Theatre goers first saw the magical Wizard of Oz in a gala premiere on this night in 1939. The first movie to use the combination of black and white and color film starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale; Bert Lahr as both the Cowardly Lion and Zeke; Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow and Hunk; and Jack Haley as both the Tin Woodsman and Hickory. Originally, Buddy Ebsen was in the role of the Tin Man; but he became ill and had to leave the production before its completion. 

The movie was based on L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which he wrote in 1900 and adapted into a musical play. Directed by Victor Fleming, the Hollywood version took an Oscar for best movie score (Harold Arlen and E.Y. ‘Yip’ Harburg), and for best song, Somewhere Over the Rainbow. With its superb acting, special effects, singing midgets and wonderful songs like Ding Dong the Witch is Dead (the wicked witch was delightfully played by Margaret Hamilton while Billie Burke was equally charming as the good witch); Munchkinland, and Follow the Yellow Brick Road, the Wizard of Oz would probably have won the Best Picture Oscar. As fate would have it, there was another show-stopper filmed that year, Gone with the Wind, and only one film could win. 

The Wizard of Oz turned into such a triumph that television later clamored to get the rights to show it. William. S. Paley of CBS made sure his network (which also gave Garland the spotlight with her own show in the 1950s) was the one to bring The Wizard of Oz to new generations of viewers. The movie, now released on video, is still shown on TV and remains a popular favorite of young and old alike. 

“Oh, we’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz. We hear he is a wiz of a wiz, if ever a wiz there was...” 

Judy Garland im Zauberland
Mit dem Filmmusical »Das zauberhafte Land« von Victor Fleming nach dem Kinderbuch von Frank Baum, das am 17. August 1939 in die US-Kinos gelangt, wird die 17jährige Hauptdarstellerin Judy Garland zum Star. In dem Kinomärchen hilft der Zauberer von Oz dem Mädchen Dorothy und ihren Gefährten (Blechmann, Löwe und Vogelscheuche), ihre Angst zu überwinden. 
 1939: Die 17jährige Judy Garland wird mit dem Filmmusical "Das zauberhafte Land" nach dem Kinderbuch von Frank L. Baum über Nacht zum Star.
1939 "Wizard of Oz" opens at Loew's Capitol Theater in NY

 1943: Der Schwede Arne Andersson läuft in Göteborg mit 3:45,0 min Weltrekord über 1500 m.
 

On this day in 1943 brooding actor Robert DeNiro was born in New York City. DeNiro, known for his intense, chameleon-like portrayals of often marginal, edgy, unbalanced and violent characters, is considered one of best actors of his generation. DeNiro's better known films include 'Raging Bull', 'Cape Fear' and 'Taxi Driver'. He has won two Oscars as both Best Supporting Actor (1974) and Best Actor (1980). 
 1943 - Robert De Niro
actor: Academy Award-winning actor: Raging Bull [1980], The Godfather II [1974]; Brazil, The Deer Hunter, The Untouchables, Taxi Driver, Awakenings, Cape Fear, Frankenstein, Back Draft, Search for Tomorrow; director: Bronx Tale, geboren
 1943: Robert de Niro, amerik. Filmschauspieler, "Taxi Driver", "Brasil", Oscar 1974 für "Der Pate II", geboren
 1943: Brandy Alexander, amerik. Schauspieler und Travestiekünstler, geboren
Robert De Niro
US-amerikanischer Schauspieler., geboren
Song:
Bananarama: Robert De Niro's waiting
1943 Robert De Niro NYC, actor (Bang the Drum Slowly, Taxi Driver) , geboren
De Niro, einer der wandlungsfähigsten Sc