The hanging Munchkin theory on the set of The Wizard of OZ explained

The classic film of 1939, The Wizard of Oz, is treasured by millions of viewers, but somehow, it also became the object of many urban legends and myths. One of the most everlasting and creepy stories would have to be the so-called hanging munchkin theory.

This myth suggests that a distressed actor playing one of the munchkins ended his life on set and that his body can be seen hanging in the background of a scene. The legend has survived for the better part of a century, though the truth is a lot less depressing and much more prosaic. In the past, several people related to the movie have attempted to debunk the myth by stating facts.

Let's delve into the origins, debunking attempts, and lasting impact of this infamous myth.

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The origins of the myth on the set of The Wizard of Oz

The myth focuses on a specific scene from The Wizard of Oz which involves Dorothy, Scarecrow, and the Tin Man skipping down Yellow Brick Road. In the background, a greyish figure seems to be hanging from the tree. For years, people used to describe the scene, saying that it is the body of a munchkin actor who committed suicide because he was depressed.

It spread fast on the internet, mainly via grainy VHS copies of the film, in which the figure is blurry and ambiguous. The real account is much more prosaic and less ghoulish. The mysterious figure is not a hanged munchkin but a large bird - probably an emu or a crane that was rented from the Los Angeles Zoo.

These birds were used in some scenes to give depth and to add reality to outdoor shots. In this particular scene, the bird is stretching its wings and, due to the optical illusion, is seen as a figure hanging in the back.

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Debunking the hanging munchkin theory from the sets of The Wizard of Oz

For years, there have been many attempts to debunk the hanging munchkin theory. Film historians, fans, and even some surviving cast and crew members chimed in to set the record straight. High-definition remasters of The Wizard of Oz bring clarity to the situation, showing clearly that the figure is indeed a bird.

Judy Garland, Charles Becker, Lewis Croft, Harry Monty, Meinhardt Raabe, August Clarence Swenson, and Jakob Hofbaue in The Wizard of Oz ( image via Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Yet despite all this, this legend had not died, mainly due to the persistence of urban myths and the romance associated with the macabre.

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On-set mishaps during the filming of The Wizard of Oz

One factor that has helped the hanging munchkin legend persist is the film's very documented history of mishaps that took place on set. The movie was filled with various incidents, some quite serious, while it was being produced.

Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West, did have serious burns when she was to disappear in a cloud of smoke and flames. Something went wrong with the special effects, and she was burned.

Buddy Ebsen, the original Tin Man, finally had to drop the movie owing to a serious allergic reaction to the aluminum powder makeup used for his character.

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Although the Hanging Munchkin myth adds an eerie layer to the lore that surrounds The Wizard of Oz, it is just that—a myth. That is not an actor but a bird shown in the background.