Off to See the Wizard
Encyclopedia
Off The See The Wizard was a part-animated but mostly live action television anthology series produced by MGM Television
and telecast on ABC-TV
between 1967 and 1968.
. Such was the popularity of the film among TV audiences by then that ABC decided to build an anthology series around it, a series which primarily showcased the first network telecasts of some of MGM's most popular recent live-action family films, much as Walt Disney
had often showcased the first telecasts of his films on the Disney anthology television series
. Animated versions of Dorothy Gale
, Toto, the Scarecrow
, the Tin Man
, the Cowardly Lion
, and the Wizard of Oz book-ended each episode of the series, often providing humorous introductions to the films. Chuck Jones
served as executive producer.
The series also used music from the famous MGM film. The opening credits featured an offscreen chorus singing a stanza of Over the Rainbow and segued into Dorothy and her three friends singing We're Off To See The Wizard.
MGM Television
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television is an American television production/distribution launched in 1955 and a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc....
and telecast on ABC-TV
ABC-TV
ABC-TV can refer to:*American Broadcasting Company, a radio and television network in the United States*Australian Broadcasting Corporation's ABC Television network**ABC , the ABC television station in Canberra...
between 1967 and 1968.
History
The series derived its name from the well-known song We're Off To See The Wizard, featured in MGM's classic 1939 film The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. Such was the popularity of the film among TV audiences by then that ABC decided to build an anthology series around it, a series which primarily showcased the first network telecasts of some of MGM's most popular recent live-action family films, much as Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
had often showcased the first telecasts of his films on the Disney anthology television series
Disney anthology television series
The Walt Disney anthology television series refers to a television series which has been produced by the Walt Disney Company under several different titles from 1955 to 2008...
. Animated versions of Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale
Dorothy Gale is the protagonist of many of the Oz novels by American author L. Frank Baum, and the best friend of Oz's ruler Princess Ozma. Dorothy first appears in Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and reappears in most of its sequels...
, Toto, the Scarecrow
Scarecrow (Oz)
The Scarecrow is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum and illustrator William Wallace Denslow. In his first appearance, the Scarecrow reveals that he lacks a brain and desires above all else to have one. In reality, he is only two days old and merely...
, the Tin Man
Tin Woodman
The Tin Woodman, sometimes referred to as the Tin Man or the Tin Woodsman , is a character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum...
, the Cowardly Lion
Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion is the main character in the fictional Land of Oz created by American author L. Frank Baum. He is a Lion, but he talks and interacts with humans....
, and the Wizard of Oz book-ended each episode of the series, often providing humorous introductions to the films. Chuck Jones
Chuck Jones
Charles Martin "Chuck" Jones was an American animator, cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of animated films, most memorably of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies shorts for the Warner Bros. Cartoons studio...
served as executive producer.
The series also used music from the famous MGM film. The opening credits featured an offscreen chorus singing a stanza of Over the Rainbow and segued into Dorothy and her three friends singing We're Off To See The Wizard.
Featured Films
The series ran only an hour, so full-length films had to be split into two parts, much as Disney used to do on its television anthology series. Film shown on the series in order of appearance include:- Clarence, the Cross-Eyed LionClarence, the Cross-Eyed LionClarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion is a 1965 film directed by Andrew Marton and starring Marshall Thompson and Betsy Drake. The movie was shot in Miami, Florida, and became the basis for the television series Daktari.-Plot:...
(1965) - FlipperFlipper (1963 film)Flipper is an American feature film released on August 14, 1963 written by Ricou Browning and Jack Cowden. Produced by Ivan Tors and directed by James B. Clark, it portrays a 12-year old boy living with his parents on the Florida Keys, who befriends an injured wild dolphin...
(1963) - Hell Cats
- Island of the Lost
- LiliLiliLili is an American film. An MGM release, it stars Leslie Caron as a touchingly naïve French girl, whose emotional relationship with a carnival puppeteer is conducted through the medium of four puppets...
(1953) - Mike and the Mermaid
- Rhino
- Tarzan, the Ape Man (1959)
- The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960 film)The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a 1960 film directed by Michael Curtiz.Based on the famous Mark Twain novel of the same name, it was the third sound film version of the story and the second filmed by MGM...
(1960) - Gypsy Colt (1953)
- Untamed World
- Who's Afraid of Mother Goose?
- Wild World
- Zebra in the Kitchen (1965)
- The Glass SlipperThe Glass SlipperThe Glass Slipper is a musical film adaptation of Cinderella, made by MGM, directed by Charles Walters and produced by Edwin H. Knopf from a screenplay by Helen Deutsch. The music score is by Bronislau Kaper, the cinematography by Arthur E. Arling, the art direction by Daniel B...
(1955) - Captain SindbadCaptain Sinbad (film)Captain Sindbad is a 1963 film directed by Byron Haskin. It stars Guy Williams and Heidi Brühl.Part of its plot is similar to the Russian legend of the evil Katschei. The villain, El Kerim, literally keeps his heart locked up in a chest inside a huge tower. Whoever wishes to kill him must climb...
(1963)
Cast
- Mel BlancMel BlancMelvin Jerome "Mel" Blanc was an American voice actor and comedian. Although he began his nearly six-decade-long career performing in radio commercials, Blanc is best remembered for his work with Warner Bros...
- Cowardly Lion, Toto - Daws ButlerDaws ButlerCharles Dawson "Daws" Butler was a voice actor originally from Toledo, Ohio. He worked mostly for Hanna-Barbera and originated the voices of many famous animated cartoon characters, including Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, and Huckleberry Hound.Daws Butler trained many working actors...
- Scarecrow, Tin Man, Wizard of Oz - June ForayJune ForayJune Foray is an American voice actress, best known as the voice of many animated characters...
- Dorothy Gale, Wicked Witch of the West
External links
- Off to See the Wizard at Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...