Ever wonder what really happened behind the scenes of The Wizard of Oz? The yellow brick road was paved with dangerous stunts, toxic makeup, and shocking studio practices that would never be allowed today.

From the moment we pull back the curtain on this 1939 classic, the horrors emerge. Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man, was hospitalized after aluminum dust makeup coated his lungs. His replacement wasn't even told why the actor he replaced had left! Margaret Hamilton, our beloved Wicked Witch, suffered severe burns when pyrotechnics ignited too early, leaving her with third-degree burns on her face and hands. The crew's first concern? Removing her toxic green makeup before it poisoned her through open wounds.

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Judy Garland endured what can only be described as studio-sanctioned abuse. Her daily diet consisted of black coffee, cigarettes, and one bowl of chicken soup, supplemented with amphetamines to keep her energetic during filming and barbiturates to force sleep at night. This studio-mandated regimen contributed to her lifelong struggles with addiction.

The film cycled through four different directors, leaving noticeable continuity errors throughout. The famous "Over the Rainbow" song nearly didn't make the cut, saved only when a producer threatened to quit. Even the "snow" that falls on Dorothy and friends in the poppy field was made from chrysotile asbestos – a known carcinogen that actors breathed in while singing and dancing.

Despite all these production nightmares, The Wizard of Oz transformed from a box office disappointment into one of cinema's most treasured films. Listen as we journey through the troubled making of this classic, debunk longstanding myths, and reveal how this magical adventure came with a very real human cost.

Love movie history? Follow us for more behind-the-scenes stories from your favorite films and subscribe to catch our next nostalgic deep dive!

Harmetz, Aljean. The Making of The Wizard of Oz. (Referenced via Vanity Fair and TIME)

Vanity Fair – “The Wizard of Oz: Five Appalling On-Set Stories”vanityfair.comvanityfair.comvanityfair.comvanityfair.com

TIME – “Was The Wizard of Oz Cursed? The Truth Behind the Dark Stories”time.comtime.com

CBS News / Sun-Sentinel – Buddy Ebsen’s Tin Man recollectionsvanityfair.com

American Cinematographer – “Behind the Curtain: Wizard of Oz” (ASC)theasc.comtheasc.com

Columbia News – “Over the Rainbow: Story Behind the Song”news.columbia.edu

SlashFilm – “The Wizard of Oz Almost Premiered Without Its Signature Song”slashfilm.com

Biography.com – “Judy Garland’s Grueling Wizard of Oz Shoot”biography.combiography.com

Refinery29 – “Tragic Story of Judy Garland”refinery29.com

Oz Wiki (Fandom) – “Horse of a Different Color” entryoz.fandom.com

University of Turin study via Vanity Fair – Oz “Most Influential Film”vanityfair.comvanityfair.com

Send us a text

Support the show

This website contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the running of this website and allows me to continue providing valuable content. Please note that I only recommend products and services that I believe in and have personally used or researched.