Backstage at the Emerald City: Never-before-seen candid photographs showing 17-year-old Judy Garland getting ready on set of the 1939 Wizard of Oz go up for auction
- The black and white shots remained in the photographer's family for 80 years
- But they are being auctioned on Thursday and are expected to fetch $5,000
- Garland is shown at her vanity table and at the Wicked Witch of the West's door
Amazing never-before-seen photos taken during the filming of The Wizard of Oz have come to light 80 years later, showing Judy Garland poised on the verge of stardom.
A remarkably candid image shows a then 17-year-old Garland in her trademark Dorothy outfit looking into a mirror in her dressing room.
The actor appears to be adjusting her hair as an assistant looks for something in the background.
She would go on to have a glittering career spanning 45 years, during which time she gained international recognition both as an actor and singer, winning a juvenile Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Special Tony Award.
Though she became a household name and appeared in more than two dozen films with MGM, she is best remembered for her iconic performance as Dorothy.
A 17-year-old Judy Garland at her vanity table on the set of the 1939 film the Wizard of Oz. She appears to be adjusting her hair while an assistant works behind her
A set of side-by-side images show Judy Garland as Dorothy at the Wicked Witch of the West's front door
In another photograph, Garland is shown in full character as Dorothy, knocking at the Wicked Witch of the West's front door.
Most of the other black and white studio snaps were taken during the scene where the 'Horse of a Different Colour' enters Emerald City.
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In one photo, Dorothy, The Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion can be seen perched in a carriage.
Another shows a crowd of extras in the background on the Emerald City set - and there is also a close up picture of the coachman, played by Frank Morgan who also portrayed the Wizard in the 1939 movie.
A behind-the-scenes photo from The Wizard of Oz with Frank Morgan as The Wizard of Oz (left) with film director, Victor Fleming
A candid photo featuring Frank Morgan (who also played The Wizard of Oz and other characters) as the coachman of the carriage drawn by 'The Horse of a Different Color'
One of the special effects flying monkeys from 1939 cult classic movie The Wizard of Oz smashing into a wall
The photos have remained in the photographer's family for eight decades but are now being sold with California-based Julien's Auctions.
They are expected to fetch $5,000.
Jason DeBord, specialist at Julien's Auctions, said: 'These never before seen photos give fans of the film and cinema at large a rare glimpse into the making of one of the most famous, revered and beloved films from the Golden Age of movies.
The left-hand picture depicts Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow, Jack Haley as The Tin Man, and Bert Lahr as The Cowardly Lion. The right-hand image depicts a crowd of extras on the set of Emerald City
Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion riding the carriage with the 'The Horse of a Different Colour'
A photo with a set of side-by-side images, taken on the set of Wizard of Oz featuring key environments for scenes in the film - on the left is the grand arched hallway of the Royal Palace of Oz and on the right is the iconic yellow brick road
A behind-the-scenes photo with crew members and director Victor Fleming and the Motion Picture Camera used by cinematographer Hal Rosson to film The Wizard of Oz in Technicolor
'They depict the main stars - Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow, Jack Haley as The Tin Man, and Bert Lahr as The Cowardly Lion - as well as extras and crew members in the 'Horse of a Different Colour' scene.
'The photo showing Judy Garland at her vanity table is so interesting, offering a candid glimpse of her world as an actress, preparing for perhaps the most popular and enduring film of all time.
'There is a real magic with this set of images, almost like a window into the centre of the Golden Age of Hollywood as it was happening.'
Director Victor Fleming watches members of the crew working on the set of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion riding the carriage with the "The Horse of a Different Color" (left). The same scene is shown on the right with a wider shot of a crowd of extras in the background
The film, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 children's book 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', was surprisingly not a commercial hit when it was first released.
However, over the past eight decades it has grown to be recognised as one of the most significant films of all time.
The sale takes place on Thursday.
The left-hand photograph shows a Motion Picture Camera on a crane used by cinematographer Hal Rosson, while the right-hand image depicts a wide behind-the-scenes shot of Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion riding the carriage
These never before seen photos taken during the filming of The Wizard of Oz have come to light 80 years later and will be auctioned by California-based Julien's Auctions on Thursday. They are expected to fetch $5,000
