Commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, this collectible edition delivers an interactive experience, transporting readers over the rainbow and into the Land of Oz with its host of unpublished artwork, behind-the-scenes stories from the stars, and removable special features. Open the door to the Land of Oz and travel down the Yellow Brick Road with Dorothy and her companions on the journey of a lifetime. Learn the filmmaking tricks and techniques behind the film's realistic tornado, why Dorothy's shoes were ruby-colored, and how the filmmakers got a fleet of Winged Monkeys to fly. Authors Jay Scarfone and William Stillman reveal filmmaking secrets and information on everything from the film's pre- and postproduction to early reviews and publicity to never-before-published stories from the cast and crew, making it the definitive book on the subject. Beautifully designed with an array of film stills, Technicolor™ test frames, rare artwork and photography, and costume and set illustrations, this collectible edition provides an unrivaled glimpse at the land where dreams come true.

The Road to Oz is a complete retelling of how The Wizard of Oz was influenced and created, and attained its iconic status. The new volume by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman will reflect recent research and much more through newly discovered period interviews, media resources of the era, transcriptions and unique contemporary interviews with those who were there. Additionally, never-before-published imagery accompanies the text. In its truth and candor, this new historical contribution is ideal to tie-in with the 2018-19 80th anniversary of the 1939 movie. Tantalizing highlights of the text include: · A thorough synopsis of L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and the script, inspired by the book, of the 1903 Broadway musical-comedy extravaganza. · An overview of the plots of prior silent film adaptations of Oz and how they influenced the M-G-M film. · An analysis of newly-discovered audio transcriptions of Wizard of Oz radio programs from 1931-32 and 1937-38—all of which were previously unknown. · A complete accounting of Sam Goldwyn’s proposed (and aborted) 1934 Technicolor musical version of Oz starring Eddie Cantor (including commentary from Cantor’s sole surviving child). · A thorough analysis of the October 10, 1938 M-G-M shooting script (provided by descendants of comedian and Cowardly Lion actor Bert Lahr) that predates the beginning of production by seventy-two hours. · Startling revelations about the operetta that seemingly inspired “Over the Rainbow.” · Judy Garland’s trials and tribulations with the studio, including the threat that M-G-M was grooming a sound-alike who tested for Oz. · The supporting player who was cast in two roles in Oz’s fantasy sequence—the second role revealed for the first time in Scarfone and Stillman’s text. · The Munchkin midgets’ pre-1939 Wizard of Oz connection. · Oz’s film editor with a direct connection to Walt Disney and Snow White. · Studio nepotism, favoritism and politics at the height of Hollywood’s golden age on the making of the world’s most famous film. “The Road to Oz not only delivers exciting, previously unpublished information and insight, but does so in an extremely well-cited format. This is absolutely a must-have for any Oz fan or film historian.” —Sean Barrett, theatrical/film producer and artistic director, Land of Oz, North Carolina “A new and wonderful book penned by the foremost Oz movie history authors. This is a must-read for all old and new Oz fans worldwide.” —Roger S. Baum, author of Dorothy of Oz (on which the film Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return is based) and great-grandson of L. Frank Baum “Numerous books have celebrated the fan appeal of MGM’s Wizard of Oz, but there’s far more to this story than nostalgia. Scarfone and Stillman delve deep into the history of this landmark film, exploring its place in the pantheon of classic fantasy films, as well as fascinating details of production. The Road to Oz is an important addition to the film-history bookshelf.” —J.B. Kaufman, film historian and author of The Fairest One of All: The Making of Walt Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs “The Road to Oz is a gamechanger in the world of motion picture history books. Long considered the leading authorities on the making of The Wizard of Oz, Scarfone and Stillman have crafted decades of extensive research into a new and unparalleled historical recalling of the classic film.” —Randy L. Schmidt, editor of Judy Garland on Judy Garland: Interviews and Encounters and author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter

Recounts the production of "The Wizard of Oz" by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio.

When Russel B. Nye and Martin Gardner teamed up to bring out a new edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, theirs was the first critical analysis of L. Frank Baum American classic. The book opens with an essay by Nye, entitled "An Appreciation," which is an overview of Baum's creative and imaginative genius. Nye explores the reasons why earlier critics virtually ignored the Oz stories. Gardner, in his essay, "The Royal Historian of Oz," presents a brief biographical sketch, revealing little-known facts about this prolific writer. The volume also contains the complete, original text of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, along with many original illustrations by artist W. W. Denslow.

In Chicago, an ordinary key unlocks a magical trunk packed with robbers and a pie. In Boston, five magical bon-bons make an ordinary senator, an ordinary professor, an ordinary girl and her ordinary parents do the most extraordinary things A young cowboy lassoes Father Time; the dummy in Mr. Floman's department store window comes to life; and a tiny beetle gives a New England farmer and his wife a pump which pumps not water, but gold Author of the much-loved Oz books, L. Frank Baum transforms the familiar with his magical mix of humor and enchantment. Most of the twelve stories in this delightful collection are set in America where, so it seems, modern fairies, knooks, and ryls are always causing the most astonishing things to happen These tales will enchant both young and old. When American Fairy Tales first appeared, Baum's reputation as a storyteller had already been established by The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written in 1900. The twelve stories in this collection were originally syndicated weekly in at least five newspapers during the first half of 1901. The first book edition, which this facsimile reprints, came out later that year.