The Creation of The Wizard of Oz

Thursday, February 26, 2026

This legendary 1939 film is the most watched movie of all time. It’s so well-known that even its backstory is familiar. But there’s a far more fascinating story behind the usual backstory: MGM studio intrigue; amazingly bad decisions reversed in the nick of time; and one brilliant, audacious choice, made early on by a man who received no screen credit, that was critical in making The Wizard of Oz the beloved classic it became.

About the Speaker

Dramatic historian Charles Troy is a retired graphic designer and former theatre lyricist who has developed more than sixty multimedia presentations on musical theatre subjects.

He has given presentations at numerous venues throughout Chicagoland since 2006, including the University Club and the Sarah Siddons Society downtown, the Skokie Theater in the northern suburbs, and the Woodstock Opera House in the hinterlands. His work has been seen at The Auditorium and the Biograph Theatre. He also appeared at the York Theater Company in New York City, has presented annually at the Cole Porter Festival in Porter’s hometown of Peru, Indiana for 15 years, and makes a tour of Florida every January.

Troy was profiled in a lead article in the entertainment section of the Chicago Tribune; his presentation on The Wizard of Oz was a page one feature story in the Tribune as well. The late Roy Leonard, retired theatre critic for WGN-TV, wrote in his blog: “I first saw Charles a few months back and have been back three times since, learning things I have never known about shows I’ve been enjoying for years.”