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Saved From The Cutting Room Floor…”If I Only Had A Heart”

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Eyes Of A Generation.com

Saved From The Cutting Room Floor…”If I Only Had A Heart”

Few know that Buddy Ebsen was the original TIn Man in ‘The Wizard Of Oz’. Actually he was cast as The Scarecrow, but with the directors permission, he and Ray Bolger swapped roles. Only a few photos and a this super rare recording of him in that role exist.

This photo shows him in full makeup and that’s what almost killed him…the makeup, which was mostly an aluminum powder. After a few weeks of inhaling the powder, he had a violent reaction and was rushed to the hospital where he stayed for nearly a month. He was replaced by Jack Haley and the aluminum powder was changed to an aluminum paste.

As I understand it, “If I Only Had A Heart”, The TIn Man’s only solo was recorded by Ebsen the day before his collapse on the set. I have heard that Ebsen’s voice is intact on at least one of the many reprises of “We’re Off To See The Wizard”.

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5 responses to “Saved From The Cutting Room Floor…”If I Only Had A Heart””

  1. Glenn Krasner

    He appears near the end of the movie, as a guard, right after the Wicked Witch melts. Glenn in the Bronx, NY.

  2. Ed DiCamillo

    I can imagine Ebsen as the scarecrow, after seeing the occasional hoofing Jed Clampett did on Beverly Hillbillies…

  3. Paul Muranyi

    He was allergic to the silver paint. Thats why he dropped the part.

  4. Samuel Harrison

    They had done all the recording of the songs already. Any time there is a group song with several cast members singing, you’re probably hearing Buddy Ebsen mixed in there because it didn’t make sense to bring all the cast back in to re-record a part that is indistinguishable among the other voices.

  5. Rick Payne

    I like it! It seems to me he was simply playing the part – the Tin Man didn’t have a heart, so the way he sings is consistent with the character. His dancing would have certainly topped anything Haley did – but boy, would I have liked seeing Ebsen as the Scarecrow!

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