Where was The Wizard of Oz filmed?

The scene in The Wizard of Oz, when the tornado sweeps Dorothy and Toto away, is a memorable moment that cemented its place in cinematic history. As the winds pick up, Dorothy starts to run home with Toto in hand as the twister looms ever closer. With no other choice, Dorothy and Toto take refuge in her house only to be sent flying into the sky by the fierce winds of the tornado.

She gets carried away from her dreary surroundings to the extraordinary, magnificent, treacherous, and colorful land of Oz. The Wicked Witch of the East (Margaret Hamilton) dies when the tornado drops Dorothy's house on her.

The unforgettable scene was filmed at the Sony Pictures Studio Lot Stage 14 located at 10202 W Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232. Constructed in 1912, it initially served as a studio lot for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer before Lorimar-Telepictures took it over from 1986 to 1989. In recent years, it became more famously known as a filming location for hit movies such as Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).

The stage is located 10.7 miles west of downtown Los Angeles and it’s accessible through either Interstate 10 or 405 Freeway before taking the Culver Boulevard exit to get onto Washington Blvd. If using public transport, take Bus 33 from downtown Spring / 6th towards culver city station, which will drop you off at Venice / Hughes bus stop nearby. From there, it’s just a few minutes walk on foot towards your destination.

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In the Land of the Munchkins, the Wicked Witch of the East (Margaret Hamilton) was the ruler. At first, the Munchkins thought that Dorothy was a witch too. However, the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton again), who is the sibling of the deceased witch, poses a danger to Dorothy.

Stage 27 at Sony Pictures Studios, which offers a unique split grid setup that replicates an arena-like environment, served as a film set for The Wizard of the Oz scene. With a low side measuring 50 feet and a high side measuring 80 feet, the large concrete floors span 32,000 square feet in total.

Later, we see Dorothy receiving magic ruby slippers from Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Glinda advises her to seek aid from the Wizard of Oz in Emerald City if she wishes to return home to Kansas. Thus begins Dorothy's journey down the Yellow Brick Road as she sings "We're Off To See The Wizard."

To get to Sony Pictures Studio, take public transportation, such as buses or subway lines, to reach Culver City Station, only one mile from Stage 27. Alternatively, drive there via Interstate 10 from downtown Los Angeles.

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Dorothy meets a talking scarecrow in a cornfield soon after setting out on her journey. The scarecrow's deepest desire is to have a brain. In the hope of finding help from the wizard, the scarecrow accompanies Dorothy on her journey.

It's a classic example of how dreamlike visuals can be used to express emotion and has been cited by many filmmakers as an inspiration. During their trip to the Emerald City, Dorothy and her companions face challenges from the Wicked Witch of the West, later in the story. The witch orders the trees to hurl apples at the group and tries to set the scarecrow on fire.

In one scene, Dorothy, Toto, the Lion, Tin Woodman, and Scarecrow are astounded by the magnificent Emerald City. They spent some time attending to their appearance, Dorothy, Toto, and the Lion have their hair groomed, the Tin Woodman is polished, and the scarecrow is filled with fresh straw. As they came out looking neat and clean, the Wicked Witch suddenly appears on her broomstick and writes "Surrender Dorothy" in the sky above the city.

Stages 15, 25, and 26 at Sony Pictures Studio provided settings for the cornfield, apple orchard, and Emerald City scenes. The Gary Martin Soundstage (stage 15) was particularly impressive, measuring 42,000 square feet and being one of North America's largest soundstages. It also provided a backdrop for "Oz the Great and Powerful" as well as the original 1925 film to create the fantastical world of Oz for Dorothy's journey.

You have two options to reach Sony Pictures Studio from San Diego: private car or public transportation. If you choose to drive, take I-5 N, which will take around 2 hours, depending on the Los Angeles traffic. Alternatively, take the Pacific Surfliner bus to reach Los Angeles, which takes approximately 3 hours. From there, take the Metro B line, Red or Purple, which will take 30 minutes to get to Sony Pictures Studio.

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The witch (Margaret Hamilton) creates a poppy field near the city that makes Dorothy, Toto, and the lion fall asleep. Glinda saves them by causing it to snow, reversing the poppies' effects. This scene is a testament to the power of Technicolor, which could have been just a few frames shot in black-and-white, but it stands out as one of the most memorable scenes ever captured on film.

Stage 29 at the Sony Pictures Studio, which is located in Culver City, California, provided a setting for the scene. This stage has since become famous as the location where some of Hollywood's most legendary films were shot such as Ben-Hur, Mutiny on the Bounty, Grand Hotel, Dinner At Eight, and Anna Karenina.

Sony Pictures Studio offers tours, providing easy access to the stages and an enjoyable atmosphere. If you want to visit this historic site yourself, head down to Culver City, which is around 25 minutes west of downtown Los Angeles. Once there, follow Washington Boulevard east until you reach Sony Pictures Studios on Overland Avenue.

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