Look Back Down the Yellow Brick Road with These Behind-the-Scenes Photos from 1939'sThe Wizard of Oz

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Judy Garland as Dorothy and Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion with the ensemble in ‘The Wizard of Oz.'.Photo:MGM Studios/Archive Photos/Getty

From left to right, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow, Judy Garland as Dorothy and Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion in the MGM film ‘The Wizard of Oz’, 1939. Here the intrepid foursome reach the Emerald City, in search of the eponymous wizard.

MGM Studios/Archive Photos/Getty

The Wizard of Ozhas become one of the most important and beloved films of all time. While its initial release in 1939 was not a box office smash, the movie’s return to theaters over the years — and airings on television throughout the decades — has cemented the film as an American classic and one of themost influential motion picturesof all time.

Still, the creation of the movie — andwhat really happened on set— has remained a subject of fascination for decades. Ahead, here are some photos from behind the scenes ofThe Wizard of Ozthat give a look into the movie’s production.

01of 13Judy Garland on SetJudy Garland on set of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with Toto.Mgm/Kobal/ShutterstockJudy Garland and Toto the dog are pictured enjoying some down time on set.

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Judy Garland on Set

Judy Garland on set of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with Toto.Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock

Judy Garland The Wizard Of Oz - 1939

Mgm/Kobal/Shutterstock

Judy Garland and Toto the dog are pictured enjoying some down time on set.

02of 13Frank Morgan’s Makeup TestFrank Morgan as ‘The Wizard’.Courtesy Everett CollectionFrank Morgan played the Wizard of Oz, and here he’s photographed in a test for his on-camera makeup.

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Frank Morgan’s Makeup Test

Frank Morgan as ‘The Wizard’.Courtesy Everett Collection

THE WIZARD OF OZ, Frank Morgan as ‘Wizard’, makeup test, 1939

Courtesy Everett Collection

Frank Morgan played the Wizard of Oz, and here he’s photographed in a test for his on-camera makeup.

03of 13Judy Garland’s Wardrobe TestJudy Garland in a ‘The Wizard of Oz’ wardrobe test.Courtesy Everett CollectionThough Garland’s pigtails are her most iconicWizard of Ozhairstyle, she also wears her hair half-up and half-down near the end of the film.

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Judy Garland’s Wardrobe Test

Judy Garland in a ‘The Wizard of Oz’ wardrobe test.Courtesy Everett Collection

THE WIZARD OF OZ, Judy Garland, wardrobe test, 1939

Though Garland’s pigtails are her most iconicWizard of Ozhairstyle, she also wears her hair half-up and half-down near the end of the film.

04of 13Ray Bolger’s Makeup TestRay Bolger as the Scarecrow in his wardrobe test.Courtesy Everett CollectionRay Bolger, who played the Scarecrow, is pictured here in a screen test for his makeup. He was also known for his work on Broadway and in 1961’sBabes in Toyland.

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Ray Bolger’s Makeup Test

Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in his wardrobe test.Courtesy Everett Collection

THE WIZARD OF OZ, Ray Bolger as ‘Scarecrow’, wardrobe test, 1939

Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow, is pictured here in a screen test for his makeup. He was also known for his work on Broadway and in 1961’sBabes in Toyland.

05of 13Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the WestMargaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West.Virgil Apger/John Kobal Foundation/GettyMargaret Hamilton’s look as the Wicked Witch of the West included her iconic nails.

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Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West

Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West.Virgil Apger/John Kobal Foundation/Getty

9th November 1938: Margaret Hamilton (1902-1985) in the role of Miss Gulch, The Wicked Witch of the West, in the musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’, directed by Victor Fleming for MGM.

Virgil Apger/John Kobal Foundation/Getty

Margaret Hamilton’s look as the Wicked Witch of the West included her iconic nails.

06of 13’The Wizard of Oz’ CastFrom left: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Frank Morgan and Bert Lahr on the set of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyThe publicity blitz for the release ofThe Wizard of Ozinvolved toys, games and lots of other merch — just like therelease ofWickedin 2024.

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‘The Wizard of Oz’ Cast

From left: Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Frank Morgan and Bert Lahr on the set of ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Frank Morgan and Bert Lahr on the set of The Wizard of Oz (Le magicien d’Oz), directed by Victor Fleming and uncredited: George Cukor Mervyn LeRoy Norman Taurog King Vidor.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

The publicity blitz for the release ofThe Wizard of Ozinvolved toys, games and lots of other merch — just like therelease ofWickedin 2024.

07of 13Sneaking into the Witch’s CastleFrom left: Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.MGM Studios/Archive Photos/GettyJack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion and Bolger as the Scarecrow are pictured as their characters try to rescue Dorothy.

