Today marks the 85th anniversary of the premiere of “The Wizard of Oz” 🍿

Many celebrities came to visit the fantastical sets of “The Wizard of Oz” 🌈 Pictured here are three famous actors of the time.

Image 1: Actress Myrna Loy shaking hands with the smallest Munchkin, Olga Nardone (who portrayed 3 different Munchkin characters in the film).

Image 2: Actor Mickey Rooney, teen heartthrob of the era and frequent co-Star of Judy Garland, schmoozing with Ray Bolger.

Image 3: Actress Norma Shearer visits the Munchkinland set.

But it’s the 16th. You’re a day late.

If you only had a brain.

Here’s my ticket!

I remember in August, 1989 the movie was released to major theaters in a restored version (restored by 1989 standards) to celebrate the 50th anniversary. My friends and i went, as we only saw it on the small-screen TV (no big screen TV back then). What a movie to see on the big screen - wow ! The magic really took over - especially when the film changed over from sepia tone to color.

In November, we went to see 'Gone With The Wind' for the 50th Anniversary. Again - it was spectacular to see this on the big screen in it's restored version. The fire scene was incredible.

A masterpiece

Most people don't know that the last half of the movie was actually directed by King Vidor, and not Victor Fleming. Fleming had to leave OZ early to start work on Gone With the Wind.

Meanwhile, Hitler plots war in Europe.

R7 You're a delight at parties, aren't you ?

I bet Louis B. Mayer didn’t even let Judy have popcorn.

Why didn't Margaret Hamilton receive an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of The Wicked Witch of the West? It has to be one of the biggest oversights in Oscar history

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE:

WINNER: HATTIE MCDANIEL Gone with the Wind

NOMINEES:

OLIVIA DE HAVILLAND Gone with the Wind

GERALDINE FITZGERALD Wuthering Heights

EDNA MAY OLIVER Drums along the Mohawk

MARIA OUSPENSKAYA Love Affair

Has anyone seen Oz in IMAX? Is it that great?should it be on our bucket list?-thx

OP, it is actually September 1st now. Please edit your thread title, thank you.

Quite remarkable special effects for 1939.

I’m not sure IMAX would do a 1939 film any favours.

I went to see TWOO back in 2019 at a Regal Cinema near me for the 80th anniversary. I was SO EXCITED!

Before Dorothy had gotten as far as the Cowardly Lion the film had stopped for three or four minutes, five or times. At that point the theater manager came in and said the movie was over and to please leave. They gave everyone a free pass for another movie. I was SO DISAPPOINTED!

I still haven’t used the free movie pass and saw in the paper that that movie theater just closed and they are turning it into a mega gym.

I used to walk by the Chinese Theater every day when I live there back in the late 80's, had no idea it premiered there. So strange to see how it changed over the years. Most tourists never go inside but it's really a beautiful theater more interesting than the exterior. Lots of red.

[quote]I still haven’t used the free movie pass and saw in the paper that that movie theater just closed and they are turning it into a mega gym

Which will now allow you one free visit to the gym (without trainer), provided you sit through their upsell on memberships.

The last time I saw Oz on the big screen it was weirdly formatted so that it didn't fill-up the entire screen. And the sound wasn't that great.

Maybe AI can update it for modern screens and modern tastes? My secret wish is they can add special f/x not available in 1939. Maybe even insert edited footage.

Whizshard of Oszh!!!!!

Judy Garland and Margaret Hamilton reunited after 30 years on the Merv Griffin Show.

From someone who knew Margaret Hamilton:

❤️Believe it or not, I actually got to know Maggie when I lived in NY. She considered and treated a friend of mine like he was part of her family and that’s how I met her. I was really young and she was quite old at the time, but she could not have been more friendly and open and treated us like we were her grandchildren. She had the best & most interesting stories from all the movies she had done. The thing I remember most was how she tried to answer every piece of fan mail she got! She had six or seven pictures from the Wizard of Oz, that she would sign and give to people. Another picture that she would sign was when she was “Cora the coffee lady” in the commercials. This post really reminded me of some beautiful memories!❤️

While others may vie for my favorite film ("All ABout Eve," "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir," "Sunset Blvd," "Witness for the Prosecution," "Judgment at Nuremberg" to name a few), "The Wizard of Oz" is undeniably the most important film in my life. Seeing it every year on TV imprinted so much on both my conscious and unconscious life.

R21 Against all expectations, she was a very charming and wise Mdame Armfeldt when I saw the national tour of "A Little Night Music" on its Chicago stop.

Ironically, I bet Margaret died with more money than Judy, mainly due to her Maxwell House commercials in the 1970s.

[quote] "The Wizard of Oz" is undeniably the most important film in my life. Seeing it every year on TV imprinted so much on both my conscious and unconscious life.

R22, I agree. I told this story here before I think but it repeat it. It’s one of those moments in many young gays’ childhoods akin to dialing with a pencil.

When I was 5 or 6 years old I didn’t understand the idea of film and thought they had to remake the movie every year to show it again. I didn’t know much but one thing this little sissy was sure was that I sang ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ better than even Dorothy and the man in charge of making the movie every year was going to find me and have me sing it instead of Judy. If not this year, then certainly next!

My naive mind did recognize that though clearly the best singer, I didn’t really embody the role of Dorothy as well as Miss Garland, so I had it decided already that I would, ever magnanimous, allow Judy to continue in the role as Dorothy except for that scene where I would shine.

Oh look: one of the Wicked Witches has joined us at r2.

R26, I’m not a witch. I’m a Virgo.

R 19- that was a-a unique post.

I don’t have a clip but do we agree the worst ‘’special effects’’ was when WWW in miniature flying from castle to the Emerald City. That could have been cut without affecting the story. Maybe they were out of money and time-definitely out of ideas.

Did the munchkins really have wild drunken orgies during filming?

Yes r30

[quote] Has anyone seen Oz in IMAX? Is it that great?should it be on our bucket list?-thx

I did at the largest IMAX screen in Southern California, the Edwards. It was a bust. The picture did not fill the IMAX screen, it was centered and boxed top, bottom and sides in black, so what you saw was no bigger than what you'd see in a regular theater. It was also in 3D, and that wasn't so bad. Latyer, I bought the 3D Bluray and I must say they did an amazing job with it. The painted backgrounds like the mountains in the distance gained dimension and looked, well, 3D.

Oh, Mama hated thoshe Munchkinsh!