by Barry Goodrich
The wicked & wonderful legacy of
MARGARET HAMILTON he irony was never lost on Margaret Hamilton, a former kindergarten teacher who became the biggest female villain in the history of the movies. The woman who adored children ended up creating a character that scared them nearly to death. On August 25, 1939, MGM released The Wizard of Oz, the screen adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s cherished story. Today, the film that made little impact 75 years ago is now an American classic, in great part because of the role played by the Cleveland-born Hamilton. A member of the 1921 class of Hathaway Brown, Hamilton had prepared herself for a career as a teacher but her love of the stage took her in a different direction, one that would lead to appearances in more than 70 films during a 50-year-career. But it would be one iconic role that guaranteed her legendary status. A character seared into the consciousness of anyone who has ever heard that distinctive cackle that could only belong to the Wicked Witch of the West. “It’s a great character role and she played it to the hilt,” said Hamilton’s son, Hamilton Meserve, calling from his home in Maine. “It scares the bejesus out of you and it’s embedded in your mind.” Meserve, a retired banker who is now a county commissioner, remembers his mother worrying that her portrayal of the witch would frighten youngsters. “She was very concerned about the effect it had on small children,” he says. “She was very aware of Above: Photo courtesy of Hamilton Meserve; Below: The Wizard of Oz, courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment