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'''''The Wizard of Oz''''' is a the title of a very popular children's book (1900, and many sequels), a leading Broadway musical for adults (1902), and a popular movie for fans of all ages (1939).  There have been many film and dramatic spinoffs, as well as books, trinkets and toys based on the Wizard and the other memorable characters.   

'''''The Wizard of Oz''''' is a the title of a very popular children's book (1900, and many sequels), a leading Broadway musical for adults (1902), and an unforgettable movie for fans of all ages (1939).  There have been many film and dramatic spinoffs, as well as books, trinkets and toys based on the Wizard and the other memorable characters.

[[Image:OZ-TITLE.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Children read ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' as a fairy tale, but Baum and Denslow were using modern images that editorial cartoonists currently used to portray American politics.]]  

Dorothy, the Wizard, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, flying monkeys, Munchkins, the yellow brick road, the dream city of Oz, Toto--and especially the Wicked Witch--have become icons of American popular culture. They appear regularly in editorial cartoons and the funny papers and even in everyday conversation. Political cartoonists used the Wizard image as early as 1906; in recent years Wizard themes appear in editorial cartoons on a weekly basis in the U.S.

Dorothy, the Wizard, the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, flying monkeys, Munchkins, the yellow brick road, the dream city of Oz, Toto--and especially the Wicked Witch--have become icons of American popular culture. They appear regularly in editorial cartoons and the funny papers and even in everyday conversation. Political cartoonists used the Wizard image as early as 1906; in recent years Wizard themes appear in editorial cartoons on a weekly basis in the U.S.

Academics, especially economists and historians, use the story to study the images of politics and economics in the U.S. in the 1890s.  Several hundred college level economics courses feature a unit on the Wizard of Oz to analyze money policy.

Academics, especially economists and historians, use the story to study the images of politics and economics in the U.S. in the 1890s.  Several hundred college level economics courses feature a unit on the Wizard of Oz to analyze money policy.

[[Image:OZ-TITLE.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Children read ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' as a fairy tale, but Baum and Denslow were using modern images that editorial cartoonists currently used to portray American politics.]]

The author was L. Frank Baum (1856-1919); the illustrator of the 1900 book and 1902 play was editorial W. W. Denslow (1856-1915).<ref> see Michael Patrick Hearn, "The Man Behind the Man Behind Oz: W. W. Denslow at 150,"  ''AIGA'' (July 05, 2006) at [http://www.aiga.org/content.cfm/the-man-behind-the-man-behind-oz-w-w-denslow-at-150]</ref> The book was a runaway best seller, though the two coauthors became alienated, and both went bankrupt.  Baum recouped by moving to Hollywood and writing a new series of Oz books; the series was continued after his death in 1919, with 40 Oz books in all. The first book became a smash Chicago hit musical in 1902 and moved to Broadway in 1903. Best known is the unusually successful Hollywood movie adaptation of 1939, starring Frank Morgan  as the Wizard and [[Judy Garland]] as Dorothy.

 

==The books==

==The books==

'''''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''''' appeared in 1900 as a children's book written by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) and illustrated by W. W. Denslow (1856-1915). This was part of their effort to create a body of American literature in the fairy tale genre; they had already collaborated on Father Goose books. The Wizard was a great success and Baum followed it with thirteen more books set in the land of Oz. He lost Denslow as an illustrator and was never able to recapture the success of his original work. After Baum died  Ruth Plumly Thompson continued the series with nineteen more stories, and other authors wrote additional books. The Land of Oz was one of the earliest of what fantasy fans now call "fictional universes." Like the Sherlock Holmes stories it has attracted a large number of devoted fans, who like to discuss and write about the land of Oz as if it actually existed.

'''''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz''''' appeared in 1900 as a children's book written by L. Frank Baum (1856-1919) and illustrated by W. W. Denslow (1856-1915). This was part of their effort to create a body of American literature in the fairy tale genre; they had already collaborated on Father Goose books. The Wizard was a great success and Baum followed it with thirteen more books set in the land of Oz. He lost Denslow as an illustrator and was never able to recapture the success of his original work. After Baum died  Ruth Plumly Thompson continued the series with nineteen more stories, and other authors wrote additional books. The Land of Oz was one of the earliest of what fantasy fans now call "fictional universes." Like the Sherlock Holmes stories it has attracted a large number of devoted fans, who like to discuss and write about the land of Oz as if it actually existed.

:The old time fairy tale, having served for generations, may now be classed as "historical" in the children's library; for the time has come for a series of newer "wonder tales" in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf and fairy are eliminated, together with all the horrible and blood-curdling incidents devised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale. Modern education includes morality; therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable incident. Having this thought in mind, the story of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.<ref>. Apart from the contemporary political allusions, there is nothing "modern" (post 1800) in the novel. Quote from [[http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext93/wizoz10h.htm]</ref>(

:The old time fairy tale, having served for generations, may now be classed as "historical" in the children's library; for the time has come for a series of newer "wonder tales" in which the stereotyped genie, dwarf and fairy are eliminated, together with all the horrible and blood-curdling incidents devised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale. Modern education includes morality; therefore the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all disagreeable incident. Having this thought in mind, the story of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was written solely to please children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale, in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out.<ref>. Apart from the contemporary political allusions, there is nothing "modern" (post 1800) in the novel. Quote from [[http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext93/wizoz10h.htm]</ref>(

[[Image:OZ-1903.JPG|thumb|left|275px|poster for 1903 Broadway version shows an adult Dorothy for an adult audience; it was one of the first great Broadway musicals]]

[[Image:OZ-1903.JPG|thumb|left|275px|poster for 1903 Broadway version features an adult Dorothy for an adults-only audience; it was one of the first great Broadway musicals]]

The musical comedy version of 1902-3 was a rewritten version for an adult audience, with many sexual innuendos and a very sexy Dorothy.

The musical comedy version of 1902-3 was a rewritten version for an adult audience, with many sexual innuendos and a very sexy Dorothy.

==Sources==

==Sources==