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Recently, much has been written about the 40th anniversary of “Sesame Street.” As those of us in the U.S. look ahead to Thanksgiving, many will be seated around the television watching what has become an annual tradition in many households - “The Wizard Of Oz.”

Originally published in 1900 as “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” by L. Frank Baum and W.W. Denslow, MGM made Oz into a motion picture in 1939, some 70 years ago. Since then, “Oz” has achieved worldwide fame and commercial success through its annual showings (it was actually a commercial flop at the time of release).

What is perhaps a little-known fact, however, is that any references to being “over the rainbow” are nowhere to be found in the original work. The song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was written by E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, who was famous for another Depression-era song, “Brother Can You Spare A Dime?” Like the lyrics to “Brother,” the Depression-era times clearly informed the lyrics for “Rainbow,” the idea of going from a place of difficulty or poverty to a land where “troubles melt like lemon drops.”

All of the original cast members are now deceased. The last to pass away was Ray Bolger (Scarecrow) in 1987.

I will watch it again. I bet many of you will, too. For my part, and despite modern CGI, I never get tired of watching the scene where the Kansas farmhouse has landed in Oz. Everything is still in B&W. Then, Dorothy opens the door, revealing the wonderful land of Oz. I might have to check out the 70th Anniversary Blue Ray set.

So, as we say Happy 40th Birthday to “Sesame Street,” let’s not forget to remember “The Wizard of Oz.” I’ve clipped some photos from Wikipedia, some familiar and others from the original work. I hope you enjoy.