Oz's First Steps: When Dorothy Landed in Wisconsin

On August 12th in film and cinema history, one significant event took place in 1939. On this day, the classic film "The Wizard of Oz" premiered at the Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, three days before its official Hollywood premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr, "The Wizard of Oz" is a musical fantasy film that has captured the hearts of audiences for generations. The film is based on L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's novel, "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

The story follows Dorothy Gale (played by Judy Garland), a young girl living on a farm in Kansas who dreams of a better place "somewhere over the rainbow." When a tornado strikes, Dorothy and her dog Toto are transported to the magical Land of Oz. There, she embarks on a journey to find the Wizard of Oz, who she believes can help her return home. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), the Tin Man (Jack Haley), and the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), each of whom joins her on her quest.

"The Wizard of Oz" is renowned for its groundbreaking use of Technicolor, memorable songs (including the iconic "Over the Rainbow"), and innovative special effects. The film's success led to multiple re-releases, television broadcasts, and a place in the United States National Film Registry.

Interesting facts about "The Wizard of Oz":
1. "Over the Rainbow" nearly didn't make it into the final cut, as MGM executives initially felt it slowed down the film's pace.
2. The Cowardly Lion's costume was made from real lion skin and weighed nearly 90 pounds.
3. The film used over 2,300 costumes and 65 sets to create the Land of Oz.
4. The famous ruby slippers worn by Dorothy were originally silver in the book but were changed to take advantage of the Technicolor process.

The premiere of "The Wizard of Oz" on August 12, 1939, marked the beginning of an enduring cinematic legacy that continues to captivate audiences around the world. The film's timeless themes, unforgettable characters, and magical storytelling have solidified its place as a true classic in film history.


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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to this moment in film history, and let's get
rolling and find out what happened in film on August twelfth.
In film and cinema history, one significant event took place
in nineteen thirty nine. On this day, the classic film
The Wizard of Oz premiered at the Strand Theater in Achamawak, Wisconsin,

(00:20):
three days before its official Hollywood premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theater.
Directed by Victor Fleming and starring Judy Garland, Ray Bulger,
Jack Hayley, and Bert lhar The Wizard of Oz is
a musical fantasy film that has captured the hearts of
audiences for generations. The film is based on L. Frank
Baum's nineteen hundred children's novel D N D A M

(00:44):
D I M D. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The
story follows Dorothy Gale played by Judy Garland, a young
girl living on a farm in Kansas who dreams of
a better place somewhere over the Rainbow. When a tornado strikes,
Dorothy and her dog Toto are transported to the magical
land of Oz. There, she embarks on a journey to

(01:06):
find the Wizard of Oz, who she believes can help
her return home. Along the way, she befriends the Scarecrow,
the tin Man Jack Hayley, and the Cowardly Lion Bert Law,
each of whom joins her on her quest. The Wizard
of Oz is renowned for its groundbreaking use of technicolor,
memorable songs, including the iconic over the Rainbow, and innovative

(01:29):
special effects. The film's success led to multiple re releases,
television broadcasts, and a place in the United States National
Film Registry. Interesting Facts about The Wizard of Oz One
Over the Rainbow nearly didn't make it into the final cut,
as MGM executives initially felt it slowed down the film's pace. Two.

(01:50):
The Cowardly Lion's costume was made from real lion skin
and weighed nearly ninety pounds. Three. The film used over
two thousand, three hundred costs and sixty five sets to
create the Land of Oz. Four. The famous ruby slippers
worn by Dorothy were originally silver in the book, but
were changed to take advantage of the Technicolor process. The

(02:12):
premiere of The Wizard of Oz on August twelfth, nineteen
thirty nine, mark the beginning of an enduring cinematic legacy
that continues to captivate audiences around the world. The film's
timeless themes, unforgettable characters, and magical storytelling have solidified its
place as a true classic in film history, and that
is cut for this day in film history. This has

(02:34):
been a Quiet Please production. For more check out Quiet
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