The Wizard, on the cover of Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz

The Wizard of Oz (or simply The Wizard) is a fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and further popularized by the classic 1939 movie. Oz is a fairy The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Lyman Frank Baum ( May 15 1856 &ndash May 5 1919) was an American Author, Actor, and Independent filmmaker Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

The classic books

The Wizard is one of the characters in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Unseen for most of the novel, he is the ruler of the Land of Oz and highly venerated by his subjects. Oz is a fairy Believing he is the only man capable of solving their problems, Dorothy Gale and her friends travel to the Emerald City, the capital of Oz, to meet him. Dorothy Gale is a Fictional character, the Protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L The Emerald City is the fictional capital city of the Land of Oz in L Oz is very reluctant to meet them, but eventually they are granted an audience. Every time the Wizard appears in a different form, once as a giant head, once as a beautiful fairy, once as ball of fire, and once as a horrible monster.

Eventually, it is revealed that Oz is actually none of these things, but rather an ordinary, American man who has been using a lot of elaborate magic tricks and props to make himself seem "great and powerful. " Working as a magician in the United States, he wrote OZ on the side of his hot air balloon for promotional purposes. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying Flight technology One day his balloon sailed into the Land of Oz, and found himself worshipped as a great sorcerer. As Oz had no leadership at the time, he became Supreme Ruler of the kingdom, and did his best to sustain the myth.

He leaves Oz at the end of the novel, again in a hot air balloon. After the Wizard's departure, the Scarecrow is briefly enthroned, until the rightful hereditary ruler of Oz, Princess Ozma, is freed from the witch Mombi at the end of The Marvelous Land of Oz. The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L Princess Ozma (b August 21, year unknown is a Fictional character in the Land of Oz universe created by L Mombi is a character from the L Frank Baum Oz Books series She appears in the book The Marvelous Land of Oz and is alluded to other works The Marvelous Land of Oz, commonly shortened to The Land of Oz, published on July 5 1904, is the second of L

In a later Oz book, Oz explains that his real name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs. To shorten this name, he used only his initials (O. Z. P. I. N. H. E. A. D. ), but since they spell out the word "pinhead", he shortened his name further and called himself "Oz".

In The Marvelous Land of Oz, the Wizard is described as having usurped the throne of King Pastoria and handed over the baby princess to Mombi. This did not please the readers, and in Ozma of Oz, although the character did not appear, Baum described Ozma's abduction without including the Wizard as part of it. Ozma of Oz, published on July 29, 1907, was the third book of L ^[1]

The Wizard returns in the novel Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz. Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz is the fourth book set in the Land of Oz written by L With Dorothy and the boy Zeb, he falls through a crack in the earth; in their underground journey, he acts as their guide and protector. ^[2] When Ozma rescues them from the underground kingdoms, he recounts his story of becoming the ruler of Oz, and Ozma explains that before the witches usurped her grandfather's throne (an occurrence happening long before the wizard arrived), the ruler of Oz had always been known as Oz or (if female) Ozma. ^[3] Ozma then permits him to live in Oz permanently. ^[4] He becomes an apprentice to Glinda, the most powerful magic-worker in Oz. Glinda (or Glinda the Good Witch) is a Fictional character in the Land of Oz created by American author L Ozma decrees that, besides herself, only The Wizard and Glinda are allowed to use magic.

In later books, he proves himself quite an inventor, providing devices that aid in various character's journeys. Some of his most elaborate devices are the Ozpril and the Oztober, balloon-powered Ozoplanes in Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz, and intelligent taxis called Salawagons in The Scalawagons of Oz. Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz ( 1939) is the thirty-third of the Oz books created by L The Scalawagons of Oz ( 1941) is the thirty-fifth of the Oz books created by L

Silent film

The Wizard has appeared in nearly every silent Oz film, portrayed by different actors each time.

• The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays (1908): Sam 'Smiling' Jones
• The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1910): Hobart Bosworth
• The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914): Todd Wright
• His Majesty, the Scarecrow of Oz (1914): J. Charles Haydon
• Wizard of Oz (1925): Charles Murray

The 1939 movie

In the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz, The Wizard's character is similar to that found in the earlier books: a bumbling "humbug. The Fairylogue and Radio-Plays was an early attempt to bring L The Wonderful Wizard of Oz ( 1910) is the earliest surviving film version of L Hobart Bosworth (b August 11 1867, Marietta Ohio - d December 30 1943, Glendale California) was an The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L Frank Baum, is a children's novel the seventh set in the Land of Oz. His Majesty the Scarecrow of Oz is a 1914 film production directed by J J Charles Haydon (1876 &ndash 15 October, 1943) was an American Film director, actor and Screenwriter of the silent era. Wizard of Oz ( 1925) directed by Larry Semon, who also appears in a comic role (and featuring a young Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man was Charles Murray ( 22 June, 1872 &ndash 29 July, 1941) was an American film actor of the silent era. The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical - Fantasy film mainly directed by Victor Fleming and based on the 1900 children’s " He was played by actor Frank Morgan. Frank Morgan ( June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949) was an American Character actor best known for his portrayal of the title The same actor also played several other roles in the movie; including Professor Marvel, the mysterious traveling fortuneteller that Dorothy meets in Kansas, the Doorman at the Emerald City, the Guard at the Gates to Oz's Castle and the Coachman. Dorothy Gale is a Fictional character, the Protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L The Guardian of the Gates is an important character in the Oz books of L The Soldier with the Green Whiskers is a major character in the Oz books of L His face was also presumably used as the projected image of the Wizard. Like Dorothy, the Wizard hails from Kansas, proudly stating that he is "an old Kansas man myself, born and bred in the heart of the Western Wilderness. "

