Was the Snow in 'The Wizard of Oz' Asbestos? Actorsvaultpro

A cinematic landmark, The Wizard of Oz revolutionized the medium, from its use of Technicolor to its special effects. Even today, the film retains a certain endearing charm, despite nearing the 90-year mark since its release. Culturally, Judy Garland’s role as Dorothy Gale is still honored today, while Margaret Hamilton’s portrayal of the Wicked Witch laid the groundwork for many cinematic villains. There is plenty to celebrate about the film, both culturally and in its execution, which has left an enduring legacy. However, behind the scenes, there were plenty of challenges and downright neglect that will always leave a slight stain on the musical.

For some of the actors, the production was grueling and dangerous. Film icon Judy Garland’s mistreatment throughout her career is well documented at this point, and it is hard to understand the mental strain she would have been under. Yet there were more immediate problems: the original Tin Man, Buddy Ebsen, had a severe reaction to the aluminum-based paint, which permanently affected his lungs. Margaret Hamilton, infamously, suffered severe burns during the filming of one of the vanishing/eruption effects.

If the issues faced by actors were not an indication of neglect on set, or at least a lack of understanding of how to address them, as the film presented new challenges in its scope and approach, there were many other dangerous issues with the production. Poorly timed effects led to injuries, and aerial stunts were not properly rigged, resulting in minor injuries. Yet, with so much going wrong on set, there are a lot of myths surrounding The Wizard of Oz; no, you can’t see the shadow of a munchkin who hung himself in the film. One enduring myth is that asbestos was used on set as snow. Here, we will examine if there is truth to the claim.

Why ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Is Associated With Asbestos Snow

MGM

The scene in question, mentioned in relation to asbestos use, is the “poppy field” sequence, in which Dorothy and the others fall asleep and wake up covered in snow. The scene, like many movies that feature snow, stands out as strikingly beautiful. Yet, most concerning was the later claim that asbestos covered the actors. Specifically, the claim was that the film used chrysotile asbestos, which gave it its pure white appearance. This fine fiber would later be linked to cancer risks, as the fibers remain in the body long after inhalation. Why was asbestos used on set? Despite its carcinogenic properties, it was fireproof and gave off a visual appearance of snow.

The use of asbestos was not uncommon, either on set or in everyday life, during the ’30s. In The Wizard of Oz, both the Wicked Witch’s broom and the Scarecrow’s outfit were made of asbestos, albeit in a less dangerous form (via Atlas Obscura). Yet, the identical snow stand-in was not uncommon in other Christmas decorations seen in homes and adorning shop displays; there are thousands of commercial products that use asbestos for its strength and fire-resistant properties. While there was considerable neglect on the set of The Wizard of Oz, the use of asbestos was neither uncommon nor egregious. Given the commercial availability and viability of asbestos, and it already being commonly used as snow, it seems like it would be a 100% certainty that it was used on set, right?

A Counterpoint to the Claim of Asbestos Being Used as Snow in ‘The Wizard of Oz’

While considering practicality and the timeframe, many have stood by the claim that the hazardous material had to be used to create the “poppy field” scene. However, another theory has been proposed. Film historian William Stillman spoke to MGM makeup artist Charles Schram, who “distinctly recalled that the artificial snowflakes were created using crushed gypsum, a mineral used in plaster of Paris.” According to History, Schram was clear in this belief as, “It was his job to pick the gypsum particles out of the wig for Judy Garland and Bert Lahr’s Cowardly Lion mane.”

Crushed gypsum was cheap and readily available and was not uncommon to use on sets during the ’30s and ’40s; the quintessential Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), was said to use the material for its snow. Moreover, it was also infamous for being messy to work with; hence, Schram claimed part of his job was to remove the plaster from the actors, a problem that would not be as tedious with asbestos. This appears to be an open-and-closed case regarding the use of gypsum on set rather than asbestos, but there is still reason to question either claim.

We May Never Know What Material Was Used on the Set of ‘The Wizard of Oz’

One Answer Seems More Obvious

Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz holding her dog

It is most likely that gypsum was used on set instead of asbestos, based on the only firsthand account available from makeup artist Charles Schram. Still, this is the word of one, and Schram also confirmed, when speaking with History, that there was asbestos in use on the set (specifically in Scarecrow’s costume). There are no official notes or records from the production that confirm with certainty whether asbestos was used to create the snow, either entirely or in part. The prevailing idea, as reported numerous times, points to asbestos. However, this reporting likely feeds off the other tragedies, both contrived and authentic, surrounding the filming of The Wizard of Oz; it is undoubtedly a more interesting story than harmless material whose only inconvenience was the messiness.

Whether asbestos was used on set or not, The Wizard of Oz had many other oversights that mark it as one of the most troubled and dangerous productions ever. Still, these mistakes do little to diminish its status as a cinematic wonder and should not prevent audiences from enjoying it today. You can stream The Wizard of Oz (1939) on HBO Max.