Behind the Magic: Asbestos Snow and On-Set Perils in 'The Wizard of Oz'
The dark secrets behind the making of the film.
Despite its cheerful and timeless appeal, The Wizard of Oz harbours some unsettling behind-the-scenes stories, as revealed in Aljean Harmetz’s book The Making of The Wizard of Oz.
One of the most alarming incidents involved Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man actor, who was hospitalised after inhaling aluminium dust from his makeup. The severity of his reaction forced the studio to replace him swiftly. Meanwhile, Margaret Hamilton, who portrayed the Wicked Witch of the West, suffered severe burns when she was accidentally set on fire during filming.
Adding to the hazardous conditions, the production team reportedly used white asbestos to create the snow effect in the scene where Dorothy wakes up in a poppy field. At the time, asbestos was commonly used but is now known to be highly toxic and dangerous.
These revelations cast a dark shadow over the beloved classic, reminding us of the real risks the cast and crew faced to bring the magic of The Wizard of Oz to life. After learning this, it’s hard to watch the film without a sense of unease about what went on behind the scenes.
