The production of the musical film was organized by studios «Universal Pictures» and «Motown Productions». Principal photography took place in Queens, New York, from July 13 to December 29, 1977. It was Michael Jackson's debut in a feature film — he played the role of the Scarecrow, and his partners were Diana Ross, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne, and Richard Pryor. The screenplay, based on the Broadway version of William F. Brown's libretto, was adapted by Joel Schumacher. Filming locations included: the «Astoria Studios», the demolished New York State Pavilion from the 1964 World's Fair (used for scenes in Munchkinland), Meadow Lake Bridge (the first scene with the Yellow Brick Road), the «Astroland» amusement park on Coney Island (the scene with the Tin Man). The Emerald City scenes were particularly large-scale: 650 dancers, 385 crew members, and 1,200 costumes were used. Costume designer Tony Walton collaborated with leading New York fashion designers — such as Oscar de la Renta and Norma Kamali — to create luxurious and eccentric outfits.

Filming Locations:

New York Public Library

In the Movie

Scene where Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and the Tin Man walk along the yellow brick road and end up at the library. Suddenly, a Lion jumps out from behind a column of the building with a roar and tries to scare them, but it quickly becomes clear that behind his fierce appearance hides indecision.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the main building of the New York Public Library — one of the most recognizable architectural landmarks of Manhattan. Its construction began in 1902 and was completed in 1910, but the official opening took place in 1911, after about a million books were placed in the building. In the 1980s, the library underwent a significant expansion: underground storage facilities with kilometers of shelves were built under the neighboring Bryant Park to accommodate the growing collection.

Dorothy's House

In the Movie

Scene where a large family gathers around a festive table in an apartment in Harlem — noisy, warm, laughter and lively conversations everywhere. Children scurry in the kitchen, adults raise their glasses, and on the table are traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Among the guests is Dorothy Gale, a 24-year-old elementary school teacher, a little aloof, thoughtful. Aunt Em, cheerful and straightforward, smiles and teases her niece: it's time to start living like an adult, find her own path, and finally move out.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at 433 Prospect Place — in the historic Prospect Heights neighborhood, Brooklyn, New York. This area is located north of the famous Prospect Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, designed by the same architects as Central Park — Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Prospect Heights has long been a multicultural neighborhood where African American, Caribbean, Jewish, and Italian communities coexisted.

Munchkinland

In the Movie

Scene where a magical whirlwind of sparkling snow envelops Dorothy and transports her to the magical land of Oz. As she descends from the sky, her landing turns out to be unexpectedly decisive — she crashes into a neon sign reading 'Oz', which breaks off, falls down, and crushes Evermean, the Wicked Witch of the East, who ruled Munchkinland. The witch's death instantly frees the local residents — the Munchkins, who were hiding in fear. They come out of hiding onto the bright, fairy-tale square where Dorothy landed and joyfully greet their unwitting savior.

In Reality

The scene was filmed at the demolished New York State Pavilion, which was part of the 1964 World's Fair, located in the Corona neighborhood of New York City. The pavilion, built in 1962, became an iconic element of the fair, representing the states and promoting ideas of American progress and technology. Located at the intersection of Perimeter Road and Meridian Road, the pavilion stood out for its unusual futuristic architecture. It was designed by architects to showcase the technologies and achievements of the time, but after the fair it was not used for its intended purpose and gradually fell into disrepair.

Yellow Brick Road

In the Movie

Scene where along the way, Dorothy and the Scarecrow meet the Tin Man, who, standing in an abandoned amusement park, suffers from not having a heart. The Tin Man joins Dorothy and the Scarecrow, and together they continue their search for the Wizard, hoping he will fulfill their wishes: a heart for the Tin Man and a brain for the Scarecrow.

In Reality

The scene was filmed on the Ward's Island Bridge in New York. This is a small but significant bridge that stretches across the East River between the island and the mainland part of the city. It has existed since 1951 and serves as an important transport hub, connecting two districts of the city.