A classic that never goes out of style

The film was an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's story “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”.

Forty-five years ago a little girl sat in front of her television and watched “ The Wizard of Oz. ” When Glinda, the Witch of the North came on the screen her ears perked up.

“ Her name was Glinda and that was the first time I heard my name on TV, and of course she was the good witch, it completely changed my whole outlook on life,” said Glenda Savage who now works at a child care center for infants and toddlers.

Now at the age of 53, Savage still holds the movie and story of the Wizard close to her heart. She said the character of Glinda changed who she was from the moment she saw her on the screen.

“ Because I was a rambunctious kid,” Savage said. “ For all intents and purposes I introduce myself as Glenda the Good, so I have to be a better person.”

For Savage and many others growing up in the fifties the movie also represented many firsts. It was the first time Savage saw color on television and many of the special effects were high tech for its time.

But Savage doesn't seem to be the only one with a fascination for the film. Today the film shows up in all aspects of culture. Even in the media.

Recently there was a story in the Los Angeles Times titled “ Trouble in 'Oz': The Munchkin Kids”. The story focused on a reunion of those who played munchkins in the film but were snubbed from a recent Hollywood event because they weren't little people.

But references to the story and movie don't only revolve around media events. The film seems to have embedded itself in American culture, according to Savage who said she's seen the movie more than thirty times already.

“ I know that's one of oprah's favorite movies too,” said Savage. “It's a great movie, it's a classic.”

The movie and story has already generated many re-makes and re-tellings of the story. New plots have been invented by authors and there has even been a new broadway production with more details behind the characters. The story that began a century ago and the movie that began in the 1930s still manages to find a place in today's time.