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

In honor 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 movie a timeless classic.

Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Earlier the Film

As a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of Fifty. Frank Baum's Oz serial, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to exist considered for a role in the 1939 motion picture adaptation. Hamilton called her amanuensis to enquire which graphic symbol the producers wanted her to play, and her agent famously said, "The witch — who else?"

Hamilton, a single mother, fought MGM for an agreed upon amount of guaranteed work fourth dimension. 3 days before filming began, the studio agreed to a v-week bargain. In the end, Hamilton was on set for three months, just many of her scenes were cutting for being besides scary for audiences.

Sure, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, but that doesn't mean Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was young at the time, the 16-twelvemonth-old Garland had to wear a corset-similar device and then she looked more than like a preadolescent child.

Director Richard Thorpe suggested Garland wearable a blonde wig and loads of "babe-doll" makeup (every bit any preadolescent daughter would…?). Luckily, that vision of the graphic symbol inverse. Afterwards MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate director George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart motility.

The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Bang-up Moving picture Magic

The Magician of Oz employs a lot of dandy film tricks, and some of the most unique were used in the skywriting scene. In it, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies higher up the Emerald City, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in blackness smoke.

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

The "Snowfall" in the Poppy Field Was Actually Dangerous

Ane of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy'south quest to see the Wonderful Wizard of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical sleep-inducing snow. While many like to joke that the poppies and their drowsiness are the upshot of opium (a component of poppies), the scene has a much more breathy toxic connection than that.

Photo Courtesy: MGM Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images

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

Scarecrow's Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile

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

Although Bolger's makeup experience was ameliorate than Ebsen's, he yet had some issues. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a safe prosthetic, complete with a woven pattern that mimicked the look of burlap. After the film wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger'southward face that took more than than a year to fade.

Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Set

In a burst of flames and cherry smoke, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, information technology may have instilled more fear for Hamilton. On the outset take, the fume rose from a subconscious trapdoor likewise early.

For the 2d accept, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor equally planned, but her cape snagged on the platform when the fire flared up. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing second- and third-degree burns on her hands and confront. To make matters worse, the crew tried to remedy her burns with (an fifty-fifty more painful) acetone solvent.

The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys

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

Nonetheless, the aerial stunt went amiss when several of the piano wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few feet to the soundstage floor. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cut down on human marionettes), filmmakers made miniature rubber monkeys to help populate the sky.

"Over the Rainbow" Was Well-nigh on the Cutting Room Flooring

To no one's surprise, the American Film Institute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #i on a list of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. But what may surprise you? The (arguably) nigh iconic song of Judy Garland'south career was nearly cut from the flick.

Studio execs at MGM idea the vocal made the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't understand the song's meaning. Luckily, this unfounded business organization melted similar lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland'due south tearful reprise of the song was left on the cutting room floor.

The Tin Man Costume Didn't Permit Jack Haley to Rest Piece of cake

Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a 90-pound panthera leo costume, Jack Haley didn't have it easy either. From the lingering concerns near the aluminum paste-based makeup on his face and hands to the minimal flexibility of the "can" body and arms, Haley faced some challenges.

Reportedly, his costume was so potent that he had to lean against a board to residuum properly. Many years afterward, actor Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the same event with his rigid costume. Information technology seems even fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their issues.

The Original Tin Human being Was Rushed to the Infirmary

Initially, Buddy Ebsen was cast every bit the Scarecrow, but traded parts with Ray Bolger. However, Ebsen's new character, the Tin Human, caused him a slew of issues. Namely, the character's silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum dust that coated Ebsen's lungs.

Photo Courtesy: John Springer Drove/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 function with Jack Haley (and inverse up the makeup), but didn't explicate why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't announced in the terminal film, his vocals can exist heard in "Nosotros're Off to See the Wizard."

A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave The states the Tornado

The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is total of practical special effects that really hold up. The funnel itself was really a 35-foot long stocking made of muslin. The special furnishings team spun information technology effectually miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Confronting the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.

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

Hollywood Didn't Pay Up And then Either

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

According to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland'due south pay was better than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a week — but it still didn't reflect the film'south success. Fifty-fifty more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $l per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week as Toto. A real yikes.)

Bert Lahr'south Lion Costume Was Taxing

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

To brand a disarming creature, the costume department fashioned Lahr a 90-pound outfit made from existent lion peel. However, the arc lights used on set made things a steamy 100 degrees during filming, which meant Lahr did a lot of sweating unrelated to his character'southward nerves. Each nighttime, two stagehands dried the costume for the adjacent day.

The Initial Box Role Returns Were Uneven

The flick started shooting in October of 1938 but didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking up an unheard of $two,777,000 in costs. That's nearly $50 meg adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the moving picture only earned $3 million at the box office — well-nigh $51.eight million by today'south standards.

Although that seems impressive for a Low-era film, remember that Disney fabricated $8 million with Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (1937). The Magician of Oz'south modest success in the U.South. barely covered production and film rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — but success overseas fortunately bolstered the film's returns.

The Night Side of Oz in a Time Earlier "Me Too"

Judy Garland was merely 16 years one-time when she was cast as Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became fond to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were frequently given to young actors to help them sleep after studios shot them up with adrenaline then they could piece of work long hours.

