when was the wizard of oz first shown in color
The Wizard of Oz on television From the beginning The Wizard of Oz was telecast in color, although few people owned color television sets in 1956. Except for 1961, all U.S. telecasts have been in color, an effect that seemed much more striking in the early 1960s, when there were still relatively few color programs on television. It was not televised in color in 1961 because color telecasts had to be paid for by their sponsors, who declined to do so that year.[15][16] Between 1956 and 1965, the Wizard of Oz showings were rare exceptions to the black and white program schedule at CBS. During this period, CBS had the ability to broadcast programs in color, but generally chose not to do so unless a sponsor paid for a film or program to be shown in color. During this period, the competing network NBC was owned by RCA, which by 1960 manufactured 95% of the color sets sold in the U.S. Hence, CBS perceived that increased use of color broadcasting would primarily benefit its rival by promoting sales of RCA color television sets.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) All of the Oz sequences were filmed in three-strip Technicolor.[15][16] The opening and closing credits, as well as the Kansas sequences, were filmed in black and white and colored in a sepia-tone process.[15] Sepia-toned film was also used in the scene where Aunt Em appears in the Wicked Witch's crystal ball.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) All of the Oz sequences were filmed in three-strip Technicolor.[13][14] The opening and closing credits, as well as the Kansas sequences, were filmed in black and white and colored in a sepia-tone process.[13] Sepia-toned film was also used in the scene where Aunt Em appears in the Wicked Witch's crystal ball.
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film) In his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Baum describes Kansas as being "in shades of gray". Further, Dorothy lived inside a farmhouse which had its paint blistered and washed away by the weather, giving it an air of grayness. The house and property were situated in the middle of a sweeping prairie where the grass was burnt gray by harsh sun. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were "gray with age". Effectively, the use of monochrome sepia tones for the Kansas sequences was a stylistic choice that evoked the dull and gray countryside.[citation needed] Much attention was given to the use of color in the production, with the MGM production crew favoring some hues over others. Consequently, it took the studio's art department almost a week to settle on the final shade of yellow used for the yellow brick road.[22]