Miscellaneous

Did You Know?

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Written for Sadje’s What Do You See #297.
This is where my imagination took me.

This is doggie movie star Terry in the role of ‘Toto’.
© Characters by  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. 

Most of us have seen the Wizard of Oz at least once. It’s one of my favorite movies and I’ve seen it at least once each year since I was about 10 …. and that’s a lot of years!

I feel a kind of bond with the movie; released in 1939, my parents went to see it at NYC’s Loew’s Capitol Theater a few days before leaving for their honeymoon. That particular night, Judy Garland appeared on stage with Terry, the dog who played Toto …. much to the delight of everyone there.

When my parents told the story of that night to me and my sister some 20 years later, they got a real kick out of telling us that Terry peed on the stage, not once but several times. Wetting the floor was a real problem for Terry, and her owner was always trying to break her of that habit. After many attempts, he was finally successful.

Terry and Judy Garland took an immediate liking to each other (even though Garland reported that Terry had the worst doggie breath ever!). If you recall scenes from the movie, Dorothy was often nuzzling Toto; what great acting on the part of Judy Garland who never let it show how bad Terry’s breath really was!

Terry got along great with Judy Garland but the same can’t be said for the other primary actors. Ray Bolger (The Scarecrow) complained that Terry would angrily nip at his heels, and pull the hay out of his costume. Bert Lahr (Cowardly Lion) said that Terry was obsessed with the tail of his lion costume and would jump on it, wrestle with it and chew it. But poor Jack Haley (Tin Man) had it worst of all. Every time Terry spotted the Tin Man, she’d run after him, pee on him and chase him up a pole! The whole cast was very relieved when filming of the Wizard of Oz was finally over.

This is Sadje’s photo prompt – © Vladimir Vinogradov @ Unsplash

NAR©2025

Nancy’s Notes: Every word of my post is true except for the final paragraph which is entirely fictitious.

This is “Tin Man” by America

What do you see # 297- 14 July, 2025

All text and graphics are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, The Rhythm Section, et al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.

44 thoughts on “Did You Know?”

  1. Pingback: WDYS # 297- A roundup post – Keep it alive

  5. I recently reconnected with my therapist’s dog, who always greets me with wagging tail and heavy sigh as she settles into her chair for our sessions. Therapist says he doesn’t like everybody…

    Recently, he (doggo) decided on a midsession break: he farted just before leaving the chair, waddled over to receive my ear rub, licked my chin in a wet, friendly way, and burped with gentle, stinky doggo breath. Both humans cracked up over his unique gift. Just doin’ what doggos do…😆😆💖🐶

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  9. Thank you so much for the laughter, Nancy, … we hear so much about the Wizard of Oz, the goings on behind the scene, … the Randy Little dwarfs, .. oh what were they? munchkins?… this was an extra delight to read., … I’m just off to try the yellow brick Road, … fancy dancing along Nancy? 🎶💙🎶

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      1. Ah, you see? You’re so good a writer I take it all in as truth,…I’m still giggling at the scenario, … I believe it could’ve actually happened , … so much did on that set, 😉.l💙

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  11. A great story about Terry/Toto the cute film star … Haha .. he was certainly a mischievous little doggie … here’s a wonderful song featuring a “Terry” look-a-like … enjoy 🎵💙🐶

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  15. Who knew that cute little Toto was such a troublemaker? Interesting story, Nancy. And the song. I always liked the music of America and Tin Man is no exception. But the lyrics? Mostly nonsensical. What the hell is that song about?

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