How Many 12 Oz Cups In A Keg Of Beer

From offscreen friendships and jarring pay inequality to the special effects and makeup tricks that brought some of the world's favorite moving picture characters to life, The Wizard of Oz (1939) had then much going on behind the emerald pall and the Technicolor gloss of an amazing fantasy world.

In accolade of the 80th anniversary of the film, follow the yellow brick slideshow to peek behind that pall and learn more about the secrets and fun facts that make the love film a timeless archetype.

Margaret Hamilton Was a Fan Before the Film

As a self-proclaimed lifelong fan of 50. Frank Baum's Oz series, Margaret Hamilton was thrilled to be considered for a role in the 1939 film adaptation. Hamilton called her agent to ask which graphic symbol the producers wanted her to play, and her agent famously said, "The witch — who else?"

Hamilton, a single female parent, fought MGM for an agreed upon corporeality of guaranteed piece of work time. Three days before filming began, the studio agreed to a five-week deal. In the end, Hamilton was on set up for three months, only many of her scenes were cut for being too scary for audiences.

Sure, Dorothy Gale doesn't need prosthetics or aluminum makeup, but that doesn't hateful Judy Garland wasn't put through the costume department wringer. Although she was young at the time, the 16-year-onetime Garland had to wear a corset-like device then she looked more like a preadolescent kid.

Manager Richard Thorpe suggested Garland clothing a blonde wig and loads of "babe-doll" makeup (as any preadolescent daughter would…?). Luckily, that vision of the grapheme changed. After MGM fired Thorpe, the intermediate director George Cukor nixed the heavy makeup and wig. Instead, he told Garland to be herself. Smart move.

The "Skywriting" Scene Employed Some Cracking Movie Magic

The Wizard of Oz employs a lot of great film tricks, and some of the virtually unique were used in the skywriting scene. In it, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) flies above the Emerald Metropolis, leaving the phrase "Surrender Dorothy" in her wake in black smoke.

Using a hypodermic needle, the special furnishings team spread blackness ink across the bottom of a glass tank that was filled with a thick, tinted liquid (some speculate milk). They wrote the phrase in reverse and filmed the scene from below. Initially, the skywriting ended with the ominous "Or Die — W W West."

The "Snow" in the Poppy Field Was Really Dangerous

One of the Wicked Witch's last-ditch efforts to impede Dorothy's quest to meet the Wonderful Sorcerer of Oz involves a poppy field and some magical sleep-inducing snowfall. While many like to joke that the poppies and their drowsiness are the consequence of opium (a component of poppies), the scene has a much more than blatant toxic connectedness than that.

Photo Courtesy: MGM Studios/Courtesy of Getty Images

All that magical snowfall? Information technology'southward actually 100% industrial-grade chrysotile asbestos. Even though the wellness risks associated with the cloth were known at the time, it was notwithstanding Hollywood'south preferred choice for fake snow. Our communication to Dorothy? Don't take hold of any snowflakes on your tongue.

Scarecrow'southward Makeup Stuck Around for Awhile

In the terminate, Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) was probably grateful for Buddy Ebsen (the original Tin Homo'due south) willingness to trade parts with him for more than reasons than one. The Tin Man'south aluminum makeup acquired a huge corporeality of problems for Ebsen, who was replaced by Jack Haley.

Although Bolger's makeup experience was better than Ebsen'south, he still had some issues. The Scarecrow's makeup consisted of a prophylactic prosthetic, complete with a woven design that mimicked the look of burlap. After the film wrapped, the prosthetic left patterns on Bolger'due south face that took more than a twelvemonth to fade.

Margaret Hamilton Was Burned On Set

In a burst of flames and cherry-red smoke, the Wicked Witch (Margaret Hamilton) vanishes from Munchkinland. Although the scene is terrifying for viewers, information technology may take instilled more fear for Hamilton. On the start take, the smoke rose from a subconscious trapdoor too early.

For the second take, Hamilton stood on the trapdoor as planned, just her cape snagged on the platform when the fire flared upwardly. Her copper-containing makeup heated up instantly, causing second- and 3rd-degree burns on her hands and face. To brand matters worse, the crew tried to remedy her burns with (an fifty-fifty more painful) acetone solvent.

The Flying Monkeys Became Falling Monkeys

The Wicked Witch's legion of flying monkeys — or Winged Monkeys as they're called in the source material — have certainly been a source of terror for generations. Almost as scary as the Witch herself, these henchmen soar onto the scene to kidnap Dorothy and Toto — thanks to the magic of piano wires.

All the same, the aerial stunt went awry when several of the piano wires snapped, sending actors plummeting a few feet to the soundstage floor. To create such a vast troupe of monkeys (and cut down on human being marionettes), filmmakers made miniature rubber monkeys to help populate the sky.

