Original photo by Allstar Picture Library Ltd/ Alamy Stock Photo
The Wizard of Oz featured more than 600 actors, some of whom were bigger stars than others. Near the top of that list was a cairn terrier appropriately named Terry. The pup who played Dorothy’s loyal companion Toto — and who, unlike the character she portrayed, was female in real life — received a weekly salary of $125 for her work on the perennial classic, which was more than many of her co-stars (including all the actors playing Munchkins, who were paid $50 a week). At about $2,885 in today’s money, the pup’s pay was also 10 times the minimum wage at the time.
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It's a factStudio executives felt the now-classic song slowed the movie down, prompting associate producer Arthur Freed to give an ultimatum: “The song stays — or I go.” Evidently, his demand worked.
Terry had already appeared in seven films — Ready for Love, Bright Eyes, The Dark Angel, Fury, The Buccaneer, Barefoot Boy, and Stablemates — prior to 1939’s Oz, which helps explain her salary. She also performed her own stunts, which resulted in an injury when one of the Munchkin actors stepped on her paw.
The pup was out of action for two weeks, during which time Judy Garland helped nurse her back to health. The actress was so smitten with her canine co-star that she attempted to buy her from Carl Spitz, her owner and trainer, but he refused.
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“Wizard of Oz” director Victor Fleming also directed 1939’s “______.”
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“Wizard of Oz” director Victor Fleming also directed 1939’s “Gone With the Wind.”
Toto is replaced by a cow in one theatrical Oz adaptation.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was hugely successful upon its publication in 1900, and a number of adaptations quickly followed. In addition to the several silent and animated films that preceded the 1939 classic movie, the book was initially adapted for the stage — with several changes. In the theatrical version, the Wicked Witch of the West is only ever mentioned by name, and Toto is replaced by a cow named Imogene.
Baum, who wrote the play himself, thought a cow would make for a bigger in-person spectacle. The play also marked the introduction of Dorothy’s last name, “Gale,” as well as the first time the word “Wonderful” was dropped from the story’s title. Both Toto and Imogene appear in the first film adaptation of the story, which was made in 1910 and runs just 13 minutes.
Michael Nordine is a writer and editor living in Denver. A native Angeleno, he has two cats and wishes he had more.
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