Behind The Scenes Secrets: The Wizard Of Oz

Betty Danko

After Margaret Hamilton sustained injuries after being burned on her face and hand while filming the scene where the Wicked Witch is leaving Munchkinland. She returned to filming but refused to doanymorestunt work that involved fire. Actress Betty Danko worked as her stand-in for these scenes. Betty was only paid $11 a day although it rose to $35 a day after she began to do stunt work.

While filming the Surrender Dorothy scene, Betty was also severely burned. She was sitting on a smoking pipe that had been made to look like the Witch’s broomstick and the pipe exploded. Betty was forced to spend almost two weeks in the hospital. Unfortunately, her legs were permanently scarred but that did not stop her from doing other stunt work in the future.