L. Frank Baum’s 1900 story, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, has captured the American imagination for well over a century. The story of Dorothy Gale, a young girl from Kansas whisked away into the Land of Oz by a tornado, has been adapted in a wide variety of ways. Almost four decades after publication, a film adaptation of the book starring Judy Garland as Dorothy was released in 1939 and went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed films ever created. In 2003, a musical adaptation of the story starring Kristen Chenoweth as Glinda the Good Witch and Idina Menzel (later of Frozen fame) as Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, hit Broadway and stole the spotlight with its portrayal of what the Land of Oz was like prior to Dorothy's arrival.
Now, in 2024, a film adaptation of that Broadway powerhouse is set to make magic in cinemas. Wicked, scheduled to premiere in theaters on November 22nd, will star pop music icon Ariana Grande as Glinda and Broadway superstar Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba. It is projected by many to be one of the biggest movies of the year. Jeff Goldblum, known for his roles in Jurassic Park and Independence Day, is set to star in the role of the Wizard of Oz.
What does any of this information have to do with Thomas A. Edison? At last check, he did not wear red slippers, follow the yellow brick road, or have a dog named Toto. As it turns out though, L. Frank Baum derived some of his inspiration behind the character of The Wizard of Oz from Thomas Edison.
While Thomas Edison is most noted for his phonograph, his modern incandescent light, and for his work in the field of motion pictures, maybe the most important invention that Thomas Edison ever created was his research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Edison’s Menlo Park Laboratory was the first industrial research and development laboratory in the United States. Thomas purchased the land for the laboratory in late 1875, and he had his father Samuel (who also constructed the Thomas A. Edison Birthplace) help build the main building which used to stand on the block south of Christie Street between Middlesex and Woodbridge (now Tower) Avenues.
By the spring of 1876, Thomas Edison had moved his entire operation to Menlo Park, New Jersey. Just over a year later, he went public with his phonograph, the first machine ever created to record and reproduce sound. A short two years later, Thomas Edison emerged from his Menlo Park Laboratory with his first incandescent light bulbs. Shortly after, Christie Street became the first street in the world to be illuminated via incandescent light. Edison and his team also made Menlo Park the first city in the world to be illuminated with Christmas lights, creating a spectacle to behold by visitors.
In 1878, just a year after he created his phonograph, he was dubbed by many as "The Wizard of Menlo Park." The myth of the Wizard of Menlo Park only grew and evolved as he and his team began to churn out more inventions left and right. Innovations such as phonographs and incandescent lights appeared so extraordinary to the public that they viewed their inventor as a true magician, capable of creating marvels beyond ordinary imagination.
While Thomas Edison was making magic at Menlo Park, L. Frank Baum was trying to find his true purpose in life. He had tried his hand in a number of different occupations: poultry fancier, oil refiner, actor, singer, playwright, producer, axle grease salesman, newspaper editor, and much more. He had moved along with his family from Syracuse, New York, to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in hopes of better fortunes, but Baum still found himself stuck in neutral.
He then moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1891 to become a staff member of the Chicago Evening Post. When he assumed his position on the staff, like many other Americans, he became amazed at a headline in the paper. The story talked about a “wizard”, specifically, “The Wizard of Menlo Park”. The Chicago Evening Post reported:
"Greatly interested in the world’s fair is the wizard. It has been stated that the invention which Mr. Edison is to exhibit at the fair as his pièce de résistance is something that will surpass in its surprises anything that ever came from his wonderful workshop."
The story piqued Baum's and millions of others' interest in the upcoming Chicago World's Fair in 1893. When it finally opened, Baum made his way and laid his eyes on the beauty of the World's Fair. Baum saw 14 pristinely white structures along with a beautiful artificial lake estimated to have been over eight football fields large. It must also be mentioned that Baum would have been exposed to the futuristic inventions created by scores of American inventors, but chiefly by Thomas Edison. It was a brilliant preview of the future yet to come.
Within seven years, the glistening “White City” that Baum laid eyes on in 1893 soon became the Emerald City in the Land of Oz. The Land of Oz was dominated by The Wizard of Oz, a man who was perceived as being larger than life and was capable of creating magic through public spectacle, just like Thomas Edison. The curtain that shielded The Wizard of Oz from the public was in many ways like Edison’s Menlo Park Lab, which “hid” the magic from the public. The Wizard of Oz turned simple tricks and tools into awe-inspiring illusions. Edison transformed scientific principles into practical and groundbreaking inventions like the phonograph and the incandescent light bulb.
Baum’s inspiration for "The Wizard of Oz," drawn in part from Thomas Edison, highlights the fascinating intersection of fiction and reality. Both men captivated audiences with their creations—Baum with his magical Land of Oz and the spellbinding story of a young girl just looking to find her way back to Kansas, and Edison with his groundbreaking inventions. Through his Menlo Park Laboratory, Edison unveiled innovations that seemed almost otherworldly, earning him the title “The Wizard of Menlo Park.” Similarly, Baum’s Wizard used illusions to craft a persona of amazement and wonder. This connection shows how the marvels of science and imagination can blur, shaping cultural icons that continue to intrigue generations. Whether in a glowing Emerald City of Oz or the lit-up and lively streets of Menlo Park, the magic of creation fostered by a wizard continues to defy gravity.
Sources Used and Encouraged for Further Reading
Butler, Kirstin. 2021. “The Wizard in the White City | American Experience.” PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/american-oz-wizard-white-city/.
Matthews, Charles. 2009. “The Wizard of Oz - Industrial Strength.” American Financial Review. https://www.afr.com/politics/the-wizard-of-oz-industrial-strength-20090619-jmwh1.
Tapestry Institute. 2008. “Wizard of Oz.” Tapestry Institute. https://www.tapestryinstitute.org/tornado/wizardoz.html.
Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park. n.d. “Thomas Edison and Menlo Park.” Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.menloparkmuseum.org/history.
Dillon Liskai, a native of Clyde, Ohio, is currently a junior at Bowling Green State University. He is pursuing a degree in Adolescent to Young Adult (AYA) Integrated Social Studies Education with a specialization in History.
For the past three years, Dillon has worked as a tour guide at the Thomas A. Edison Birthplace Museum. When not at school or the museum, he enjoys cheering on the Bowling Green Falcons, spending time with friends and family, and exploring local history.
Have a question for Dillon? Reach out via email at dliskai@tomedison.org!
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