The 1902 adaptation of The Wizard of Oz looked extremely unsettling

Frank L. Baum’s “Wizard of Oz” was conceived at the beginning of the mass media era so it should be no surprise that this beloved fantasy has been made and remade over the years. But Baum’s first musical production may actually be something closer to the stuff of nightmares…

When you mention The Wizard of Oz, your average moviegoer’s mind turns to such disparate topics as Judy Garland, ruby slippers, and apocryphal hanging munchkins.

But there were several Oz adaptations that preceded the 1939 film, such as the 1902 musical penned by L. Frank Baum himself. Here are some photographs of the 1902 and 1903 productions. Although Dorothy and the Lion look charming and quirky, the Tin Man and Scarecrow own a time share in the deepest recesses of your nightmares.

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