Wizard of Oz latest Google Doodle homage
Google celebrates the 71st anniversary of Wizard of Oz, the 1939 film that follows Dorothy's journey to the Emerald City.
Dorothy and her friends set off down the yellow brick road with Google etched on the poppy flowers. Google is celebrating the 71st anniversary of the 1939 Wizard of Oz film.
Screengrab via Google
Boston
Google is off to see the Wizard.
Because, because, because, because, because, because its marking the 71st anniversary of the Wizard of Oz today with a new Google Doodle.
The 1939 film starring a young Judy Garland has enjoyed a love/hate relationship with fans for some time, showcasing a dream world filled with, among other things, a talking lion, a yellow-bricked road, ruby slippers, the Wicked Witch of the West, and, of course, flying monkeys.
Marking the 70th anniversary last year, the film was remastered and shown to audiences around the country for one night in over 400 movie theaters. The movie included a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of The Wizard of Oz, exclusive footage, home movie outtakes, rare interviews with the cast, and exclusive clips with Ray Bolger, a.k.a. “Scarecrow.”
With today’s Google Doodle, Dorothy and her comrades are pictured walking down the famous “yellow brick road” toward the Emerald City.
What newer fans may not know was that the film was based on a children’s novel by L. Frank Baum titled “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” Baum would go on to write 13 novel sequels based on the Land of Oz. One such sequel, “Tik-Tok of Oz,” published in 1914 predicts the use of wireless telephones.
Google has been playing with “Doodles” since 1999 when founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin reflected their Burning Man experience with the Google Logo. Since then, the Doodle has reflected Tchaikovsky‘s Birthday, Support for Olympic curling, Vivaldi‘s Birthday, Pac-Man‘s 30th anniversary, and the 143rd birthday of HG Wells.