Emerald City's Boston Connection 🧙 The Bostonian Influence on The Wizard of Oz
To fans of L. Frank Baum’s classic, "The Wizard of Oz," the story seems a world apart from the mean streets of Boston. But, you’d be interested to know, a few key figures from the world of Oz have deep-rooted connections to Boston.
The Scarecrow
Let’s start with the one of the most prominent character on the movie, Ray Bolger, who played the Scarecrow. Born Raymond Wallace Bolger on January 10, 1904, in Dorchester. Raised in a family of performers, he began his career as a vaudevillian. Bolger's breakout role was in MGM's "The Great Ziegfeld" (1936), which brought him into the spotlight. However, it was his memorable performance as the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) that catapulted him to stardom.
Clara Blanchard Dickey (Auntie Em)
Auntie Em
(thank you John McDonald for letting us know we missed her)
Born aboard an American ship in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, Clara Blanchard Dickey adopted the stage name Clara Blandick when she launched her acting career. After moving to Quincy, as a young child, Clara ventured into acting, starting with a role in a Boston production of Richard Lovelace alongside Shakespearean actor E.H. Sothern. As she delved deeper into the profession, she relocated to New York City at the dawn of the 20th century. However, it was her role as Auntie Em in the iconic 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz," that solidified her status in cinematic history.
Wicked Witch of the West
Another key character, Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West, wasn't from Boston but lived here for a long time. She attended Wheelock College and later taught kindergarten at the Rindge Technical School in Cambridge (Now Cambridge Rindge and Latin). However, her passion for acting saw her transition from the classroom to the stage, leading to her iconic role as one of cinema's most memorable villains.
Tremont St, So End; This is where Oz (Frank Morgan) started his acting career
Frank Morgan as The Wizard of Oz
Oz himself
Next is Frank Morgan, who portrayed none other than the Wizard of Oz himself. Although Morgan was born in New York City he grew his stage career here. He became a member of Boston's Castle Square Theatre company in the early 1900s, where he honed his craft before making the leap to Hollywood.
While Wizard of Oz is set in a world far from our reality it’s cool to think how the actors are from right here in Boston.
Old timey Boston, but Boston still.
Who’s your fav Oz character? Let us know in the comments!
