Fascinating photos of the understudy cast of the iconic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz have emerged online, including snaps of the actress who replaced Dorothy.
Judy Garland, whose Young Academy Award-winning portrayal of Dorothy Gale stole America’s hearts, received a substitute actress.
Bobbie Koshay served as Garland’s body and stunt double for the More action-oriented scenes in the classic film.
For example, Koshay is the one who fell into the pigsty at the beginning of the film, while Garland was swinging on the wooden fence.
Koshay is the one who opened the doors to Oz, while Garland walks through the doors into Munchkinland, transitioning the film from black and white to Technicolor. Koshay was also taken out of the Enchanted Forest by the flying monkeys.
Pictured: Judy Garland’s stand-in on the set during the filming of The Wizard of Oz.
Pictured: Stafford Campbell and Bobbie Koshay stand in for lighting and camera tests on The Haunted Forest
Pictured: Judy Garland sits with her stand-in Caren Marsh Doll and a munchkin on the set of The Wizard of Oz.
Most notably, Koshay is the one who taps her heels three times at the end of the film, repeating the iconic phrase “there’s no place like home” as she and Toto are taken back to Kansas.
Garland also had Caren Marsh-Doll as a backup, but used her less frequently.
Stand-ins are common in filmmaking. They are often used to help the camera department light the set and modify blocking while the actor is away.
The blurring effect of the old cameras used for filming made the actors’ facial details somewhat indistinguishable from certain angles, allowing the doubles to blend seamlessly into the film.
In addition to being his body double, Koshay was also Garland’s personal trainer. She was tasked with putting the 17-year-old child star through rigorous physical training to lose weight, which included badminton, swimming, hiking and tennis.
Garland was forced to diet and a staff member monitored her every time she ate.
He was even prescribed Dexedrine for weight loss, a drug new to the market in 1937 and typically given to treat narcolepsy, depression, and obesity.
Garland wasn’t the only actor with a body double in the film.
Pictured: Judy Garland on the set of The Wizard of Oz with producer Mervyn LeRoy and director Victor Fleming, along with ToTo and the munchkins.
Pictured: Director Victor Fleming modifying the blocking of a munchkin on set.
Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West’s double, had a double named Betty Danko. Danko stood in for Hamilton during that character’s initial appearance in Munchkinland.
Bert Lahr’s double, who played The Cowardly Lion, emerges from the forest, scaring Dorothy and company.
A double was also used when the Lion rushes down the palace hallway in the Emerald City and jumps through a huge “glass” window.
While traveling through the Enchanted Forest, the Tin Man, played by Jack Haley, is magically lifted into the air.
However, his body double fell with his back to the camera.
Three substitutes were used when the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man climbed a mountain to reach the Witch’s Castle. During their ascent, the scene in which the Lion utters, “I hope my strength holds out,” and the Tin Man, clutching his tail, replies, “I hope your tail holds out,” features the real actors.
However, the scenes filmed before and after this two-take dialogue exchange were all substitute actors.
Pictured: Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale entering Munchkin Land for the first time.
Pictured: Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, discovering the Tin Man outside her cabin.
