Ray Bolger’s face wasn't actually a face. Not in the 1939 film, anyway. When you look at a vintage picture of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, you aren't just looking at a guy in a burlap sack; you’re looking at a masterpiece of practical effects that actually left permanent physical grooves in the actor’s skin.
It’s weird.
Most people see the floppy hat and the straw sticking out of the sleeves and think "charming childhood memory." But if you zoom in on a high-definition still—specifically the ones where Bolger is doing that iconic rubber-legged dance on the Yellow Brick Road—you see something much more surgical. The makeup artist, Jack Dawn, used a rubber prosthetic that covered Bolger's entire face except for his eyes and mouth. The "burlap" texture wasn't just painted on. It was woven into the rubber to ensure that whenever the Scarecrow smiled or frowned, the fabric pattern moved like real skin.
That’s why he still looks "real" today while modern CGI often looks like a shiny cartoon.
The Makeup That Left a Permanent Mark
Let’s talk about the pain. Honestly, being the Scarecrow was a nightmare. Every single morning, Ray Bolger had to sit in a chair while they glued that rubber mask to his face. Because the set of The Wizard of Oz was notoriously hot—we're talking over 100 degrees due to the massive Technicolor lights required at the time—the sweat would pool under the mask.
If you find a rare behind-the-scenes picture of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz without his hat, you can see the line where the mask ended. The pressure of the burlap-textured prosthetic was so intense that by the time filming wrapped after months of production, Bolger had permanent burlap-patterned lines around his mouth and chin. They eventually faded, but it took a year.
It wasn't just the face. The "straw" sticking out of his neck and sleeves? That wasn't straw. It was actually lightweight raffia. Why? Because real straw is sharp. It pokes. It scratches. And under those hot lights, real straw is a massive fire hazard.
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The Evolution of the Look: From Baum to Bolger
The image we all have in our heads—the green-tinted, burlap-faced Ray Bolger—isn't how the Scarecrow was always supposed to look. If you go back to the original 1900 L. Frank Baum book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the illustrations by W.W. Denslow show a much more "doll-like" creature. He had painted-on eyes and looked more like something you'd find in a cornfield to scare crows, rather than a vaudeville performer.
Then came the 1902 stage play.
And the 1925 silent film, where the Scarecrow was played by Larry Semon. In those early photos, the character looks almost like a classic hobo or a circus clown. It’s haunting in a way that feels unintentional.
When MGM took over for the 1939 masterpiece, they knew they needed a balance. He had to look stuffed with straw, but he also had to be capable of high-level acrobatics. Bolger was a world-class eccentric dancer. If his costume was too stiff, the character died. This is why the baggy, oversized trousers and the belted waist are so crucial in any picture of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz. They create a silhouette that hides a human body and replaces it with something that looks like it's held together by luck and twine.
Why the Eyes Matter
Ever notice the eyes in those old movie stills?
Bolger’s eyes are wide, darting, and incredibly expressive. This was a deliberate choice. Because the mask was so restrictive, Bolger had to over-act with his pupils. In the famous "If I Only Had a Brain" sequence, the camera stays tight on his face. You can see the burlap texture clearly. But it's the humanity in the eyes that makes the character work.
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There's a specific publicity shot—one often sold as a poster—where the Scarecrow is pointing at his head while Dorothy looks on. If you look closely at his "brainless" expression, you’ll see the makeup goes all the way into the corners of his eyelids. This level of detail is why the 1939 film hasn't aged. It’s tactile. You feel like you could reach out and touch the rough fabric of his nose.
The Secret "Lollipop" Deleted Scene
There’s a famous "lost" sequence involving the Scarecrow that most people only know through surviving production photos. It’s the "Jitterbug" dance.
The studio cut it because they thought it would date the movie too much (the Jitterbug was a fad at the time). However, there are incredible photos of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Lion fighting off these invisible "jitterbug" insects. In these pictures, the Scarecrow’s movements are even more frantic. His costume is billowing, and you can see the sheer physicality Bolger brought to the role.
