The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Widely considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history, it is the best-known and most commercially successful adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming (who left production to take over direction on the troubled Gone with the Wind production). It stars Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, alongside Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Billie Burke, and Margaret Hamilton, with Charley Grapewin, Pat Walshe and Clara Blandick, Terry (billed as Toto), and Singer's Midgets as the Munchkins.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Wizard of Oz Units (1939)[]
See also: The Tin Man
To promote the famous 1939 movie of the same name, MGM and the Parade Studio team brought the world of Emerald City to life for that year's Parade in five different units. The first unit was a balloon of the Tin Man, followed by the Wicked Witch of the West push float where the character of the same name was riding on her broom around a flower patch, the Scarecrow push float would come next with his iconic hay stack, where a real scarecrow would stand atop the hay stack itself. Then the Cowardly Lion push float came along, where with his courage he would look proud while five volunteers carry him through the parade, and for the big finale the Good Witch came with Dorothy standing alongside it. After 1939, the push floats were disposed of.
The Wizard of Oz (1974)[]
To celebrate the movie's 45th anniversary, the world of Emerald City would be once again brought to life by the Hoboken Parade Studio staff in a brand new float.
Debuting in 1974, the float featured the Emerald City Carriage being carried along the yellow brick road by two colorful horses, during it's debut, famous singer Kathy Coleman rode with the famous characters from the movie, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". The float returned in 1975, but with guest star Doug Henning riding with the cast. After the 50th anniversary Parade in 1976, the float would be retired. The float would lay dormant at the parade studio until being auctioned off at an auction in October 1977.
The Wizard of Oz (1990)[]
In 1990, Turner Entertainment partnered with Macy's to create a falloon based on The Wizard of Oz for the 64th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This falloon was one of the earliest ones in the Parade's history, while its design depicts the Wicked Witch of the West taking the form of a giant inflatable while holding a crystal ball housing Dorothy, The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion. The falloon only appeared in 1990, and was disposed of sometime later, however, one of the Gargoyles from the float still existed at the Float Warehouse in 2014.
The Wizard of Oz Hot Air Balloon (2013)[]
To celebrate the upcoming 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and Macy's debuted a special balloon for 2013, which was recycled from the 80th Anniversary Hot Air Balloon from 2006.
The balloon's design features the four main characters on each side of the balloon. The basket also held the Wizard of Oz himself, portrayed by former Macy's Parade Executive Producer Robin Hall. Balloonhead versions of The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, and The Wicked Witch of the West also appeared alongside this balloon, as well as Dorothy and Toto themselves.
The Hot Air Balloon only appeared in 2013, though the Balloonheads managed to be used again for the 2014 Parade. The banner for the balloon was sold on eBay after the balloon retired.
Guest Stars[]
Listed below are the guest stars that have performed/appeared on the 1974 float, alongside the respective songs which they sang during the NBC telecast.
- 1974 - Kathy Coleman; sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
- 1975 - Doug Henning