The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Last night the movie at the Estates (formerly The Forum) was The Wizard of Oz. I had a front row seat in our community living room (the couch with my own blanket) and could really see and admire all the advanced technology and make-up for the era (1939). I noticed that the Scarecrow had actual burlap marks on his face so decided to take a look at how they did all that. I remember years ago reading it was toxic and caused health problems. This account is AI generated--I'm afraid that like others, I too will settle when it comes to quick and dirty searches.

"The makeup used in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz was elaborate and often hazardous due to the materials available at the time. The Wicked Witch of the West, portrayed by Margaret Hamilton, wore a copper-based green makeup that was poisonous, requiring her to live on a liquid diet during filming and carefully cleaning the makeup off her face each day. This toxic makeup caused her skin to remain green for weeks after filming concluded.

The makeup for the Tin Man, originally intended for Buddy Ebsen, was a white face paint coated with aluminum dust, which caused severe health issues, including lung infections and shortness of breath, leading to Ebsen being replaced by Jack Haley after only nine days of filming. Haley’s makeup was reformulated into a paste, but he still experienced an eye infection that caused him to miss four days of filming.

The Scarecrow, played by Ray Bolger, wore a latex-based "rubber bag" mask that was so tightly adhered to his skin that it left permanent waffle-like burlap patterns on his face, particularly around his mouth and chin, after being peeled off daily.

The Cowardly Lion, portrayed by Bert Lahr, wore a heavy costume that made him drenched in sweat by the end of each shooting day.

The intense heat from the Technicolor filming process, combined with the heavy makeup and costumes, made working conditions extremely difficult, with reports of people fainting on set.

The makeup for the Munchkins was also unusual and required specialized application. Despite the risks, these techniques contributed to the film’s iconic visual style."

Gives me a new appreciation for an 86 year old movie, and the hazards the performers put up with.

I've been told that this is my son-in-law's favorite movie, and they have a special Christmas tree with only Wizard of Oz ornaments.