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A Look Back at Young Judy Garland Behind-the-Scenes of 'The Wizard of Oz'

On Judy Garland’s 100th birthday, revisit rare images of the young actress on the set of her breakthrough role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

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The enchanting voice who sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and became synonymous with her most popular character’s gingham dress and red ruby slippers, Judy Garland remains an icon of 20th-century cinema. 

The Hollywood actress, singer, and dancer was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, into a vaudevillian family, and essentially into show business. While her childhood was troubled, with the actress later calling her mother the "real Wicked Witch of the West" and her treatment by MGM executives exposing the dark side of 1930s Hollywood, Garland's talent and kindness shined through in her work, most notably in her role in The Wizard of Oz.

Cast as Dorothy Gale, a role initially intended for the box office success Shirley Temple, Garland catapulted into fame that transformed her into a superstar recognizable to all a century later. On what would have been Garland’s 100th birthday, take a walk down memory lane (or rather, the Yellow Brick Road) and look at behind-the-scenes photos of the actress filming The Wizard of Oz.

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Learning lines for her leading role, Garland is pictured at only 17 years old on the MGM set.
In between takes, Garland and the actors playing the munchkins speak to director Victor Fleming.
Off-camera, Garland is pictured shaking hands with an extra dressed as one of the Wicked Witch of the West's flying monkeys.
In the early rounds of wardrobe and hair, Garland is photographed in a similar silhouette and hair style to what her character wears in the movie.
Wearing the unseen original blonde wig the actress was intended to sport (the Dorothy character was written as a blonde in L. Frank Baum’s book), Garland looks almost unrecognizable.
In this candid black and white shot on set, Garland wears her iconic gingham dress, red ruby slippers, and ponytails while walking down the set's famed Yellow Brick Road.
The star is pictured alongside the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger).
Behind the scenes, Garland gets her youthful makeup look done.
A window into one of Hollywood’s first major fantasy box office success, the titular character is pictured at the gates of the Emerald City.
Garland poses with her character's famous dog, Toto, who was actually called Terry.
At the film's wrap party, Garland and the director and other cast members smile fondly as they cut a celebratory cake.

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