Introduction to a Timeless Classic
On May 17, 1900, a story was published that has since enchanted readers and spectators over generations with its unforgettable characters, magical attitudes, and universal topics of courage, friendship, and the search for home. At the center of this story is Dorothy Gale, a young girl who lives on a quiet Kansas farm. When a powerful tornado sweeps her and her dog Toto away, she finds herself in the fantastic country of OZ, where miracles and danger lurk. Dorothy is advised by a friendly witch and sets off to the Emerald City by following a yellow brick road, hoping that the mysterious Wizard of OZ can help her return home.
The Journey Inside
On her way, she befriends a scarecrow who wants a brain, a tin man who longs for a heart, and a cowardly lion looking for courage. Together, they are brought to court, outsmart a bad witch, and discover that the qualities they were looking for were in them all the time. Dorothy’s magical ruby shoes, which she receives after her house is transported by the tornado and the evil Witch of the East is killed, are the last key to her return home.
A Modern Fairy Tale
Britannica describes "The Wizard of Oz" as "a modern fairy tale with a clearly American setting." It also indicates that some consider the brave Dorothy as one of the first feminist heroes in children’s literature. Whether through film, stage, or song, the diverse adaptations of the state of OZ have since developed into a pop culture icon. But the resulting images mainly come from the MGM film adaptation from 1939 with the 16-year-old Judy Garland, whose wistful rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was chosen in a joint survey by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America as one of the greatest songs of the 20th century.
Behind the Colors of Oz
For the 125th anniversary of the book, some strange background stories about the colors that "The Wizard of Oz" breathed life into have emerged.
Slippers that Changed Color
In the original book, Dorothy’s enchanted shoes were silver, not ruby. The 1939 film changed it to a shimmering red to fully exploit the then-new Technicolor film process. Red simply appeared better on the screen than silver, especially against the yellow brick road. A few of these slippers from Judy Garland, stolen from a Minnesota museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, sold in 2024 for $28 million.
Horses of a Different Color
There was food dye far ahead of CGI. To reproduce "a horse of another color," a dazzling, color-changing horse that Dorothy and her friends welcome in the Emerald City, four separate white horses were used to create the effect of a single horse that changes color from moment to moment. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had criticized the horses’ fur, which was traditionally colored; the tradition says that technicians tinted it either with Jello powder or food dye to create a spectrum of white, purple, red, and yellow.
Green Glasses
Oddly enough, what is known as "Emerald City" is neither built green nor from emerald. It seems that everyone has to wear green-tinted glasses—a clever trick by the wizard to create the illusion of the city. However, the 1939 film contained a literal green metropolis that the Emerald City consolidated in popular culture as a glowing, green paradise forever.
The Color of Dorothy’s Dress
There is also a divergence online about whether Dorothy’s gingham pinafore dress was blue and white or blue and pink. Some fan sites explain that what seems to be blue and white was actually blue and light pink. The costume team had apparently used pink, which was made better on the screen under the intensive lighting of that time. This debate is reminiscent of "The Dress" challenge on social media, where a photo of a dress triggered a debate as to whether it was white and gold or blue and black, due to differences in color perception and how the brain interprets lighting.
A Kaleidoscope of Adaptations
Since its original publication, "The Wizard of Oz" has produced colorful interpretations. Singer Elton John’s "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973), together with his long-time collaborative partner Bernie Taupin, uses OZ pictures to symbolize disillusionment with fame and longing for a simpler life. The last world tour of the 78-year-old singer was renamed "Farewell Yellow Brick Road."
In the meantime, "The Wiz" from 1978 was a purely black musical reinterpretation with ex-superstar Diana Ross as Dorothy and the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as the scarecrow. Based on an originally successful Broadway musical, the film was panned by critics. However, something more important happened behind the scenes: Quincy Jones, the experienced producer, first met Jackson, with whom he would later collaborate on "Thriller."
And finally, the blockbuster Broadway musical from 2003 turned the script completely around and told the untold story of the misunderstood "evil witch of the West" Elphaba, complete with emerald skin and severe vocals. The musical, which is based on a novel of the same name, has since been adapted into a two-part film, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande leading the lineup. The first part was published in 2024 and nominated for 10 Oscars at the 97th Oscar Awards, winning two—the best costume design and the best production design.
