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From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special furnishings and makeup tricks that brought some of the earth's favorite movie characters to life, The Magician of Oz (1939) had and then much going on behind the emerald curtain and the Technicolor gloss of an astonishing fantasy world.

In laurels of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the yellowish brick slideshow to peek behind that curtain and learn more about the secrets and fun facts that make the beloved film a timeless archetype.

Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Earlier the Film

As a cocky-proclaimed lifelong fan of 50. Frank Baum'southward Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to be considered for a role in the 1939 film adaptation. Hamilton called her amanuensis to ask which character the producers wanted her to play, and her amanuensis famously said, "The witch — who else?"

Hamilton, a unmarried mother, fought MGM for an agreed upon amount of guaranteed piece of work time. Three days earlier filming began, the studio agreed to a five-week deal. In the end, Hamilton was on ready for three months, but many of her scenes were cutting for beingness too scary for audiences.

Certain, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, but that doesn't hateful Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was immature at the time, the 16-year-old Garland had to article of clothing a corset-like device and then she looked more like a preadolescent kid.

Manager Richard Thorpe suggested Garland wear a blonde wig and loads of "baby-doll" makeup (every bit whatsoever preadolescent daughter would…?). Luckily, that vision of the character changed. Later on MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate manager George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart move.

The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Great Film Magic

The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of bully moving-picture show tricks, and some of the virtually unique were used in the skywriting scene. In it, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies above the Emerald City, leaving the phrase "Give up Dorothy" in her wake in blackness smoke.

Using a hypodermic needle, the special effects team spread blackness ink beyond the lesser of a glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in contrary and filmed the scene from below. Initially, the skywriting ended with the ominous "Or Die — West W W."

The "Snowfall" in the Poppy Field Was Really Unsafe

I of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy's quest to meet the Wonderful Magician of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical sleep-inducing snow. While many similar to joke that the poppies and their drowsiness are the result of opium (a component of poppies), the scene has a much more blatant toxic connection than that.

Photograph Courtesy: MGM Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images

All that magical snow? It's actually 100% industrial-form chrysotile asbestos. Even though the health risks associated with the material were known at the time, it was nonetheless Hollywood's preferred choice for faux snowfall. Our advice to Dorothy? Don't catch any snowflakes on your natural language.

Scarecrow'due south Makeup Stuck Effectually for Awhile

In the end, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Man's) willingness to trade parts with him for more reasons than i. The Tin can Man's aluminum makeup caused a huge amount of problems for Ebsen, who was replaced by Jack Haley.

Although Bolger's makeup feel was better than Ebsen's, he still had some issues. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a rubber prosthetic, consummate with a woven pattern that mimicked the expect of burlap. Afterwards the moving-picture show wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger's face that took more than a yr to fade.

Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Set

In a burst of flames and ruby-red fume, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, it may take instilled more than fright for Hamilton. On the starting time take, the smoke rose from a hidden trapdoor too early.

For the second accept, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, but her cape snagged on the platform when the burn down flared upwardly. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing second- and tertiary-caste burns on her hands and face. To make matters worse, the coiffure tried to remedy her burns with (an even more painful) acetone solvent.

The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys

The Wicked Witch'southward legion of flying monkeys — or Winged Monkeys equally they're called in the source material — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Almost as scary as the Witch herself, these henchmen soar onto the scene to kidnap Dorothy and Toto — thanks to the magic of piano wires.

However, the aerial stunt went amiss when several of the piano wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few anxiety to the soundstage flooring. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cut down on human marionettes), filmmakers made miniature rubber monkeys to aid populate the heaven.

"Over the Rainbow" Was Almost on the Cut Room Floor

To no one's surprise, the American Motion-picture show Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #i on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. Just what may surprise you? The (arguably) most iconic song of Judy Garland'southward career was well-nigh cut from the motion-picture show.

Studio execs at MGM thought the vocal made the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the song'due south meaning. Luckily, this unfounded concern melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland's bawling reprise of the song was left on the cut room floor.

The Tin Man Costume Didn't Permit Jack Haley to Remainder Easy

Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a ninety-pound king of beasts costume, Jack Haley didn't have information technology easy either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his face and hands to the minimal flexibility of the "tin can" torso and artillery, Haley faced some challenges.

Reportedly, his costume was and then stiff that he had to lean against a board to residual properly. Many years after, actor Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the aforementioned event with his rigid costume. It seems even fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their problems.

