Today is the day when The Wizard of Oz first opened in theaters across the United States 78 years ago. Amazingly, it didn’t become popular until it started airing repeatedly on TV starting in 1956. That’s where I first experienced the magical story many years later when it became a yearly tradition for my family to watch The Wizard of Oz when it aired around Easter. One of my favorite parts of the movie was when the tornado destroyed Dorothy’s farm but the TV always cut to a commercial in the middle of that scene. So frustrating. The Wizard of Oz has now likely been seen by more people than any other movie in film history.
Over the years, multiple theories have developed about the themes behind the story. Some see it as a Christian allegory with the yellow brick road representing the path to heaven while others look at the same symbols in the story as an atheist allegory, since the Wizard (spoiler alert) turns out not to be real. Other theories say the story is about female empowerment, that adults are weak, or Glinda is the true villain of Oz (sorry, little girls everywhere).
I’ll be putting my own spin on Baum’s The Wizard of Oz story in two upcoming novels, The Journey to Oz, and The Quest for Oz. To celebrate the completion of my novels, I’m giving away a beautifully designed collectible book that commemorates the release of The Wizard of Oz.
Written by the foremost authorities on the subject—Jay Scarfone and William Stillman—and designe
d in close collaboration with Warner Bros., The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion delivers an entertaining and interactive experiece, transporting readers over the rainbow and into the Land of Oz. The authors detail filmmaking secrets—the inspiration behind the film’s realistic tornado; why Dorothy’s shoes were ruby-colored;
and how the filmmakers got a fleet of monkeys to fly. They also reveal never-before-seen artwork from their personal collections, including rare stills, Technicolor test frames, and costume and set illustrations.
Enter my giveaway to win The Wizard of Oz: The Official 75th Anniversary Companion.
I’m so thankful The Wizard of Oz was created over 75 years ago because it opened my imagination to a colorful new world when I was a child. Where did you first see The Wizard of Oz? How has the movie impacted you?
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