Who was the special effects director for the 1939 film?

A. Arnold Gillespie was the special effects director for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.

Gillespie, also known as “Buddy” Gillespie, headed MGM’s Special Effects Department from 1936. For Oz, his work helped create the tornado, the Wicked Witch’s fiery entrances, the flying monkeys, miniature effects and other illusions that made the fantasy world convincing to audiences.

The production relied on practical techniques rather than digital imagery. Miniatures, mechanical devices, rear projection, matte paintings, smoke, fire and carefully controlled stage effects were combined to create scenes that could not be filmed straightforwardly. The tornado, for example, was a rotating fabric-and-rubber construction manipulated on a soundstage.

The film’s effects were recognized at the Academy Awards, where The Wizard of Oz received a nomination in the special-effects category. Gillespie later won multiple Oscars for effects work on other MGM films, including Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and the 1959 version of Ben-Hur.