LECTURE - Surprising history of The Wizard of Oz at The Frank Art Gallery

Did you know that "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" had been cut from the movie by one of the 4 directors who worked on the film?  No one can imagine the movie without it now!

When the film opened at the Lowe's in New York City in 1939, by close of business that same night, 37,000 people had watched it at that theater.

When the movie transitions from sepia to color, there's a little trick.  We see Judy Garland up close in sepia as she approaches the farmhouse door.  Then we see her stand-in from behind, but something's different.  The camera is now shooting in Technicolor, only the set is painted in sepia and her dress is actually sepia.  The stand-in opens the door and then steps out of the way off camera, hands Toto to Garland, who magically appears in color as she steps outside the farmhouse to see the Land of Oz.

These and so many more surprising details of the Wizard of Oz were revealed tonight at Pembroke Pines's Frank Art Gallery by Andrew Strycharski of FIU's English Department.  It's clear that Strycharski is very passionate about the history of the movie, revealing so many details about the studio, the actor selection, the changes in directors, competition with "Gone With the Wind",  and technical wonders created for the making of the film.  This lecture was well attended by old and young and concluded with applause and a Q&A.

Andrew Strycharski delivering a surprising lecture about The Wizard of Oz at the Frank Gallery
Pembroke Pines, Fla. 7-19-18
Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

Program Coordinator Taryn Mӧller Nicoll has plenty more Wizard of Oz activities and events scheduled through August 18th. 

The Frank Program Coordinator Taryn Nicoll with Andrew Strycharski of FIU
7-19-18
Photo: Mackenzie Littledale

Coming up on the Gallery's agenda

Cartooning & Character Design Workshop with Angel Alvarez
July 21
10:00am - 12:00pm.

Frank Contemporaries
Pop-up Exhibition & Emerging Artists Professionals Meet up

July 26 

6:00pm - 8:00pm

Outdoor screening of The Wizard of Oz at the Gallery lawn
August 4
8:00pm 
Bring a chair and blanket

Careers in the Arts
Lecture by Jacek J. Kolasiński, New Media Artist
August 9
6:30pm - 8:00pm


Sneak Peak at September
Careers in the Arts Lecture
Raquel Farrell-Kirk, Clinical Art Therapist
September 13
6:30pm - 8:00pm

Imagination Meets Urbanism
Mixed Media Paintings
Ages 12+
September 22
10:00am - 12:00pm

Frank Contemporaries
Pop-up Exhibition & Emerging Artists Professionals Meet Up
Joana Fischer, Painting / Ingrid Schindall, Printmaking / Ashley Pezzott, Jazz Vocals / Clare Vickery, Guest Speaker
September 27
6:00pm - 8:00pm

Stay in the loop and check back for details at https://www.thefrankgallery.org/
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