Myths and Truths about The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Truth: All of the real incidents of harm on set
Early Hollywood didn’t have many safety protocols that protect today’s actors, so while many exaggerations exist about incidents on set, it’s true that this movie seemed cursed from the start. Buddy Ebsen began production as the Tin Man with over a month of rehearsal, recording music, and costuming. Nine days into filming, however, Ebsen was sent to the hospital for two weeks after experiencing extreme shortness of breath and cramping while on set. His lungs developed an infection or had an allergic reaction to the experimental makeup consisting of silver aluminum dust and white face paint. He was able to fully recover after being replaced by Jack Haley and lived another 64 years until his death in 2003.

Few in the main cast had comfortable costumes. Infamously, the Cowardly Lion’s costume weighed just under 100 pounds, forcing its wearer, Bert Lahr, to take frequent breaks between takes in front of a fan or lying on a board next to Haley in his own heavy Tin Man costume. The Wicked Witch’s heavily copper-concentrated makeup took two hours to apply on Margaret Hamilton and stained her skin for months after filming concluded. The Scarecrow’s mask was constructed with thin rubber meant to be pliable but skin-tight enough to curve around Ray Bolger’s features, which made it difficult to breathe. Multiple masks were made over production as they ripped easily if not removed carefully and usually lasted only a few days.

Early in Dorothy’s arrival to Oz, the Wicked Witch tells her that she’ll “get you, my pretty, and your little dog too” before she teleports away with a puff of smoke and a pop of fire.

This effect was achieved by lowering Hamilton on a platform before the pyrotechnics crew set off fire, but often the tip of her hat or broom would be visible sinking into the floor. After an unsuccessful morning of filming, a new round of takes began after lunch where it was a known phenomenon that the crew was less attentive after the break. The fire was released so early that the broom caught fire inches from Hamilton’s face and hands, resulting in second and third-degree burns. The crew feared infection if the copper makeup seeped into her open wound so rubbing alcohol was vigorously wiped on her face and body before she went to the hospital, an excruciatingly painful moment Hamilton would never forget. After 6 weeks of recovery, she continued filming with a new aversion to scenes involving fire.

Bertha “Betty” Danko was the Wicked Witch’s stunt double and performed all of the flying broom scenes. During the scene where SURRENDER DOROTHY was written in the sky, Danko sat on a pipe disguised as the broomstick with billowing black smoke exiting the back as ink. On one of the takes, the pipe exploded, and Danko spent 11 days in the hospital. She was left with lifelong scars on her legs from the costume lodging in her skin.

Toto didn’t even make it out of the production injury-free. While on set with the Wicked Witch’s guards, one stepped on the Cairn Terrier’s foot causing a fracture that kept him off set for a few days. Toto’s owners renamed him Toto after the success of the film, but before filming he was known as Terry.