08/25/2026
🏠 ON THIS DAY — August 25, 1939
On this day 87 years ago, The Wizard of Oz opened in theaters across the United States, taking audiences on a journey from Kansas to a magical land filled with Munchkins, flying monkeys and the Emerald City, along with Dorothy, Toto and her unforgettable friends. 🌪️🧙♀️🦁
Starring Judy Garland as Dorothy, the MGM classic brought L. Frank Baum’s beloved story to life in spectacular Technicolor, with “Over the Rainbow” becoming one of the most iconic songs in movie history.
The film wasn’t an immediate blockbuster, but its popularity only grew with time. When it first arrived on television in 1956, an estimated 45 million people watched. It eventually became one of the most beloved and recognizable movies ever made. 🌈🎬
And for so many of us who grew up in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, The Wizard of Oz became something more than a classic movie.
It was a yearly TV tradition. 📺❤️
You knew it was coming. You looked forward to seeing it again. And when it finally aired, you settled in with family and watched Dorothy follow that yellow brick road like it was the first time.
Before streaming. Before DVRs. Before VCRs.
If you wanted to see The Wizard of Oz, you waited for it to come on TV. And when it did, it felt like an event. 📺
87 years later, we still remember the line…
❤️ “There’s no place like home.”
And for many of us, those yearly Wizard of Oz broadcasts are childhood memories that still feel like home. 🥹🏠