Ding Dong! The Witch is dead.

Before Ted Turner bought The Wizard of Oz, it was nationally broadcast yearly (once, twice). For a few years it was around St. Patrick's. At one time Danny Kaye served as host for the movie on Sunday nights, and a laundry powder company put one of eight puppets in their box of detergent. Dorothy, her dog, three friends and the witch were often reproduced.

It is a truly enjoyable film. It easily quotable, and its characters are iconic, and referential. America (the music group) had a line, "But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man, that he didn't, didn't already have." A Mike Myers skit on Saturday Night Live popularised a rude phrase about flying monkeys.

Many, many people have quoted lines, or made references, in everyday conversation, not everyone picks up on it. I have often been stiff, and squeaked, "oil can". There was a joke that Jerry Falwell clicked his heels and said, "There's no place like Rome."

It came from a novel (from Frank Baum) and the 1939 movie was a combined collaborative effort. It became the best known and loved american fairy tale.
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Munchkins: Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead. Wake up - sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed. Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go, Below - below - below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out. Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low. Let them know The Wicked Witch is dead!

Mayor: As Mayor of the Munchkin City, In the County of the Land of Oz, I welcome you most regally.

Barrister: But we've got to verify it legally, to see

Mayor: To see?

Barrister: If she

Mayor: If she?

Barrister: Is morally, ethic'lly

Father No.1: Spiritually, physically

Father No. 2: Positively, absolutely

Munchkins: Undeniably and reliably Dead

Coroner: As Coroner I must aver, I thoroughly examined her. And she's not only merely dead, she's really most sincerely dead.

Mayor: Then this is a day of Independence For all the Munchkins and their descendants

Barrister: If any.

Mayor: Yes, let the joyous news be spread The wicked Old Witch at last is dead!