Every five years, the city of Oconomowoc celebrates the anniversary of when The Wizard of Oz first premiered in August of 1939 — and this year the celebration to mark the 85th anniversary will take place August 15.
The Wizard of Oz first premiered in the Strand Theater in downtown Oconomowoc where the film was shown on smaller screens before its big premiere at the Chinese Theater to test the response to the film.
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Five years ago, the City of Oconomowoc added statues of The Wizard of Oz characters to Oz Plaza, along with a giant mural of the Emerald City created by a local artist. This year, the city is unveiling an enhanced plaza at the Aug. 15 event, says Paige Brunclik, City of Oconomowoc marketing and communications.
“It’s been more than a year in the works to secure the funding. We’re adding more statues, more characters, cool surprises and more interactive things people can do when they come into this little destination,” Brunclik shared. “We also added seating and lighting so now it’s really a cohesive space in our downtown.”
The event will begin in the afternoon with music, activities, food trucks and Oz merchandise for sale. The evening will conclude with a 60-foot-screen showing the The Wizard of Oz for free.
“They have planned a complete journey. From Auntie Em’s Farm on one side of our downtown, to the Yellow Brick Road through Emerald City and through the enchanted forest they’ve got stuff all the way,” Brunclik added.
Most of the decorations will have to come down following the screening, but the Wizard of Oz statues will continue to stay up all year.
“It’s one of the top 100 films of our lifetime, it’s a big deal. No matter what your age is, it’s very nostalgic. For a lot of the older demographic, they not only think back to a time when the movie happened, but also to what life was like back then. It celebrates history,” she said.
