Magic, Mishaps and Miss Judy Garland: These 9 Rare Photos From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Set Are Must-Sees
From dogs to Dorothy, these photos are one wild trip down the Yellow Brick Road
We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of behind-the-scenes photos! That’s right, we have rounded up the best photos from the 1939 set, highlighting who was originally cast in the film, what life in Oz was really like for Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) and so much more. Keep scrolling to discover the nine best behind-the-scenes photos from The Wizard of Oz.
A wicked recasting
Long before Margret Hamilton came along, Gale Sondergaard was cast as The Wicked Witch of the West. She sadly let it go, though, after being told that she would have to wear makeup that would make her look ugly. However, before that happened, she did some screen, makeup, hair and costume tests, which you can see here.
‘Sit Toto’
Toto is one of the most well-behaved little dogs in cinema history, and in this behind-the-scenes image, you can see why! Apparently, his owner, Dorothy (Garland), trained him both on and off screen, which is so adorable and just goes to show that their connection was just as deep as it seemed.
Now he really needs a brain
This photo is both alarming and alluring, as it showcases how Ray Bolger became the beloved Scarecrow; though it’s clear that the transformation isn’t complete without his infamous straw and stitches. We just wonder if they sewed a brain in his costume or not.
Buddy has a broken heart
It’s no secret that Buddy Ebsen (best known for The Beverly Hillbillies and Breakfast at Tiffany’s) was originally cast as The Tin Man, but had to drop out after having an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust in the makeup. The role then went to Jack Haley, and for the most part, he’s the one in all of the promotional photos. Here, though, you can see Epsen in the tin suit, just without the makeup, and while we all know he would have made a good Tin Man, we do have to admit we love Haley in the role.
Munchkin Land mayhem
Everyone knows the rumors about the Munchkins sticking their hands up Garland’s blue and white gingham dress while they were filming, and while it’s still unclear if that actually happened, what is known is that in between takes, they did hang out on set. You can see Garland reading a magazine, while the munchkins lean against a wall and stare into space. How fun, and yet random.
Wait, that’s not Judy Garland
One of the least talked-about parts of The Wizard of Oz is the stunt doubles. Sure, there were a lot of cast replacements, but who actually stood on set and did the dangerous things? For Garland, that came in the form of Caren Marsh, and here you can see her standing in Munchkinland in Dorothy’s clothing. Here’s a fun idea: next time you watch the film, see if you can spot Marsh. We didn’t!
Let’s check with The Wizard
The Wizard of Oz is based on the classic book by author/wizard L. Frank Baum. It was published in 1900, and while it’s unclear if that’s what the cast is reading in this picture, we are just going to pretend they are. Fun fact: In Gregory Maguire’s spinoff novel, Wicked, he chose the name Elphaba because it was an anagram of Baum’s name. Her last name—Thropp—also came from the original, as Maguire said it‘s the noise a house makes when it lands on someone.
The not-so-Yellow Brick Road
In the film, the Yellow Brick Road is believed to be a long, winding road with one beginning—in Munchkin Land—and one end—in The Emerald City. Here, however, you can see that the road isn’t real, it’s not windy and it ends where the set does. Kind of takes the magic away if you ask us.
‘That’s a wrap’
Before there were computers and streaming services, directors had to use a projector and screen to view their movies, which is what you can see here. Wizard of Oz director Mervyn LeRoy is sitting in a chair, watching the film’s core four, ensuring that it’s as grand and green as he had hoped. We just wish we were there watching with him.
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