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Insider's 'Wizard of Oz' Trivia Quiz

An insider's look at some of the little-known facts about the making of 'The Wizard of Oz'. (NOTE: although 'midget' is not a politically correct term today, this quiz retains that name for little people since that was the term used in 1939).

A multiple-choice quiz by vendome. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
vendome

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
7,843

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
11052

Last 3 plays: Guest 162 (9/10), Guest 97 (8/10), Guest 172 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. How did author L. Frank Baum claim that he came up with the word 'Oz' as the magical place where Dorothy is dropped? Hint

in memory of his brother, Ozwald

from the labels on his file cabinet

from the John Donne poem, 'Oh Oz! My Oz! Naught to fear!'

from the childhood games of 'Odds and Evens'

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many 'midgets' appeared in the 'Wizard of Oz' as residents of Munchkinland? Hint

91, plus 27 children

75, plus 52 children

122, plus 12 children

197, with no children

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Question 3 of 10

3. Of the major stars in the movie, which one received the most money for their Wizard of Oz appearance? Hint

Ray Bolger

Frank Morgan

Bert Lahr

Jack Haley

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Question 4 of 10

4. Another actor was signed to play the Tin Man, but had to be replaced when he developed a near fatal reaction to the silver makeup. Who was he? Hint

Jack Benny

Edgar Bergen

Buddy Ebsen

W. C. Fields

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was Judy Garland's salary for her work in the Wizard of Oz? Hint

$500 per week for a minimum 20 weeks

a flat $15,000

$1000 per week for a minimum 20 weeks

a flat $20,000

6. Judy Garland had been signed for another role when the opportunity to play Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz opened up. The producer of the original commitment let her out of her contract. What was the movie?

Answer: (Four Words)

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was Dorothy's last name?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 8 of 10

8. What salary arrangements were made for the 'midgets' who appeared in the film? Hint

$50 per week

$250 flat fee

$75 per week

$350 flat fee

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Question 9 of 10

9. Judy Garland received a unique honor as a result of her performance. What was it? Hint

A Best Juvenile of 1939 minature Academy Award

She was and is the youngest performer to have her imprints at Graumann's Chinese Theatre

She was the youngest Best Actress in a Musical Oscar winner

She got the 'I Beat Shirley Temple for the Part' award

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Question 10 of 10

10. Victor Fleming, the brash director of 'The Wizard of Oz', had to wrap things up quickly in Munchkinland because he had to take another director's place who had just been fired from another problem-plagued picture. What was it?

Answer: (Four Words)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. How did author L. Frank Baum claim that he came up with the word 'Oz' as the magical place where Dorothy is dropped?

Answer: from the labels on his file cabinet

His file cabinet was labeled with alphabetical divisions 'A - N' and 'O - Z'; from drawer two came the wonderland called Oz.

2. How many 'midgets' appeared in the 'Wizard of Oz' as residents of Munchkinland?

Answer: 122, plus 12 children

Instrumental in the search for the 'midgets' was Leo Singer, an impresario who had a troupe of performers, the Singer Midgets. MGM asked Singer to provide approximately 125 'proportonally correct midgets' for the film. Studio records confirm that 122 'midgets' eventually signed contracts, along with 12 children.

3. Of the major stars in the movie, which one received the most money for their Wizard of Oz appearance?

Answer: Ray Bolger

Bolger was paid $3600 per week for a minimum 20 weeks; Morgan and Lahr received $2500 per week for a minimum 20 weeks; Jack Haley received $2250 per week for a minimum 20 weeks.

4. Another actor was signed to play the Tin Man, but had to be replaced when he developed a near fatal reaction to the silver makeup. Who was he?

Answer: Buddy Ebsen

Buddy Ebsen tried several times to tolerate the various formulae the MGM makeup men devised, but his reactions became increasingly severe.

5. What was Judy Garland's salary for her work in the Wizard of Oz?

Answer: $500 per week for a minimum 20 weeks

Compared to the other principals, Garland's salary was a paltry $500 per week for a minimum of 20 weeks.

Answer: Gone With the Wind

Garland had been signed by David O. Selznick to play Carreen, Scarlett O'Hara's youngest sister, in the immortal Gone With the Wind. She was replaced by Ann Rutherford, from 'Andy Hardy' movie fame.

7. What was Dorothy's last name?

Answer: Gale

Cute, huh?

8. What salary arrangements were made for the 'midgets' who appeared in the film?

Answer: $50 per week

Singer charged each actor a 50 percent commission, thus reducing the $100 per performer MGM paid to $50. Talk about exploitation! Even Toto, the female Cairn terrier made more than the Munchkins; the dog was paid $125 a week!

9. Judy Garland received a unique honor as a result of her performance. What was it?

Answer: A Best Juvenile of 1939 minature Academy Award

The miniature honorary Oscar was the only Academy Award of her career.

Answer: Gone With the Wind

Fleming had to take the place of George Cukor, who David O. Selznick had just fired from GWTW. This made Clark Gable happy, 'cause he and Fleming were drinking buddies; Vivien Leigh and Olivia deHavilland were furious 'cause they relied on Cukor to help them with their performances (he was known as a 'woman's director' because of his sensitivity, patience and insight).

When Leigh asked Fleming how she should interpret a difficult scene, instead of Cukor's gentle guidance, she got an '....O just ham it up' from Fleming.

Source: Author vendome

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
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