Adaptations

• In the 1902 musical extravaganza, The Wizard is the usurper of the throne of King Pastoria II, who is returned to Oz by the same cyclone that brought Dorothy Gale. The Wizard of Oz was a 1902 Musical play extravaganza based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Pastoria is a Fictional character mentioned in The Oz books by L The Wizard was portrayed by a series of "ethnic" comedians. Once Pastoria regains his throne, anyone who sides with the Wizard, including those seeking his aid, are considered guilty of treason and ordered beheaded. In Law, treason is the Crime that covers some of the more serious acts of disloyalty to one's sovereign or Nation.

• In the 1978 film The Wiz, the titular "Wiz" (played by Richard Pryor) is Herman Smith, a failed politician from Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Wiz is a 1978 American Musical film produced by Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, and released by Universal on October Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III ( December 1, 1940 &ndash December 10, 2005) was an American Comedian, Actor This "Wiz" is a "phony" through and through, and does not provide the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion with their brains, heart and courage; instead, Dorothy shows the three that they already possess the qualities they seek.

• In author Gregory Maguire's Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (a 1995 revisionist novel based on the inhabitants of Oz) and in the 2003 Broadway musical Wicked (based on Maguire's novel), the Wizard is a tyrannical ruler who uses deceit and trickery to hide his own shortcomings. Gregory Maguire (born June 9, 1954 in Albany, New York) is an American author Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, is a Parallel novel published in 1995. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Broadway theater, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 39 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located Wicked is a musical with songs and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. Unlike in earlier works, the Wizard is clearly meant to be the villain of the story.

Maguire presents the Wizard as a con man and a hustler who happened onto a world where he could literally make himself into a king overnight. Pretending to have vast powers and all-encompassing knowledge, he rules over the Emerald City, while secretly requiring people with true magic talent such as Glinda and Elphaba to cast spells for him. Elphaba Thropp is the name given to the Wicked Witch of the West in Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory

During the course of Maguire's novel and the subsequent Broadway production, it is revealed that the Wizard is indeed behind some of the most horrific and disastrous events in the story, with one of his cohorts being Madame Morrible. Madame Muriel Morrible is a Fictional character in author Gregory Maguire 's 1995 novel Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of The Wizard is revealed the illegitimate father of Elphaba, seducing her mother with a magical green elixir, causing Elphaba's green tone. In the musical, this fact is revealed to the character Glinda, who accosts the Wizard with this information. It is also under the Wizard's direction that the Animals of Oz — most notably the Goat teacher from Shiz University, Doctor Dillamond — are caged and placed under strict control. Shiz University is a fictional university in Gregory Maguire 's revisionist novel Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Doctor Dillon Dillamond is a character in author Gregory Maguire 's 1995 novel Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West This cruelty causes the final split between Elphaba and the Wizard, leading to her transformation into the Wicked Witch of the West. The Wicked Witch of the West (or simply The Wicked Witch) is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L

No more than a con man with knowledge of how to work with human emotion and beliefs, this version of the Wizard works to maintain his own position and prestige, regardless of the pain and grief it causes to others, and is not beyond subversion or mandated murder.

The Wizard is portrayed in a slightly better light in the musical, Wicked. Instead of being very amoral, he is carried away by the belief of the people of Oz that he is "wonderful. " When he learns that Elphaba is his daughter, he expresses visible sorrow when he learns of her (supposed) death, agreeing with Glinda to leave Oz in his balloon.

In the original stage production, the Wizard was played by Cabaret star Joel Grey, who also played the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True, a 1995 concert staging of the 1939 film musical. Cabaret is a 1972 American Musical film directed by Bob Fosse and starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York Joel Grey (born April 11, 1932) is a Tony - Golden Globe - BAFTA - & Academy Award -winning American stage The Wizard of Oz in Concert Dreams Come True was a 1995 musical performance based on the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

• Caliber Comics' Oz comic book series, followed by Arrow Comics' Dark Oz and The Land of Oz featured the Wizard, affectionately known as "Oscar," particularly to Ozma, as a tall, bald, mustachioed man, brooding, powerful, and not at all bumbling. Caliber Comics or Caliber Press was an American Comic book publisher founded in 1989 by Gary Reed. Arrow Comics

