Movie theaters nationwide are celebrating the 80th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz this week. Audiences young and old won’t want to miss this special showing. This beloved classic includes special insight from Turner Classic Movies. For more details about these screenings, click here.
Believe it or not, The Wizard of Oz was a bit of a flop when it was released in 1939, barely recouping its initial investment of $2.8 million. It did, however, win two Oscars — for Best Original Score and Best Original Song. It wasn’t until the film was shown on television in 1956 that it became a massive hit. Now woven into the fabric of our culture, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was in fact named the #1 Song of the 20th Century.
TMTP’s education outreach program Kids Love Musicals! uses the film and its story as a resource in classrooms all across northeast Ohio. Students engage in discussions on major themes including courage, love and a sense of belonging through song, dance and active play.
Here is one of our Teaching Artists, Mariah Burks, sharing the film’s iconic song with a group of 4th graders at East Woods in Hudson earlier this month.