Throwback Thursday: Munchkinland at the New York State Pavilion
Tonight, NBC is broadcasting a live production of The Wiz, a modern retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic novel The Wizard of Oz. In light of this, we’d like to show a time when a National Treasure took center stage in this same musical nearly 40 years ago.
The 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz featured several New York landmarks—including the New York State Pavilion. Early in the film, the Pavilion served as the setting for Munchkinland, where Dorothy and her dog begin their adventures in the land of Oz.
After accidentally killing the Wicked Witch of the East, Dorothy encounters the Munchkins and the benevolent Miss One, who instruct her to “ease on down” the yellow brick road to ask the Wizard of Oz to take her home. In this video, you can see the characters sing and dance throughout the pavilion, with the supporting columns in the background.
Other New York locations featured in the film include the New York Public Library, Coney Island, and the Chrysler Building.
