Strange Things You Didn’t Know About “The Wizard of Oz”

Film making has come a long way since studios struggled with Technicolor, makeup and stunts like they did when making the acclaimed, “The Wizard of Oz” in 1939. With cheerful songs and frightening tornados, the story of Oz had us both excited and scared as kids.

But, there are so many more behind the scenes facts about your favorite childhood movie that you definitely did not know.

Judy Garland Was Made to Look Younger

Judy Garland was 16 years old at the time of filming “The Wizard of Oz,” but her character, Dorothy, was supposed to be a child. In order to make her look younger and more childlike, Garland was compressed into a corset everyday on set for weeks of filming.

Shirley Temple Was Originally Cast to Play Dorothy

11-year-old Shirley Temple was originally set to play Dorothy, but the producers didn’t think she had the vocal strength to carry out the role. As well as this, there were also contract disputes that forced the producers to look elsewhere for their lead actress.

The Lights Made the Set Extremely Hot

“The Wizard of Oz” was one the first movies to introduce color to theaters. Early technicolor processes made it very hot on set and so, most scenes were filmed in over 100 degrees Fahrenheit heat.

Dorothy’s Slippers Were Originally Silver

In L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Dorothy’s shoes were actually silver, not ruby. In order to wow the audience with the features of Technicolor, the slippers’ color was changed to ruby red.