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Time of India
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
From emerald cities to ruby shoes: The curious colors of Oz
Representative Image (AI) On May 17, 1900, US author Lyman Frank Baum published a tale that has since enchanted readers and viewers over generations with its unforgettable characters, magical settings and universal themes of courage, friendship and the search for home. At the heart of the story is Dorothy Gale , a young girl living on a quiet Kansas farm. When a powerful tornado sweeps her and her dog Toto away, she finds herself in the fantastical Land of Oz, where wonder and danger lurk. Advised by a kind witch, Dorothy sets off for the Emerald City by following a Yellow Brick Road, hoping that the mysterious Wizard of Oz can help her return home. The journey within Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow wanting a brain, a Tin Man longing for a heart and a Cowardly Lion seeking courage. Together, they face trials, outwit a wicked witch and discover that the qualities they each sought lay within them all along. Dorothy's magical ruby slippers , which she acquires after her tornado-borne house lands on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East, hold the final key to her return home. Britannica, which describes it as "a modern fairy tale with a distinctly American setting," also states that some consider the gutsy Dorothy as one of the first feminist heroes in children's literature. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ready to Live in 2, 3 & 4 BHK from ₹3.60 Cr* in Sec 22 Ambience Creacions, Gurugram Learn More Undo Whether through film, stage or song, the diverse adaptations of the Land of Oz have since seen it evolve into a pop culture icon. But the visuals most often associated with it stem mainly from MGM's 1939 film adaptation starring then-16-year-old Judy Garland, whose wistful rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was voted "the greatest song of the 20th century" in a 2001 joint survey by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America. On the book's 125th anniversary, here are some curious backstories on the colors that breathed life into " The Wizard of Oz ." Slippers that switched color… In Baum's original book, Dorothy's enchanted footwear were silver, not ruby. T he 1939 film famously changed them to a glimmering red to take full advantage of the then-new Technicolor film process. Red simply popped better on screen as opposed to silver, and especially against the yellow bricks of the road. One pair of these slippers worn by Judy Garland, stolen in 2005 from a Minnesota museum and recovered by the FBI in 2018, sold at auction for $28 million in 2024. … and horses too? Way before CGI, there was food dye. To recreate "a horse of a different color," the dazzling, color-changing horse that greets Dorothy and friends in the Emerald City, four separate white horses were used to create the effect of a single horse that changes color from moment to moment. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had objected to the horses' fur being dyed traditionally; the lore goes that technicians tinted them either with jello powder or food dye to create a spectrum of white, purple, red and yellow. As the equine actors reportedly kept licking the colored powder off between takes, the scenes had to be shot as quickly as possible. Through green-tinted glasses Curiously, what is known as the "Emerald City" is neither green nor built of emeralds. It appears so because everyone is required to wear green-tinted glasses, a clever ruse by the Wizard to create the illusion of grandeur. The 1939 film, however, featured a literal green metropolis, thus forever cementing the Emerald City in popular culture as a glowing, green paradise. What color was Dorothy's dress actually? There's also diverging takes online on whether Dorothy's gingham pinafore dress was blue and white or blue and pink. Some fan sites explain that what appeared to be blue and white, was in reality, blue and light pink. The costume team had apparently used pink, which rendered better on screen under the intense lighting of that era. One cannot help but recall the color challenge on social media in early 2015, known as "The Dress." Remember? That viral phenomenon where a photograph of a dress sparked a debate on whether it was white and gold or blue and black, due to differences in color perception and how the brain interprets lighting. A kaleidoscope of adaptations Since its original publication, "The Wizard of Oz" has spawned colorful interpretations. Singer Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973), co-written with long-time collaborative partner Bernie Taupin, uses Oz imagery to symbolize disillusionment with fame and a yearning for a simpler life. The 78-year-old singer's final world tour was renamed "Farewell Yellow Brick Road." It began in Allentown, Pennsylvania, US, on September 8, 2018, and ended in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8, 2023. Meanwhile, 1978's "The Wiz" was an all-Black musical reimagining starring ex-Supremes singer Diana Ross as Dorothy and the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. Based on what was originally a successful Broadway musical, the film was widely panned by critics. But something more significant happened behind the scenes: It led veteran producer Quincy Jones to first cross paths with his future "Thriller" collaborator, Jackson And finally, Broadway's 2003 blockbuster "Wicked" flipped the script entirely, telling the untold story of the misunderstood "Wicked Witch of the West" Elphaba, complete with emerald skin and gravity-defying vocals. Incidentally, the musical's most recognizable number is, indeed, "Defying Gravity." The musical, which is based on a novel of the same name, has since been adapted into a two-part film, with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande leading the cast. The first part was released in 2024 and was nominated for 10 Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards, winning two, best costume design and production design.
