The classic family-friendly hit film “The Wizard of Oz” has a much darker history than what is portrayed on screen. Many people were harmed both physically and even mentally on set. For most cast members, this was the role of a lifetime and would be proven unforgettable for multiple reasons.
One of the most infamous stories from the set is that of actors Buddy Epsen and Jack Haley. The original Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen (not pictured in the film), had his makeup made from aluminum powder turned into paint. After only nine days on set, he was in constant pain with cramping in his arms and legs. When he awoke and found he couldn’t breathe, his wife took him to the hospital. The directors were neglectful of his needs and did not care that he had to spend two weeks in an oxygen tent and demanded he return to work. When he couldn’t due to his medical needs, they called on Jack Haley, the tin man seen in the film, to be his replacement. Luckily for Haley, they learned their lesson from the paint soaking into Ebsen’s skin and they decided to use a different product on Haley. His makeup, however, was also toxic and he suffered a severe eye infection.
Another terror on set concerned the Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton, who had a severe fire incident while filming. During the scene in Munchkin Land, she was supposed to disappear in a burst of smoke and fire, but her exit trapdoor was delayed and she was severely burned. Hamilton suffered acute burns to her hands and face, completely singeing her right eyebrow and eyelashes; however, the directors did not let her go home. The next day, the producers were furious and asked why she wasn’t back at work. It took six weeks for her to recover and when she returned to work, they asked her to film another scene with fire. For the remainder of the film, she couldn’t wear green paint on her hands and was substituted with gloves because her nerve endings were still exposed. They also expected her to do more scenes with fire afterward, but this was not the end of problems regarding the wicked witch. The stunt double for the role, Betty Danko, was also involved in a fire-related incident. She was on the witch broom when the pipe that created smoke exploded with her on it. Danko was left with permanent scars from severe burns.

The poppy scene in “The Wizard of Oz” became infamous over the years. Perhaps the most dangerous thing on set was the “snow” that fell sweetly on Dorthy and the Lion while they slept in that scene. The snow is said to be made out of 100 percent asbestos, a known carcinogenic substance as of 1934 and known as dangerous as early as 1918. Asbestos is extremely dangerous to breathe in and can cause many serious life-threatening diseases, but the cast had to sit there in it. In the film, Dorothy wakes up in a snow-covered poppy field created by Glinda the Good Witch. Chrysotile, or white asbestos, cascaded down from the sky to douse the cast in glittering “snow.” There is another possible substance used to make the snow called gypsum salt. This is much safer than asbestos but still not safe to breathe in for hours at a time daily. William Stillman has written a book called “The Wizardry of Oz” where he claims it was made completely out of white gypsum;, this is corroborated by MGM makeup artist Charles Schram who claimed he was tasked with picking the snow out of Dorthy’s hair and the Lion’s mane. It is unclear which one was truly used. Fortunately, despite the potential dangers, no cast members have been officially confirmed to have died or have a permanent injury related to that particular scene.
Adding to this growing list of horrors, Judy Garland was severely mistreated throughout filming. The directors forced her onto a steady and strict diet of chicken soup, black coffee, cigarettes and what is known in the industry as “Pep pills.” These pills were amphetamines, a stimulant related to weight loss, memory loss, strokes and many more. The mental and drug abuse was only the beginning of her trauma on set. During filming, Garland could not keep a straight face during a scene. This caused the directors to slap and berate her. Unfortunately, this was not the end of her anguish on set. She was paid the second least out of all the main cast actors, only paid more than the dog by 375 dollars. While some members of the cast made thousands of dollars a week, she made a mere 500 in comparison.
Another danger on set was within the costume department. The lion costume was made out of two real lion pelts. The costume’s weight was immense and tortured the actor, Bert Lahr. The costuming made eating and drinking nearly impossible. It was incredibly hot on its own, but with the lights and effects, it was even worse. Bert’s daughter Jane Lahr commented on her father’s experience on Fox News, saying, “My dad was tortured by the costume. It weighed almost 100 pounds. It was real lion fur, and it was hot. He couldn’t eat. He had to drink his lunch through a straw. The studios had wonderful dining rooms. He and Jack Haley, who played the Tin Man, had to lay down on boards because their costumes were so heavy, and they couldn’t eat in the dining room. Dad could only drink something through a straw.”. No one ever thought that playing their characters would cause them so much discomfort or grief.
“The Wizard of Oz” is renowned for being a magical and innovative film, but this is hardly the truth about the filming process. Many cast members were put into dangerous and terrifying situations. The classic film will always hold a place in the hearts of thousands, especially with the recent release of the “Wicked” movie, but the stories on set will live on infamously for years to come.