5 Craziest Wizard Of Oz Fan Theories (& 5 That Totally Make Sense)

The Wizard of Oz is over 80 years old, and it continues to be a Hollywood gem worth watching. Judy Garland became a star playing Dorothy Gale, timidly stepping into the unknown with her dear Toto. Based on the writing of L. Frank Baum, the movie is enchanting, kaleidoscopic, and frightening.

Fans watch the movie repeatedly, but they always find new aspects to it that they’ve never noticed before. Since the Emerald City is full of secrets, it’s time to gather the craziest fan theories out there, and maybe a few that make sense.

10 Craziest: Glinda Is No Good Witch

Glinda should have been upfront with Dorothy about the power of those ruby slippers. Also, why couldn’t she just finish off the Wicked Witch of the West herself? Some say Glinda is just using Dorothy to eliminate all her competition in the realm of power.

The reason this theory is crazy is that The Wizard of Oz is not a dystopian novel. Sure, being a children’s story doesn’t disqualify it from containing disturbing elements, but L. Frank Baum is probably not sending coded messages that everyone is evil and no one is good.

9 Makes Sense: Margaret Hamilton’s Portrayal Of The Witch Of The West Inspired Wicked

The reach of the 1939 film should never be underestimated. Wicked fans know all the ins and outs of the Broadway musical’s connection to The Wizard of Oz. There’s an important figure in the creation of the show: the Wicked Witch of the West.

Fans believe that Margaret Hamilton’s performance influenced the characterization of Elphaba Thropp in Gregory Maguire’s novel and in the famous musical, created by Winnie Holzman and Stephen Schwartz.

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8 Craziest: Dorothy Is The Wicked Witch Of The East

One Reddit fan theory (from Primetime22) suggests that Dorothy Gale is the Wicked Witch of the East. This is because it is said that most of the Kansas characters have counterparts in Oz. The farmhands are the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. Mrs. Gulch is the Wicked Witch of the West. Professor Marvel is Oz (among many other people)!

According to this general theory, Dorothy must have a doppelgänger in Oz, so she is the Wicked Witch of the East. To avoid some type of crazy black hole paradox, the girl must die as the Witch. While that is a fascinating idea, one small detail throws a wrench in the entire theory: who is Auntie Em’s counterpart?

7 Makes Sense: Oz Came From O-Z File Cabinet

L. Frank Baum created the expansive book series that tells the stories of Dorothy and the land of Oz. Without him, the scads of film, television, and stage adaptations of the tales would not exist. Many facts from the film have been verified, but myths also abound, and some of them revolve around the famous author.

It has been widely disseminated that Baum came up with “Oz” after glancing at the “O-Z” section of his files. Baum is believed to have shared this method in a Publisher’s Weekly interview during his lifetime, and it is a logical way to come up with a name. However, the author could have been withholding further details about the name, or maybe Oz is just Oz, after all.

6 Craziest: Pink Floyd Provides Alternate Soundtrack

Erik and James at the Fan Theory World podcast went over the most popular theories, one of them being that Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon was designed to play synchronously with The Wizard of Oz from start to finish.

Plenty of other Easter eggs have been associated with the band’s music, so this one can be attributed to a general folkloric inclination on the part of fans. Some call it coincidence, but others think the resemblance between the movie’s arc and the album’s is uncanny.

5 Makes Sense: The Movie Is An Allegory

Surprisingly, there are all kinds of theories that The Wizard of Oz represents something else. In the past, the movie has been called an allegory for populism in the Great Depression, for a religious journey to Christianity, for atheism, and more.

It’s a little odd to drop such sprawling themes into a children’s story, but perhaps the dark mystique of the film functions differently than the text alone.

4 Craziest: Mrs. Gulch Died, Too

Fans never understood exactly what happens to mean Mrs. Gulch by the end of the movie. Some viewers jump to conclusions and assume that Mrs. Gulch dies right along with her Oz figure, the Wicked Witch of the West.

While this may not seem outrageous, it isn’t realistic, either. If Dorothy is waking up from a dream and is surrounded by comforting friends and family, why would a terrible woman like Mrs. Gulch ever be at the girl’s bedside?

3 Makes Sense: Beginning Of Judy Garland’s Troubles

Judy Garland isn’t here to speak for herself, but the theory that MGM was harming the actress in the Wizard of Oz days, sadly, is well-grounded.

MGM is known for its dark secrets on the backlot. Fans’ assumptions that The Wizard of Oz was the beginning of the end make sense. Judy Garland was given uppers and downers in a vicious cycle to shrink her appetite, keep her awake for ridiculously long hours and then eventually put her to sleep. This led to a lifetime of addiction.

2 Craziest: Cast Member’s Suicide On Screen

Fans long, long ago theorized about a little blob amid the trees surrounding the Yellow Brick Road. Some sincerely think that an actor who played one of the Munchkins committed suicide while on set. Some confidently affirm that the rumor can be put to rest, saying that that the object in question is a large bird’s shadow. Cinephiles still debate the issue but ultimately cite a belief that the Munchkin actors had not yet arrived on set when the scene at hand was in production.

The quality of early VHS tapes could have also made the blob appear more ominous. It’s a morbid moment, but definitely one of the most paused scenes of any movie, ever.

1 Makes Sense: The Wizard Inhabits Other Characters On Purpose

Astute connoisseurs of The Wizard of Oz lore know that they’ve seen Professor Marvel/The Great and Powerful Oz more than just twice. In fact, Frank Morgan played three additional roles in the film: the Carriage Driver, the Gatekeeper, and the Guard.

Coincidence? Think again. The sage Oz, the Professor, and the Emerald City officials are one and the same for a reason: they have control over the creatures in their vicinity. That fan theory about Glinda not being so good and wanting power could also apply to the Wizard. He might be out for more omnipotence, or he might just be a kindly trickster in various forms.

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