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 original Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz?

Ray Bolger, the loose-limbed song-and-dance man who became known to millions as the Scarecrow in ''The Wizard of Oz,'' died yesterday of cancer in Los Angeles. He had his 83d birthday last Saturday and lived in Beverly Hills.

What happened to the actor who played the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz?

Death and legacy

Bolger was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1986, and at the end of that year, his health deteriorated and he left his Beverly Hills home to live at a nursing home in Los Angeles, where he died on January 15, 1987, five days after his 83rd birthday.

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 cast of The Wizard of Oz during filming?

The pipe, fitted to look like a broomstick, exploded during filming, sending Danko to the hospital for 11 days and scarring her legs permanently. Additionally, Margaret Hamilton's copper-based makeup was highly toxic and her green complexion took months to fade.

Horrors Behind the Scenes of the Wizard of Oz

What happened while filming The Wizard of Oz?

Hamilton's stunt double, Betty Danko, later caught on fire while filming a scene on the witch's broomstick. The pipe generating smoke from the broomstick exploded while Danko was on it, and she suffered severe burns and permanent scarring from the incident.

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 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.

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.

What does the flying monkeys represent in The Wizard of Oz?

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.

Who is the original Scarecrow?

Scarecrow Costume, 1939

On Aug. 25, 1939, “The Wizard of Oz” debuted in theaters nationwide. Ray Bolger wore this straw-stuffed patchwork costume as the Scarecrow, one of the friends who accompanied Dorothy to the Emerald City in the 1939 Technicolor film.

Did the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz get a brain?

She answers with the obvious: she's always liked him just the way he is. When the Wizard finally gives him a "brain" (which is just some pins and needles mixed with bran) the Scarecrow gains the confidence he needs to feel good about himself.

How did Scarecrow lose his face?

Severely injured after his encounter with Croc in the sewers at Arkham Asylum, Crane surgically grafted his mask to the remains of his face, fully embracing "Scarecrow" as his one and only identity.

Why was 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.

Was the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz holding a gun?

It's here Dorothy and her friends are suddenly armed to the teeth: The Tin Man holds a giant pipe wrench and his signature ax; the Lion has a huge net and bug spray; and the Scarecrow carries a walking stick and silver six-shooter.

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.

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.

Is Wizard of Oz about afterlife?

Frank Baum put hidden symbols in his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. As a Theosophist, Baum believed in a literal afterlife. Dorothy's journey in the land of Oz symbolized man's journey through the afterlife to rebirth.

Is Glinda a witch or a princess?

The Wizard of Oz – 1939 MGM film

In the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz, Glinda is the Good Witch of the North. She is played in the film by Billie Burke.

What gender is The Wizard of Oz?

Baum's choice of a girl instead of a boy for this central role is significant in several respects. Many of the rulers and protagonists in Oz were female. In addition to Dorothy and Glinda, later books introduce Ozma and Lurline, both benevolent rulers. Frank Baum was committed to the cause of women's rights.

Who banned The Wizard of Oz?

Dorothy Dodd, a Florida librarian, publicly denounced the book series in 1952. She called the books "unwholesome for young readers." Something similar happened in 1957 when the Detroit Public Library banned the books.

What did Judy Garland died of and how old was she?

Throughout her adulthood she abused drugs and alcohol. She had financial troubles, often owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes. Her lifelong substance use disorder ultimately led to her death from an accidental barbiturate overdose in 1969, at age 47.

Who played the most roles in Wizard of Oz?

Morgan is best remembered for his performance in The Wizard of Oz (1939), in which picture he played a total of six roles, most notably the Wizard, which included the carnival huckster "Professor Marvel", the gatekeeper at the Emerald City, the coachman of the carriage drawn by "The Horse of a Different Color", the ...

Who got paid the most in The Wizard of Oz?

Terry the dog, who played Toto in The Wizard of Oz, was paid $125 a week, more than some human actors on set. While Terry's earnings surpassed some actors, Judy Garland, who played Dorothy, made more at $500 a week. The Munchkin actors, despite singing, dancing, and taking on multiple roles, earned less than Toto.