8/12/1939 Oconomowoc Wisconsin Wizard of Oz first showing

Did Oconomowoc really host the world premiere of 'The Wizard of Oz'? Here's what we found.

The premiere was originally scheduled for Aug. 9, 1939, at Carthay Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, according to the catalog, citing the Aug. 1, 1939, Los Angeles Times and Aug. 2, 1939, Variety magazine. But that showing ended up being delayed.

An advertisement in the Aug. 10, 1939, Green Bay Press-Gazette says the film opened that day at the Orpheum Theatre, the catalog said.

Appleton and Oshkosh followed as two of the few cities selected to host Aug. 11 premiere releases, the catalog said, citing the Appleton Post-Crescent from Aug. 5, 1939.


Oconomowoc's Aug. 12 release at the Strand Theatre was called the 'world premier showing' in an MGM advertisement in a local newspaper, according to Bob Duffy, Oconomowoc's director of economic development.

There is even a commemorative plaque in the city that says Oconomowoc held the world premiere.

"What was billed as the official premiere" actually took place at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Aug. 15, the AFI catalog said.

In a 2009 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, John Fricke, a historian who has authored books about "The Wizard of Oz," said he thinks the first showings were in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Kenosha, both on Aug. 11, a day before Oconomowoc's.

The book "The Road to Oz: The Evolution, Creation, and Legacy of a Motion Picture Masterpiece" by Jay Scarfone and William Stillman states the movie showed in Green Bay on Aug. 10; Cape Cod, Kenosha, Oshkosh and Appleton on Aug. 11; Oconomowoc on Aug. 12; Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Escanaba, Michigan, Racine, Rhinelander and Sheboygan on Aug. 13; Chicago and Gaffney, South Carolina, on Aug. 14; and the West Coast premiere at Grauman's on Aug. 15.

The Turner Classic Movie's website still credits the world premiere to Oconomowoc, on Aug. 12, followed by showings in Hollywood on Aug. 15 and New York on Aug. 17.

The History Channel's "This Day in History" article on Aug. 12 said "The Wizard of Oz" received "its world premiere in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin" on that day in 1939 as well.

https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/oconomowoc/2019/08/14/did-the-wizard-oz-really-premiere-oconomowocs-strand-theatre/2000740001/