2006-08-20 03:02:43 · 13 answers · asked by SatNetMan 1 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Movies
*Eventually, it is revealed that Oz is actually none of these things, but rather an ordinary, American man who has been using a lot of elaborate magic tricks and props to make himself seem "great and powerful." When revealed, Oz explains that his real name is Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkel Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs. To shorten this name, he used only his initials (O.Z.P.I.N.H.E.A.D.), but since they spell out the word "pinhead", he shortened his name further and called himself "Oz". Working as a magician in the United States, he wrote OZ on the side of his hot air balloon for promotional purposes. One day his balloon sailed into the Land of Oz, and found himself worshipped as a great sorcerer. As Oz had no leadership at the time, he became Supreme Ruler of the kingdom, and did his best to sustain the myth.
**Where did the name Oz come from?
There is a story that L. Frank Baum, when asked the country's name by a child he was first telling the story to, looked to his filing cabinet in the next room, which had two drawers. One drawer was marked A-N, and one marked O-Z. So he called it Oz after the letters on the second drawer. While this story has been told many times, there seems to be little evidence that it's true. Baum himself told at least two different versions of this story (one version has three file drawers marked A-G, H-N, and O-Z). Others have speculated that it comes from the Oohs and Aahs his stories produced from readers and listeners. Still others, looking for hidden meaning in the book, claim it comes from the abbreviation for ounces, or have linked it to Uz (Job's home in the Bible, sometimes also spelled Utz), Shelly's Ozymandius, or Charles Dickens' pseudonym Boz. But L. Frank Baum's widow, Maud, once wrote to writer Jack Snow on this subject and stated that it was just a name that Frank had created out of his own mind.
2006-08-20 03:13:54 · answer #1 · answered by Samuella SilverSelene 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One theory is that L. Frank Baum conceived the Oz tales
as an allegory about the controversy concerning whether America should use the gold standard. A key figure in this debate
was William Jennings Bryan. So "Oz" refers to the abbreviation
oz. (as in an ounce of gold.) If you Google "wizard of oz gold standard" you will find a lot about this.
2006-08-20 03:10:32 · answer #2 · answered by banjuja58 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Princess Ozma ruled the land of Oz (must see Return of Oz). Obviously Oz is short for Ozma. Maybe L. Frank Baum had a relative or friend named Ozma. Anyways he wrote a serious of books about the Land of Oz. Should check em out.
2006-08-20 03:20:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For pete's sake, people... Oz (as it is used in L. Frank Baum's story) does NOT refer to Australia.
Sorry, I don't have answer to the question, Just venting on a pet peeve. Party on!
2006-08-20 03:15:13 · answer #4 · answered by revenueforge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Oz is such a great name
2006-08-20 03:07:52 · answer #5 · answered by Valerie 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They are right who answered from a filing cabinet... he had 2... one was A-N and the second was O-Z.
2006-08-20 03:09:40 · answer #6 · answered by WenckeBrat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe he got it off a filing cabinet when he was asked what it was called
2006-08-20 03:08:13 · answer #7 · answered by momsapplepeye 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because Cleveland and Chicago were already taken!!!
2006-08-20 03:07:26 · answer #8 · answered by doereen69 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
true story, he was thinking about a name and looked at his filing cabinets, and one was labeled "o-z"
2006-08-20 03:07:44 · answer #9 · answered by ?Jay Red! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
alternate spelling of Aus, short for Australia
at least that makes sense... lol
2006-08-20 03:12:02 · answer #10 · answered by ZOZ_2000 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