From 1939, A Piece of ‘Wizard of Oz’ History Found

Before you toss that cardboard box, take a look inside.  The contents might have a connection to a classic Hollywood film.

According to the Washington Post, one of the dresses Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” had been missing for many years after being given to a friend. That dress was recently found by a drama department professor at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

“As soon as I popped the top off the box, I knew what it was,” Matt Ripa told the Post. “I saw that blue gingham and I just started laughing and laughing. I mean, I’m still laughing. Because I was shocked, holding a piece of Hollywood history right in my hands.”

Read the remarkable re-discovery story here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/wizard-of-oz-dorothy-dress/2021/07/08/eaaddbba-e00d-11eb-9f54-7eee10b5fcd2_story.html

• Jerry Maren presents Judy Garland with a lollipop in the film “The Wizard of Oz.”

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  1939: Jerry Maren, playing a Lollipop Guild Member, presents Judy Garland with a lollipop in the film "The Wizard of Oz."

• “The Wizard Of Oz” Media Call

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  SYDNEY, NSW - JUNE 21: The Sydney Symphony Orchestra during a rehearsal of "The Wizard of Oz" in front of a big screen in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House June 21, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. The classic 1939 "The Wizard of Oz" movie will be shown at Sydney's famous Opera House, with all the original orchestral sound removed and replaced with the musical score played live by the Sydney Symphony. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)

• Lobby Card For ‘The Wizard Of Oz’

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  A lobby card from the film 'The Wizard Of Oz,' features headshots of, from left, American actress Judy Garland (1922 - 1969) (as Dorothy), and actors Frank Morgan (1890 - 1949) (as the Wizard), Ray Bolger (1904 - 1987) (as the Scarecrow), Bert Lahr (1895 - 1967) (as the Cowardly Lion), and Jack Haley (1898 - 1979) (as the Tin Man), 1939. The film was directed by Victor Fleming. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
• 86th Annual Academy Awards – Show

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  HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 02: Video tribute to 'The Wizard of Oz' onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

• “The Wizard Of Oz” Media Call

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  SYDNEY, NSW - JUNE 21: The Sydney Symphony Orchestra during a rehearsal of "The Wizard of Oz" in front of a big screen in the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House June 21, 2006 in Sydney, Australia. The classic 1939 "The Wizard of Oz" movie will be shown at Sydney's famous Opera House, with all the original orchestral sound removed and replaced with the musical score played live by the Sydney Symphony. (Photo by Patrick Riviere/Getty Images)