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- [00:00]
Lindsey Graham
There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@ebookist.com it's late in the evening on October 21, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. Actor Buddy Ebsen lies in bed at home, shuddering in pain. His wife reaches to his side and tries to comfort him, but Buddy winces as he holds his hands out to her. They're trembling and curled into tight fists. At age 30, Buddy is normally strong and healthy, but right now he feels like he's dying and he has no idea why. All day, Buddy has grown more uncomfortable, his head and hands racked with pain. But after going to bed, his condition quickly worsened. Now he's struggling even to breathe, and the ambulance his wife summoned a few minutes ago can't come soon enough. Buddy's only two weeks into filming a new movie, the wizard of Oz. He plays a man made of tin, so he wears a silver painted costume and makeup that makes his skin shine under the bright studio lights. But ever since production began, his health has steadily deteriorated. When the ambulance arrives, the paramedics assess Buddy's condition. He tries to put on a brave face, but every breath is a struggle and a searing pain is spreading across his chest. The paramedics carry him out of the house on a stretcher and load him into the back of the ambulance. As the vehicle pulls away from the curb, one of the paramedics puts an oxygen mask on Buddy's face. He inhales, but the pain is getting worse. His hands and feet are cramping and his his lungs feel like they're coated with mud. Every breath takes more and more effort. He desperately hopes that they get to the hospital in time. When Buddy Ebsen reaches the Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles, doctors will soon discover the cause of his illness. The pure aluminum dust in the makeup he's worn has coated the inside of his lungs, essentially suffocating him. Buddy will slowly recover, but not in time to keep his role in the wizard of Oz. Instead, the Tin man will be played by another actor. But Buddy's near death experience will be just the start of a series of accidents and controversies that producers must overcome before The wizard of Oz's star studded premiere on August 15, 1939. History Daily is sponsored by Etruby. The Lately, you may have been hearing about a serious but rare heart condition called attr Cardiac Amyloidosis or attrcm. Because symptoms can be similar to other heart conditions, it may take time to be diagnosed, but learning more about ATTRCM and a treatment called Atrube also called Acharamatis, could be important for you or a loved one. Atrube is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with ATTRCM to reduce death and hospitalization due to heart issues. In one study, people taking Atrubi saw an impact on their health related quality of life and 50% fewer hospitalizations due to heart issues than people who didn't take Atruby, giving you more chances to do what you love with who you love. Tell your doctor if you're pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding and about the medications you take. The most common side effects were mild and included diarrhea and abdominal pain. If you have attrcm, talk to your cardiologist about a Truby or visit attruby.com that's att r u b-y.com to learn.
- [03:38]
Mervyn Leroy
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- [04:07]
Lindsey Graham
From Noiser and Airship. I'm Lindsey Graham and this is history. Daily history is made every day on this podcast. Every day we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is August 15, 1939, the premiere of the wizard of Oz. It's October 1937 in Hollywood, California, a year before actor Buddy Ebsen is rushed to the emergency room, 37 year old Hollywood producer Mervyn Leroy steps out of the elevator on the third floor at MGM Studios. He shoots a smile at the secretary and as he makes his way down the hall, tries to ignore the cold stares from other producers at their desks. Mervyn knows why he's being greeted with such frosty looks. Word has gotten out about his record breaking salary. At $6,000 a week, he's getting paid more than any other producer at the studio. Mervyn feels he's earned his high wages after a string of success at his old studio, Warner Bros. But he's also smart enough to know that he's still got a lot to prove at mgm. He takes a deep breath as he enters the corner office of Louis B. Mayer, the powerful executive who wooed Mervyn to the studio. As Mervyn enters, the bespectacled mayor motions for him to take a seat and offers him a cigar. Mervyn takes one, chomps at its end as he lights it, trying to calm his nerves because he can see worry is etched all over Mayer's face. Last year, Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves was a spectacular box