The ‘Wizard Of Oz’ Observes 75th Anniversary [VIDEO]

One of my all-time favorite movies "The Wizard Of Oz", made its debut at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood 75 years ago today, August 15, 1939. My daughter is an expert on "The Wizard Of Oz", with all sorts of movie memorabilia from her favorite film.

The movie launched a young Judy Garland into stardom, and according to thewizardofoz.warnerbros.com:

"Born Frances Gumm, Judy Garland was raised in entertainment, performing in vaudeville with her two sisters in Minnesota. After her family moved to California, Garland changed her name and eventually signed with MGM. Though the studio did not know what to do with the awkward girl at first, they soon found a place for her as Dorothy Gale, making her MGM’s biggest female star.

While she went on to command stages and screens worldwide, she was immortalized for her starring role in Oz."

And here's the local connection: L. Frank Baum, the author of "The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz" and other Oz novels was born and in Chitennango, New York. Each year, Chittenango celebrates that fact with "Oz-Stravaganza".

Watch Judy Garland sing her signature song from the movie, "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", which almost didn't get in the film. Thankfully, it did.