Movie Monday: Before there was Wicked, there was The Wizard in Wisconsin

Wicked blasted into theaters over the weekend and brought in $114 million (domestically) and another global haul of $164.2 million.

However, long before Wicked, there was The Wizard of Oz. Chronologically, by release date, I mean. Since Wicked – technically – is the prequel to The Wizard of Oz (if we’re speaking purely on plot). Then take into account this new Wicked movie is actually Part 1 with another Wicked movie to be released later to finish the second half of the stage version of which the movie is based. But that’s a lot of time-movie-math and it’s a holiday week so let’s not think that hard!

What is pretty cool is that wayyyyyy back in 1939, Wisconsin got the first look at the technicolor spectacle that was: The Wizard of Oz.

Dorothy, Toto, The Wicked Witch, and the rest of the characters made their world debut right here in Wisconsin. Although there is a bit of debate as to the exact day and the exact location.

The Strand Theatre in Oconomowoc claims the first showing as August 12, 1939. The city has a downtown plaza to pay tribute called Oz Plaza, even equipment with its own version of the yellow brick road. Many of the main characters have statues there in their honor, too.

Yet some claim that the world premiere was actually the day prior and that Oconomowoc was indeed NOT the first location The Wizard of Oz was shown. In Kenosha and Appleton (both also in Wisconsin), many claim the film was shown on August 11, 1939.

Want to contact Laura McKenna about a good movie you’ve seen or anything else that’s on your mind? Email anytime, she’d love to hear from you: Laura.McKenna@civicmedia.us
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