This year marks the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, arguably the most beloved movie of all time. In the early days of its 40-plus-year annual television broadcast, huge crowds flocked to department stores to catch the "Horse of a Different Color" on a newfangled color set. Once on VHS, the movie became a staple for Cheetos-huffing stoners who paired it with Pink Floyd. But, tonight, as befitting one of the first films preserved by the Library of Congress, it receives more dignified treatment, accompanied by the San Francisco Symphony (other highlights of this year's film series include The Godfather, a holiday screening of Home Alone with 150 child carolers, and a phenomenal selection of martial arts movies.) Audience members are encouraged to arrive in costume for raffle prizes. But you might not want your costume to be historically accurate: the Cowardly Lion suit weighed nearly 100 pounds and was made with real lion pelts, Dorothy wore a corset to appear childlike, the original Tin Man was hospitalized due to an an allergic reaction to his costume's aluminum dust, and the Wicked Witch's makeup caught fire.
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