Oscar honors 75th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz"

A poster for the 1939 musical-fantasy, "The Wizard of Oz."

The beloved Hollywood classic, starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolder, Bert Lahr and Margaret Hamilton, is being honored at the 86th Annual Academy Awards, celebrating the film's 75th anniversary.

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan

L. Frank Baum

Judy Garland

A publicity shot of actress-singer Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, with Toto.

Garland performed on the vaudeville circuit, until she was put under contract at age 13 by MGM, where she appeared in several films with Mickey Rooney, including "Love Finds Andy Hardy" and "Babes in Arms." She was cast as Dorothy in a musical version of "The Wizard of Oz" at age 16, although the studio had originally sought Shirley Temple (who was about six years younger) for the role.

Ray Bolger

Ray Bolger, a vaudeville dancer, had appeared in "The Great Ziegfeld" and in the Nelson Eddy-Jeanette MacDonald musical "Sweethearts," before starring as the Scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz."

Jack Haley

Musical comedy star Jack Haley (center, as the Tin Man) was featured in the Shirley Temple films "Poor Little Rich Girl" and "Rebecca at Sunnybrook Farm," and also appeared with Judy Garland in "Pigskin Parade" (1936).

Bert Lahr

Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion) was a stage comedian whose film resume was dwarfed by his theatrical repertoire, which ranged from burlesque to Shakespeare and Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."

Margaret Hamilton

Margaret Hamilton's film and television career lasted five decades, but she is forever remembered for her most colorful role - as the Wicked Witch of the West.

"Over the Rainbow"

Judy Garland sings "Over the Rainbow," during the Kansas scenes of "The Wizard of Oz." Written by composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. Harburg, it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

I'm Not in Kansas Any More

After being transported to the magical world of Oz, Dorothy (Judy Garland) meets Glinda, the Good Witch of the North (Billie Burke), and a host of diminutive Munchkins.

Munchkins

Jerry Maren (playing a member of the Lollipop Guild) presents Dorothy with a lollipop in the film "The Wizard of Oz."

The Yellow Brick Road

Judy Garland as Dorothy and Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow embark on a journey together along the Yellow Brick Road in "The Wizard of Oz."

The Emerald City

Dorothy and her companions - the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow - arrive at the gate of the Emerald City.

Crab Apples

Dorothy encounters some particularly crabby Crab Apple Trees in "The Wizard of Oz."

Haunted Forest

On their quest to capture the Wicked Witch's magic broom, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Cowardly Lion and the Tin Men enter the Haunted Forest.

"I'll Get You, My Pretty"

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Dorothy (Judy Garland) is captured and held prisoner in the castle of the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton).

Undercover

The Tin Man (Jack Haley), Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr) and Scarecrow (Ray Bolger) disguise themselves as Winkies - the Wicked Witch's sentries - in order to gain access to the witch's castle and rescue Dorothy, in "The Wizard of Oz."

"I'm Melting!"

Water and witches don't mix: The Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) melts before an astonished Dorothy and companions.

"Click Your Heels"

On her quest to return home, Dorothy is instructed to simply click her magic shoes' heels together and make a wish.

"There's no place like home. There's no place like home. ..."

Ruby Slippers

Left: The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie "The Wizard of Oz" are displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in October 2012. The slippers, were on loan from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

Pink

The singer Pink performed "Over the Rainbow" in a tribute to "The Wizard of Oz" onstage during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California.

Pink

Pink performs during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.

Pink

Pink performs during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.

The Wonderful Wizard

Frank Morgan looms over Pink during a video tribute to the 75th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz," at the Academy Awards, March 2, 2014, in Los Angeles.