DW
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- DW
From emerald cities to ruby shoes: The curious colors of Oz – DW – 05/16/2025
As "The Wizard of Oz" turns 125, here are some colorful facts about its pop culture adaptations that include edible dye, Elton John and Technicolor tricks. On May 17, 1900, US author Lyman Frank Baum published a tale that has since enchanted readers and viewers over generations with its unforgettable characters, magical settings and universal themes of courage, friendship and the search for home. At the heart of the story is Dorothy Gale, a young girl living on a quiet Kansas farm. When a powerful tornado sweeps her and her dog Toto away, she finds herself in the fantastical Land of Oz, where wonder and danger lurk. Advised by a kind witch, Dorothy sets off for the Emerald City by following a Yellow Brick Road, hoping that the mysterious Wizard of Oz can help her return home. The journey within Along the way, she befriends a Scarecrow wanting a brain, a Tin Man longing for a heart and a Cowardly Lion seeking courage. Together, they face trials, outwit a wicked witch and discover that the qualities they each sought lay within them all along. Dorothy's magical ruby slippers — which she acquired after her tornado-borne house lands on and kills the Wicked Witch of the East — hold the final key to her return home. What we seek is ultimately within us — a lesson from 'The Wizard of Oz' Image: Mary Evans/IMAGO Britannica, which describes it as "a modern fairytale with a distinctly American setting," also states that some consider the gutsy Dorothy as one of the first feminist heroes in children's literature. Whether through film, stage or song, the diverse adaptations of the Land of Oz have since seen it evolve into a pop culture icon. But the visuals most often associated with it stem mainly from MGM's 1939 film adaptation starring then-16-year-old Judy Garland, whose wistful rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was in 2001 voted "the greatest song of the 20th century" in a joint survey by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America. On the book's 125th anniversary, here are some curious backstories on the colors that breathed life into "The Wizard of Oz." The ruby slippers were stolen in 2005 and recovered by the FBI 13 years later Image: Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune/AP Photo/picture alliance Slippers that switched color… In Baum's original book, Dorothy's enchanted footwear were silver — not ruby. The 1939 film famously changed them to a glimmering red to take full advantage of the then-new Technicolor film process. Red simply popped better on screen as opposed to silver, and especially against the yellow bricks of the road. One pair of these slippers worn by Judy Garland, which was stolen in 2005 from a Minnesota museum and recovered by the FBI in 2018, sold at auction for $28 million in 2024. The equine actors appear in 'non-horse-y' colors in the film Image: United Archives/picture alliance … and horses too? Way before CGI, there was food dye. To recreate "a horse of a different color" — the dazzling, color-changing horse that greets Dorothy and friends in the Emerald City — four separate white horses were used to create the effect of a single horse that changes color from moment to moment. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals had objected to the horses' fur being dyed traditionally; the lore goes that technicians tinted them either with jello powder or food dye to create a spectrum of white, purple, red, and yellow. As the equine actors reportedly kept licking the colored powder off between takes, the scenes had to be shot as quickly as possible. Looking at life through 'green tinted glasses' Image: Mary Evans/IMAGO Through green-tinted glasses Curiously, what is known as the "Emerald City" is neither green nor built of emeralds. It appears so because everyone is required to wear green-tinted glasses — a clever ruse by the Wizard to create the illusion of grandeur. The 1939 film, however, featured a literal green metropolis, thus forever cementing the Emerald City in popular culture as a glowing, green paradise. What colors can you see? The gingham dress worn by Judy Garland Image: Katie Vasquez/AP Photo/picture alliance What color was Dorothy's dress actually? There's also diverging takes online on whether Dorothy's gingham pinafore dress was blue and white or blue and pink. Some fan sites explain that what appeared to be blue and white, was in reality, blue and light pink. The costume team had apparently used pink — which rendered better on screen under the intense lighting of that era. One cannot help but recall the color challenge on social media in early 2015, known as "The Dress." Remember? That viral phenomenon where a photograph of a dress sparked a debate on whether it was white and gold or blue and black, due to differences in color perception and how the brain interprets lighting. Stage decor of Elton John's final tour 'Farewell Yellow Brick Road' Image: Greg Chow/ZUMAPRESS/picture alliance A kaleidoscope of adaptations Since its original publication, "The Wizard of Oz" has spawned colorful interpretations. Singer Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" (1973), co-written with long-time collaborative partner Bernie Taupin, uses Oz imagery to symbolize disillusionment with fame and a yearning for a simpler life. The 78-year-old singer's final world tour was renamed "Farewell Yellow Brick Road." It began in Allentown, Pennsylvania, US, on September 8, 2018, and ended in Stockholm, Sweden, on July 8, 2023. 