The Wizard of Oz was officially released 80 years ago today on August 25, 1939. MGM previewed the movie in Wisconsin two weeks earlier to test its popularity in the Midwest, where the film is set, and see the audience response to Technicolor. Viewers were wowed! The film was also shown in Hollywood on August 15 and New York City on August 17 before it opened nationwide on August 25. Initial reviews were mostly positive, but some criticized MGM for encroaching on Disney territory. With average ticket prices 25 cents (and only 10 or 15 cents for children), it was a decade before MGM recouped its nearly $3 million investment, and the film’s longevity wasn’t assured until CBS began annual television broadcasts in 1956. Read more about the making of The Wizard of Oz and its “big” and “little” stars in A Brain. A Heart. The Nerve. (see NOVELS).
