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  • Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West wearing a black witch's dress and hat in the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz."
    • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

    The Wizard of Oz

    1939

    Costume seen on Margaret Hamilton as Wicked Witch of the West

  • An unknown model as a witch wearing a black witch's dress and hat in a 1939 MGM Halloween/ Judy Garland promotional photo.
    • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

    MGM Halloween/Judy Garland Promo

    1939

    Costume seen on an unknown model as a witch

  • Rose Langdon as a witch wearing a black witch's dress and hat in the 1941 3D short film "Third Dimensional Murder."
    • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

    Third Dimensional Murder

    1941

    Costume seen on Rose Langdon as a witch

Additional Images

About the Costume

The Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz, is arguably one of the most well-known characters in all of film history. Margaret Hamilton’s costume for the Witch was created by costume designer Adrian. Her costume was used again on an unknown model in 1939 for an MGM Halloween themed promotional shot, which included Judy Garland. The last known time the costume was used was for a short 1941 3D film entitled Three Dimensional Murder, where the costume was seen on Rose Langdon.

When the studio system came to an end, and it was announced that MGM would hold a giant auction in 1970 for their costumes and props, Kent Warner went through the studio’s archives to find some of the most important pieces of film history that still existed. He was not able to find the Wicked Witch’s costume, but he was able to locate her hat.  It sold at the MGM auction in 1970, and then went up for sale again in December of 1988 at Sotheby’s in NY. From 2002 to 2007 the famous hat was on display at the American Film Institute Showcase Exhibition “Villains: Movie Characters You Love to Hate” at Disney – MGM Studios, Walt Disney World, Florida.  In 2010, it went up for auction again through Profiles in History, who describes the hat as:

This Adrian-designed screen worn hat is constructed of black wool bunting fabric and has a wide brim supported by an interior steel hoop. Measures 20 in diameter with a 13 ½ in. tall cone-shape headpiece that is situated with a rear bias making a 6 ½ in wide brim in the front and extending 5 ¼ in. in the rear. The original black silk scarf is tied around the base of the headpiece extending a full 35 in. behind the knot, adding to the evil look of the piece. An incredible, instantly-recognizable garment from The Wizard of Oz, a film which has literally become a national institution—a masterpiece of set design, costuming, choreography, music, storytelling, and sheer imagination.

You can learn more about Kent Warner’s search through the MGM costume archives at Silver Screen Modes.  You can also watch a fantastic short video by Profiles in History about the hat itself.  You can also watch Third Dimensional Murder here.

About the Costume

Have you seen this gown somewhere else? Do you need to be given credit for this sighting? Do you have corrections, additions or changes you would like to make?

Have you ever watched a film and noticed a character walk by in a gown that you just know you’ve seen before? Recycled Movie Costumes is dedicated to documenting the life of a costume through its various appearances on film and television.

Additional Images

About the Costume

The Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz, is arguably one of the most well-known characters in all of film history. Margaret Hamilton’s costume for the Witch was created by costume designer Adrian. Her costume was used again on an unknown model in 1939 for an MGM Halloween themed promotional shot, which included Judy Garland. The last known time the costume was used was for a short 1941 3D film entitled Three Dimensional Murder, where the costume was seen on Rose Langdon.

When the studio system came to an end, and it was announced that MGM would hold a giant auction in 1970 for their costumes and props, Kent Warner went through the studio’s archives to find some of the most important pieces of film history that still existed. He was not able to find the Wicked Witch’s costume, but he was able to locate her hat.  It sold at the MGM auction in 1970, and then went up for sale again in December of 1988 at Sotheby’s in NY. From 2002 to 2007 the famous hat was on display at the American Film Institute Showcase Exhibition “Villains: Movie Characters You Love to Hate” at Disney – MGM Studios, Walt Disney World, Florida.  In 2010, it went up for auction again through Profiles in History, who describes the hat as:

This Adrian-designed screen worn hat is constructed of black wool bunting fabric and has a wide brim supported by an interior steel hoop. Measures 20 in diameter with a 13 ½ in. tall cone-shape headpiece that is situated with a rear bias making a 6 ½ in wide brim in the front and extending 5 ¼ in. in the rear. The original black silk scarf is tied around the base of the headpiece extending a full 35 in. behind the knot, adding to the evil look of the piece. An incredible, instantly-recognizable garment from The Wizard of Oz, a film which has literally become a national institution—a masterpiece of set design, costuming, choreography, music, storytelling, and sheer imagination.

You can learn more about Kent Warner’s search through the MGM costume archives at Silver Screen Modes.  You can also watch a fantastic short video by Profiles in History about the hat itself.  You can also watch Third Dimensional Murder here.

The Wicked Witch of the West from the 1939 film version of The Wizard of Oz, is arguably one of the most well-known characters in all of film history. Margaret Hamilton’s costume for the Witch was created by costume designer Adrian. Her costume was used again on an unknown model in 1939 for an MGM Halloween themed promotional shot, which included Judy Garland. The last known time the costume was used was for a short 1941 3D film entitled Three Dimensional Murder, where the costume was seen on Rose Langdon.

When the studio system came to an end, and it was announced that MGM would hold a giant auction in 1970 for their costumes and props, Kent Warner went through the studio’s archives to find some of the most important pieces of film history that still existed. He was not able to find the Wicked Witch’s costume, but he was able to locate her hat.  It sold at the MGM auction in 1970, and then went up for sale again in December of 1988 at Sotheby’s in NY. From 2002 to 2007 the famous hat was on display at the American Film Institute Showcase Exhibition “Villains: Movie Characters You Love to Hate” at Disney – MGM Studios, Walt Disney World, Florida.  In 2010, it went up for auction again through Profiles in History, who describes the hat as:

This Adrian-designed screen worn hat is constructed of black wool bunting fabric and has a wide brim supported by an interior steel hoop. Measures 20 in diameter with a 13 ½ in. tall cone-shape headpiece that is situated with a rear bias making a 6 ½ in wide brim in the front and extending 5 ¼ in. in the rear. The original black silk scarf is tied around the base of the headpiece extending a full 35 in. behind the knot, adding to the evil look of the piece. An incredible, instantly-recognizable garment from The Wizard of Oz, a film which has literally become a national institution—a masterpiece of set design, costuming, choreography, music, storytelling, and sheer imagination.

You can learn more about Kent Warner’s search through the MGM costume archives at Silver Screen Modes.  You can also watch a fantastic short video by Profiles in History about the hat itself.  You can also watch Third Dimensional Murder here.

Credits

Sighting Credit:
  • Kevin
Photos provided by:
  • Kevin
Costume Designer:
  • Adrian (Adrian Adolph Greenburg)

Disclaimer

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