Look at his face. No, really look at it. If you pull up old images of the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz, specifically those grainy 1939 publicity stills of Ray Bolger, you’ll notice something kind of unsettling. Those lines on his face aren't just makeup. They are deep, burlap-textured indentations pressed into Bolger’s skin by a rubber mask he had to wear for hours on end. It took a year for those marks to finally fade after filming wrapped.
That’s the thing about this character. We think of him as this floppy, lovable guy tripping over his own straw feet, but the reality of his visual creation was intense, bordering on miserable.
People search for these images because they want a hit of nostalgia. They want to see the yellow brick road or the cornfield. But there’s a lot more going on in the frames of Victor Fleming’s masterpiece than just a guy looking for a brain. The Scarecrow represents a weird intersection of Vaudeville physical comedy and high-concept prosthetic makeup that was basically experimental at the time.
The Evolution of a Burlap Icon
Before Ray Bolger danced his way into film history, the Scarecrow looked... different.
Honestly, some of the early 1900s stage versions and the 1925 silent film images are the stuff of nightmares. In the 1925 version, Larry Semon played the character, and he looked more like a traditional, stiff farm tool than a sentient being. It was creepy. It didn't have that "human" spark.
When MGM took over for the 1939 production, the goal changed. They needed someone who could move like liquid. Ray Bolger was a legendary eccentric dancer, and the costume had to facilitate that. If you study images of the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz during the "If I Only Had a Brain" sequence, you can see how the costume is intentionally oversized in the joints. This allowed the straw to shift and the fabric to bunch, giving him that "stuffed" look while letting Bolger perform high-level acrobatics.
Jack Dawn was the makeup artist behind the look. He used a rubber prosthetic for the chin and nose that mimicked the weave of a burlap sack. It was a breakthrough. It allowed for facial expressions that were previously impossible under heavy stage makeup.
Why the Burlap Texture Matters
It’s about the details.
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If you zoom in on high-resolution production photos, you’ll see the "fabric" of his face. It wasn't just painted on. Dawn used a process involving a fine mesh to press the pattern into the prosthetic material. This is why the character feels so grounded despite being a fantasy creature. He looks like something a Kansas farmer actually threw together in a barn.
Hidden Details in the Background
We often focus on the face, but the clothes tell a story too.
Take a look at the patches. There’s a specific blue patch on his right elbow that disappears and reappears in certain scenes. Continuity wasn't exactly a science in 1939. Also, his "brains"—the diploma he gets at the end—is actually a Doctor of Thinkology degree. Most people forget that. The images of him holding that scroll show a man who finally feels "seen," even though he was the smartest person in the group the whole time.
There’s a famous "deleted" scene people always look for. It’s the extended dance sequence. In the final cut, the Scarecrow’s dance is short. But in the original takes, he does this incredible, physics-defying routine where he bounces off fences and flies into the air. If you find the black-and-white stills of these rehearsals, you see the grueling work Bolger put in. He was basically an Olympic athlete in a wool suit.
The Color Palette Shift
Technicolor was the big selling point.
When Dorothy moves from the sepia-toned Kansas to the vibrant Munchkinland, the Scarecrow is one of the first "saturated" characters we meet. His green tunics and brown pants were chosen specifically to pop against the yellow of the road and the blue of the sky. The makeup had to be tested repeatedly because Technicolor cameras back then (the massive three-strip monsters) would often turn certain shades of brown into a weird, muddy orange.
The Psychological Impact of the Image
Why do we keep coming back to these photos?
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Maybe it’s the eyes. Bolger’s eyes are always wide, always searching. There’s a vulnerability there. Unlike the Tin Man, who is rigid, or the Lion, who is covered in heavy fur, the Scarecrow is "soft." He’s the one Dorothy says she’ll miss most of all.
When you browse images of the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz, you aren't just looking at a movie character. You’re looking at the archetype of the "Imposter Syndrome" sufferer. He thinks he’s empty-headed, yet he’s the one who comes up with the plan to rescue Dorothy from the Witch’s castle. The visual irony of a man made of straw outsmarting a castle full of soldiers is one of the great triumphs of cinema.
Common Misconceptions in Fan Art vs. Film Stills
A lot of modern fan art gets it wrong. They make him too "scary" or too "neat."
- The Nose: In the movie, his nose is a dark, triangular piece of fabric. Many recreations make it look like a human nose painted black. It’s not.
- The Straw: The straw used in the 1939 film was actually specially treated raffia. Real straw was too brittle and poked the actors.
- The Hat: It’s not just a floppy hat; it has a very specific "crinkle" that stayed consistent throughout filming because it was wired inside.
Identifying Authentic Vintage Stills
If you’re a collector or just a super-fan looking for authentic images, you have to be careful. There are thousands of "re-colorized" photos floating around the internet that look terrible. They lose the texture of the burlap.
Look for the "MGM Keybook" stamps on the back of physical photos if you’re buying. These were the official reference photos used by the studio. They have a clarity that modern digital rips usually lack. You can see the individual threads in his collar and the way the dust from the "haunted forest" set actually settled on his shoulders.
The 1939 film was a miracle of timing. A few years earlier, the technology wasn't there. A few years later, and the whimsical, Vaudeville style might have been replaced by something more cynical.
How to Use These Visuals Today
Whether you’re a cosplayer, an artist, or a film historian, these images are a masterclass in character design.
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If you're trying to recreate the look, don't just buy a "Scarecrow Costume" from a party store. Those are usually polyester nightmares. Instead, look at the original photos. Look at how the clothes are layered. It’s about the "slump." The Scarecrow shouldn't have good posture. He’s held together by strings and hope.
For artists, study the way light hits the burlap. Because the surface is matte, it absorbs light differently than the Tin Man’s metallic sheen. This makes the Scarecrow feel "warmer" and more approachable in scenes where they are grouped together.
Taking the Next Step with Your Collection
If you want to go deeper into the visual history of the Scarecrow, your best bet is to look for the "Wizard of Oz: The 75th Anniversary" companion books. They contain high-resolution scans of the original makeup tests. Seeing Ray Bolger without the hat, just wearing the burlap face-piece, is a bizarre look at the "bones" of the character.
You can also visit the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. While they are famous for the Ruby Slippers, they occasionally cycle through other costume pieces and original production stills. Seeing the actual texture of the costume in person changes how you view the movie forever.
Start by comparing the 1939 stills with the original W.W. Denslow illustrations from the 1900 book. You'll see exactly where the costume designers stayed faithful and where they took creative leaps to make the character work for the silver screen. It’s a fascinating look at how a literary character becomes a visual icon that survives for nearly a century.
Forget the cheap digital recreations. Go back to the grain. Go back to the burlap. That’s where the real magic is.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers:
- Analyze the "Jack Dawn" Method: If you're a makeup artist, research Dawn’s use of latex in the late 1930s. He basically invented the modern prosthetic.
- Verify the Source: When searching for high-quality images of the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz, prioritize library archives like the George Eastman Museum or the Library of Congress over Pinterest.
- Check the "Lines": To spot an authentic 1939 still versus a later imitation, look for the burlap "grid" on the chin. If it’s smooth, it’s a fake or a much later recreation.
- Study the Movement: Watch the "stumble" in slow motion. You’ll see how the costume was designed to collapse under its own weight, which is a detail often lost in static images.
- Look for the "Witch’s Hour" Stills: Some of the rarest images are from the forest scenes where the lighting is low-key and dramatic, showing a darker, more atmospheric side of the character.