The actress who played the Wicked Witch of the West in the classic film "The Wizard of Oz" holds a special place in Hollywood history. Margaret Hamilton, an American actress, brought the iconic character to life with her memorable performance in the 1939 film. Hamilton's portrayal of the Wicked Witch is often considered one of the greatest villains in cinema history. With her green complexion, pointy hat, and cackling laugh, she became the epitome of evil for many generations of moviegoers. Her appearance and performance in the film was so convincing that it left a lasting impact on audiences, solidifying her place in pop culture. Interestingly, Hamilton was not the original choice for the role.
Margaret Hamilton: December 9th, 1902 - May 16th, 1985
Margaret Hamilton, who flew a broomstick to fearsome fame as the Wicked Witch of the West in the classic film “The Wizard of Oz,” died today in a Connecticut nursing home.
Miss Hamilton, 82, apparently succumbed to heart failure, according to Joan Luning, nursing supervisor at Noble Horizons in Salisbury, where the retired actress had been under care for nearly a year.
“She was a very pleasant, very happy woman who never put on any airs,” Luning said.
And in Beverly Hills, Ray Bolger, last survivor among the featured players in the 1939 film, commented: “She was a terrifying villain in the picture, but an angel in life.”
A Serious Actress
Although admired as a serious actress and an accomplished comedienne for years before and after “Oz,” it was her role as the green-faced, consummately evil witch with features as pointy as her conical witch’s hat, that made her a movie immortal. Future generations would remember her cackling screech as she pursued poor little Judy Garland (Dorothy) and her eccentric friends along the Yellow Brick Road.
Oddly, although she was a nightmare figure in the movie--goading her ghastly flying hench-monkeys to commit the most dastardly deeds--she also was able to stir sympathy in her audience. Even Dorothy herself seemed horrified when she dashed water on the Wicked One and the witch slowly dissolved into a puddle of nothingness, moaning “What a world . . . what a world. . . . “
“I didn’t mean to kill her!” Dorothy cried.
Appeared at ‘Oz’ Festivals
In later years, Miss Hamilton became the center of an admiring cult, often appearing at “Wizard of Oz” festivals across the country. “Somebody in Chillicothe would want to put on something about Oz, and she would just jump on her broom and get there,” Bolger said this morning.
In a 1977 interview, Miss Hamilton said that she received--and faithfully answered--as many as 2,000 letters a year from children who knew her from television reruns of the famous film.
Wizard of Oz ‘witch’ loved her Maine island
That’s because the primary resident there, during summers from 1961 to 1985, was Margaret Hamilton, the actor who played the Wicked Witch of the West and Elmira Gulch in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Contrary to her character, one of the top villains in movie history, Hamilton was known by her mainland neighbors, in Maine and everywhere else, for her sweet nature.
Cape Island is located off the tip of the tiny village of Cape Newagen, which is itself on the larger island of Southport, south of Boothbay. According to the Boothbay Historical Society, the Boothbay region has a settlement history going back to the early 17th century, when English fishermen and farmers settled there. The islands were considered excellent outposts for keeping the harbor and mainland safe from French privateers.
Hamilton and her son, Hamilton “Ham” Meserve, bought Cape Island in 1961. The 20-acre island is about 900 feet from the mainland and has a farmhouse built in 1852. Meserve and his wife, Helen, later bought property in Cape Newagen, where they now live.
Born in 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio, Hamilton made her acting debut in high school theater. But before pursuing acting further as a career, her parents insisted she first go to college to be sure she would have an alternative for earning a living, so she trained as a kindergarten teacher and taught elementary school in Boston and New York.
Her professional acting debut came on the New York stage in 1932. She went to Hollywood the following year. Talkies were uprooting silent films, and Hamilton’s excellent diction (“She could speak the King’s English,” said Meserve) paid off. She was already working for MGM when her agent called with the studio’s offer of the part of the witch.
Hamilton continued acting regularly, for film, television, stage and radio until 1982. She was a natural for TV, said Meserve.