1978's "The Wiz" meanwhile was an all-Black musical reimagining starring ex-Supremes singer Diana Ross as Dorothy and the late King of Pop Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. Based on what was originally a successful Broadway musical, the film was widely panned by critics. But something more significant happened behind the scenes: It led veteran producer Quincy Jones to first cross paths with his future "Thriller" collaborator, Jackson. Cynthia Erivo (left) as the green-skinned witch Elphaba, seen here with co-star Ariana Grande in the film 'Wicked' Image: Universal Pictures/AP Photo/picture alliance And finally, Broadway's 2003 blockbuster "Wicked" flipped the script entirely, telling the untold story of the misunderstood "Wicked Witch of the West" Elphaba — complete with emerald skin and gravity-defying vocals. Incidentally, the musical's most recognizable number is indeed, "Defying Gravity." It's since been adapted into a two-part film, with Cynthia Erivo andAriana Grande leading the cast. The first part that was released in 2024 was nominated for 10 Oscars at the 97th Academy Awards, winning two — best costume design and production design. Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier
Associated Press
30-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Fashion Designer Earnest Diaz Donates Iconic Cowardly Lion's King of the Forest Cape to the Oz Museum
Fashion designer Earnest Diaz donates his hand-sewn, one-of-a-kind recreation of the Cowardly Lion's King of the Forest cape to the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas. United States, March 30, 2025 -- A Legendary Creation for the Oz Museum Fashion designer Earnest Diaz has made a remarkable contribution to the Wizard of Oz legacy by donating his meticulously recreated Cowardly Lion's King of the Forest cape to the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas. This breathtaking cape, a tribute to the Cowardly Lion's iconic character in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, was hand-sewn over 622 hours of detailed labor. Earnest crafted the cape with incredible precision, dedicating another week to complete the final touches, ensuring it met his vision for an authentic and stunning homage to one of cinema's most beloved characters. Originally, Earnest had considered placing the cape up for auction starting in January 2025 but decided instead to offer the iconic piece to the Oz Museum. The donation aims to provide future generations with the opportunity to view a painstakingly crafted reproduction of the Cowardly Lion's cape, an object tied to a cherished piece of cinematic history. A Unique Tribute to Earnest's Heroes The Cape's creation was part of a larger personal project for Earnest, who had decided to pay tribute to several significant influences in his artistic journey. These figures—who inspired Earnest's creativity and craftsmanship—played a vital role in shaping his approach to design. However, it was the portrayal of the Cowardly Lion that truly inspired him to craft the King of the Forest cape. When Earnest realized that 2024 marked the 85th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, it became a pivotal moment for him. The anniversary underscored the significance of the Cowardly Lion's performance and the cape, leading Earnest to embark on a journey to recreate the costume with the utmost care. The cape itself is a true masterpiece, an embodiment of Earnest's dedication to craftsmanship and passion for storytelling through fashion. An Event to Celebrate the Legacy In 2025, the public will get a chance to witness the cape up close during the official presentation at the Oz Museum's OZtoberfest on October 4th. While the cape is already on display, this event will serve as a special moment for visitors to celebrate Earnest's contribution to preserving the legacy of The Wizard of Oz. As part of his ongoing journey to celebrate and connect with the iconic figures that shaped his work, Earnest's donation highlights not only his artistry but also his commitment to enriching cultural history. The cape's presentation at the museum will undoubtedly capture the hearts of Oz fans, fashion enthusiasts, and collectors alike. A Designer with a Rich History Earnest Diaz is no stranger to creating pieces of extraordinary value. Having begun his career in fashion at the age of 12, Earnest's extensive experience spans wedding design, casual wear, evening wear, jewelry, and accessories. His career is distinguished by collaborations with well-known figures in various industries. By 2024, he became the first fashion designer to receive seven Honorary Doctorates of Fine Arts for his contributions to film and TV. Earnest's wide-reaching impact also includes his successful music career, with notable compositions and awards, as well as his screenwriting endeavors. His unique ability to blend fashion, music, and film has earned him multiple awards, including Music Composer of the Year (Scotland, 2022) and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Earnest's philanthropic nature is exemplified by his dedication to preserving the cultural impact of the Wizard of Oz through his work with the Oz Museum. About Earnest Diaz Earnest Diaz is a multifaceted brand founded by Earnest Diaz, an award-winning fashion designer, author, musician, composer, and screenwriter. With decades of experience in the fashion industry and a reputation for creating groundbreaking work, Earnest is renowned for his unique approach to design, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern influences. He has received numerous accolades for his work across fashion, music, and screenwriting, including recognition from prestigious institutions. Earnest Diaz stands as a symbol of creativity, innovation, and cultural preservation. Media Contact: Earnest Diaz Website: Contact Info: Name: Earnest Diaz Email: Send Email Organization: Earnest Diaz Release ID: 89156506
