The Wicked Witch of the East is a character from L. Frank Baum's famous novel "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." In the story, she is depicted as a wicked and powerful witch who rules over the eastern part of the land of Oz. While her character is primarily known from the book and subsequent adaptations, the actress who portrays her in films and theater productions is often crucial in bringing the character to life. Over the years, many talented actresses have taken on the role of the Wicked Witch of the East. One of the most iconic portrayals is by Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 film adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz.
Margaret Hamilton – The Wicked Witch Everyone Loves to Hate
Our blog post this month is in honor of Margaret Hamilton, the wonderfully Wicked Witch of the West, who was born on December 9, 1902. Mention The Wicked Witch to any fan of The Wizard of Oz and chances are they’ll either react with an imitation of the green-complexioned villainess’s evil cackle or they’ll recall a childhood memory of how the Witch sent delicious shivers up their spine.
Though she developed a love for performing at an early age, Hamilton’s professional career began as a kindergarten instructor in her native Cleveland, Ohio. Her father, prominent local attorney, Walter J. Hamilton, insisted daughter Margaret have a career to fall back on, but he funded her early acting aspirations. Margaret Hamilton understood early on that her lack of physical beauty would never earn her female leads and required her to compensate by learning comedy. (When her father suggested she get her prominent nose altered with plastic surgery, she steadfastly refused.) Hamilton’s brand of humor was to deliver her lines with deadpan sarcasm and caustic wit, making her supporting roles in theatrical productions memorable. After accruing credits at the Cleveland Playhouse, Hamilton segued to the Broadway stage before relocating to Hollywood to appear in films in 1933.
Margaret Hamilton won the role of a lifetime when glamorous actress Gale Sondergaard declined the part of the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. The script had been revised so that Sondergaard would play the character “with a hint of evil beauty” instead of as the repulsive crone in the original L. Frank Baum book. But under protest from Oz fans, producer Mervyn LeRoy recanted and reverted back to the concept of the Witch as a menacing, Halloween-type hag. The script had also expanded the Witch’s part so that she was obsessed with the Ruby Slippers’ power and would thus be a dramatic threat to Dorothy throughout the film.
By her own accounting, Hamilton was delighted to be associated with The Wizard of Oz, having loved the book as a girl and having played the Wicked Witch at least once before in a Junior League of Cleveland theatrical production of the story. She auditioned in a shawl and some decrepit-looking clothes and used her most menacing voice to read lines from the script, which included her famous witch laugh.
The change of actresses came with a handicap: Hamilton would be expected to have a false nose and chin painted over with green make-up (also applied to her neck and hands). Hamilton was assigned the role in early October 1938 and within a month, it was being reported that she was making other screen villains “look sissified by comparison.” When Hamilton gave out autographed portraits of herself to the small actors playing Munchkins, it was the first time many of them saw what she really looked like, as she always came to the set in full make-up!
Most fans know that Margaret Hamilton was seriously injured on December 28, 1938, during a timing mishap on a stunt in Munchkinland. On one take during which the Wicked Witch was to vanish in a burst of angry red smoke and flame, the fire effect was started too soon as Hamilton deescalated on a platform that took her beneath the stage. Her broom straws ignited instantly, burning her right hand and face, putting her out of commission to heal and recover for many weeks. (Because copper was used to tint her make-up its sickly hue, it was toxic to her exposed flesh and was painfully removed using rubbing alcohol.)
Hamilton recovered and completed her role as the frustrated and manipulative Wicked Witch of the West. But she also portrayed two other roles in The Wizard of Oz: that of wealthy spinster Almira Gulch, the Witch’s Kansas alter-ego, as well as the Wicked Witch of the East, seen briefly during the cyclone scenes. Her expert performance proved to be too harrowing and a number of her most vitriolic lines were excised in the editing process. After filming, and to her amusement, Hamilton’s make-up had a lingering effect, having temporarily tinged her face a pale green!
When Margaret Hamilton died on May 16, 1985, more than one newspaper honored her tongue-in-cheek request to print “Dong-Dong! The Witch is Dead” as the headline of her obituary. Although she performed in many other movies and plays, she will forever be remembered with fond – if not cautious — memories as the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.
Actress Margaret Hamilton played iconic Wicked Witch in 'Wizard of Oz': Women's History Month
As part of Women's History Month, we remember Cleveland native Margaret Hamilton, aka The Wicked Witch of the West.
Who can forget her green-faced villain from "The Wizard of Oz," with those long, pointy fingers and that frightening cackle?
Hamilton grew up in a big Victorian brownstone along Euclid Avenue's Millionaires' Row. Her father was a lawyer and his father a prominent judge.
She graduated from Hathaway Brown School in 1921, when it was on East 97th Street in a building the Cleveland Clinic recently tore down. The acting bug took hold after she played the male lead of her senior play, "Pomander Walk."
Hamilton headed to Boston to become a kindergarten teacher but returned home to care for her father after her mother died. She joined the ensemble cast at the Cleveland Play House.
Her son Hamilton Meserve notes that his mother's screen time in "The Wizard of Oz" lasted only 12 minutes, "but her offstage presence obviously dominated the whole film."
Hamilton, who appeared in more than 70 films, died in Connecticut in 1985 at age 82.
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One of the most iconic portrayals is by Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 film adaptation of "The Wizard of Oz." Hamilton's portrayal of the witch, with her green makeup, pointy hat, and cackling laugh, has become the standard image of the character. Her performance has left a lasting impression on audiences and has solidified her as the definitive Wicked Witch of the East.
