Evolution of the Emerald City Throughout the Ages!

 Even though the Emerald City is well known to anyone who has watched MGM's 1939 Wizard of Oz, it was not always as we may recall from the film.

 From an early 1910 edition, we see an Emerald City that is not quite as elegant as we might have imagined.

Later on in the white editions of the 30's, Emerald City takes on a more militaristic appearance, resembling more like a castle than a city of thousands.

Of course, whether in the books or films, the Emerald City is always reached by the Yellow Brick Road, or the road of yellow brick, as L. Frank Baum describes the way there.

According to L. Frank Baum, Emerald City has 9,654 buildings and 57,318 residents. By 1939, we had settled on the classic view of Emerald City until The Wiz came along and gave us a more edgy, Big Apple view of Emerald City. Notice the Twin Towers sighting.

Of course, once Disney got involved with Return to Oz, Emerald City returned to a more Victorian appearance, which tends to mirror my own view of the capital of Oz, although in this scene, Emerald City has seen better days.

By the time we get to Tin Man, Emerald City returns to a more Metropolis look with technology, weapons, crime and all the ickyness that .L. Frank Baum tried so hard to avoid.

In addition, while watching Tin Man, there was a scene in Emerald City where there were hookers and phone sex. I don't remember that at all in the books of Oz I read! That's what eventually compelled me to return Oz to the vision of L. Frank Baum; that of a children's fairy tale of adventure.

Fortunately, with the upcoming release of Roger Baum's (the great grandson of L. Frank Baum) Dorothy of Oz later this year, Emerald City regains it's glorious, almost magical look. The circle is complete and Oz remains once more, a glorious place to visit.

The Royal Historian, L. Frank Baum would be pleased indeed.

James C. Wallace II

Royal Liaison to Princess Ozma