Get Ferry Tickets Donate
Wall of Honor
Search
user (0) (0)
  1. The Foundation
  2. THE TORCH

The Wizard of Oz - Ellis Island Connections

By: Kathryn Marks and Riley Dominianni
Hello Torch Readers,
As the film Wicked continues to make headlines, our team at the Family History Center wanted to share more about the story that inspired it all: The Wizard of Oz.

Captivating audiences for generations, The Wizard of Oz, was first dreamt up in 1900 as a children’s book written by L. Frank Baum. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz tells the tale of Dorothy, a young farm girl from Kansas. One fateful day she’s swept away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. There, she embarks on a journey to find the Wizard, hoping that he can help her return home.

In 1939, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer produced a film based on L. Frank Baum’s book. It was directed by Victor Fleming and starred Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale. It would quickly become one of the most beloved films of all time, acclaimed for its use of Technicolor, iconic songs like, “Over the Rainbow,” and unforgettable characters, like the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. With themes of friendship, courage, and the pursuit of dreams the film resonated with viewers and cemented its place in cinematic history.

Photo credit: Library of Congress

Riley Dominianni, a Research Assistant at the American Family Immigration History Center (AFIHC), has traced the Ellis Island connections of the original cast members. Keep reading below to learn more:

Dorothy Gale

Frances Ethel Gumm (1922–1969), known professionally as Judy Garland was born in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to parents Francis and Ethel Gumm. As a child, she began performing in a vaudeville group with her sisters. In 1935, she was signed to Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer and appeared in more than two dozen of their films. It was during this time that she was cast as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz. Her rendition of “Over the Rainbow”
won an Academy Award for Best Original Song and it became a signature song for the duration of her career.

In 1951, Judy Garland Minnelli traveled abroad for a concert tour of England, Ireland, and Scotland. She returned to the United States on August 13, 1951, with her 5–year–old daughter, Liza Minnelli. They departed from Cherbourg, France, and traveled in first class aboard the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth.

The Cowardly Lion

Irving Lahrheim (1895 – 1967) was born in New York City to parents of German–Jewish heritage, Jacob and Augusta Lahrheim. His father Jacob immigrated to the United States aboard the S.S. Eider with his uncle, Jacob Lahrheim, and grandmother, Regine Lahrheim.

They arrived at the Port of New York on March 31, 1884. Jacob settled in the Upper East Side and began working as an upholster. He married Augusta Bessen on November 11, 1894, and the following year they started their family.
As a teenager, Irving dropped out of school and began performing on vaudeville stages with the stage name Bert Lahr. He also performed on Broadway for several years before making the transition to film. His standout role was as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz. The character believes that he’s inadequate as a lion because of his cowardice and wishes to accompany Dorothy so that he can get courage from the Wizard.

The Wizard

Francis Wuppermann (1890–1949), better known as Frank Morgan, was born in New York City to parents George Wuppermann and Josephine Wright. He was the youngest of 11 children. His father George was born in Venezuela, but raised in Hamburg, Germany. He immigrated to the United States with his wife Josephine and their children aboard the S.S.
Bahama. They arrived at the Port of New York on November 4, 1878, and settled in Manhattan.

Their son Frank began his acting career in theater, which ended when he signed a contract with MGM. He appeared in several silent films, and then numerous sound films in the 1930s and 1940s. He is perhaps best known for his role as the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz. The Wizard rules the Land of Oz from his palace in the Emerald City. However, he is exposed as an ordinary conman from Omaha, Nebraska who has been using elaborate tricks to make himself seem “great and powerful.”

Glinda The Good Witch

Mary William ‘Billie’ Burke (1884–1970), was born in Washington, D.C. As a young girl, she toured with her father who worked as a singer and clown in the Barnum & Bailey Circus. They settled in London where she began her stage career. She eventually returned to the United States, which can be seen on this manifest from 1909. She was traveling aboard the S.S. Caronia, and her occupation is recorded as ‘actress.’
In 1938, she was cast to play Glinda the Good Witch of the North in The Wizard of Oz. In the film, her character welcomes Dorothy to Oz and tells her to follow the yellow brick road to get to the Wizard in Emerald City. At the end of the movie, she also tells Dorothy how to get back to Kansas by using her ruby slippers. She should tap her heels three times and repeat the phrase, “There’s no place like home.”

The Mayor of Munchkinland

Karl “Charlie” Becker (1887–1968) was born in the town of Muschenheim, Germany. As a teenager, he worked as a butcher but struggled to use the knives because of his stature. He began performing in traveling shows and eventually joined the “Singer Midgets.” The troupe moved to the United States during World War I. He sailed aboard the S.S. Baltic and arrived at the Port of New York on October 14, 1914. His height is recorded on the manifest as 3 feet and 9 inches tall.

In the United States, Charlie became well known on the vaudeville circuit, and after a few minor roles in film he was cast as the Mayor of Munchkinland in The Wizard of Oz. Munchkinland is the region where Dorothy’s house lands after being carried away to Oz by the tornado. Unbeknownst to Dorothy, the house lands on top of the Wicked Witch of the East, and the Munchkins celebrate her demise.