Metro Goldwyn Mayer purchased the production rights to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz after seeing the success of Walt Disney's Snow White in 1937. Disney's animated fairy tale appealed to audiences both young and old, and MGM was determined to cash in on that success.  However, the studio heads had some conflicting ideas about how to turn The Wizard of Oz into a mega hit. Should The Wizard of Oz be light hearted musical or more serious? Should the music be opera or more popular? As the casting process began, many of the answers became clear.

But nine days into filming, Buddy Ebsen had a toxic reaction to the makeup used for the aluminum and was hospitalized in critical condition, forcing him to be removed from the production. The makeup was a loose aluminum powder that had been literally coating his lungs as he inhaled it during the application process.

Jack Haley replaced him, and the costume was redesigned, and the make up changed to a paste. There were reports of Haley having an allergic reaction in one of his eyes at one point to the make up, but nothing as severe as Ebsen's near death incident. In fact, Jack Haley may not have known of Ebsen's accident, nor did some of the production staff or MGM studio heads. Since he had not been taken immediately from the studio to the hospital, it was rumored that he was fired by Victor Flemming, who had come on as a new director on the picture during the same time period.

Interesting Fact : From 1934-1939, Shirley Temple was one of the top 10 box office stars, and in 1937, at the height of her career at age 9, earned $300,000 a week. LIFE Magazine called her the "Fitting symbol of Hollywood" that year. By next time she would be the cover of a LIFE magazine , Shirley Temple and FOX studios would regret their decision not to do The Wizard of Oz. By 1940, at the ripe age of 12, her career was faltering.

The Wicked Witch of the West

MGM originally wanted a glamourous witch, still trying to recreate Snow White, and considered Edna May Oliver, before casting Gale Sondergaard for the role. However, when producers decided that the Wicked Witch needed to be much more hag like, Gale turned down the role, and they cast Margaret Hamilton instead. During production, she was burned badly during filming the Munchkinland sequence in which she disapears in a burst of flames. Her stand in was also injured in the same stunt.

Glinda

At one point Fanny Brice was among the considerees for the role, before it was given to Binnie Barnes. Fanny Brice was known for her cooky, jewish humor, and her portrayal of an "adult child" named Little Snooks.