"Over the Rainbow" Was Almost on the Cutting Room Floor

To no one's surprise, the American Film Constitute ranked "Over the Rainbow" #one on a listing of 100 Greatest Songs in American Films. Simply what may surprise yous? The (arguably) most iconic song of Judy Garland'southward career was nearly cut from the film.

Studio execs at MGM thought the song made the Kansas scenes too long. Moreover, filmmakers were concerned that children wouldn't sympathise the song's meaning. Luckily, this unfounded business concern melted like lemon drops. Unfortunately, Garland'south tearful reprise of the song was left on the cutting room flooring.

The Can Homo Costume Didn't Allow Jack Haley to Rest Easy

Although Bert Lahr had to schlep around in a 90-pound lion costume, Jack Haley didn't have it like shooting fish in a barrel either. From the lingering concerns about the aluminum paste-based makeup on his confront and easily to the minimal flexibility of the "tin can" body and arms, Haley faced some challenges.

Reportedly, his costume was and then stiff that he had to lean against a board to balance properly. Many years later, role player Anthony Daniels, known for playing the protocol droid C-3PO in the Star Wars films, had the same issue with his rigid costume. It seems even fantasy and sci-fi can't help folks escape all their issues.

The Original Tin Homo Was Rushed to the Hospital

Initially, Buddy Ebsen was cast equally the Scarecrow, but traded parts with Ray Bolger. Notwithstanding, Ebsen'southward new character, the Tin Man, caused him a slew of bug. Namely, the character's silver makeup contained a harmful aluminum dust that coated Ebsen'southward lungs.

Photo Courtesy: John Springer Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

To make matters worse, Ebsen had an allergic reaction, and, unable to breathe, he was rushed to the hospital. MGM recast the role with Jack Haley (and changed up the makeup), but didn't explain why Ebsen "dropped out." Although Ebsen didn't announced in the final film, his vocals can be heard in "We're Off to See the Wizard."

A Stocking & Some Miniatures Gave Us the Tornado

The tornado that strikes the Gale homestead is full of practical special effects that really hold upwardly. The funnel itself was really a 35-foot long stocking fabricated of muslin. The special effects squad spun it around miniatures that resembled the farms and fields of Kansas. Against the painted backdrop, the tornado looks menacing.

The Gale house, which falls from the sky and into Oz, is merely a miniature house that was dropped onto a heaven painting. Filmmakers then reversed the footage to make it look like the house was falling out of the clouds.

Hollywood Didn't Pay Up Then Either

Pay inequality has ever been an issue in Hollywood. For example, Adriana Caselotti, voice of the titular character in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), made $970 for her operation, though the moving-picture show went on to brand roughly $8 one thousand thousand.

Co-ordinate to the Los Angeles Times, Judy Garland's pay was ameliorate than Caselotti's — playing Dorothy earned her $500 a week — but it even so didn't reflect the film'due south success. Even more discouraging, the folks who portrayed the citizens of Munchkinland were paid a mere $fifty per week. (Meanwhile, Terry the dog earned $125 per week as Toto. A real yikes.)

Bert Lahr's Lion Costume Was Taxing

Originally, MGM thought it might bandage its mascot — the actual king of beasts used in the studio'due south championship carte — as the cowardly character. Fortunately, for the safety of the actors and the animal, the filmmakers decided to cast actor Bert Lahr as the anthropomorphic character instead.

To make a disarming creature, the costume section fashioned Lahr a xc-pound outfit fabricated from real king of beasts peel. However, the arc lights used on fix fabricated things a steamy 100 degrees during filming, which meant Lahr did a lot of sweating unrelated to his character's nerves. Each dark, two stagehands stale the costume for the side by side day.

The Initial Box Office Returns Were Uneven

The film started shooting in October of 1938 but didn't wrap until March of 1939, racking up an unheard of $2,777,000 in costs. That's nearly $50 million adjusted for inflation. Upon its initial release, the movie simply earned $3 million at the box office — about $51.8 million by today's standards.

Although that seems impressive for a Depression-era moving-picture show, remember that Disney fabricated $8 meg with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). The Wizard of Oz'due south modest success in the U.Southward. barely covered product and moving-picture show rights' costs — MGM paid $75,000 to the publisher for those — only success overseas fortunately bolstered the film's returns.

The Dark Side of Oz in a Time Earlier "Me Too"

Judy Garland was only 16 years old when she was cast as Dorothy. Insecure and lonesome, she became fond to amphetamines and barbiturates, which were frequently given to young actors to help them sleep afterwards studios shot them up with adrenaline so they could piece of work long hours.