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Margaret Hamilton
Hamilton's film career began in 1933, when she recreated her Broadway role in the movie version of Another Language. By the time she was cast as the Wicked Witch, she had already made 25 films. She worked more than many actors in her day, because she freelanced instead of signing a studio contract, and cleverly kept her salary below $1000 per week. [1] She had previously played the Witch onstage in two community theater productions.
On December 23, 1938, while filming the Wicked Witch's exit from Munchkinland in a blaze of fire, Hamilton suffered first-degree burns on the right side of her face and second-degree burns on her right hand; the flames rose too soon, before she had descended below the stage. Hamilton's green makeup was copper-based and potentially toxic, and had to be removed from her burned flesh with alcohol, an intensely painful process. She wasn't able to return to the movie until February 10. When she did return, she wore green gloves, since her hand was not yet fully healed. [2]
Hamilton's infamous Witch's laugh blew out sound equipment circuits. For several weeks after she completed work on her role, Hamilton's complexion retained a green tinge from the Witch's makeup.
When the film was previewed for test audiences in June 1939, Hamilton's performance as the Witch was perceived as too frightening. In a letter dated 16 July, L. Frank Baum's granddaughter Florence wrote to Ruth Plumly Thompson about a preview three weeks earlier: "It was very good, although the Witch was so terrifying that some small children had to be taken out." The final edit of the film removed a least a dozen lines of the Witch's dialogue to tone down her effect. [3]
Margaret Hamilton had previously played with Oz castmate Frank Morgan in By Your Leave and There's Always Tomorrow (both 1934) and Saratoga (1937). She would appear with Judy Garland again in Babes in Arms (1939), with Jack Haley in George White's Scandals (1945), and with Ray Bolger in The Daydreamer (1966). And she appeared with Clara Blandick in three films from 1934 to 1950.
In the finished film, Hamilton's Wicked Witch has twelve minutes of screen time. Hamilton worked on the production for four months, and earned precisely $18,541.68. [4]
Prior to her acting career, Hamilton had worked as a kindergarten teacher. She made efforts to stay true to her roots by promoting elementary education throughout her life. In 1948 she was elected to a school board in Beverly Hills, California. In the 1970s she donated considerable amounts of money to Public Broadcasting Service, in particular the Children's Television Workshop, in an effort to promote early learning.
in 1975 Hamilton appeared on the PBS series Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, discussing her Oz role.
Hamilton appeared in an episode of Sesame Street which aired February 10th, 1976, reprising her role as the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz (1939). Reportedly, her performance scared so many children that their parents wrote in to CTW, saying their kids were too scared to watch the show anymore. As a result of the overwhelming reaction, this episode never re-aired. Sesame Workshop (successor to CTW) still has the episode in its archives and seven minutes of the episode were shown in 2019.
Hamilton appeared in the Paul Lynde Halloween Special which aired October 29, 1976. She appeared as both herself and the Wicked Witch of the West. Also present was Billie Hayes as her "sister" Witchiepoo, from the series H.R. Pufnstuf, which was heavily influenced by the 1939 Oz.
In the 1970s she appeared in several PSA commercial and provided the role of Cora the store clerk that only sells Maxwell House Coffee.
Hamilton died in her sleep on May 16, 1985 from a heart attack in a nursing home in Salsbury, Connecticut at the age of 82.
In more recent adaptations of Baum's work, including the highly successful musical "Wicked," other actresses have taken on the role. In the Broadway production of "Wicked," the character is portrayed by different actresses depending on the production and the region. Notable actresses who have played the part include Shoshana Bean, Stephanie J. Block, and Rachel Tucker. Each actress brings their unique interpretation and style to the character, making the role their own. The success of the Wicked Witch of the East character relies heavily on the performance of the actress. It requires a balance of wickedness, power, and charisma to portray the character effectively. The actress must embody the witch's malevolence while also being captivating and memorable to the audience. In conclusion, the portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the East is an important aspect of the character's popularity. A talented actress can bring depth and complexity to the character, making her truly wicked and memorable. From Margaret Hamilton's iconic portrayal to the various actresses who have played the role in "Wicked," the actresses who take on the Wicked Witch of the East bring their unique interpretation and talent to the character, making her come to life on stage and screen..
Reviews for "From Munchkins to Ozians: The Wicked Witch of the East Actress's Impact on the Wizard of Oz Universe"
1. Sarah - 2 stars: I found the performance of the Wicked Witch of the East actress to be underwhelming. Her portrayal lacked depth and conviction, making it difficult for me to connect with the character. Additionally, her delivery of lines felt forced and unnatural, taking away from the overall experience of the play. I was left disappointed and unimpressed by her performance.
2. Jason - 1 star: The Wicked Witch of the East actress was a complete miscast. Her lack of stage presence was evident throughout the entire performance. It felt as though she was simply going through the motions, without truly embodying the character. Her lackluster performance took away from the overall enjoyment of the play, and I was left wanting more from such a pivotal role.
3. Emily - 2 stars: I was disappointed by the portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the East in this production. The actress seemed unsure of her choices, resulting in a lack of consistency in her performance. She failed to capture the essence of the character, and her acting felt flat and uninspired. I had high hopes for this role, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations.
4. Michael - 1 star: The Wicked Witch of the East actress was by far the weakest link in this production. Her performance lacked energy and charisma, making it difficult to stay engaged in the play. She seemed disconnected from her fellow cast members, and her delivery felt robotic. I was left unimpressed by her portrayal and felt that she let down the entire production.
5. Olivia - 2 stars: I found the performance of the Wicked Witch of the East actress to be subpar. Her portrayal lacked the necessary intensity and captivating presence that the character requires. She failed to evoke any emotion from the audience and seemed to be just going through the motions. I was hoping for a more dynamic performance from such a crucial character in the story.