I decided to write this page to give people an idea of how difficult it must have been to make such a masterpiece. Hopefully this information I compiled will help you understand just exactly what the crew had to overcome and do with out to make The Wizard Of Oz. 

1937 - One year prior

The Hindenburg explodes

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1938 - During filming

The Fluorescent Bulb was introduced

Nylon Was invented by E.I. du pont de, Nemours and Company (Dupont)

The Ballpoint pen was invented

Fiberglass was invented by Owens-corning.

Xerography (which means "dry writing" in Greek) is a process of making copies that was invented in 1938 by Chester Floyd Carlson.

In October 1938 War of the Worlds aired causing panic as listeners believe that aliens have landed.

Howard Hughes flies around world in record time in a LockeeD Vega--3 days, 19 hours, 8 minutes, and 10 seconds.

First U.S. law for required medical tests before a marriage license can be obtained.

Jet engine was invented.

Strobe lighting invented.

Roy J. Plunkett invented tetrafluoroethylene polymers or Teflon.

Nescafe or freeze-dried coffee invented

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1939 - When Wizard Of Oz was released.

The Jet Engine Aircraft was made.

The first electric toothbrush invented in 1939.

The TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE was invented in 1939 by Frederick McKinley Jones.

WWII Begins.

Wire recorder invented in 1939.

Electron microscope invented, Grapes of Wrath published, Television debuts at NY World's Fair.

Frequency Modulation (FM) was invented.

Igor Sikorsky invents the first successful helicopter.

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     Just try to imagine in a time with no computers, no nylon, no Xerox machines; they didn't even have a ballpoint pen. Not to mention color T.V. wouldn't be invented until December of 1950, and FM radio was just invented around the time of the Release of The Wizard Of Oz. You can even tell from the photo above which was taken in Black & White, that alone shows that "color" was kind of new. Even though Technicolor was invented in 1927, "three-strip" Technicolor wasn't invented until the mid 30's. It was a very expensive process and rarely used. Despite everything that they didn't have they still somehow created a wonderful masterpiece. People are still awed today by the tornado scene, which is more realistic then some newer movies.

     I hope that this info has helped give you an idea of what kind of era The Wizard Of Oz was created in. It is truly amazing that it is the way it is. If you see some of the other Oz movies, none seem to be as magical and complex as the classic Wizard Of Oz.