The spotlight — and her damaging contract with MGM — didn't help, leading to lifelong struggles with an eating disorder and alcoholism. According to a writer for Express, "[Garland] was molested past older men, including studio chiefs [and head Louis B. Mayer], who considered her petty more their 'holding.'" Moreover, MGM forced Garland to stick to a wildly unhealthy diet of cigarettes, coffee and chicken soup.

The Voice of Snowfall White Had a Cameo

A few years before The Sorcerer of Oz debuted, Walt Disney's feature-length animated pic Snowfall White and the Vii Dwarfs (1937) became a boom-hit. Not only did the motion picture revolutionize the blitheness manufacture, it also reinvigorated the fantasy genre.

Disney wanted to follow upward Snow White — then the most successful film of all time — with an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, simply MGM owned the rights. By happenstance, Adriana Caselotti, who voiced Snow White, had an uncredited role in Oz. During the Tin Man's "If I Only Had a Heart," Caselotti speaks her sole line, "Wherefore art thou Romeo?"

The Ruby-red Slippers Are Props & Treasured Artifacts

Keeping in line with the volume, Dorothy'southward iconic footwear was originally silver, but screenwriter Noel Langley felt the red color would really pop in glorious Technicolor. Designed past MGM's chief costume designer Gilbert Adrian, the shoes are each covered in about ii,300 sequins.

Photo Courtesy: Larry Marano/FilmMagic/Getty Images

One of the remaining pairs is on view in the Smithsonian Institution'south National Museum of American History. Since the display is so heavily trafficked, the museum has replaced the carpet in that location several times. Another pair were stolen from Minnesota's Judy Garland Museum in 2005, but the FBI recovered the slippers for the institution in 2018.

Only Ane Sequence Was Filmed "On Location"

The Wizard of Oz is your classic chance story, and Dorothy'southward quest leads her from a Kansas farm to another world — complete with corn fields, poppy-filled meadows and forests. All the same, despite all these scenic locations, near all the scenes were shot on a soundstage.

As was customary at the fourth dimension, immense, detailed backdrops were painted by studio artists, making it possible for filmmakers to transport audiences to far abroad places without filming on location. In fact, the but location footage in the flick is the opening title sequence — those clouds are 100% the real deal.

A Second Toto Was Brought In

Toto, played primarily by Terry, is one of the nigh beloved dogs in motion picture history. Terry was famously non a huge fan of special effects and tin can often be seen running out of a shot when something loud or alarming happens — like when the Tin can Man spouts out all of that steam.

After i of the Witch's guards accidentally stepped on her, Terry was on bedrest for 2 weeks. Filmmakers went through two doubles to detect ane that resembled the original canine actor more closely.

Fun fact: Judy Garland was so fond of Terry that she wanted to adopt the dog.

Margaret Hamilton "Mourns the Wicked" Witch

In add-on to being a huge fan of the Oz books, Margaret Hamilton besides believed her graphic symbol was more than than just your run-of-the-mill evil villain. More than 35 years after the film debuted, Hamilton, donning her Witch's costume to show kids information technology was make-believe, appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, where Fred Rogers interviewed her about the character.

Co-ordinate to Hamilton, the so-called Wicked Witch relished everything she did, but she was too a sad, lonely figure. In short, things never went well for the frustrated Witch. Oddly enough, the Broadway musical Wicked too takes this approach to the Witch's character.

The "Equus caballus of a Dissimilar Color" Was Made Possible Thanks to a Food Product

In 1939, audiences were merely as amazed every bit Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Human and the Cowardly Lion when the horse in Emerald City took on a rainbow of colors. This "horse of a different color" was made possible thanks to a surprising food detail…

Jell-O crystals were used to color the horses, which meant filmmakers had to move quickly — the animals were eager to lick upwards the sweet treat. But the colorful steed isn't the only interesting component in this fan-favorite scene. The horse-fatigued railroad vehicle was once owned by President Abraham Lincoln and now resides at the Judy Garland Museum.

The Makeup Section Hired Extra Easily

From the citizens of Munchkinland and Emerald City to the Witch's flying monkeys, so many actors had to undergo a makeup transformation in order to give life to this fantasy film. To keep upwards with the daily demands, MGM called upon workers from the studio mailroom and courier service to manage makeup stations.

Since almost of the Ozian ensemble required prosthetics, makeup artists — and "makeshift" artists — formed a kind of costuming assembly line. Most actors had to arrive before 5:00 in the morn — half-dozen days a week! — to brainstorm the intensive procedure.

