I have never liked the Wizard of Oz. I saw it when I was 4 or 5 and it was beyond scary. I watched again when I was around 12 and still felt the same way. Cried just as much and couldn't look at the wicked witch or flying monkeys and poor Toto!! I made DH watch with our kids, no way I would do it.

Judy...it's beautiful! Yes, I love the wizard of OZ!

DH remembers being freaked out by the flying monkeys. He said scariest thing he ever saw as a kid.

I read all the OZ books as a kid and downloaded them last year to my Kindle to see what I thought of them as a grown up. They are fairly strange and violent stuff.

Gave me nightmares, especially the flying monkeys, when I was a little kid. Never wanted to watch it again after that. DH said it bored him to tears even as a young boy. He does not like science fiction, fantasy or horror to this day.

That's one movie that I do not like. Even though I was a child when I first saw it there was something about Judy Garland that bothered me. I think it's because she looked like a grown up. I know now that she was 16 when it was filmed but she looked much older and as a kid I thought she was supposed to be a kid too. There were other things too - I was afraid of the Wizard, the Wicked Witch, the Winged Monkeys - even the Munchkins.

lI always have hated the Wizard of Oz. I don't know if it's the flying monkeys (but I really dislike monkeys now, so maybe that did it for me), but what I finally figured out much later in life is that I don't like adults acting in roles where they are supposed to be kids. I've never, ever liked Judy Garland - probably for that reason. I felt the same way about Peter Pan and Mary Martin's role, although I loved the story of Peter Pan.

eta Maire Cate we posted simultaneously! Same thoughts!

I thought it was so magical, and had a good message as well.

I loved the movie! I think the park is beautiful. I cry when ever I hear the song "Over the Rainbow."

Olychick - yep - we have the same thoughts about Judy and The Wizard. It's funny though - I absolutely adored Mary Martin and Peter Pan.

Agree. The movie caught my attention when I was a young child for being unusual but a later viewing or two when I was a teen led to a dislike of it. It's odd and certainly in the world of today, dated and stale.

Holland, MI must have a dearth of things to commemorate if such a vague and unprovable notion as "they believe the book was inspired.." during summer visits of the author... merits a monument.

Growing up they played it on TV once each year, that and Cinderella. We waited for those nights!! I wish I had read the books as a child. We enjoyed being frightened and laughing our heads off at the lion running from the Wizard. WICKED was also excellent! I was not aware Dorothy and or Judy G were much more than a teenagers. I know that is why they decided Shirley Temple was too old.

Judy Garland was ony 17 when she starred in the wizard of Oz, 16 when she was cast for the role. Hardly an adult. And Dorothy is described in the book as a "young farm girl".....nothing specific as to her being a 'child'.

Not really, never really scared of it, but just didn't like it much. And being from Kansas I am over all the Dorothy and Toto jokes. But I like the tornado jokes!

A woman went to the church that I attended as a kid who looked like the wicked witch of the west. I said as much at one time and was quickly shushed. I didn't actually think she was a witch, merely that she looked very much like the actress who played the role. But I guess saying that someone looks like a famous actress who looks like a witch is still impolite. :-)

The Wicked Witch is my favorite character in that movie, which was filmed on the lot that I visited today. The lot has a huge fake rainbow at one end of it, and I considered photographing it, but I was too close to get much of it in. Sony Pictures now owns what was originally the MGM lot.

The first time I saw it on TV I was about 5 and parts of it terrified me. But I couldn't stop watching it. When the witch had Dorothy in the castle it scared me, also the monkeys and the big wizard head in Oz. Even the apple trees bothered me, I was a real sissy back then.

My kids grew up with oz, they still love it! They are 32 and 33 years old.

My mother stood in a long line to get tickets for me to see when I was 5. That witch appeared, I was terrified and cried, and my mother had to take me out. It was a long line of crying children leaving that Kansas City CC Plaza movie theater! Not a good movie for the young. I later watched it when I was in my late 20’s - it was okay then, but not one of my favorites.

I do believe she was supposed to be a child:

"Baum never states Dorothy's age, but he does state in The Lost Princess
of Oz that she is a year younger than Betsy Bobbin and a year older
than Trot, whose age was specified as 10 in Ruth Plumly Thompson's The
Giant Horse of Oz." According to this, 11 years old.

I remember that too, arcy. It always seemed more special when it aired only once a year.

I have a set of Wizard of Oz plates from that company that used to sell commemorative plates through the mail? I can't think of it now. They are probably over 40yrs. old. and I haven't looked at them in many years. I once went online to see how much they were selling for and it wasn't a lot. What the heck is the name of that company?

Franklin Mint?

I've always loved this movie. Especially the flying monkeys! I met Meinhardt Raabe (The Coroner) In 1997 when I became a Clay County FL Master Gardener and he was one and we attended monthly meetings and other functions together. He was very active as "The Coroner" in full costume at local events. In 1998, Hallmaark released Christmas ornaments of the Coroner and Mayor and Meinhardt was gracious enough to autograph the box for me. He was a very fascinating, endearing, kind, humble man who lived a very interesting life. You can wikipedia him.

