The dark side of "The Wizard of Oz"

      It's already been 86 years since "The Wizard of Oz" came out. Sad to say all the actors in that movie are long gone. Not many people know what it was like working on the movie. Some people would deal with long working hours; not being paid enough, even wearing costumes that almost would kill them.

        It's true. It might be a fairy tale movie based on a few L. Frank Baum books, but nobody knew how hard it was to not only be a part of a movie but how damaging it can do to someone physically and mentally.

   We all knew that the lion costume was made from real lion fur as well as knowing Ray Bolger ended with a scared face after being scarecrow.

  Jack Haley was not the first choice for the Tin Man. Buddy Ebsen, who was in green acers, was the first choice. However, the makeup he was using caused a massive allergy attack almost to the point of near death.

   He had to be in the hospital and dropped out of the movie after the allergy attack was so severe. Jack Haley took over after that.

    The actress that portrayed the Wicked Witch, Margaret Hamilton, ended up getting a skin graph after a burn doing a scene in the Wizard of Oz. The green paint was also toxic as well and was hard to get off. It was also flammable as well which caused all the injuries to happen.

    They used a stunt double for a few shots while she was getting better. She did come back and finish the movie but was considered cautious for which roles she would take in the future.

      Burt Lahr, who portrayed the cowardly lion was sweating most of the time being in that heavy costume and the lighting being on him constantly in certain scenes.

   He even almost fainted from being in the costume for long takes. It was hard for him to move around in certain scenes. He even accidently stepped on Toto's foot replacing the dog temporarily as well

    Judy Garland had to suffer worst of all. She was forced to go on a liquid diet, had to stay thin by wearing clothes that were too tight for her. Even was slapped by the director of the movie when she was giggling on set.

   She even was being slapped by some of the Munchkins.

   There was also some strange rumor going around that said a munchkin hung himself in the forest scene after Dorothy and the scarecrow bring the Tin Man along to see the wizard. Near the back, people could swear they could see a shadow of a Munchkin hanging himself on a tree.

   However...that was a myth. The truth was that it was a large bird lifting its head in the background. The myth was eventually debunked.

 

   Another tragedy happened after the movie ended. The actress that played Auntie Em' committed suicide after dealing with an illness. Reports written that she placed a bag over her head after taking sleeping pills. With a note attached saying: I can't take the pain much longer.

   She was in so much pain, that this actress was only known for playing the aunt int Wizard of Oz and nothing else.

   Judy Garland's life wasn't much the same after the Wizard of Oz. Sure she did do a few more movies, but it seemed being in the Wizard of Oz took a lot out of her. If you have seen many movies about her life after Wizard of Oz, it was considered tragic.

    She died around her late forties by overdose and drowning as well. Eliza Minelli is still alive and will always be known as Judy's daughter.

        Today, we know this movie as a classic. The ruby red slippers, the wanting to go home from a place of make believe. To meeting friends that you've recognized in the past.

   It's a movie I grew up loving and still do today. Sure, a few scenes of the movie can be creepy, but once you find out what happened behind the scenes, you realize...the movie is not as frightening as what happened afterwards. There's no place like home.