're no shrinks, but it seems like Dorothy could be suffering from HPD, a disorder that manifests itself through attention-seeking behavior, intense theatricality, and a shallow array of emotions.

Who was first choice for Dorothy in Wizard of Oz?

When Judy Garland was cast in the role of Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz, she was not their first choice. Producers Arthur Freed and Mervyn LeRoy indeed wanted her cast from the beginning, but the studio chief wanted Shirley Temple from 20th Century Fox.

Who do the flying monkeys in Wizard of Oz represent?

Winged Monkeys. According to some writers, the Winged Monkeys of Oz represent Native Americans in the West in the late 1800s. Baum himself had clear attitudes toward American Indians and some of his earlier writings about Indians are very similar to his descriptions of the Winged Monkeys found in Oz.

What does the tornado symbolize in The Wizard of Oz?

Tornadoes were often used to illustrate political revolution. In the story, a tornado takes Dorothy from the dreary, barren land of Kansas to the beautiful and abundant Oz. This symbolizes the wealth possible with the addition of silver to the gold standard. The Scarecrow represents the foolish farmer.

What does the Emerald City represent in The Wizard of Oz?

the Emerald City represented Wall Street, greenback colored; and. the Wizard represented the Money Power, whose influence rests on manipulation and illusion.

How heavy was the Lions costume in Wizard of Oz?

The Cowardly Lion's costume weighed almost 100 pounds and was made with real lion pelts.

How heavy was the lion suit in the Wizard of Oz?

The Cowardly Lion costume was made of real lion pelt and weighed 100 pounds; his tail moved by a fishing line that was controlled by a stagehand sitting on the catwalk above the soundstage.

What was the lion missing in the Wizard of Oz?

The Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion each have a “missing” characteristic that motivates them to travel with Dorothy to the Wizard of Oz- the Scarecrow wants a brain, the Tin Woodman wishes for a heart, and the Cowardly Lion yearns for courage.

Why can't Dorothy take off the ruby slippers?

Glinda tells Dorothy to never take them off, as the slippers must be very powerful or the Wicked Witch would not want them so badly. Throughout the rest of the film, the Wicked Witch schemes to obtain the shoes. When she captures Dorothy, she tries to take the slippers, but receives a painful shock.

What happened to Dorothy's aunt?

Her aunt, Emily Brown (Gina Stockdale) is the only person who believes her, and refuses to let her be admitted. However, Aunt Em dies, gifting Dorothy a puppy named Toto before she does. Years pass, and Dorothy returns to Oz.