office success. Audiences were awed by the beautiful animation and skillful storytelling. Now everyone is eagerly anticipating Disney's next hit and the pressure is on other studios like MGM, to respond. And Mervyn believes he has the perfect idea. So he tells his new boss, Mayor, that the best way to outdo Disney is to make their own fantasy picture. But do it with live actors, outstanding music and spectacular special effects. Mervyn already knows the perfect story for his ambitious vision. The children's novel the Wonderful wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum published this book in May of 1900. It's the story of a young girl from the Midwest who gets swept up by a tornado into a strange world of flying creatures, menacing witches and magical powers. Readers were enthralled and Baum followed up with more than 10 sequels that added layers of complexity to the story. Baum always wanted to make adaptations of his work and over the years he staged his own radio and theater productions. But his ambitious plot and outlandish characters were difficult to dramatize and most of his productions were failures. Eventually, his experiments in theater and radio drove him into debt and he sold the rights to his book to a producer. But he never developed the idea any further and baum died in 1919 without ever seeing his beloved story make the leap to stage or screen. Now, Mervyn leroy has heard that the film rights are about to expire and he wants MGM to fulfill Baum's dying wish. But Louis B. Mayer looks skeptical, so Mervin refines his pitch. He argues that the fantastical world of Oz would be perfect to show off a new innovation in live action moviemaking. Technicolor film. Then Mervyn draws his trump card. He leans in, removing the cigar from his mouth and reveals that Walt Disney has also expressed interest in the rights to the Wonderful wizard of Oz. If MGM doesn't pounce on the story, their biggest rival will. And sure enough, when the rights for Oz go back up for sale a few months later, most of the top studios in town join the bidding. But thanks to Mervyn's enthusiasm for the project, MGM is willing to take a chance. It emerges as the winner of the auction, securing rights to L. Frank Baum's book for $75,000. Mervyn is ecstatic and immediately begins preparations to shoot the movie. He hires writers to transform the novel into a screenplay. He approves a budget of $2 million, making it one of the most expensive movies of the year. And then he assembles a cast of stars that he hopes will do the story justice. But the most important casting decision also proves to be the most difficult. At first, child star Shirley Temple seems like a natural fit to play the young lead character Dorothy. But after an audition, Mervyn expresses doubts about her, and he decides to look elsewhere. Eventually, Mervyn will take a big risk by casting a teenage newcomer in the lead role. And when she steps into Dorothy's ruby slippers, this young star will soon discover how harsh a Hollywood set can be. History Daily is sponsored by indeed. We've all done it. Try to take in all the grocery bags in one trip, but what happens when you can't manage it? A bruised banana? Some squished bread? It's often at the worst moment when you find out you need an extra pair of hands. And if you're running a business, the stakes are higher than. Well, dropping stakes on the ground. When it comes to hiring fast, Indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job posts seen on other job sites with Indeed sponsored jobs. Your post jumps to the top of the page so you can reach the people you want faster, and it makes a huge difference. According to Indeed data, sponsored jobs posted directly on indeed have 45% more applications than non sponsored jobs. There's no need to wait any longer. Speed up your hiring right now with Indeed and History Daily, listeners will get a $75 sponsored job credit. To get your jobs more visibility@indeed.com onthe just go to indeed.com onthis day. That's indeed.com onthis day. Terms and conditions apply. If you're hiring, Indeed is all you need.
- [09:57]
Judy Garland
You know that person in your life who just can't stand mayo? Call them dramatized. Call them close minded. We get it. They're stuck in their ways. But here's the thing. They just haven't tried Hellman's flavored mayo. We're talking bold flavors that will flip even the biggest skeptics. Spicy mayo that adds the perfect kick to your burger. Garlic aioli that transforms ordinary fries into something extraordinary. Chipotle mayo that turns your basic wrap into A smoky sensation. So to all the mayo haters out there, yes, we're looking at you. It's time to eat your words. Because with mayo this flavorful, any hater is just a mayo lover waiting to be convinced. Hellman's flavored Mayo. Get ready to eat your words.
