- "We're on our way, we're on our way to visit the land of Oz. The most exciting, delighting, inviting visit there ever was. 'Cause it is, it is, it is, it is the home, the home of the wonderful wiz; The wiz, the wiz, the wiz, the wiz The Wonderful Wizard of Oz!"
- ―Opening Song, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan Records
Reissue
The Wizard of Oz is a book and record set released by Peter Pan based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. It includes a 45 rpm record and a 24 page illustrated book. The reissue version is illustrated by George Peed. Other editions of the record were released without the book, one with extra sound effects, and another with extra songs, but all versions use the same master recording. The story is condensed to fit on a small 45 rpm record, so there is no mention of any of the witches except the Wicked Witch of the West, or of the Wizard being a humbug.
Story Synopsis[]
The record starts with the opening song.
- "We're on our way, we're on our way
- To visit the land of Oz,
- The most exciting, delighting, inviting
- Visit there ever was
- Cause it is, it is, it is, it is
- The home, the home of the wonderful Wiz,
- The Wiz, the Wiz, the Wiz, the Wiz,
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
The story begins with a brief introduction to Dorothy from the great plains of Kansas, who lived with her Aunt Em. (No mention is made of Uncle Henry.)
One day, as Dorothy was walking home with her little dog Toto, a huge cyclone came roaring toward her. Dorothy calls Toto into the house where it will be safe, but just as she closes the door, the cyclone picks up the house, sending it spinning into the air, round and round, higher and higher. Dorothy says, "Oh, I'm getting dizzy! Toto, where are you? Toto! Toto!" Suddenly, she fell down unconscious. No reason is given for Dorothy's sudden unconsciousness, but hours later, she awakens when the house lands with a bump.
She steps outside and sees strange little people. Dorothy asks, "Who are you? And where am I?"
The munchkins then sing a song.
- "We're a happy bunch of munchkins.
- We're here to welcome you
- To the land of Oz, and why? Because
- We like you. Sure do."
Dorothy says she's never heard of Oz, but asks the Munchkins if the know how she can get back to Kansas? One of the munchkins say only the Wizard of Oz can do that. He also says just follow the yellow brick road to Emerald City and she'll find him there. Dorothy thanks him, calls to Toto, and she and Toto start for Emerald City, singing,
- "We're on our way, we're on our way
- To visit the Wizard of Oz."
A little way down the road, she was startled when a Scarecrow says hello. Dorothy replies, "I'm Dorothy, and I'm going to Emerald City to see the Wizard." Scarecrow replies, "Could you take me with you? Maybe the Wizard will give me a brain instead of straw under my hat." Dorothy replies, "I'll be glad to take you. Let's go." They head off, likewise singing,
- "We're on our way, we're on our way
- To visit the Wizard of Oz."
Dorothy and the Scarecrow head down the road singing happily, and then they hear a creaking noise, and they see a Tin Woodman. Dorothy notices he's rusty and needs oil, and she oils him up, and the Tin Woodman thanked her. When Dorothy told him where she was going, the Tin Woodman says, "Oh, can I come too? Maybe the Wizard will give me a heart." Dorothy replies, "Of course you can. Let's go."
While walking through the woods, a big lion suddenly jumps out and roars at them, frightening the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, and Toto. No mention is made of him specifically going after Toto, but this still angered Dorothy and she slapped his face. To everyone's surprise, the lion starts to cry and says, "I'm just a cowardly lion trying to find some courage. I didn't mean any harm." Dorothy says, "Oh, poor lion. Come with us. Perhaps the Wizard will give you courage." The lion responds, "Oh, thank you. I will come."
Finally they reach Emerald City and knock on the door of the Wizard's palace. The Wizard is shown in illustrations as an old man, but says in a big booming and echoing voice, "Who dares disturb the mighty wizard?" They were so frightened, they almost ran away, but Dorothy quickly explained why they had come. The wizard booms, "Then hear this. Destroy my enemy, the Wicked Witch of the West, and your wishes shall be granted."
But the witch was already following their every move in her crystal ball and says, "Hee hee hee hee! Destroy me, will you?" She calls her winged monkeys and tells them, "Bring that Dorothy and her friends here to my castle." Dorothy's friends end up in the dungeon, but Dorothy was ordered to scrub every floor in the castle. She thinks of home and cries, "Oh Aunt Em, where are you?" And then she sings a song.
- "Somewhere there's sunshine and laughter.
- Somewhere birds sing all day through.
- Somewhere, oh, that's where I wish I were,
- Somewhere out there with you."
This infuriated the witch, who said, "Stop that sniveling or I'll give you something to really cry about!" Toto bit the witch's leg, but in a rage, the witch struck Toto. Dorothy became so angry, she threw a bucket of water at her. In response the witch screams, "Why did you do that? I'm melting away! Melting away! Melllting awaaaaaaaaaay......"
The Wicked Witch melts completely away, leaving only her Silver Shoes. Dorothy puts on the shoes, releases her friends, and they hurry back to the wizard. No mention is made of the Wizard being a humbug, although he appears as an ordinary old man in the illustration, and he keeps his booming echoing voice as he addresses Dorothy and her friends.
"Your brave actions prove that you, Scarecrow, now have a real brain. And you, Tin Woodman, have a good heart. And you, Lion, have true courage. As for you, Dorothy, just wish and your magic silver shoes will take you home."
No mention is made of clicking the heels, but Dorothy says, "Oh, I wish, I wish. And goodbye, dear friends." The sound of wind is heard, and soon, she was back in Kansas, home again with her dear Aunt Em. The record ends with the closing song.
- "And that's the wonderful story of
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
