Three movie wizards recalled at Oz- flavored county fair

 

By Donald H. Harrison

DEL MAR, California – At the San Diego County Fair on Sunday, June 2, I was reminded of three Jewish entertainment figures who were instrumental to the making of the celebrated movie, The Wizard of Oz, which because of its San Diego connections provides the theme for this year’s fair.

One figure was seen nearly everywhere at the fair, but wasn’t heard.  The other two were heard at various venues, but they weren’t seen.

The San Diego connection to The Wizard of Oz was author L. Frank Baum, who wrote the books upon which the celebrated 1939 movie starring Judy Garland as Dorothy was based.  He lived part time in Coronado, and some say his vision of the Emerald City in the movie was inspired by the architecture of the Hotel del Coronado.   The three of our fellow Jews whom I have in mind are actor Bert Lahr, and the song writing team of lyricist Edgar “Yip” Harburg and composer Harold Arlen.

Lahr, you might remember, portrayed the Cowardly Lion, while Arlen and Harburg collaborated on the music and lyrics for most of the songs in the beloved movie, including two that were voiced by Lahr’s character.  One was “If I Were King of the Forest,” and the other was “If I Only Had the Nerve.”

Harburg’s lyrics and Arlen’s music  for “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” which was Garland’s signature song in the movie, won an Academy Award for “Best Music, Original Song.”  Another song that was honored by the American Film Institute in 2004 was “Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead.”  And who can forget “We’re Off to See the Wizard”?

Lahr, who got his start in vaudeville, was the only one of Dorothy’s three companions on the yellow brick road to Oz who got to sing two songs in the movie.  Jack Haley as the Tin Man got one, as did Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow.

If I were king of the forest, not queen, not duke, not prince.
My regal robes of the forest would be satin, not cotton, not chintz.
I’d command each thing, be it fish or fowl.
With a woof and a woof and a royal growl – woof.
As I’d click my heel, all the trees would kneel.
And the mountains bow and the bulls kow tow.
And the sparrow would take wing – if I – If I – were King!
Each rabbit would show respect to me. The chipmunks would genuflect to me.
Though my tail would lash, I would show compash
For every underling!
If I – if I – were King!
Just King!
Monarch of all I survey – Mo-na-a-a-a-arch of all I survey!

Perhaps better known was the Arlen-Harburg collaboration “If I Only Had the Nerve.”

Yeh, it’s sad, believe me, Missy
When you’re born to be a sissy
Without the vim and verve

But I could change my habits
Never more be scared of rabbits
If I only had the nerve.
I’m afraid there’s no denying
I’m just an awful dandy-lion
A fate I don’t deserve
But I could show my prowess
Be a lion, not a mouse
If I only had the nerve.
Oh I’d be in my stride
A king down to the core
Oh I roar the way I never roared before
And then I’d rrwuff
And roar some more

I would show the dinosaurus
Who’s king around the forus
A king they’s better serve

And with my regal beezer
I could be another Caesar
If I only had the nerve
I’d be brave as a blizzard
I’d be gentle as a lizard
I’d be clever as a gizzard
If the Wizard is a Wizard who will serve?
Then I’m sure to get a brain
A heart, a home, the nerve

All three men—Lahr, Arlen, and Harburg—had other individual claims to fame, but there was something magical – dare we say “wizardly” – about the result of their teamwork with the other cast members and crew.  The Wizard of Oz was made 80 years ago, and yet it still is a favorite – as one might glean by visiting the fair and seeing how the movie inspired tributes from artists of all ages.

Lahr was born Irving Larheim on August 13, 1895, coincidentally under the astrological sign of Leo.  The discomfort of his lion’s costume was legendary.  Weighing in excess of 50 pounds, it caused him to sweat excessively under the lights.  Wikipedia also reports that “the costume’s facial prosthetic kept Lahr from eating as long as he wore it; he drank soup through a straw.”

 

He appeared in numerous other movies, but two worth special mention were Meet the People, and The Night They Raided Minksy’s. In the former, he voiced the line “Heavens to Murgatroyd,” which later became the watchword of Hanna-Barbera’s pink panther cartoon character Snagglepuss.  Unfortunately, Lahr died in 1967 while filming The Night They Raided Minsky’s.  Judicious editing allowed his portrayal to be kept in the film.

He also had a memorable role in television commercials.  As a salesperson for Lay’s Potato Chips and in the guise of Aunt Tillie, he challenged viewers, “Bet you can’t eat just one!”

Harburg  wrote the lyrics for “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime,” in 1932, and it

quickly became a theme song for the Great Depression.  Some later well-known tunes, on which he collaborated with composer Burton Lane, included “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” and “Old Devil Moon.”

Arlen was born Hyman Arluck in 1905.  His father was a cantor.  Before The Wizard of Oz, Arlen, who also was a pianist, was recognized for such musical compositions as “Get Happy,” “Let’s Fall in Love,” and “Stormy Weather” for which Ted Koehler supplied the lyrics.  After the “Wizard,” he teamed up with lyricist Johnny Mercer on such songs as “That Old Black Magic,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” and “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)”

At various times, bands and vocal groups positioned at different stages at the fair performed some of Arlen’s and Harburg’s songs.   One such group performed in the Theme Exhibit Hall, where memorabilia about the making of The Wizard of Oz was on display.  Exhibits included mock ups of  Dorothy’s home in Kansas and a Yellow Brick Road leading to Oz.

*
Whereas references to The Wizard of Oz dominated the fair, there were other instances of Judaica also to be found this year.

 

 

For example, a work in wood by Kyle Wotring recalls Michelangelo’s vision of  Genesis as seen on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.  In Wotring’s “Creation,” God’s hand touches that of Adam, energizing him with life.

A collection of 106 dinner bells assembled by Barbara Brokaw from her travels across the United States and internationally includes one with a flag of Israel on its stem.

And foods like gyros and falafel at the Mediterranean booth recall the cuisine of Greece, the Arab nations, and of Israel.  Vendor Catherine Behrend of Cardiff by the Sea decided to give falafel a different twist.  She put a mixture of  chick peas with spinach chards into a waffle iron to produce what she calls poetically a “waffle falafel.”  For good measure, you can purchase a glass of watermelon juice to wash it down.  The San Diego County Fair runs through July 4.

*
Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World.  He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com