The intense heat on the set of The Wizard of Oz (1939)

The set of "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) became notoriously hot
due to the early use of Technicolor, which required extensive lighting
and large sets with cameras strategically placed in various corners.
This elaborate setup made the environment extremely uncomfortable.

Cinematographer Harold Rosson recalled in *The Making of the Wizard of
Oz*, "We had enormous banks of lights overhead. We borrowed every
unused arc light in Hollywood. It was brutally hot. People were always
fainting and being carried off the set."

Temperatures reportedly soared above 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees
Fahrenheit). When the heat became unbearable, director Victor Fleming
would order the lights to be turned off and the studio doors opened,
allowing the cast and crew to step outside and cool down.

Early Technicolor used three reels of negative film running
simultaneously inside the camera....one for each of the primary
colors. Prisms split the light coming through the lens into three
images, one for each reel. That is why it required so much light.
Later, Technicolor perfected negative film containing all three
emulsions.

This intense heat was just one of the many challenges faced during the
production of this iconic film, which has since become a beloved
classic in American cinema. The dedication of the cast and crew under
such harsh conditions is a testament to their commitment to bringing
this magical story to life.
 
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