The Original Can Man Was Rushed to the Hospital

Initially, Buddy Ebsen was bandage equally the Scarecrow, but traded parts with Ray Bolger. Nonetheless, Ebsen'southward new character, the Can Human, caused him a slew of issues. Namely, the character's silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum dust that coated Ebsen'southward lungs.

Photo Courtesy: John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

To make matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the hospital. MGM recast the office with Jack Haley (and changed up the makeup), but didn't explain why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't announced in the last film, his vocals can exist heard in "We're Off to Run into the Sorcerer."

A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave United states of america the Tornado

The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is total of practical special effects that really concord upwards. The funnel itself was actually a 35-foot long stocking fabricated of muslin. The special effects team spun it around miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Against the painted properties, the tornado looks menacing.

The Gale house, which falls from the heaven and into Oz, is merely a miniature house that was dropped onto a heaven painting. Filmmakers and then reversed the footage to brand information technology look like the house was falling out of the clouds.

Hollywood Didn't Pay Up So Either

Pay inequality has e'er been an issue in Hollywood. For case, Adriana Caselotti, voice of the titular character in Walt Disney's Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (1937), made $970 for her performance, though the picture show went on to make roughly $8 1000000.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was ameliorate than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a week — just it still didn't reverberate the moving picture'south success. Even more than discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $50 per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week equally Toto. A real yikes.)

Bert Lahr'southward King of beasts Costume Was Taxing

Originally, MGM thought it might cast its mascot — the actual lion used in the studio'due south title card — as the cowardly character. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the animal, the filmmakers decided to cast actor Bert Lahr as the anthropomorphic character instead.

To brand a convincing animate being, the costume department fashioned Lahr a 90-pound outfit fabricated from existent lion skin. Yet, the arc lights used on set fabricated things a steamy 100 degrees during filming, which meant Lahr did a lot of sweating unrelated to his character'due south nerves. Each dark, two stagehands dried the costume for the next day.

The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven

The picture show started shooting in October of 1938 simply didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking upward an unheard of $2,777,000 in costs. That's well-nigh $50 million adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the movie only earned $3 1000000 at the box function — about $51.8 million by today's standards.

Although that seems impressive for a Low-era pic, call back that Disney fabricated $8 meg with Snow White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937). The Wizard of Oz's small-scale success in the U.Southward. barely covered production and flick rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — simply success overseas fortunately bolstered the film's returns.

The Dark Side of Oz in a Time Before "Me Also"

Judy Garland was but 16 years former when she was bandage every bit Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became addicted to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were often given to immature actors to assistance them sleep later studios shot them up with adrenaline so they could work long hours.

The spotlight — and her damaging contract with MGM — didn't help, leading to lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. According to a writer for Express, "[Garland] was molested by older men, including studio chiefs [and head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her little more than than their 'belongings.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.

The Vocalisation of Snowfall White Had a Cameo

A few years before The Wizard of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's characteristic-length blithe motion-picture show Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) became a smash-striking. Not only did the film revolutionize the animation industry, information technology also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.

Disney wanted to follow up Snowfall White — and then the near successful pic of all time — with an adaptation of The Sorcerer of Oz, but MGM endemic the rights. Past happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited part in Oz. During the Tin Man's "If I Merely Had a Eye," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art thousand Romeo?"

The Ruby-red Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts

Keeping in line with the book, Dorothy's iconic footwear was originally silver, merely screenwriter Noel Langley felt the cherry-red color would actually pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed by MGM's main costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in about 2,300 sequins.

Photo Courtesy: Larry Marano/FilmMagic/Getty Images

One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution'southward National Museum of American History. Since the brandish is then heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the rug in that location several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota'southward Judy Garland Museum in 2005, just the FBI recovered the slippers for the institution in 2018.

Only One Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"

The Wizard of Oz is your classic take a chance story, and Dorothy's quest leads her from a Kansas subcontract to some other earth — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. However, despite all these breathtaking locations, nearly all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.

Every bit was customary at the time, immense, detailed backdrops were painted by studio artists, making it possible for filmmakers to transport audiences to far away places without filming on location. In fact, the simply location footage in the picture is the opening championship sequence — those clouds are 100% the real deal.

A Second Toto Was Brought In

Toto, played primarily by Terry, is 1 of the most dear dogs in film history. Terry was famously non a huge fan of special furnishings and tin can oft be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Can Man spouts out all of that steam.

Later one of the Witch'south guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for two weeks. Filmmakers went through 2 doubles to notice 1 that resembled the original canine player more closely.

Fun fact: Judy Garland was so addicted of Terry that she wanted to adopt the canis familiaris.

Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch

In improver to being a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton also believed her character was more than just your run-of-the-mill evil villain. More than 35 years subsequently the film debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids information technology was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her well-nigh the character.

Co-ordinate to Hamilton, the so-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was likewise a pitiful, solitary figure. In short, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly enough, the Broadway musical Wicked also takes this approach to the Witch'due south grapheme.

The "Horse of a Different Colour" Was Made Possible Thank you to a Food Product

In 1939, audiences were just equally amazed every bit Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a different color" was fabricated possible thanks to a surprising food item…

Clot-O crystals were used to color the horses, which meant filmmakers had to move quickly — the animals were eager to lick upwards the sugariness care for. Simply the colorful steed isn't the only interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-fatigued wagon was in one case endemic by President Abraham Lincoln and at present resides at the Judy Garland Museum.

The Makeup Department Hired Extra Easily

From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald City to the Witch'south flight monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in social club to requite life to this fantasy picture. To keep up with the daily demands, MGM called upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.

Since well-nigh of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming associates line. Most actors had to get in before 5:00 in the morning time — six days a calendar week! — to begin the intensive process.

Memorable (& Oftentimes Misquoted) Lines Make full the Film

The film is chock-full of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the great fortune of beingness responsible for some of the most quoted lines in film history as well. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" and placed a whopping three of the picture's lines on the listing.

"Pay no attention to that human being backside the curtain" was voted #24, while "At that place'south no place similar dwelling" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the often misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.

The Witch's Burn Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)

Clearly, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Like the "equus caballus of a different color" sequence, another iconic, special furnishings-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.

Presently after Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the reddish slippers from the young daughter's feet. However, fire strikes the Witch'due south hands, repelling her. This "burn" is actually apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-up prune to make it look more than flame-like.

Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Section

Experimenting with Technicolor was part fun and part problem-solving for filmmakers. In guild to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which often heated the gear up up to a toasty 100 degrees.

Afterwards the lights were set, the experts experimented with what would wait all-time on picture, specially in colorized form. For instance, the white part of Dorothy's apparel is actually pink — but because it filmed better. And the oil the Tin Man is so excited about? It'southward actually chocolate syrup.

The Wicked Witch of the East Makes More Than Ane Appearance

Part of the Wicked Witch of the West's beefiness with Dorothy is that the young girl dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who was the short-lived owner of the reddish slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the West and her Kansas analogue Almira Gulch, she also plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.

During the tornado sequence, an addled Dorothy looks out her sleeping room window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the ruby slippers. The restored version of the moving picture makes that shimmer fifty-fifty more noticeable.

The Film'south Running Time Was Cut Downwards Several Times

The first cut of the film clocked in at a running time of 120 minutes. Although that seems like nothing past today's Marvel picture standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt it was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off 20 minutes.

Subsequently cutting the famed "Jitterbug" number and an extended Scarecrow trip the light fantastic sequence, the film was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a second preview screening, and, later, nixed Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald Metropolis reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead," a scene where the Can Homo becomes a human beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.

So Much for a "Wicked" Witch

Filmmakers accounted Margaret Hamilton'south Wicked Witch of the West operation besides frightening for audiences and cut or trimmed many of her scenes. Merely not everyone thought her performance was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch's nemesis, Dorothy Gale.

Off-screen, the flick's starring foes were actually friends. Ane story that emerged from the set described Garland excitedly showing off a clothes to Hamilton, declaring she was going to wear it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM'southward Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a printing tour the day of her graduation. Upset, Hamilton phoned Mayer and chewed him out.

Giving Credit to Technicolor

In the opening credits, the text reads "Photographed in Technicolor," equally opposed to the more than apt "Colour Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem as though the entire moving-picture show was shot in colour. Was this done deliberately, or was it a small-scale syntactical faux pas?

It's widely believed this was a bit of a stunt washed to enhance the surprise of the picture turning into total three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters fabricated at the time of the film's debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "black-and-white"), calculation credence to this theory.

One of History'south Almost-Watched Films

Although The Magician of Oz proved popular in theaters, another flick released the same year, also directed by Victor Fleming, really topped the box office. (You lot may have heard of that piddling flick — it's called Gone with the Wind.) Nonetheless, MGM'southward musical fantasy may have more staying ability than other films of the era, thanks in part to re-releases.

The moving-picture show was first circulate on telly on November iii, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 one thousand thousand viewers. Information technology's believed that The Wizard of Oz is ane of the 10 most-watched feature-length movies in film history, largely due to the number of annual television screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.