“At first, movie actors couldn’t handle live TV, where there were no ‘cut and retake,’ but she knew how to ad lib,” he said. “She was known as a pro’s pro. She was extremely well respected within the industry. And she shunned star status.”
Hamilton had an apartment on Gramercy Park in New York City and an estate in Dutchess County, N.Y. She connected with Maine through her summer stock theater work, and eventually decided to look for a summer home to buy. She heard that lighthouses were being sold off by the government, most recently Hendricks Head on Southport Island, and thought buying one would be fun. With Ham and Helen, who had just returned from their honeymoon, she visited the area and found instead that Cape Island was for sale.
“So Mom and I cleaned out our savings accounts and bought the place,” said Meserve, the actor’s only child.
Meserve, a retired financier and newspaper publisher and a long-time partner with Running Battle Antiques in Millbrook, N.Y., was 3 when The Wizard of Oz was filmed in 1939. Despite his mother’s fame, he had a normal childhood, thanks to her vigilance.
“She protected me,” he recalled. “She knew what child actors went through. She was very close to Judy Garland and saw what happened to her.”
A passionate advocate for causes that benefited children and animals, Hamilton had a tender heart, Meserve said. One of her concerns was the effect her Wicked Witch role had on youngsters.
“Little Johnny would be cowering behind his mother’s skirts, and that’s when Mom would get down on her knees and coax him around and say, ‘Hi, I’m just a nice lady,’” recalled Meserve.
By the time she took up summer residence on Cape Island, Hamilton was in her 60s. She quickly became a well-loved fixture on this part of the Maine coast. She was known for rowing between the island and the mainland.
“Lobstermen loved the fact that this famous gal was rowing out there by herself, and they kind of adopted her and looked after her,” Meserve said. “She got to know everyone in town. She was very outgoing. People loved the idea that she was there and had adapted to life there.”
One of those trips almost ended in disaster. It was the end of the season, and Hamilton was rowing over to meet a taxi to take her to the Portland airport, where she would fly back to New York City. But the inn’s caretaker had already brought up the floats, leaving Hamilton to climb up a ladder to the dock.
“It was very low tide,” Meserve said. “Mother tied up the rowboat, reached across, and went into the water. She said the coat was weighing her down. She didn’t know what she would do. When the taxi arrived, no Miss Hamilton. Then he had a premonition to walk to edge of dock and look down and pulled Mom out.”
The driver took her to the caretakers’ house.
“Euphemistically, they put half a pint of cough medicine into her,” Meserve said.
Hamilton’s time on the island depended on her work schedule, but she tried to arrive by July, traveling back and forth between gigs, and often having friends stay with her.
The island was a wonderful refuge from the busy acting life. She liked to knock around in sneakers and blue jeans. There was no electricity, so she had kerosene lamps and stoves.
“She loved it,” Meserve said. “Living alone, she would come home from the theater at about 2 o’clock, all adrenaline. It would take three hours to come down. One way she did that was to clean house. She loved the island because it was her house. She loved the rocks, she loved the water. She’d bring in the wood for the fire.”
Hamilton died in 1985. Today, said Meserve, the island is a happy scampering ground for his children and grandchildren and their friends.
“They absolutely adore it,” he said.
As for those folks who call it “Witch’s Island?”
“We don’t mind,” said Meserve. “It’s part of the fabric of the area.”
Margaret Hamilton, at right, with her son Hamilton Meserve and daughter-in-law Helen Meserve on the island she owned off Southport Island.
Actress Margaret Hamilton played iconic Wicked Witch in 'Wizard of Oz': Women's History Month
As part of Women's History Month, we remember Cleveland native Margaret Hamilton, aka The Wicked Witch of the West.
Who can forget her green-faced villain from "The Wizard of Oz," with those long, pointy fingers and that frightening cackle?
Hamilton grew up in a big Victorian brownstone along Euclid Avenue's Millionaires' Row. Her father was a lawyer and his father a prominent judge.
