1️⃣ Judy’s Dress Deception – That light blue gingham dress? Thick cotton that trapped heat. Under the scorching stage lights, Judy Garland sometimes fainted between takes.

2️⃣ 90 Pounds of Lion – Bert Lahr’s Cowardly Lion costume was made from real lion pelts and weighed about 90 pounds. He sweated buckets under it.

3️⃣ Toxic Witch Makeup – Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch makeup was copper-based and toxic. She couldn’t eat and drank meals through a straw to avoid swallowing it.

4️⃣ Fiery Accident – Hamilton’s face and hands were burned when a pyrotechnic stunt in Munchkinland went wrong. She was out for weeks recovering.

5️⃣ Horses of a Different Color – The Emerald City’s horses were dusted with colored gelatin powder. Filming was rushed before they licked it off.

6️⃣ The Winkie Whip – The Wicked Witch’s castle guards carried real whips to snap dramatically in the background—dangerously close to extras.

7️⃣ Flying Monkey Mishap – The wires holding the flying monkeys sometimes snapped, sending stuntmen tumbling onto the soundstage floor.

8️⃣ Tin Man Toxicity – Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man, was hospitalized after inhaling aluminum dust from his makeup. He was replaced by Jack Haley, whose makeup was switched to a safer paste.

9️⃣ Scorching Lights – Technicolor required massive, ultra-bright lights that made the set swelteringly hot—uncomfortable for everyone, unbearable for those in heavy costumes.

🔟 Endless Retakes – Director Victor Fleming pushed for perfection, sometimes filming scenes over and over until exhaustion set in for both cast and crew.