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Sneaking into the Witch’s Castle

From left: Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.MGM Studios/Archive Photos/Getty

From left to right, Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in the MGM film ‘The Wizard of Oz’, 1939. In this scene, they disguise themselves as Winkies in order to gain access to the witch’s castle and rescue Dorothy.

Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion and Bolger as the Scarecrow are pictured as their characters try to rescue Dorothy.

08of 13Meeting the WizardFrom left: Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Judy Garland as Dorothy, Ray Bolge as the Scarecrow and Frank Morgan as the Doorman in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/GettyIn the original novel ofThe Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City wasn’t actually green. Instead, the Wizard made everyone who entered wear green-tinted glasses.

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Meeting the Wizard

From left: Jack Haley as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr as the Cowardly Lion, Judy Garland as Dorothy, Ray Bolge as the Scarecrow and Frank Morgan as the Doorman in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty

Jack Haley (1898 - 1979) as the Tin Man, Bert Lahr (1895 - 1967) as the Cowardly Lion, Judy Garland (1922 - 1969) as Dorothy, Ray Bolger (1904 - 1987) as the Scarecrow and Frank Morgan (1890 - 1949) as the Doorman to the Emerald City in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, 1939.

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty

In the original novel ofThe Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City wasn’t actually green. Instead, the Wizard made everyone who entered wear green-tinted glasses.

09of 13Promoting ‘The Wizard of Oz’From right: Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger, Judy Garland, composer Harold Arlen and various executives singing ‘The Wizard of Oz’ songs in an NBC radio studio in 1939.Hulton Archive/GettyThe cast kept busy on their promotional tour, singing songs from the film together on NBC Radio in 1939.

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Promoting ‘The Wizard of Oz’

From right: Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger, Judy Garland, composer Harold Arlen and various executives singing ‘The Wizard of Oz’ songs in an NBC radio studio in 1939.Hulton Archive/Getty

American actors Bert Lahr (1895 - 1967) (far right), Ray Bolger (1904 - 1987) (back row, right), Judy Garland (1922 - 1969) (sitting, right), composer Harold Arlen (1905 - 1986) (sitting left), and various MGM and music publishing executives sing songs from the 1939 film musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’ around a microphone in the NBC radio studio, circa 1939.

Hulton Archive/Getty

The cast kept busy on their promotional tour, singing songs from the film together on NBC Radio in 1939.

10of 13Back in KansasFrom left: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Charles Grapewin, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Clara Blandick in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.MGM Studios/MGM Studios/GettyThe Wizard of Ozhad almost every actor playing a double role — one person in Kansas, and another in Oz — except for Garland and Burke.

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Back in Kansas

From left: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Charles Grapewin, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Clara Blandick in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.MGM Studios/MGM Studios/Getty

American actor and singer Judy Garland (1922 - 1969) sits up in bed while (left to right; top to bottom) Frank Morgan (1890 - 1949), Charles Grapewin (1869 - 1956), Ray Bolger (1904 - 1987), Jack Haley (1898 - 1979), Bert Lahr (1895 - 1967) and Clara Blandick (1881 - 1962) surround her in a scene from the film ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ 1939.

MGM Studios/MGM Studios/Getty

The Wizard of Ozhad almost every actor playing a double role — one person in Kansas, and another in Oz — except for Garland and Burke.

11of 13Saving DorothyFrom left: Ray Bolger and Judy Garland in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.MGM Studios/Archive Photos/GettyGarland’s career only picked up more afterThe Wizard of Oz.Meet Me in St. Louiswould follow five years later.

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Saving Dorothy

From left: Ray Bolger and Judy Garland in ‘The Wizard of Oz’.MGM Studios/Archive Photos/Getty

Judy Garland as Dorothy and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow in the MGM film ‘The Wizard of Oz’, 1939. In this scene, the Scarecrow prepares to rescue Dorothy when she is attacked by a sentient apple tree.

Garland’s career only picked up more afterThe Wizard of Oz.Meet Me in St. Louiswould follow five years later.

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The Witch Is Dead!

Meinhart Raabe holding a death certificate and Judy Garland surrounded by munchkins in a scene from the film ‘The Wizard Of Oz’, 1939.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty

13of 13The Witch’s DemiseFrom left: Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Ray Bolger and Margaret Hamilton in’ ‘The Wizard of Oz’.THA/ShutterstockThe flying monkeys — also known as the winged monkeys — are one of the most famous parts of the movie (and haunted many children’s dreams for years). In the original book, however, the monkeys could also talk.

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The Witch’s Demise

From left: Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Ray Bolger and Margaret Hamilton in' ‘The Wizard of Oz’.THA/Shutterstock

Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Ray Bolger, Margaret Hamilton

THA/Shutterstock

The flying monkeys — also known as the winged monkeys — are one of the most famous parts of the movie (and haunted many children’s dreams for years). In the original book, however, the monkeys could also talk.

source: people.com