She graduated from Hathaway Brown School in 1921, when it was on East 97th Street in a building the Cleveland Clinic recently tore down. The acting bug took hold after she played the male lead of her senior play, "Pomander Walk."
Hamilton headed to Boston to become a kindergarten teacher but returned home to care for her father after her mother died. She joined the ensemble cast at the Cleveland Play House.
Her son Hamilton Meserve notes that his mother's screen time in "The Wizard of Oz" lasted only 12 minutes, "but her offstage presence obviously dominated the whole film."
Hamilton, who appeared in more than 70 films, died in Connecticut in 1985 at age 82.
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Interestingly, Hamilton was not the original choice for the role. Gale Sondergaard was initially cast as the Wicked Witch but withdrew from the part when it was decided to make the character more grotesque and unattractive. Hamilton, who had previously played a kind character, stepped in and embraced the opportunity to showcase her versatility as an actress.
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Her dedication to the role was evident throughout the film. Despite enduring various accidents and injuries during production, Hamilton remained committed to delivering a powerful performance. One notable incident involved a scene where her character was supposed to disappear in a puff of smoke. Unfortunately, the special effect malfunctioned, causing her to be severely burned. Hamilton's commitment and talent did not go unnoticed. Her portrayal of the Wicked Witch earned her critical acclaim and solidified her status as a legendary actress. She received widespread praise for her ability to embody the wickedness, cunning, and menacing presence of the character. Beyond "The Wizard of Oz," Hamilton had a successful career spanning decades. She appeared in various films and television shows, but her role as the Wicked Witch remains one of her most iconic and enduring legacies. In subsequent years, other actresses have taken on the role of the Wicked Witch in various adaptations and productions. However, Hamilton's portrayal is often considered the definitive one, with her interpretation shaping the popular image of the character. Overall, Margaret Hamilton's portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West solidified her as an accomplished actress and a Hollywood icon. Her performance in "The Wizard of Oz" continues to captivate audiences to this day and remains an integral part of cinematic history..
Reviews for "The Cultural Significance of the Wicked Witch of the West: How Actresses Brought a Beloved Story to Life"
1. John - 1 out of 5 stars
I found the portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West in this play to be incredibly underwhelming. The actress lacked the charisma and energy needed to bring this iconic character to life. Her performance felt flat and uninspired, and I was left feeling disappointed and unimpressed. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to seeing this character come to life on stage, but sadly, it fell short of my expectations.
2. Emily - 2 out of 5 stars
While I appreciate the effort put into this production, I couldn't help but feel let down by the performance of the actress playing the Wicked Witch. Her voice lacked the power and intensity that I associate with this character, and it made it hard for me to connect with her on stage. Additionally, her portrayal lacked the menacing and wickedness that are essential to the role. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and wishing for a stronger performance.
3. David - 2 out of 5 stars
I had high hopes for the actress playing the Wicked Witch of the West, but unfortunately, she failed to deliver. Her performance lacked the necessary charisma and presence to make the character truly captivating. I found her voice to be quite weak, and it made it difficult to understand her lines at times. Overall, I was disappointed with the portrayal, and it took away from my enjoyment of the production.
4. Sarah - 1 out of 5 stars
I was expecting a powerful and commanding performance from the actress playing the Wicked Witch, but what I got was far from it. Her portrayal felt lackluster and devoid of emotion. It seemed like she was just going through the motions and didn't fully embrace the character. I left the theater feeling underwhelmed and wishing for a more dynamic performance. It's a shame because the rest of the production was quite good, but the weak performance of the Wicked Witch really brought it down.
5. Michael - 2 out of 5 stars
The actress playing the Wicked Witch of the West lacked the stage presence and intensity required for such an iconic character. Her performance felt mediocre and did not do justice to the role. I was hoping for a more captivating and convincing portrayal, but sadly, that was not the case. Overall, I was left feeling unimpressed and unsatisfied with her performance in the play.