Memorable (& Often Misquoted) Lines Fill up the Film

The film is chock-total of iconic, memorable songs, and it has the great fortune of being responsible for some of the about quoted lines in movie history every bit well. In 2007, Premiere compiled a list of "The 100 Greatest Movie Lines" and placed a whopping three of the movie'south lines on the list.

"Pay no attention to that human being backside the drape" was voted #24, while "There's no place like home" nabbed the 11th spot. Finally, the frequently misquoted "Toto, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore" landed in the 62nd spot.

The Witch's Burn Employed Some Technical Wizardry (& Juice)

Conspicuously, the technical wizardry — or witchcraft — in the movie is incredible. Similar the "equus caballus of a different colour" sequence, another iconic, special effects-heavy scene harnessed the power of everyday household items to pull off fun tricks.

Shortly after Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the Wicked Witch tries to snatch the blood-red slippers from the young girl'due south feet. All the same, burn down strikes the Witch's hands, repelling her. This "burn down" is really apple tree juice spouting from the slippers in a sped-upward clip to arrive look more flame-like.

Technicolor Required Some Ingenuity in the Props Department

Experimenting with Technicolor was office fun and role problem-solving for filmmakers. In club to properly capture scenes with the Technicolor photographic camera, the soundstage needed to be lit with arc lights, which often heated the prepare to a toasty 100 degrees.

Afterwards the lights were set, the experts experimented with what would look best on film, especially in colorized form. For example, the white part of Dorothy's wearing apparel is really pink — but considering it filmed improve. And the oil the Tin Homo is then excited about? It's really chocolate syrup.

The Wicked Witch of the E Makes More Than I Appearance

Part of the Wicked Witch of the West'south beef with Dorothy is that the young daughter dropped a firm on her sister, the Wicked Witch of the Due east, who was the short-lived owner of the carmine slippers. Although Margaret Hamilton already plays both the Wicked Witch of the W and her Kansas counterpart Almira Gulch, she as well plays the Wicked Witch of the East — if only briefly.

During the tornado sequence, an addled Dorothy looks out her chamber window and watches Gulch transform into a witch, her shoes shimmering. For fans, this glint indicates the witch outside the window is wearing the ruby slippers. The restored version of the picture makes that shimmer fifty-fifty more than noticeable.

The Film'south Running Time Was Cut Down Several Times

The first cut of the moving picture clocked in at a running fourth dimension of 120 minutes. Although that seems similar nada by today's Curiosity movie standards, producer Mervyn LeRoy felt information technology was long and unwieldy and wanted to chop off xx minutes.

After cutting the famed "Jitterbug" number and an extended Scarecrow dance sequence, the picture show was 112 minutes long. LeRoy held a 2nd preview screening, and, afterwards, nixed Dorothy's "Over the Rainbow" reprise, an Emerald City reprise of "Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead," a scene where the Tin can Man becomes a human beehive (Yikes!) and a few Kansas sequences.

So Much for a "Wicked" Witch

Filmmakers deemed Margaret Hamilton'southward Wicked Witch of the Westward performance also frightening for audiences and cutting or trimmed many of her scenes. Simply not anybody thought her performance was terrifying — namely Judy Garland, who played the Wicked Witch's nemesis, Dorothy Gale.

Off-screen, the film's starring foes were really friends. One story that emerged from the prepare described Garland excitedly showing off a dress to Hamilton, declaring she was going to wear information technology for her graduation. Unfortunately, MGM's Louis B. Mayer sent Garland on a printing tour the day of her graduation. Upset, Hamilton phoned Mayer and chewed him out.

Giving Credit to Technicolor

In the opening credits, the text reads "Photographed in Technicolor," every bit opposed to the more apt "Color Sequences by Technicolor." The phrasing of the credits makes it seem as though the entire movie was shot in colour. Was this done deliberately, or was information technology a minor syntactical faux pas?

It's widely believed this was a fleck of a stunt done to enhance the surprise of the motion picture turning into full three-strip Technicolor when Dorothy arrives in Oz. Posters made at the fourth dimension of the film's debut made no mention of sepia tint (or "black-and-white"), calculation acceptance to this theory.

I of History'southward Most-Watched Films

Although The Wizard of Oz proved pop in theaters, another flick released the aforementioned year, also directed by Victor Fleming, really topped the box office. (You may accept heard of that piffling motion-picture show — it'due south called Gone with the Wind.) Nonetheless, MGM's musical fantasy may take more staying power than other films of the era, thanks in office to re-releases.

The moving picture was showtime broadcast on goggle box on Nov 3, 1956, and garnered an impressive 44 million viewers. It'southward believed that The Magician of Oz is one of the x most-watched feature-length movies in film history, largely due to the number of annual boob tube screenings, theater viewings and various format re-releases.