Who Are the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz
The Munchkins are the fictional residents of the fictional Land of Oz who greet Dorothy Gale after her farmhouse lands in their territory. In the 1939 MGM film The Wizard of Oz, they are portrayed by actors in small-statured costumes and makeup, singing the iconic "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead" sequence as Dorothy journeys toward the Emerald City. The role of the Munchkinland Mayor was played by Charley Grapewin, while the Mayor's voice was provided by a different performer in the final cut. Forbes has documented how the Munchkinland scenes were filmed on the MGM backlot using painted sets and forced perspective to create the illusion of a miniature world.
The Munchkins serve as the first major group Dorothy encounters in Oz, establishing the film's fantastical tone and introducing the audience to the rules of the Land of Oz. Their appearance in the yellow brick road sequence marks the transition from Kansas sepia tones to Oz's saturated Technicolor palette. The Munchkinland chorus consists of 124 performers, a number confirmed by MGM production records and multiple studio archives.
Munchkin Cast Members and Performers
The Munchkin performers in The Wizard of Oz came from vaudeville, circus, and burlesque backgrounds, with several professional short-statured actors cast in the roles. Jerry Maren, who played the green-garbed Munchkin leading the "Ding-Dong" parade, was one of the tallest Munchkin actors at 4 feet 6 inches. Biography.com notes that Maren later became one of the most publicly recognized Munchkin actors due to his role in the opening sequence.
The Munchkinland performers were paid a union wage for their work, and the production required extensive makeup and costume sessions each day. The Munchkin costumes were made of felt and covered in green body makeup that required hours to apply and remove. Several Munchkin actors went on to appear in other MGM productions and circus acts, maintaining public profiles tied to the film for decades after its release.
Munchkin Songs and Iconic Scenes
The Munchkins' signature musical number, "Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead," was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by E.Y. Harburg and became one of the most recognizable songs in film history. The sequence features the Munchkins dancing and singing as Dorothy's house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, a plot point that sets up the central conflict of the film. The Academy Awards records that The Wizard of Oz won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Over the Rainbow," which is sung by Dorothy before she meets the Munchkins.
The Munchkinland scenes were filmed on Stage 27 at MGM Studios, which was one of the largest sound stages in Hollywood at the time. The painted backdrop and forced perspective techniques used in the sequence required precise camera placement to maintain the illusion of scale between Dorothy and the Munchkins. The Munchkin choreography was designed by Bobby Connolly, who integrated tap and novelty dance styles to create the sequence's distinctive look.