A crown gem in the catalogue of Hollywood escapist cinema, The Wizard of Oz brought joy to millions of Americans — but the actors in this MGM monstrosity were anything but joyful as they risked their health, and in some cases, their lives, to play roles they were contractually obligated to play. First, we’ll go into what went on behind the Emerald Curtain, then we’ll examine the tragic life, but lasting legacy of everyone’s favorite Dorothy Gale — Judy Garland. Fires! Toxic chemicals! Hospital visits! Oh my!

Plus, find out what we’ve been doing in quarantine (not much)!

Sources:

Book: The Making of the Wizard of Oz by Aljean Harmetz

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/08/wizard-of-oz-appalling-stories

https://time.com/5647491/wizard-of-oz-curse/

https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/10-cursed-movies2.htm

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/wizard-oz-secrets-dwarf-orgies-4029364

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judy-garland-allegedly-molested-munchkins-wizard-of-oz/

https://www.ranker.com/list/wizard-of-oz-behind-the-scenes-stories/erin-mccann

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hanging-munchkin/

https://lwlies.com/articles/the-wizard-of-oz-munchkin-hanging-scene/

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g2715/wizard-of-oz-surprising-trivia/

https://collider.com/galleries/judy-garland-heart-wrenching-true-facts/ 

https://www.biography.com/news/judy-garland-london-concerts-final-years