- [10:52]
Lindsey Graham
It's November 1938, on the set of the wizard of Oz in Hollywood, California. Nine months after MGM secured the rights to produce the movie. 16 year old Judy Garland smooths down the hem of her blue dress and tries to focus on remembering her lines. After more than a decade performing on stage, singing and dancing in front of people are second nature to Judy. But the role of Dorothy is her first lead in a major movie and she's nervous. She runs through her dialogue again to calm herself. In the scene they've been working on, Judy is supposed to slap one of Dorothy's companions, the Cowardly lion, but she can't get the timing right. They've been working on this one short scene for the entire morning and Judy feels like it's all her fault. But Judy is not the only one who's feeling the strain. There's a nervous energy everywhere on set. Production of the movie has been hit by disaster after disaster. First, the actor playing the Tin man was rushed to the hospital with breathing difficulties and his part had to be recast. Shortly after, MGM producers replaced the movie's original director, unhappy with the early scenes he'd shot. Then Margaret Hamilton, playing the Wicked Witch of the west, suffered burns to her face and hands when a prop torch malfunctioned and ignited her costume. Later, her stunt double was also severely hurt in a similar accident. So the last thing anyone on the production needs now is a young star who can't get a scene right. Next to Judy, Three of her co stars stand around in their elaborate costumes. Burt Lahr wears thick whiskers and an orange mane as the Cowardly Lion. Jack Haley replaces Buddy Ebsen as the Tin man and shines brightly in his silver costume and makeup. And Ray Bolger stands with his arms outstretched as the Scarecrow. All three are sweltering under the hot arc lights needed to film in the new Technicolor method. But that doesn't stop them from trying to keep up the morale of their young leading lady. They joke and clown around until Judy starts to giggle. It's a rare light moment on set and a welcome break from the stress of shooting. But the moment is broken when the new director of the film, Victor Fleming, marches up to Judy with a scowl on his face. He glares at her and tells her to quit laughing, be professional. But she can't stop. Even just looking at her co star sets Judy off again. Victor is not amused, so he slaps her and orders her to return to her dressing room and stay there until she's calmed down. An uncomfortable silence settles among the actors on set. Judi is humiliated, but does as she's told. Since starting the film, Judi has endured constant scrutiny and most of the comments have been directed at her appearance. They've warned Judi not to gain any weight and put her on a strict diet, monitoring her meals and encouraging her to take only black coffee and cigarettes on set. She's also been prescribed multiple pills for anxiety, including amphetamines. Still, despite all these challenges, Judy has come to feel an affinity for the character of Dorothy and is determined to do a good job. So after spending some time alone in her dressing room, she composes herself and returns to set and finally manages to complete the scene. Three months later, in February 1939, Judy shines again as she takes her place next to a haystack on a set dressed as rural Kansas. She takes a deep breath and starts to sing a song written for the movie titled over the Rainbow. As the camera rolls, the crew is dumbstruck by the depth and beauty of Judy's voice and her captivating presence on camera. And thanks to Judy's spellbinding performance as Dorothy, the movie finally starts to come together. Ray Bolger dances delightfully across the fields of flowers as the scarecrow, Margaret Hamilton as menacing as the Wicked witch, and Bert Lahr provides moments of comic genius as the Cowardly Lion. So despite all the challenges, the producers start to believe that this troubled project can be a success. And cast and crew alike will continue to work around the clock to bring the awe and wonder of the wizard of Oz to audiences around the world.
