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THE
MIKE
DURRETT
SHOW 
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Today's Episode:
The Wizard of Oz Quiz

Dateline: 11/09/98

Sixty years ago, the legendary masterpiece The Wizard of Oz rolled before the cameras. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer crafted the film as a vehicle for 16-year-old property Judy Garland. The production, from preparation to final print, required a year and a half of toil, talent, and creativity.

Opening in August, 1939, the movie was warmly greeted by the critics and public; however, estimations put box office receipts at slightly over $3 million, with a loss to the studio in the neighborhood of $750,000. This deficit is attributed to reduced children's ticket prices, strong competition, and untapped foreign revenues due to the war in Europe. No one connected to the film considered it a flop and, ironically, enough money has since been generated to build a real Emerald City.

The Wizard of Oz was and is a prestige picture, successfully catapulting a certain young dynamo into her special orbit as a Hollywood star. A juvenile Oscar for Judy followed, as well as six decades of fans for her and this glorious entertainment.

Okay, we've all seen the movie a zillion times. Can you ace our trivia quiz? Bet you can't! Ten questions, one correct answer each. Submit your guesses to see the correct answers and how your score compares to others.

I'll get you my pretty and your little mouse, too.

The Wizard of Oz Question #1

Which one of the following is a direct quote from the movie?

"Surrender, Dorothy! Do not pass GO. Do not collect $200."
"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Senator Dole's district anymore."
"There's no place like Hooters. There's no place like Hooters."
"... the ..."

The Wizard of Oz Question #2

Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man, was forced to quit the film. Why?

He became allergic to his aluminum make-up.
He asked Dorothy to pull his dipstick.
He had to help Granny make soap out by the cee-ment pond.

The Wizard of Oz Question #3

A musical number cut from the final picture is called?

"The Jitterbug"
"If I Only Had a Munchkin"
"Ding, Dong, the Twinkie is Dead"

The Wizard of Oz Question #4

The first choice to play Dorothy, Shirley Temple did not appear because:

She was under contract to a competing studio.
Bert Lahr looked cuter in curls.
She was unavailable for a year, having started a tap dance duel with Mr. Bojangles.

The Wizard of Oz Question #5

How did The Wizard of Oz predict the future?

The Wicked Witch's crystal ball operates like a television.
The Lion broke musical-comedy taboos, paving the way for CATS.
Along the yellow brick road, on every corner there's a Starbucks.

The Wizard of Oz Question #6

If The Wizard of Oz were made today, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion would be searching for:

About.com
A brain, a heart, and courage.
The money! The money! The money!

The Wizard of Oz Question #7

A sign seen in The Emerald City reads:

"BELL OUT OF ORDER, PLEASE KNOCK"
"THE LOLLYPOP GUILD SALOON - Come In for a Short One"
"CURB YOUR DOG AND COWARDLY LION"

The Wizard of Oz Question #8

Why should you "not arouse the wrath of the great and powerful Oz?"

He might not grant your wishes.
His best buddy, James Carville, will never shut up on TV.
It might backfire and you'll be forced to resign as Speaker of the House.

The Wizard of Oz Question #9

When our heroes approach the Wizard, what is his response?

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"
"Allow me to introduce my friends... Scarecrow, Sterno. Sterno, Zippo. Zippo... oh no."
"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a flying monkey."

The Wizard of Oz Question #10

How do "we laugh the day away in the merry old land of Oz?"

Nibbling pharmaceutics in the MGM clinic.
With a "Ha-ha-ha, ho-ho-ho, and a couple of tra-la-las."
With a "Huh-huh huh-huh huh-huh, hey, Beavis. He said 'hos.'"

For more information on The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland (Dorothy), Frank Morgan (The Wizard), Ray Bolger (Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (Lion), Jack Haley (Tin Man), Billie Burke (Glinda), Margaret Hamilton (Wicked Witch), Victor Fleming (Director), and L. Frank Baum (Novelist) visit your Internet and read more about it!

For future reference, the permanent URL of this article is http://humor.about.com/library/weekly/aa110998.htm.

The Wizard of Oz  graphic courtesy BigStar.com, where you may purchase MGM's The Wizard of Oz on home video. Visit our Humor Videostore to see other recommendations or browse the entire BigStar movie catalog.
As a result of a commercial relationship between About.com, its Guides, and BigStar.com, these titles can be purchased directly from BigStar.com. BigStar.com is solely responsible for fulfillment of orders placed through these links.

So, what are your Oz memories? Our Humor Forum Message Board is exactly the place to express yourself.

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