Margaret Hamilton and the End of an Era: The Witch From The Wizard of Oz

The witch from the Wizard of Oz has breathed her last. It is with sadness and relief that we announce the passing of the notorious witch from the Wizard of Oz. Known for her green skin, pointy hat, and broomstick, she was a formidable presence and a central character in the beloved story. Throughout the years, the witch has captivated audiences with her wickedness and magical abilities. Her cackling laugh and signature line, "I'll get you, my pretty," have become iconic in popular culture. Whether loved or feared, the witch has left an indelible mark on the hearts of many.

In honor of the film’s 80th anniversary, here’s a look back at a few shocking behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have not aged nearly as well as the film itself.

Today, Hollywood has the special effects to launch Brad Pitt into space, the sophisticated safety standards to minimize harm on set, and finally the motivation to push for more equality in front of and behind the camera. In lesser makeup horror stories, actor Ray Bolger who played the Scarecrow removed the rubber prosthetics mask from his face the last day of filming to discover he had burlap scars around his mouth and chin.

Whether loved or feared, the witch has left an indelible mark on the hearts of many. However, beyond her villainous persona, the witch had a complex story. As viewers delve deeper into the Wizard of Oz narrative, they learn about the witch's tragic background and the circumstances that led her down the path of darkness.

The Wizard of Oz: Five Appalling On-Set Stories

In honor of the film’s 80th anniversary, a look back at a few anecdotes that have not aged as well as the 1939 classic.

Today, Hollywood has the special effects to launch Brad Pitt into space, the sophisticated safety standards to minimize harm on set, and (finally) the motivation to push for more equality in front of and behind the camera. But in 1939, when The Wizard of Oz was being filmed at MGM, the industry was a much more primitive place. According to Aljean Harmetz’s fascinating 1977 book, The Making of The Wizard of Oz, Frank Morgan—the actor playing the title character—came to set with a minibar in his briefcase. Of the film’s 10 main cast members, 16-year-old star Judy Garland got the second-lowest salary—making more than only her canine companion, Terry, who played Toto. And myriad injuries and miseries were suffered on set that sound, frankly, horrifying in light of modern technology and H.R. policies.

In honor of the film’s 80th anniversary, here’s a look back at a few shocking behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have not aged nearly as well as the film itself.

The Cowardly Lion Costume Was Constructed From Actual Lion Hair

Before the days of synthetic fur, there was only one option for making an authentic-looking lion costume: using the hair of a real lion. Because of continuity concerns, and the fact it was impossible to find duplicate lion hides with identical colorations and patterns, Cowardly Lion actor Bert Lahr wore one costume primarily through filming. Given the costume’s weight—and the fact that Lahr was filming under intensely hot Technicolor lights that had even the lesser-costumed actors “fainting and being carried off the set,” according to cinematographer Harold Rosson—the actor thoroughly sweated through his costume each day. so much that the costume had to be put into an industrial drying bin each night to dry the perspiration.

Even so, the costume sold at auction in 2014 for $3 million.

The Original Tin Man Was Hospitalized After a Makeup Disaster

One night during the rehearsal period, Buddy Ebsen woke up in bed, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, “screaming from violent cramping in his hands, arms, and legs. When he had difficulty breathing, his wife called an ambulance and rushed him to the hospital. He remained in an oxygen tent for two weeks, recovering from the pure aluminum he had ingested into his lungs” from his days in makeup as the Tin Man.

Rather than being sympathetic to this severe reaction, the studio was furious. “They told me to get the hell back to work,” Ebsen said. When the studio was told that Ebsen—whose skin had turned blue during his reaction—could not immediately return, production replaced him with Jack Haley. Though the aluminum makeup was changed, it still caused Haley a serious eye infection.

In lesser makeup horror stories, actor Ray Bolger—who played the Scarecrow—removed the rubber prosthetics mask from his face the last day of filming to discover he had burlap scars around his mouth and chin. (At least he was finally free from the mask, which “wasn’t porous, so you couldn’t sweat. You couldn’t breathe through your skin. We felt like we were suffocating.”) Meanwhile, Margaret Hamilton’s friend alerted her, about a month and a half before filming ended, that she looked “so odd.” When she looked in the mirror, the actor realized the friend was right: Her Wicked Witch of the West makeup had “sunk into my skin. It must have been months before my face was really normal again.”

Sadly for the actors playing the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion, they were also banned from eating lunch inside the MGM cafeteria because the sight of them eating in their makeup was deemed too disgusting.