The spotlight — and her damaging contract with MGM — didn't assistance, 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 caput Louis B. Mayer], who considered her lilliputian more than their 'holding.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy nutrition of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.

The Vox of Snow White Had a Cameo

A few years before The Wizard of Oz debuted, Walt Disney'southward feature-length animated film Snow White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937) became a smash-striking. Not only did the film revolutionize the blitheness industry, it also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.

Disney wanted to follow upwardly Snowfall White — and so the near successful movie of all fourth dimension — with an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, only MGM owned the rights. Past happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited office in Oz. During the Tin Man's "If I But Had a Heart," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"

The Blood-red Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts

Keeping in line with the book, Dorothy's iconic footwear was originally silver, but screenwriter Noel Langley felt the red colour would actually popular in glorious Technicolor. Designed by MGM's principal costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in about two,300 sequins.

Photo Courtesy: Larry Marano/FilmMagic/Getty Images

One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Since the display is so heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the carpet there several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota's Judy Garland Museum in 2005, only the FBI recovered the slippers for the establishment in 2018.

Simply One Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"

The Magician of Oz is your classic adventure story, and Dorothy's quest leads her from a Kansas farm to another world — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. Even so, despite all these scenic 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 abroad places without filming on location. In fact, the but location footage in the moving picture is the opening title sequence — those clouds are 100% the real deal.

A Second Toto Was Brought In

Toto, played primarily by Terry, is ane of the most honey dogs in film history. Terry was famously not a huge fan of special effects and tin can often be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin Man spouts out all of that steam.

Afterward i of the Witch'south guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for two weeks. Filmmakers went through two doubles to find ane that resembled the original canine actor more closely.

Fun fact: Judy Garland was so fond of Terry that she wanted to adopt the dog.

Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch

In add-on to beingness a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton also believed her character was more than than but your run-of-the-mill evil villain. More than 35 years afterward the film debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids it was brand-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her about the character.

According to Hamilton, the so-chosen Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was also a sorry, alone effigy. In brusque, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly enough, the Broadway musical Wicked also takes this arroyo to the Witch's grapheme.

The "Horse of a Unlike Colour" Was Made Possible Thanks to a Nutrient Product

In 1939, audiences were just every bit amazed every bit Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion when the horse in Emerald Urban center took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a different color" was made possible thanks to a surprising nutrient 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 sweet treat. But the colorful steed isn't the but interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-drawn wagon was in one case endemic by President Abraham Lincoln and now resides at the Judy Garland Museum.

The Makeup Department Hired Extra Easily

From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald Metropolis to the Witch's flying monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in order to give life to this fantasy movie. To keep up with the daily demands, MGM called upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.

Since most of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming assembly line. Almost actors had to make it before 5:00 in the morning — six days a week! — to begin the intensive process.

Memorable (& Often Misquoted) Lines Fill the Film

The movie is clogged of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the great fortune of existence responsible for some of the near quoted lines in film history as well. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Picture show Lines" and placed a whopping three of the film's lines on the list.

"Pay no attention to that man backside the curtain" was voted #24, while "There's no place similar home" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the frequently misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling nosotros're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.

The Witch's Fire 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, some other iconic, special furnishings-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.

Shortly after Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the ruby slippers from the young daughter'south feet. Withal, fire strikes the Witch's easily, repelling her. This "fire" is really apple juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-up prune to get in look more flame-like.

Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Department

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

After the lights were ready, the experts experimented with what would look best on film, especially in colorized form. For example, the white part of Dorothy'due south apparel is actually pink — simply because information technology filmed better. And the oil the Tin Human is and then excited about? Information technology's actually chocolate syrup.

The Wicked Witch of the East Makes More Than One Appearance

Role of the Wicked Witch of the West'southward beefiness with Dorothy is that the young girl dropped a house on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the East, who was the brusque-lived owner of the ruby slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the Due west and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch, she also plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if just briefly.

During the tornado sequence, an befuddled Dorothy looks out her bedroom 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 film makes that shimmer even more noticeable.

The Motion-picture show'south Running Time Was Cut Down Several Times

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

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

So Much for a "Wicked" Witch

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

Off-screen, the pic'due south starring foes were really friends. One story that emerged from the set described Garland excitedly showing off a dress to Hamilton, declaring she was going to vesture it for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM's Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a press 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," every bit opposed to the more apt "Color Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem equally though the unabridged moving picture was shot in color. Was this washed deliberately, or was information technology a small syntactical faux pas?

Information technology's widely believed this was a flake of a stunt done to enhance the surprise of the picture turning into full three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the time of the picture show'southward debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "black-and-white"), calculation credence to this theory.

1 of History'due south Most-Watched Films

Although The Sorcerer of Oz proved pop in theaters, another film released the aforementioned twelvemonth, also directed by Victor Fleming, actually topped the box office. (Y'all may accept heard of that little motion-picture show — it's chosen Gone with the Wind.) All the same, MGM's musical fantasy may have more staying ability than other films of the era, thank you in part to re-releases.

The film was get-go broadcast on telly on November 3, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 1000000 viewers. Information technology's believed that The Wizard of Oz is one of the 10 virtually-watched feature-length movies in motion-picture show history, largely due to the number of annual goggle box screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.