40 Best Behind-the-Scenes Photos From the Production of 'The Wizard of Oz'

The 1900 children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum, was optioned as a movie in the '30s. And the rest, as they, is history.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) won the film rights to the popular book and soon after set out to create the magical fantasy world of Oz. Photographed here are some of the high level executives at the studio, including Mervyn LeRoy (center).

A line extends around the block of MGM Studio's casting office during an open casting call.

Although MGM producers first approached Shirley Temple and Deanna Durbin about playing the part of Dorothy Gale, the studio ultimately casted 16-year-old Judy Garland.

Director Victor Fleming and MGM producer Mervyn Leroy strategize about sets with the film's set designers. The studio spent a great deal on creating the fantasy world, with production and promotion budgets estimated at $4 million in 1939 (approximately $72 million today).

The film's young star was busy while working on the film—the actress opened her first flower shop in 1938, Judy Garland Flowers Inc. She's seen pinning a corsage on the lapel of MGM executive, George Sidney, at her shop here.

The studio originally saw Dorothy with blonde hair and tried to outfit Garland with a wig. But they ended up sticking with her natural brown hair color for the role — and we can't imagine it any different!

After casting Dorothy, the next step was filling out the parts of her misfit friends, such as the Cowardly Lion — MGM chose actor Bert Lahr.

With his makeup and costume, you can hardly recognize Ray Bolger as the scarecrow.

The Tin Man, who has no heart, was played by Jack Haley — although he didn't always have the role. Originally, the part belonged to Buddy Ebsen, but the actor had to drop out of the production after aluminum from the makeup hospitalized him. He didn't recover quickly enough to play the part, so Jack took over.

What would The Wizard of Oz be without Dorothy's little dog? Her sidekick, Toto, was played by Terry, a female Cairn Terrier who appeared in numerous films during her lifetime.

The film, which won Best Original Score and Best Original Song at the 1940 Academy Awards, produced some of the most classic songs to this day, including "Somewhere over the rainbow." Here, in 1939, the cast is seen singing various tunes from the movie for NBC radio.

The actors who played the film's main characters, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, the Wizard, and the Cowardly Lion, all pose together in costume for a promotional shoot for the film.

While filming in Los Angeles, the young actress is seen polishing her new car.

In the 1939 film, Dorothy wore the now-iconic gingham dress, which was chosen to attempt to make her look younger.

The movie premiered in 1939 and was the most expensive production from the studio at the time — largely due to production and promotion costs.

Renowned American director Orson Welles and actress Linda Winters attend the opening night premiere of The Wizard of Oz in 1939.

Although the film failed to make a profit following its original release, crowds extended down the block as people flocked to see the anticipated film. The movie became lucrative after its 1946 rerelease and is considered one of the most watched films to this day.

There's no place like home, and if you're from Kansas you've probably heard that a lot. In the film, Dorothy, who becomes swept into the magical world from a tornado, journeys to Emerald City so she can return to her farm in Kansas — seen here.

Judy, alongside Clara Blandick and Margaret Hamilton, shoots one of the early scenes of the film, when Dorothy's aunt tries to give away Toto.