There are movies in all our lives that create imprints forever. They touch our minds in ways we never could fathom or see coming. What we witness on screen or in a book stays deep within until it finds an opening and bursts free. Mine exploded when I was 55 years old.
In 2004, I had to make a very difficult decision. I had to retire from my beloved teaching career. My eyesight was failing me. I was becoming extremely visually impaired, and directing plays was no longer an option I could do comfortably. I decided to go out with something huge, so I chose as my final musical,
THE WIZARD OF OZ. I wanted to recreate the film version, bringing it to life visually for all to see on stage. It took my team six months to make this a reality. I hired a film crew to recreate the tornado scene. We used a green screen and even made a small model of Gale’s house so we could destroy it during the storm. Showing this short film gave my stagehands the precious time necessary to change the opening farmhouse scene from sepia to Technicolor. We dressed Dorothy in two different colors of her famous costume. First, it was brown; then, when we flipped the house around, and she opened the door to Oz, everything was brilliantly colorful. “Toto, I have a feeling we are not in Kansas anymore.” My costume crew made sure everything I wore was a replica of the original movie.
We flew Glenda and the hot air balloon at the end. My lying monkeys were on rollerblades and soared on and off the stage, using ramps to simulate their speed and agility. My construction crews created a trap door so when the Wicked Witch melted, she actually collapsed under the stage, leaving only her hat and broomstick behind.
We used pyro techniques, fog, and snow. We built and carved everything out of Styrofoam. I rented the perfect Cowardly Lion costume. Our Wicked Witch was as green and evil-looking as Margaret Hamilton did. Our Toto was a Carne terrier who fit in the same type of basket Dorothy carried.
I cast 28 small, talented children as the Munchkins and an additional ensemble of close to 100. They were exceptional singers and dancers who always brought the house to its feet with standing ovations each night. My 60 tech crew members were amazing. They went above and beyond what was asked of them. Each of our performances was sold out, and many chose to stand at the back of the theatre each night. It was glorious.
THE WIZARD OF OZ has always held a special place in my heart, my entire life. It reiterated my mantra…”There’s no place like home.” The theatre, the stage had been my home. It was the place I felt the most comfortable and confident. It allowed me to soar with creativity. It allowed me to “play” it forward year after year, launching my former students in careers of their own. It connected me to a magical community forever. When I think of THE WIZARD OF OZ, I can still see myself watching the film every year first with my parents, and later with my own children. These moments touched my soul and became a catalyst for me to challenge, create, and conclude.
THE WIZARD OF OZ premiered in 1939. It was nominated for Best Picture, but GONE WITH THE WIND received the Oscar. It did, however, win two Oscars for Best Original Song (OVER THE FAINBOW) and Best Original Score. It was also nominated for Best Art Direction and Special Effects. It was budgeted for close to $3 million and grossed over $24 million. The film was based on the hugely popular series written by L. Frank Baum. Victor Fleming (GONE WITH THE WIND and CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS) was given the director’s credit. Still, there were several uncredited as well, including King Vidor, George Cukor, Norman Taurog, and Richard Thorpe, who was fired after two weeks of filming.
Judy Garland was sixteen when she took on the role of Dorothy. Every day, she had to wear a painfully tight corset to hide her bust line. She was supposed to be a twelve-year-old. She could only film for 4 hours a day because she had to attend at least 3 hours of school. The ruby red slippers were a nightmare for her. They pinched her feet, and she hated them. Most of the time, she did not wear them, since her swollen feet were not visible in each frame. Her iconic song (OVER THE RAINBOW) was almost cut. The studio did not think it was necessary. A compromise was reached and it was kept jn, but the reprise was cut. Thank goodness. What a loss to the music industry that would have been. It has been said that after she sang the song, there wasn’t a dry eye among the cast or crew. Garland made Dorothy a legend. Her gentle, sweet, yet strong interpretation influenced every little girl for decades to come. It was and always will be Garland’s most iconic moment in cinematic history.
There are so many behind-the-scenes stories written about TWOO. Here are some of my favorites.
- The infamous tornado was created using a humongous muslin tube of cloth, which was manipulated across a sound stage.
- The Munchkins took home $50 a week, while Toto earned $150 each week.
- Buddy Ebson was the first Tin Man cast. He had to bow out because of the dangerous silver make-up on his face. The make-up crew changed the formula when Jack Haley was recast.
- The entire film was made inside on a sound stage, except for the scene of clouds rolling by in Kansas.
- The Cowardly Lion costume weighed ninety pounds, which caused Bert Lahr to sweat profusely. Every night it had to be dried for the next day of shooting. Everyone said it reeked.
- Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow, had to endure a cheesecloth-type material placed on his face daily under his make-up to give him the look of a scarecrow. He said in later interviews that it left marks and indentations on his skin for over a year.
- The ruby red shoes are housed at the Smithsonian.
- Margaret Hamilton wanted to portray the Wicked Witch ever since she first read Baum’s books. She played her role pretty evilly, and several scenes had to be cut to avoid giving children nightmares. When she found herself surrounded by kids, she would often play down witches, repeatedly declaring there was no such thing as a witch, and then letting the little ones take turns wearing her witch’s tall black hat.
- The Emerald City horses got their green color from being slathered with gobs of green gel. The crew had to finish their scenes quickly because the horses loved the taste and would lick it off each other.
- Dorothy, at first, wore a blonde wig and heavy make-up. Thank goodness, Fleming changed that character conception.
- TWOO has been watched more than any other film. On its first television showing, over 75 million viewers tuned in. I was one of them as a child.
- The famous scene featuring the words “Surrender, Dorothy” was created using a tub of water and a miniature flying witch on a broomstick. It was moved back and forth with a hypodermic needle.
- The phrase “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain” was one of the most memorable lines and is still used in today’s society and news.
- It took over twelve takes to capture Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion to dance their way down the Yellow Brick Road singing, WE’RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD.
It is fascinating to me why this simple story is still regaled and held in such high esteem, even to the extent of extending its popularity through the WICKED franchises. I contend that most people want to believe in the power of finding that special place where you belong, feel safe, and can be your true self. It’s like what Harrison Ford said the other night at the Actor’s Awards show. I am paraphrasing his words…”When a person finds their people, anything is possible.” Dorothy learned a valuable lesson at a young age. She realized how loyal, good friends, and a loving family can carry a person throughout life. All of us yearn for this. We ache for great adventures and then the ability to return home. Ask anyone, and always remember the word ‘home’ is unique in each of our minds.
THE WIZARD OF OZ is a brilliant masterpiece. It is a timeless classic that sings and dances its way into our hearts every time we see it. Whether any of us are seeking a heart, a brain, some courage, or a return to our roots, it is possible to find what we are searching for in life somewhere over the rainbow. You see…”I do believe, I do believe, I do believe.”
THE WIZARD OF OZ is available on TCM.