The Snow Was Made From Asbestos

In the days before computer-generated effects, film crews had to rely on practical tricks to simulate snow. In the scene in which Dorothy is awakened in a poppy field by a blanket of snow engineered by Glinda the Good Witch, production reportedly used chrysotile asbestos. (Or, as Atlas Obscura elegantly put it, the film “literally dous[es] its main characters in carcinogens.”) It wasn’t just The Wizard of Oz that relied on asbestos-laced snow—that substance was also used in the ’30s in holiday decorations.

The Wicked Witch of the West Caught on Fire

While filming the scene in which the witch disappears in a flash of smoke, the effects crew started their fire before actor Margaret Hamilton had enough time to safely exit the stage. According to Harmetz’s book, the flames caught on her broom and hat, “scalding her chin, the bridge of her nose, her right cheek, and the right side of her forehead. The eyelashes and eyebrow on her right eye had been burned off; her upper lip and eyelid were badly burned.” When she looked down, her skin had been burned off her hand. Incapacitated, a friend had to pick her up from the movie studio. “That was always amazing to me, that the studio didn’t send me home in a limousine,” the actor later recalled.

Incredibly, the studio called Hamilton the next day wondering when she would return to set. It took her six weeks to recover—but even then, the nerves in her hand were still so exposed that she had to wear green gloves rather than makeup. She considered suing, but opted against it “for the very simple reason that I wanted to work again.”

Shortly After Hamilton Returned to Set After Catching Fire, She Was Asked to Film Another Fire Scene

Hamilton—a single mother—refused to take part in the stunt. But her double acquiesced—and promptly caught fire herself after flames again caught on the broom. “I felt as though my scalp was coming off,” Betty Danko recalled after spending 11 days in the hospital. “I guess that’s because my hat and my black wig were torn loose.”

The double was reportedly paid $35 for her day’s work.

"And I should get no courage," said the Cowardly Lion.

This complexity has made the witch a fascinating character to explore and analyze. While her character has garnered much attention and sparked countless discussions, it is now time to bid her farewell. The witch's demise marks the end of an era, closing the chapter on the Land of Oz as we know it. With her passing, a new chapter begins, one in which Dorothy and her companions can finally return home and find resolution. Although the witch is gone, her impact will endure. Her story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the consequences of unchecked power and the importance of empathy. Moreover, her presence in the Wizard of Oz has undoubtedly contributed to the story's enduring popularity. As we reflect on the witch's legacy, let us not forget the valuable lessons her character has taught us. She is a reminder that appearances can be deceiving and that everyone has a story worth exploring. Perhaps, in death, the witch can find peace and redemption, just as Dorothy found her way back to Kansas. In conclusion, the witch from the Wizard of Oz has taken her final breath, but her presence will linger in our hearts and minds. She will forever be remembered as a symbol of wickedness and complexity, a character who both terrified and intrigued audiences. Farewell, dear witch, may you find the peace you never had in life..

Reviews for "From Witch to Legend: The Legacy of Margaret Hamilton"

1. Emily - 2 stars - I found "The witch from the wizard of oz has breathed her last" to be a lackluster addition to the Wizard of Oz series. The storyline was disjointed and difficult to follow, with too many unnecessary subplots that didn't add anything meaningful to the overall narrative. The characters lacked depth and development, making it hard for me to connect or care about their fates. The writing style was also quite clunky and filled with awkward dialogue. Overall, I was disappointed and struggled to finish this book.

2. Sarah - 1 star - "The witch from the wizard of oz has breathed her last" was a major letdown for me. The plot was unoriginal and predictable, with no surprises or twists. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I found myself bored and disengaged throughout most of the book. Additionally, the characters felt one-dimensional and lacked personality, making it difficult for me to feel invested in their struggles. The writing style was also tedious and repetitive, with excessive description that added little depth to the story. I would not recommend this book to fans of the Wizard of Oz series.

3. Michael - 2 stars - As a fan of the original Wizard of Oz series, I was excited to read "The witch from the wizard of oz has breathed her last." However, I was ultimately disappointed with the book. The story seemed to drag on, and the pacing was slow and inconsistent. The characters were poorly developed, and their actions often felt forced or out of character. The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic, making it difficult for me to immerse myself in the story. Overall, I found this book to be a lackluster addition to the Wizard of Oz series and would not recommend it to other fans.

Exploring Margaret Hamilton's Impact as the Wicked Witch of the West