Behind The Scenes Secrets: The Wizard Of Oz

Jack Haley Didn’t Have a Great Time as the Tin Man Either

Playing the Tin Man really seemed like a labor of love. While it’s true that Ebsen may have been poisoned by the makeup, it’s not like Jack Haley had it easy. Even though makeup artists switched from aluminum powder to aluminum paint, Haley still contracted an eye infection.

The costume was also incredibly stiff (obviously, it’s the Tin Man!). Haley couldn’t rest in the costume whatsoever because he couldn’t sit down. He couldn’t even get up on his own if he decided to lie down on the ground. This forced him to stand up for the entire time his costume was on, and his only relief was leaning against something.

The Cowardly Lion’s Costume Was Actually Made from Real-Life Lions

The Cowardly Lion’s costume is epic and pretty detailed to resemble what a lion would actually look like if it was part human. This is no accident – Bert Lahr’s costume forThe Wizard of Ozwas partially made from the pelts of real lions. This caused the costume to weigh a whopping 48 lbs (though he still had it better than the Tin Man).

Rumors also report that MGM considered using their famous lion Jackie – the lion in their logo – to play Bert Lahr’s role, but they ended opting for an actual human. Bert Lahr offers a really relatable, humorous take on the character that wouldn’t really be possible with an actual lion.