When you sit down to watch that 1939 Technicolor fever dream, your eyes usually go straight to the man with the floppy hat and the burlap face. He’s the first friend Dorothy meets on the Yellow Brick Road. But who plays the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz? That would be Ray Bolger, a man whose rubber-legged dancing style basically redefined what physical comedy could look like on the silver screen.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Bolger didn’t just play a character; he became a boneless, wobbling entity that seemed to defy the laws of physics. But here is the kicker: Bolger wasn’t even supposed to be the Scarecrow.
He was originally cast as the Tin Woodman.
Can you imagine that? Bolger, a man famous for his fluid, "eccentric" dancing, trapped inside a rigid tin suit. He hated the idea. He fought for the Scarecrow role because he felt his style was a perfect match for a man made of straw. He eventually convinced the studio to let him swap roles with Buddy Ebsen. Ebsen, unfortunately, ended up having a life-threatening allergic reaction to the aluminum dust makeup for the Tin Man and had to be replaced by Jack Haley. But for Bolger, the swap was the smartest move of his entire career.
The Man Behind the Burlap: Ray Bolger’s Long Road to Oz
Ray Bolger wasn't just some random actor plucked from a casting call. He was a vaudeville legend. Born Raymond Wallace Bolger in 1904, he grew up in a world where you either had talent or you went hungry. By the time MGM started casting The Wizard of Oz, Bolger was a Broadway star.
He had this specific way of moving. It’s often called "eccentric dancing." If you watch him closely in the film, his knees don't seem to have joints. He trips, he stumbles, and he recovers in a way that looks like he’s actually filled with hay. He once said that his idol was Fred Stone, the man who played the Scarecrow in the 1902 stage musical version of the story. Bolger spent his whole life wanting to fill those shoes.
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Working on the set of Oz was no vacation. It was a nightmare of hot lights and toxic chemicals. The makeup for the Scarecrow was a rubber prosthetic that covered Bolger’s face, except for his nose and eyes. It had a woven texture to mimic the look of a burlap sack. Because of the intense heat from the studio lamps—which often reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to accommodate the early Technicolor process—the sweat would pool under the rubber.
When the film wrapped, Bolger discovered that the burlap pattern had actually been pressed into his skin. He had permanent lines around his mouth and chin for nearly a year after the cameras stopped rolling.
Why Ray Bolger Stayed the Scarecrow Forever
People often ask if Bolger felt "typecast" after the movie. The short answer? Yes. But he also leaned into it. He was the last surviving lead cast member of the "Big Four" (Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion), and he spent his later years appearing at festivals and talking to fans. He knew that even though he had a massive career on stage and in other films like Babes in Toyland or Where's Charley?, the world would always see him as the guy who just wanted a brain.
It’s interesting to look at the chemistry on set. Bolger, Jack Haley, and Bert Lahr were all old vaudevillians. They were used to "stealing" scenes. They would constantly try to out-do each other with ad-libs and physical gags. Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch, once mentioned that the trio was like a whirlwind of energy that Judy Garland had to somehow navigate.
There's a specific nuance to Bolger's performance that gets overlooked. It’s the vulnerability. When he sings "If I Only Had a Brain," he isn't just being funny. There is a genuine sadness in his movements. He’s a discarded object trying to find purpose. That’s why the movie works. It isn't just the flashy colors; it's the heart.
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The Makeup Nightmare and Technical Feats
Let's get into the weeds of the production because it’s honestly terrifying. Jack Dawn was the makeup artist who created the look for the Scarecrow. He used a process of "rubber appliances." This was groundbreaking at the time. Before this, actors just wore heavy greasepaint or primitive masks.
Bolger had to arrive at the studio at 4:00 AM every single day. The process of gluing the rubber to his face took hours. He couldn't eat with the mask on. He had to drink through a straw. And because the glue was so strong, taking it off at the end of the day was basically like getting a chemical peel every afternoon.
A Quick Reality Check on the Cast
- Ray Bolger: The Scarecrow (originally cast as Tin Man).
- Jack Haley: The Tin Man (replaced Buddy Ebsen).
- Bert Lahr: The Cowardly Lion (his costume weighed nearly 100 pounds).
- Judy Garland: Dorothy (the studio originally wanted Shirley Temple).
The film was actually a box office disappointment when it first came out in 1939. It cost a fortune to make—about $2.8 million, which was astronomical back then. It didn't really become the "legendary" film we know today until it started airing on television in the 1950s. That’s when Ray Bolger became a household name for a whole new generation of kids.
Misconceptions About the Scarecrow
You’ve probably heard the rumors. People love to look for "dark" secrets in The Wizard of Oz. One of the biggest myths involves a "hanging man" in the background of the forest scene. Let’s be clear: that’s a bird. It’s a crane or a peacock that the studio brought in to make the set look more "alive." It is not a person.
Another misconception is that the actors were all best friends. While they respected each other, they were professionals who were often exhausted and miserable. Bolger was known to be a bit of a perfectionist. He would demand retakes of his dances until his feet were bleeding.
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There's also the "lost" dance. Most people don't know that there was a much longer version of the Scarecrow’s dance sequence. It involved Bolger jumping over fences and flying through the air on wires. Much of it was cut for time, though you can find snippets of it in various documentaries and "making of" specials. It shows Bolger at the absolute peak of his physical powers—basically a human slinky.
The Legacy of the Straw Man
Ray Bolger passed away in 1987. He was 83. Until his very last breath, he was proud of that film. He once said that he didn't receive residuals from the TV broadcasts—none of the actors did back then—but the "residual" was the fact that he became immortal.
When you think about who plays the scarecrow in the wizard of oz, you aren't just thinking about an actor in a suit. You’re thinking about a specific type of American performance art that doesn't really exist anymore. It’s the combination of dance, mime, and vaudeville comedy.
If you want to truly appreciate what Bolger did, go back and watch the scene where he first gets off the pole. He doesn't just fall. He collapses in sections. First the torso, then the hips, then the legs. It is a masterclass in body control.
What You Can Do Next to Explore Oz History
If you’re a fan or just a film buff, there are a few things you should do to get the full story of Bolger and the production:
- Watch the "Scarecrow’s Extended Dance": Search for the deleted dance sequence on YouTube. It features Bolger doing some incredible wire-work that was cut from the theatrical release.
- Read "The Making of The Wizard of Oz" by Aljean Harmetz: This is widely considered the definitive book on the film’s chaotic production. It goes into detail about Bolger’s contract and his "role-swapping" drama.
- Visit the Smithsonian: If you're ever in Washington D.C., you can see the actual Scarecrow costume. Seeing it in person makes you realize how uncomfortable and "homemade" it really was, which makes Bolger’s performance even more impressive.
- Check out "Where's Charley?": To see Ray Bolger without the burlap, find a recording or clips of this musical. It’s where his famous "Once in Love with Amy" routine comes from, showing off the same rubber-legged style he used in Oz.
Ray Bolger's Scarecrow remains a touchstone of cinema because he represented the idea that intelligence isn't about what's in your head—it's about what you do. He was the smartest one in the group the whole time; he just needed the confidence to believe it. And Bolger had enough confidence for the whole cast.