13 Intriguing Details About L. Frank Baum’s ‘Wonderful Wizard of Oz’

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum became an instant sensation upon its release in 1900. The tale of Dorothy, alongside her companions the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Cowardly Lion, enchanted readers worldwide. Its success led to a flood of merchandise, a popular Broadway production, a silent movie adaptation, and an extensive series of 13 sequels. Discover fascinating insights about this timeless book.

1. L. Frank Baum preserved the pencil he used to write the novel as a cherished keepsake. 

Before penning The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1898, L. Frank Baum had worn many hats—chicken rancher, traveling salesman, and theater manager—and had already authored two successful children’s books. He completed the manuscript in October 1899 and, evidently proud of his achievement, framed the pencil stub he used and displayed it in his study. On a note attached, he wrote, “With this pencil I wrote the manuscript of The Emerald City.” 

2. Baum faced challenges in choosing the perfect title for his book.

Baum went through several iterations before settling on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At first, he considered titles like The City of Oz and The Emerald City, but his publisher wasn’t convinced (some attribute this to a superstition that books with jewel-related titles didn’t sell well). Baum also toyed with From Kansas to Fairyland and The Land of Oz before ultimately deciding on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

3. Baum claimed the name Oz was inspired by his filing cabinet.

Three years following the release of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum shared the story behind the name Oz: He was inspired by his study’s filing cabinet, which had drawers labeled “A to G,” “H to N,” and “O to Z.” Thus, Oz was born. (However, the origin of the name remains a topic of debate, with inconsistencies in Baum’s account and several alternative theories.)

4. Dorothy Gale’s name might have been a tribute to a deceased niece.

Dorothy Gale’s name may have been inspired by Dorothy Gage, the young niece of Baum’s wife, Maud, who passed away in November 1898 while Baum was working on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

5. Baum set his book in Kansas despite never having lived there.

Baum penned The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Chicago, having visited Kansas only once during a tour with his melodrama The Maid of Arran (which he wrote, directed, and starred in). Why Kansas? As per biographer Katharine M. Rogers, Baum might have chosen Kansas over South Dakota, where he resided for years, to honor relatives still living there: “Kansas was fitting, as its struggles mirrored Dorothy’s, especially after William Allen White’s famous editorial ‘What’s the Matter with Kansas?’ highlighted the state’s hardships.” Alternatively, the 1890s cyclones that devastated the state could have inspired him. Gore Vidal noted that Baum was likely influenced by newspaper reports of these storms.

6. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is structured as an episodic novel. 

In Baum’s episodic tale, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road, which serves as the story’s backbone. She occasionally strays from the path, embarks on adventures, and then resumes her journey. Along the way, she encounters a variety of unique characters, including the Queen of the Field Mice, china people, and the fearsome Kalidahs—bear-bodied, tiger-headed creatures.

7. Baum personally assembled the first copy of the book.

When the initial print run of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was completed in May 1900, Baum personally assembled the pages. He gifted this handmade copy to his sister, Mary Louise Baum Brewster, inscribing on the manuscript, “This ‘dummy’ ... was created from sheets I collected directly from the press and bound by hand. It is, in fact, the very first book ever made of this story.”

8. The book sold out within two weeks of its release.

Full-scale distribution of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz began in August. As reported by the publisher, the first edition of 10,000 copies sold out in just two weeks, prompting a second printing of 15,000 and a third of 10,000. By November, a fourth printing of 30,000 copies was issued, followed by a fifth printing of 25,000 in January. In total, 90,000 copies were sold within the first six months, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz remained a bestseller for two years. 

9. Baum later created The Wizard of Oz: The 1903 Musical Extravaganza as a follow-up.

Teaming up with illustrator W.W. Denslow and composer Paul Tietjens, Baum transformed his book into a musical. Fred Hamlin, producer at Chicago’s Grand Opera House, reportedly agreed to stage the play because the title included the word Wizard, a nod to his family’s fortune from Hamlin’s Wizard Oil, a popular medical tonic. The Wizard of Oz premiered in Chicago in June 1902 and later enjoyed a long run on Broadway. 

10. Baum and his illustrator eventually had a major disagreement.

W.W. Denslow initially collaborated with Baum by illustrating the 1899 hit Father Goose: His Book. He later illustrated The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Both men were so committed to the book’s visuals that they personally funded the color printing when the publisher refused. However, their shared copyright led to a falling out over who deserved credit for the book’s success. Their conflict deepened during the musical adaptation, with Denslow demanding equal pay as the writer and composer for his costume design work. The partnership ended, and they never collaborated again. 

11. Baum continued writing sequels due to financial difficulties.

Baum initially planned to conclude the series after the sixth book, The Emerald City of Oz. However, after filing for bankruptcy a year later, he was forced to continue writing Oz books. The final installment, Glinda of Oz, was published after his death in 1920. 

Overall, Baum was an incredibly prolific author. He wrote under multiple pen names, including Edith van Dyne, who authored the Aunt Jane’s Nieces series. By the end of his career, he had written over 50 novels, 80 short stories, hundreds of poems, and at least a dozen plays. 

12. In the original book, Dorothy’s shoes were silver, not ruby red.

In Baum’s original book, Dorothy receives “silver shoes with pointed toes.” The color was altered to ruby red for the 1939 film featuring Judy Garland, as the filmmakers believed the vibrant red would stand out more vividly in Technicolor.

This wasn’t the only divergence between the film and the book: In the book, Dorothy doesn’t encounter Glinda until the story’s conclusion; instead, the Good Witch of the North welcomes her to Oz. The book also doesn’t conclude with the wizard departing in a hot air balloon—Dorothy journeys south to find Glinda and embarks on further adventures. Additionally, while Oz is portrayed as a dream in the movie, it’s a real place in the book. When Aunt Em inquires where Dorothy has been, she replies, “I was in the Land of Oz,” and adds, “I’m so glad to be home again!” (The famous line “There’s no place like home” is exclusive to the film.)

13. You can still view the first film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.

A silent film adaptation of the book was produced by Selig Polyscope Company in 1910.