A Brief Guide to Oz

August 2014 marks the 75th anniversary of one of the best-loved films in the world, MGM's The Wizard of Oz , based on L. Frank Baum's beloved books. Since Baum's death there have been over 30 official continuations of the saga, as well as alternate takes on the central concepts, 17 movies with more to come (including a re-release of the original movie, in 2014), more than 20 different TV versions, and more than 15 stage adaptations, including the blockbuster musical The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz , which continues to fill theaters worldwide. This Brief Guide focuses on Baum's life and the literary land of Oz, plus the films, sequels, remakes, stage versions, and myriad of reinvented stories.