Some fans also point to the "Munchkinland" photos. There’s an urban legend about a hanging Munchkin in the background of a shot where Dorothy and the Scarecrow are walking down the road. It’s been debunked a million times—it was actually a large bird (a crane or emu) borrowed from the Los Angeles Zoo to make the set look more "jungle-like." But that hasn't stopped people from scouring every high-res picture of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz to find something dark.
The Color of the Cornfield
Technicolor was a new beast in 1939. It required an insane amount of light. Because of this, the colors in the movie stills often look different than they did on the actual set.
The Scarecrow’s coat wasn't just "brown." It was a specific shade of desaturated earth-tone designed to pop against the vivid yellow of the bricks and the bright blue of Dorothy’s gingham dress. If the Scarecrow had been too colorful, he would have blended into the background. He needed to look dusty. He needed to look like he’d been hanging on a pole for years.
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The texture of the costume was achieved using a mix of wool, felt, and heavy canvas. In high-resolution photos, you can see the fraying edges of his "hair"—which was actually more of that raffia material.
Beyond the 1939 Classic
While Bolger is the gold standard, other versions of the Scarecrow have appeared in photography throughout the decades.
- Michael Jackson in The Wiz (1978): A complete departure. Instead of burlap, Jackson’s Scarecrow was made of trash, old newspapers, and soda crackers. The photos from this set show a much more "urban" and fragile version of the character.
- Return to Oz (1985): This Disney sequel went for a much darker, more book-accurate look. The Scarecrow in these photos looks almost like a Victorian antique. He’s a bit more unsettling, with a heavy, oversized head that actually looks like a sack of grain.
- The Wizard of Oz (1925): Larry Semon’s Scarecrow was actually a man disguised as a scarecrow. The photos are jarring because they lack the magical "life" of the 1939 version.
Collectibility and the "Real" Costume
If you’re looking at a picture of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz and wondering where that costume is now, it’s actually in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
It was donated by Ray Bolger’s wife after his death. If you see photos of the costume in the museum today, it looks much darker and more fragile than it does in the film. Textiles from the 1930s don't age well under harsh museum lights. The raffia has turned brittle, and the burlap-look wool has faded. But it still holds that weird, liminal energy of a character that is both a toy and a man.
How to Spot an Authentic 1939 Still
For collectors, identifying a real production still versus a later reprint is a bit of an art form.
- The Gloss: Original 1939 glossies have a specific silver-gelatin sheen.
- The Stamp: Look for the "MGM" or "National Screen Service" stamp on the back.
- The Detail: In a real still, you should be able to see the individual "pores" in the rubber burlap mask. If it looks smooth, it’s a low-quality reproduction.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're fascinated by the visual history of this character, don't just look at the movie posters. The real magic is in the wardrobe tests.
- Search for "Wardrobe Test" Photos: These show Bolger in early versions of the mask before they perfected the burlap texture. It’s a fascinating look at how a character is built.
- Check the Smithsonian Digital Archives: They have high-resolution photos of the actual costume pieces that show the stitching and the hidden zippers you can't see in the movie.
- Study the "Limp" Choreography: Look at stills of Bolger's feet. He wore specially designed shoes that allowed him to bend his ankles at extreme angles, giving the illusion that he had no bones.
The Scarecrow isn't just a character; he's a triumph of early 20th-century makeup chemistry and physical acting. Next time you see a picture of the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, look past the smile and look at the burlap. Look at the lines on his face. Remember that a man sat in a chair for three hours every day to be glued into that "brainless" masterpiece.
To really appreciate the craftsmanship, find a high-resolution version of the scene where he first meets Dorothy. Pause it. Look at the way the light hits the "straw" in his hair. It shouldn't work. It’s a man in a sack. But because of the texture, the lighting, and Bolger’s frantic energy, it’s one of the most iconic images in the history of cinema. You can see the effort in every thread.