On this day in 1939, audiences were first transported “somewhere over the rainbow” with the release of The Wizard of Oz. While it’s now considered one of the most beloved films in history, the road to Oz was anything but smooth.
MGM began production on The Wizard of Oz after seeing the success of Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). If fairy tales could work on the big screen, why not L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s story?
Several young actresses were considered for the role of Dorothy, including Shirley Temple, Hollywood’s most famous child star at the time. But ultimately, 16-year-old Judy Garland was chosen—and the rest is history.
Ray Bolger, who became the floppy-limbed Scarecrow, was originally cast as the Tin Man. Buddy Ebsen (later of The Beverly Hillbillies) was set to play the Scarecrow, but Bolger lobbied for the switch, wanting a role that better suited his unique dancing style.
The decision nearly cost Ebsen his life. Just ten days into filming, he suffered a severe allergic reaction to the aluminum dust in his Tin Man makeup. Hospitalized in critical condition, he was forced to leave the production. Jack Haley replaced him, and the makeup was reformulated into a safer aluminum paste.
Dorothy’s faithful companion, Toto, was played by Terry, a female Cairn Terrier. She earned $125 a week—more than many of her human co-stars and far above the average American’s weekly wage at the time! After the film’s success, Terry was officially renamed “Toto” and even attended the Hollywood premiere.
One of the film’s most iconic features was its dazzling use of Technicolor. The art department obsessed over every hue—even spending nearly a week just picking the perfect yellow for the Yellow Brick Road.
In Baum’s original book, Dorothy’s slippers were silver. But MGM swapped them for ruby red to pop against the golden road in Technicolor.
Filming those vibrant sequences was grueling. The early Technicolor process required massive, heat-blasting lights that pushed set temperatures over 100°F. Cast members endured heavy costumes and long days, with makeup sessions starting as early as 4 AM. The electricity bill alone ran up to $225,000 (over $5 million today).
Although The Wizard of Oz was a critical success, winning Academy Awards for Best Original Song (Over the Rainbow) and Best Original Score, it wasn’t an immediate box-office smash. The film only turned a profit after its 1949 re-release.
Its true rise to legendary status came with television. In 1956, its broadcast premiere on CBS introduced the magic of Oz to millions of families, cementing its place in American culture. Today, the Library of Congress calls it the most-watched film in history.
The ruby slippers worn by Garland have become some of the most iconic pieces of movie memorabilia ever. One pair resides in the Smithsonian, while another sold in December 2024 for more than $32 million—the highest price ever paid for a piece of entertainment history.