Odd Facts About The Wizard of Oz- Volume 2

By DB
@dgobucks226 (34348)
December 11, 2019 6:18pm CST
Here is a continuation of a previous post on the Wizard of Oz. I'm sure many of you have watched the timeless TV classic about a young farm girl from Kansas named Dorothy, who gets swept up in a tornado and taken to a magical land. This 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz, had quite a few goofs and interesting trivia associated with it. Here is another group of odd happenings from the movie.... Some additional fun facts: -The Wicked Witch wore green makeup paint which was so toxic she was unable to eat during filming. She had to go on a liquid diet using a straw during the daytime. -The same actor played both the fortune-telling professor and the Great and Powerful Oz. I bet everyone knew that one! But, did you also know he played 3 other characters too!!! Wonder which ones they were??? -The attractive actress who played Glinda The Good Witch of the North was actually 18 years older than Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch. Yes, true she was 54 years young -The facial apparatus used to give Ray Bolger a scarecrow look left a pattern of lines on his face taking up to a year to heal. Now that's sacrificing for your craft! -When the tin man is singing "If I Only Had a Heart" a woman can be heard to sing "wherefore art thou, Romeo?" She received $1,000 for that one line of song. The woman had been previously used as the voice of "Snow White." -Judy Garland wore a corset to appear more childlike. 16 year old Judy was also ordered to lose 12 pounds before shooting began. Oh My! -Dorothy was originally supposed to have a very different look... Garland was to wear a blonde wig and heavy "babydoll" makeup but this was nixed by director George Cukor. Well, that's all folks, ops that's Disney... So which weird/odd fact from above did you like the best? Or maybe you have another oddity from The Wizard of Oz you want to share? Source- Good Housekeeping Photo- google images
11 people like this
11 responses
@JudyEv (325696)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Dec 19
That is all so interesting. They probably wouldn't be allowed to use such toxic makeup nowadays.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
Yes, special effects have definitely come a long way. The wicked witch also suffered a makeup malfunction. The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325696)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 Oh my goodness. That would have been awful.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
12 Dec 19
Glinda was older? Wow, I did not know that.
2 people like this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
Yes, that was shocking to me too! Fun fact: Billy Burke who played the part was also remembered for her appearances in the Topper film series.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
19 Dec 19
I didn't know most of the oddities. I don't think that I would make a very good actor as I wouldn't want to put any toxic makeup on my face.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45123)
• Canada
20 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 She was scary as a witch and scary for a while fare she stopped being a witch.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
20 Dec 19
The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done. Scary!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
21 Dec 19
• United States
14 Dec 19
I wonder what other 3 parts the Wizard played.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 Oh yes of course I remember now thanks DB
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
I have the answer Oshy. -Frank Morgan the actor who played the professor and the Great and Powerful Oz also played the cabbie who drove the Horse-of-a-Different Color at the Emerald Palace, the wizard's guard and the crying doorman.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306025)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
12 Dec 19
The fortune-teller wizard also played the guard at the entrance door to Oz and the guard who wouldn't let them in to see the wizard but eventually did. Was he also the one who drove the horse and carriage? I'd need to watch it again to see for certain.
1 person likes this
@just4him (306025)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 I knew she had trouble with the makeup but didn't know it caused her face to stay green for several weeks after filming. No, I didn't know Shirley Temple was considered. That's good it got two Oscars.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
Yes he was the carriage driver too! Here are some more fun facts: -The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done. -Did you know a young Shirley Temple was also considered for the Dorothy role. -Although a failure at the box office "Oz" did when 2 Oscars. Best original score and best original song.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
13 Dec 19
Very interesting information. I didn´t know all of these. Thanks for sharing.
1 person likes this
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
16 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 Wow! I didn´t know that but I have seen that young girl Shirley Temple in old movie ages ago.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
You bet! Here are a few more fun facts: -Jello was used to give the Horse-of-a-Different-Color their color. But the scenes were shot quickly, because the horses started to lick off the jello. -The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done. -Did you know a young Shirley Temple was also considered for the Dorothy role.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457967)
• Switzerland
12 Dec 19
I really feel sorry for the poor scarecrow. I think that Judy Garland was perfect as she was, no blonde wig and a look of a young girl.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457967)
• Switzerland
16 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 I remember that I read that she stayed green for weeks.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
I agree about Judy's look. She was playing the role of a farm girl and her look seemed alright to me. Yes, the scarecrow, Ray Bolger, definitely had to suffer an embarrassing reminder of the role he played. The wicked witch also had a problem with her makeup after filming but not as bad as Bolger. -The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73365)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Dec 19
Those days it was hard making movies without all the modern equipment they have today. I mean today they could film an actor and through the computer change him any way they want to and of course, makeup and other such things were not the best as they are now. These actors really had it rough but the did make a movie classic. Were those real flying monkeys or were they all mechanical in the movie?
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
Yes, those were real men in those monkey costumes. A couple of them were little people from Munchkinland, 2 were jockeys and the rest were diminutive, lightweight gentlemen. All were harnessed and then lifted, flown, or deposited during their OZ scenes by way of skillful maneuverings of virtually invisible piano wire. The wicked witch also had a problem with makeup after the movie ended. The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Dec 19
Billie Burke played Glinda. Frank Morgan also played The Guard, Gatekeeper and Carriage Driver as well as Professor Marvel and the Wizard.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
That's right I never really picked up on all those roles when I watched the film. -Did you know a young Shirley Temple was also considered for the Dorothy role.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156060)
• United States
12 Dec 19
I liked all the facts, especially the parts about the makeup. Very interesting post. John Roberts nailed Frank Morgan's other appearances.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156060)
• United States
16 Dec 19
@dgobucks226 Yes, I did...I think Judy Garland was a good choice.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
I never picked up on Frank Morgan playing all those roles when I watched it. Here's another fun fact: -Did you know a young Shirley Temple was also considered for the Dorothy role.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
12 Dec 19
Wow, a lot of info about this classic movie. Recently watched it all the way through as an adult. I sure think that Dorothy would look weird as a blonde with babydoll make up
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34348)
15 Dec 19
Exactly. She was a farm girl not playing a girl starlet on Broadway. Here are some more fun facts: -Jell-o was used to give the Horse-of-a-Different-Color their color. But the scenes were shot quickly, because the horses started to lick off the jell-o. -The green paint used as makeup on the Wicked Witch caused her face to stay green weeks after filming was done. -Did you know a young Shirley Temple was also considered for the Dorothy role. -Although a failure at the box office "Oz" did when 2 Oscars. Best original score and best original song.