Author L Frank Baum published the first book in his Oz series in 1900. He called the title character Dorothy, and set the story in a land named for the last drawer in his filing cabinet. The book was a success, and would one day be considered the first American fairytale. Although it has been over 120 years since its debut, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has never been out of print. Baum wrote 13 sequels to his book until his death in 1919. Other authors later took up the mantle as the historians of Oz and continued the series, some creating unofficial spin-offs and sequels.
The Wizard of Oz (1939) was not the first adaptation of the story, but it is certainly the most well-known. In the 1930s, powerhouse studio MGM secured the rights to the first book (beating Walt Disney to the punch). Soon after they began a notoriously difficult production featuring a now iconic cast, including 16-year-old Judy Garland. Today we’re headed back to the Emerald City to learn all about the making of this iconic film. So come join us as we follow the yellow brick road to the history of The Wizard of Oz (1939).