On June 10th, 1922; Frances Ethel Gumm came into the world, but we all knew her as Judy Garland. Garland would grow up into one of the most widely celebrated actresses and singers before her death in 1969. To celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday this year, Fathom Events will be bringing her most famous performance back to theaters for a limited time, The Wizard of Oz. The trailer and description of the event can be found below.
In celebration of what would have been Judy Garland’s 100th birthday, join fans across the county for a special showing of The Wizard of Oz - featuring an exclusive deleted musical number! In this classic musical fantasy, Judy Garland stars as Dorothy Gale, a young Kansas farm girl who dreams of a land "somewhere over the rainbow." Dorothy's dream comes true when she, her dog Toto, and her family's house are transported by a tornado to a bright and magical world unlike anything she has seen before. Unfortunately, she makes a mortal enemy of a wicked witch when the house falls on the hag's sister. Now, befriended by a scarecrow without a brain, a tin man with no heart and a cowardly lion--and protected by a pair of enchanted ruby slippers--Dorothy sets off along a yellow brick road for the Emerald City to beseech the all-powerful Wizard of Oz for his help to return home.
We Love to Return to Oz
If you’re a fan of movies, chances are The Wizard of Oz needs no introduction for you. Despite releasing more than 80 years ago, the film is still widely celebrated and loved by generations of viewers. With its delightful performances, toe-tapping songs, whimsical sets, and clever use of technicolor, it’s no wonder The Wizard of Oz has firmly kept a hold of movie culture to this day. Another reason for the film’s long-lasting hold on audiences is how much it has been re-released over the years. After its theatrical premiere in 1939, MGM sold the rights to televise the film to CBS. It was shown on television in 1956, then on 1959. After both broadcasts resulted in massive success, CBS turned the broadcast into a television tradition. Thus, the film had found a new generation of audiences.
Since the televised broadcast, The Wizard of Oz has also received numerous re-releases on home media. Staring in 1980 in both VHS and Betamax, the film has been released on LaserDisc, CED, Video CD, DVD, Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray 3D, UltraViolet, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-Ray. Each edition would come with new special features and goodies for fans to indulge in.
This will not be the first time The Wizard of Oz will have returned to a theatrical run. The film has graced the screens numerous times for special matinees and anniversary celebrations. The film has also been featured on IMAX 3D screens. The last time the film made rounds in theaters was in 2019 to celebrate its 80’th anniversary. You might be thinking “that’s quite a lot of times to see one movie”, but The Wizard of Oz is just one of those movies that never loses that magic. There’s always a big difference when it comes to watching a movie at home and watching a movie on the big screen, and that first shot of Dorothy opening the door to Oz just hits different when you’re seeing it on a large projector. No matter how old you get, audiences just haven’t grown tired of returning to Oz.
The Wizard of Oz will be returning to theaters on June 5th and June 6th.