I've seen the movie many times starting when I was a kid. I loved it and all the characters. I never get scared of anything in a movie. The only thing I hate is when there is cruelty to an animal. I HATED Bambi.

The Wizard of Oz made a great movie. There were elements in it for the kiddies as well as adults. In a way it was a parody on human foibles. The various characters emphasized one or more elements. For example, when the Wizard said, "Don't look behind the curtain.", this was a tip that he was a big fake and if you saw behind the curtain, you'd see what was going on and he'd be exposed. His power was based solely on the individual's belief and motivation.

Dorthy's companions each had a weakness that they lamented and dwelled upon and that held them back from reaching their full potential until they dealt with the issue and moved on. They learned that a perceived weakness or feeling could be turned into an asset. Even Dorthy began to think that she was trapped in her dream world until she met the Good Fairy who told her that she could return to her world anytime. She only needed to desire it enough, think hard about returning and tap her heels together.

What a dandy tale!

Like I said I never read the books but a teenager running from home the way she did and managing all she did while on her adventure seemed believable--not sure an 11 year old would have, for me. It has quite the legacy too. Broke a lot of new ground with the color, the little people involved, etc.

I loved (and still love) the movie as did DD. I do a pretty good “I’ll get you, my pretty! And your little dog too!” :-D

It is a great movie, and being scared was part of the fun of watching it!

There is a whole series of "Oz" books, and my brother has all of them. He has early editions that have very nice illustrations.

I can see how Colleen would have to like a book about Oz!

I was never a Judy Garland fan, and I find the "Rainbow" song somewhat annoying. I once saw Ray Bolger perform at Merritt Park in Oakland, and he was okay. All in all, I do like the movie, but I think I like the books better. I am a big Margaret Hamilton fan, but I liked Billie Burke better in the Topper movies.

I like the quote that Colleen posted, and my other favorite is:

Dorothy: Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more.

Dorothy: We must be over the rainbow!

[a bubble appears in the sky and gets closer and closer. It finally lands, then turns into Glinda the Good Witch wearing a spectacular white dress and crown, holding a wand]

Dorothy: [to Toto] Now I... I know we're not in Kansas!

I don't remember being particularly scared when I watched it as a child (but I don't think I was all that young - probably at least 10), but I was terrified of the wicked queen in Sleeping Beauty, and I think I was nine when I saw that. My mother took me to a special theater in Dallas to see that because it had a better screen and sound than our local theaters.

I agree with Stacey and think it is one of the best movies ever made...the actors, the casting, the use of B&W for Kansas and the color for Oz...the music, the costuming, the special effects. My brother and I always looked for the part when the striped socks of the witch caught under the house shrunk back underneath. And when she melted. Plus the message of the story is such a good one.

Quote from Elmer, "Holland, MI must have a dearth of things to commemorate if such a vague and unprovable notion as "they believe the book was inspired.." during summer visits of the author... merits a monument."

Our town thinks it is Notable. Read up on the stories, rather interesting. You may like them.

Hey, I remembered last night - the company that sold (still sells?) was The Bradford Exchange. Does that sound right? I could look it up online I guess.

I always sort of liked it because of the message, even though I wasn’t a big Judy Garland fan. I really liked it even more after I saw ‘Wicked’.

I own the anniversary edition which includes a watch, and another version (can't remember the title off by heart, but I do believe it's a 3D version). Yes, I love the story.

I too,loved the movie, but despised that witch part....I still get extremely emotional when the witch part comes.

Holland, MI has Big Red and the Tulip Festival! Beautiful small town. My DD went to Hope College in Holland, MI.

I've read (but never actually tried it) that if you play the movie, with the sound off, and play the Pink Floyd album "The Dark Side of the Moon" they sync up in weird and trippy ways. I presume "chemical enhancement" might assist in the experience.

I always liked the movie, but I did find the flying monkeys scary. My younger sister cried when the cowardly lion popped up. The view of the Emerald City, across the field of poppies, was magical, and my dream--then and now--is to live in a gypsy wagon.

I love this movie, saw it many times on TV as a kid. My mother wisely let me first watch it when i was probably about 6, so i wasn't too terribly frightened. My (late) husband and i attended a big-screen showing during the 50th anniversary year, 1989. One of my favorite memoroes of him.

Debby, the Jitter bug song and scene were cut from the original and included in the 50th anniversary edition. The high school I work at did the Wizard of Oz a few years ago., and it is in the stage version. Since then I have searched the thrift stores for the 50th anniversary DVD so I could see it.

DD#1 as Coroner

The movie came out in 1939 as we were still enduring the Depression.

I was a very young teacher and as an anniversary present I gave my parents tickets to the movie. My father, who had seen few movies and probably none in color, was entranced and talked of it for days