50 Curious Behind-the-Scenes Facts About the Beloved Wizard of Oz

The crystal ball used by the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film had a curious journey beyond the Land of Oz. This iconic 25-inch diameter prop made its cinematic debut in two earlier films, the 1932 action movie The Mask of Fu Manchu and the fantasy film Chandu the Magician. The ball’s cameo appearances in these films added to its mystique and historical significance.

In 2011, this storied object found a new home through an auction, fetching a remarkable sum of over $126,000. Its value speaks not only to its iconic status within The Wizard of Oz but also to its unique place in the annals of cinematic history, having graced the screens of multiple classic films from Hollywood’s golden era.