28 Fascinating Things You Never Knew About "The Wizard of Oz"

Over eight decades ago, a twista uprooted a Kansas farm girl and her little dog from her sepia-toned rural life and dropped her smack-dab in the middle of a candy-colored fantasy land populated with witches and wizards and munchkins, oh my. The Wizard of Oz, MGM’s enduring musical comedy film helmed by a handful of directors (including Victor Fleming) and based on the tale penned by L. Frank Baum, was released on August 25, 1939. And though it was met with a modest run at the box office, it picked up popularity steam when it was released in Technicolor on television—its poppies popping off the screen in 1956.

A Judy Garland classic that is still broadcast several times a year on network television, The Wizard of Oz is a movie its fans can quote from opening to closing credits, and yet there are factoids and tidbits that managed to stay discreet. Here, we are celebrating the beloved film by pulling back the curtain on the Land of Oz. We’re revealing the wizardry of the special effects, what set life was like behind the scenes, and just what that sticky goo was in the Tin Man’s oil can. So if you're into whimsical trivia, join us, we’re off to see the truths behind the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!