• The 2006 comic book The Oz/Wonderland Chronicles features a Wizard who is closer to the benevolent figure in Baum's works. In issue #1, he saves Dorothy and Alice Liddell from a pack of Wheelers, and later accompanies them and Jack Pumpkinhead from Chicago to Kansas. Alice Pleasance Liddell (May 4 1852 &ndash November 16 1934 was the inspiration for the children's classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Jack Pumpkinhead is a fictional character from the Oz book series by L Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American "

• In the 2007 Sci Fi television miniseries Tin Man, a character called the "Mystic Man" (played by Richard Dreyfuss) is one of the former rulers of Central City, the capital of the Outer Zone (O. Sci Fi Pictures original films are movies that are produced by the Sci Fi Channel. A miniseries (also mini-series) in a serial Storytelling medium is a production which tells a story in a pre-planned limited number of episodes Tin Man is a three-part Television miniseries reimagined continuation of L Richard Stephen Dreyfuss (born October 29 1947 is an Academy Award -winning American Actor, known for a number of film television and theater roles such The Emerald City is the fictional capital city of the Land of Oz in L Oz is a fairy Z. ), and like his counterpart from the book, uses technology to make himself seem more impressive. He is also referred to as "the wizard" and styles himself similarly to the Wizard of Oz, but has been relegated to the main performer of a Central City magic show rather than the "humbug" overlord of the Emerald City. Another character with similarities to the Wizard is D. G. 's father, Ahamo, a fairground worker from Earth who arrived in the Outer Zone via balloon, and later gives D. G. transport in one.

Cultural reference

• In the episode Into The Mystic of the television series Sliders a powerful and wraithlike Sorcerer turns out to be just the projection of a normal person, hidden behind a curtain in the room, like the Wizard of Oz did in the 1939 movie. " Into the Mystic " is a song written by Northern Irish Singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance Sliders is an American Science fiction television series that ran for five seasons from 1995 to 2000.
• The Season 3 episode of US serial drama Lost entitled "The Man Behind The Curtain" is a reference to the Wizard. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Serials in Television and Radio are series often in a weekly Prime time slot that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a serial fashion Lost is an Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning American serial drama television series. His name is also mentioned in the dialogue of the show, with John Locke comparing Ben Linus to the Wizard and saying that he is the one orchestrating events and is "The Man Behind The Curtain". John Locke (29 August 1632 – 28 October 1704 was an English Philosopher. Benjamin "Ben" Linus is a fictional character portrayed by Michael Emerson on the ABC television series Lost.
• In the episode "It's Christmas in Canada" of the television series South Park, the main characters visit the new Prime Minister of Canada, who takes the shape of a floating head. "It's Christmas in Canada" (sometimes called "Christmas in Canada?" or simply "Christmas in Canada") is episode 715 of Comedy Central's South Park is an animated American television comedy series created and written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Comedy Central This turns out to be a projection operated by Saddam Hussein, who was hiding in hole in the wall. Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic: ar صدام حسين عبد المجيد التكريتي --> April 28 1937 &ndash December 30 This is also similar to the 1939 Wizard of Oz film.
• The entire episode of "Scrubs", "My Way Home" pays homage to the Wizard of Oz. Scrubs is an Emmy and Peabody Award -winning American Comedy-drama that premiered on October 2 2001 on NBC. " My Way Home " is the 100th episode of the American Comedy-drama Scrubs.
• In 1991, wrestler Kevin Nash was given the name and gimmick of "Oz" by Dusty Rhodes, loosely based on the Wizard, and was billed from "The Emerald City". Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9 1959 is an American professional wrestler and Actor. Dusty Rhodes may refer to Dusty Rhodes (wrestler, ring name of Virgil Runnels Jr
• The character of The Wizard of Oz was shown in Wizard and Glass, the fourth book of Stephen King's The Dark Tower book series. Wizard and Glass is the fourth book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American Author, Screenwriter, Musician, Columnist, The Dark Tower is a series of seven books written by American author Stephen King between 1970 and 2004
• In the Star Trek episode The Corbomite Maneuver, the alien Balok initially assumes a more intimidating appearance behind what was eventually revealed to be a dummy mask. " The Corbomite Maneuver " is a first season episode of Star Trek The Original Series, first aired November 10 1966, and repeated The real Balok was a dwarfish cherubic man (played by Clint Howard). In discussing the deception, however, Balok refers to Jekyll and Hyde instead of the Wizard of Oz. Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a Novella written by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson and first published in 1886
• In the Stephen King novel Pet Sematary, a framed picture of the Wizard is the first thing Rachel Goldman sees after her sister Zelda dies. Pet Sematary (1983 is a Horror novel by Stephen King. Plot Louis Creed a doctor from Chicago, is It is explained that Zelda enjoyed the Oz books when she was alive, but when she contracted spinal meningitis, it gave her a speech impediment that prevented her from pronouncing the letter R, so she called him "Oz the Gweat and Tewwible". As a result, Oz the Gweat and Tewwible becomes a metaphor for death, and is used for the rest of the book.

References

External links

• More information on The Wizard