"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore."

This quotation from the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz has become part of the American lexicon, meaning “None of this is familiar. We are way out of our comfort zone.”

Dorothy and her little dog Toto have been blown from Kansas into the land of Oz and must find their way home. Along the way they meet the Tin Man who is seeking a heart, the scarecrow who is seeking a brain and the Lion who is seeking courage. Together they go on a quest to find the Mighty Wizard who is all powerful.

Toto is played by a Cairn Terrier originally named Terry.

Terry’s early life gave no indication that she would become a famous movie star. Her first owners gave up on her, considering her to be untrainable. Then she was adopted by Carl Spitz, a well-known Hollywood dog trainer.

After her early experiences with people, it took her a while to stop hiding under the bed, but eventually she gained confidence. Terry was just a year old when she landed her first roles, first in Ready for Love and then as Shirley Temple’s dog in the classic Bright Eyes. All together she appeared in 13 movies.

In 1938, when she was 4 years old, she landed the role as Toto. Before filming she spent two weeks living with Judy Garland so the two could bond. They bonded so well that Judy offered to buy her, but Spitz refused the offer.

Dogs in movies today are played by multiple dogs, but Terry was the only Toto. Terry was paid $125 a week for her work, which was actually more than many humans made in movies at the time.

Not only was she in most of the scenes, she was also essential in moving the plot along. When Dorothy was kidnapped by the Wicked Witch, Toto escaped to get help from the Tin Man, the Lion, and the Scarecrow.

While the others were awed in the presence of the Wizard, Toto tore the curtain aside, revealing the wizard to be a just a feeble, shrunken old man pulling levers.

Although the wizard was a fraud, the quest is successful. What we seek is often within ourselves.

“Oz never did give nothin' to the Tin Man,
which he didn't, didn't already have.”

Hollywood gossip circulated that the munchkins displayed some shocking behavior during the making of the film, but Terry was never associated with any of this.

Following the premiere of the movie, Spitz changed Terry’s name officially to Toto. After making a few more movies, she retired at the age of 8 to become a cherished family pet and make celebrity appearances at dog shows and state fairs.

Years later writer Willard Carroll found a scrapbook kept by Spitz of Toto’s life and work. In 2001 he published a book “written” by Toto called I, Toto: The Autobiography of Terry, the Dog Who Was Toto. (See sidebar)

Other famous movie dogs:

Strongheart       Rin Tin Tin        Lassie

Comments

[Khyra]

Mom says thanks fur the earworm -

Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra

[the 4Bs]

Toto was really the most sensible character in that movie.

[Jan]

And Cause never was the reason for the evening
Or the tropic of Sir Galahad
So please believe in me

Yeah, I have the earworm too...

[jackie]

toto knew his stuff

[Tracey]

Such a famous little dog ... and kind of inspiring for us all given she came from such humble beginnings.
:)

[Stumpy and cyndi]

Interesting stuff! I'll be looking for the book!

Happy, Waggin' Tails, FUREVER!
Stumpy and me

[cube]

Thanks for some info that I'd never heard before about Toto and Judy Garland. It was always one of my favorites growing up in the days when you had to catch your show when it was on or you'd miss it until the following year.

True story. I must add that your Toto post
also evokes very bad memories for me. One year my yungest daughter's school play was "The Wizard of Oz" and, of course, we attended.

It was very enjoyable performance by all the humans, but the dog who played Toto stole the show. He was a natural.

As we were herded out of the gym, the owner of the dog who played Toto in the play was holding the tiny pup and greeting the guests. I asked her if I could take a photo of the real star of the show and she graciously agreed. It was a beautiful photo.

The very next day we heard that during the day performance of the play the dog had been killed during that day's performance. It's neck had been broken during a careless move by the play's Dorothy character.

I couldn't make up this stuff.

[Tammy]

That is so cool! I never knew any of this about "Toto" but he (she?) is one of my favorite movie dogs, for sure!

[MJ]

BEST*MOVIE*EVER*!!!

[Jan]

It's a classic with something for everyone. I just hope they don't do one of those dismal remakes.

[rhea]

Very interesting. Never thought much about the 'actor' who played Toto.

[georgia little pea]

what a gorgeous little story. i'm glad Mr Spitz refused to let terrytoto go, even to the famous Ms Garland. and such an early retirement. lucky dog :)

[Lori @ According to Gus]

Reading this post makes me want to go and immediately watch Wizard of Oz...love that movie!

Interesting that Toto's original name was Terry. We have a friend that named their Cairn Terrier, Carrie. Neither of them strayed too far from the breed name!

[dOg training ebook]

I miss wizard of oz.. brings back a lot of memories.

[womens supra]

This is such a beautiful image! Is that what you call Digital Painting? It looks stunning.