- [14:48]
Mervyn Leroy
Searching for a romantic summer getaway escape with Rich Girl Summer, the new Audible original from Lily Chiu, the exquisitely talented Philippa Sue. Returning to narrate her fifth Lily Chu title, this time, Philippa is joined by her real life husband, Steven pasquale. Set in Toronto's wealthy cottage country, a.k.a. the Hamptons of Canada, Rich Girl Summer follows the story of Valerie, a down on her luck event planner posing as a socialite's long lost daughter while piecing together the secrets surrounding a mysterious family and falling deeper and deeper in love with the impossibly hard to read and infuriatingly handsome family assistant Nico. Caught between pretending to belong and unexpectedly finding where she truly fits in. Valerie learns her summer is about to get far more complicated than she ever planned. She's in over her head and head over heels. Listen to Rich Girl Summer now on audible. Go to audible.com richgirlsummer Is your AI.
- [15:42]
Judy Garland
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- [15:47]
Lindsey Graham
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- [15:49]
Judy Garland
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- [16:08]
Lindsey Graham
It's August 15, 1939, at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Five months after shooting Raft on the wizard of Oz, MGM producer Mervyn leroy steps to the curb on Hollywood Boulevard, his heart racing with anticipation. He squints up at the brightly lit facade of the theater and the sidewalk in front, which has been painted to look like a yellow brick road leading to the entrance. More than 5,000 spectators line the street, all jostling for a better view. A throng of Munchkins in full costume poses for photographers. Green spires rise into the sky to depict Oz's fictional capital, the Emerald City. Hollywood stars Bing Crosby and Eddie Cantor have brought their children to watch, and they wave to the crowd. But unlike these A Listers, Mervyn goes unrecognized. He makes his way into the theater and climbs the stairs to his reserved seat. As is his custom, he has requested a place in the balcony not so he can watch the movie, but so he can look down and gauge the reaction of the audience. As the house lights dim, Mervyn peers into the dark darkness. He takes a deep breath as the curtain rises, but he has no need to be nervous. The audience gasps and cheers with delight at all the right places. This successful premiere leads to a strong opening at the US Box office, but to Mervyn's disappointment, reviews from the critics are mixed, and soon ticket sales taper off. While many critics marvel at the wondrous visuals, some dismiss the acting as over the top and says the film lacks a cohesive narrative. One critic even describes cringing at the movie and remarks that it shows no trace of imagination, good taste or ingenuity. In the end, because of its high production costs, the wizard of Oz barely breaks even, and at the Academy Awards the following year, it's overshadowed by the historical epic Gone with the Wind. But Judy Garland's stunning voice is still recognized by the judges, and the wizard of Oz picks up awards for best musical score and best song. It's not until 1956 when CBS premieres the movie on American television that the film's popularity explodes. More than 50 million viewers tune in to watch the story of Dorothy and her quest to return home to Kansas. And they're just the first of many. Over the next few decades, the wizard of Oz will be broadcast again and again. Eventually, it will become the most watched television movie movie of the 20th century. Generation after generation fall in love with the story long after its Los angeles premiere on August 15, 1939. Next on History Daily August 18, 1920. The 19th amendment is ratified by the U.S. congress, granting women the right to vote. Foreign this Is History Daily Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Mohammed Shazi Sound design by Gabriel Gould Supervising Sound designer Matthew Filler Music by Thrum. This episode is written and researched by Dorian Marina Edited by Scott Reeves Managing producer Emily Burke Executive producers are William Simpson for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.
- [19:29]
Mervyn Leroy
Oh, what you eating?
- [19:30]
Lindsey Graham
The new banana split cookie from AM pm. All freshly baked with real butter with banana, chocolate and strawberry flavors.
- [19:36]
Mervyn Leroy
Wow, that sounds amazing. Can I have a bite?
- [19:38]
Lindsey Graham
I'm sorry, but no. But you can't split the banana split.
- [19:42]
Mervyn Leroy
Not even a little.
- [19:43]
Lindsey Graham
Not even a crumb.
- [19:44]
Mervyn Leroy
What if.
- [19:45]
Lindsey Graham
No, please. Mine when it's too legit to split. That's cravenience. Get a 3 pack for 99 cents with our app ampm. Too much good stuff. Plus tax where applicable. Prices and participation may vary. Terms and conditions apply.