There are many fascinating stories about the 1939 production
of the Wizard of Oz. True or not, they’re all entertaining. One of my favorites
involves a coat that Frank Morgan wore in the film. The wardrobe department wanted
to give the wizard and Professor Marvel an air of faded elegance. They bought
an entire rack of coats from a second-hand store. Director Victor Fleming chose
one he felt exemplified shabby gentility. One day as he was on set wearing this
coat, Frank Morgan happened to look in one of the pockets and found a label
claiming the coat had originally been made for L. Frank Baum. Like the wizard
and the professor, Baum had won and lost fame and fortune. MGM’s publicist
contacted the tailor and Baum’s widow, who both confirmed that the garment had
once belonged to the author of the Oz books. After the movie was released the
coat was returned to Mrs. Baum, who had probably donated it to good will in the first place.
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