Dona Massin
Encyclopedia
Dona Massin was a film
choreographer best known for her work on The Wizard of Oz
. Dona Massin appeared in over 100 films throughout her career.
when she was eight years old. She started her show business career as a child. Also at the age of eight, she sang My Man
at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles and received a standing ovation
. She then was discovered by Maurice Kosell and was given free dancing lessons due to her natural talent.
At the age of 14, Dona was signed to MGM Studios
and worked on many of the musicals. She also worked at 20th Century Fox
, Universal
, Warner Bros.
and Columbia Pictures
.
Dona was the first to sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", and it was she who pushed for the song to be in the film. She also originated the skip that was performed down the yellow brick road
.
In the film itself, Massin can be seen grooming the Lion in the scene at the beauty shop. Mervyn Leroy
put her in that part to bring good luck
to the film.
on The Eclectic Mind and Jodie, filmed in Los Angeles
. She retired from show business at the age of 30 to be a wife and mother. In Dona's later years, she and daughter Jodie would visit the Wizard of Oz Festivals in Chesterton, Indiana
, Wisconsin
, and Chicago
. With Dona were some of the little people
from the film.
In 2001, she taped Memories of Oz, portraying herself in the production. Also in 2001, she appeared in the television special Last Days of Judy Garland
(also portraying herself) and "The E! True Hollywood Story
". Towards the end of her life, she gave interviews for both books and television. Dona died from natural causes
. She had been residing in Malibu, California with her daughter Jodie.
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
choreographer best known for her work on The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
. Dona Massin appeared in over 100 films throughout her career.
Early years
Dona Massin's family moved to Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
when she was eight years old. She started her show business career as a child. Also at the age of eight, she sang My Man
My Man
"My Man" is a 1982 single by Yoko Ono from the album It's Alright in a New Wave/calypso style. The minimalist "Let The Tears Dry" appeared on the B-side....
at the Mayan Theater in Los Angeles and received a standing ovation
Standing ovation
A standing ovation is a form of applause where members of a seated audience stand up while applauding after extraordinary performances of particularly high acclaim...
. She then was discovered by Maurice Kosell and was given free dancing lessons due to her natural talent.
At the age of 14, Dona was signed to MGM Studios
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
and worked on many of the musicals. She also worked at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
, Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
, Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
and Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
.
The Wizard of Oz
In 1939, at the age of 21, Massin was signed to production of The Wizard of Oz, where she worked as a choreographer assisting Bobby Connolly. The film took 6 months to complete.Dona was the first to sing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", and it was she who pushed for the song to be in the film. She also originated the skip that was performed down the yellow brick road
Yellow brick road
The road of yellow brick is an element in the novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum, with additional such roads appearing in The Marvelous Land of Oz and The Patchwork Girl of Oz...
.
In the film itself, Massin can be seen grooming the Lion in the scene at the beauty shop. Mervyn Leroy
Mervyn LeRoy
Mervyn LeRoy was an American film director, producer and sometime actor.-Early life:Born to Jewish parents in San Francisco, California, his family was financially ruined by the 1906 earthquake...
put her in that part to bring good luck
Luck
Luck or fortuity is good fortune which occurs beyond one's control, without regard to one's will, intention, or desired result. There are at least two senses people usually mean when they use the term, the prescriptive sense and the descriptive sense...
to the film.
Personal life
Dona Massin married Don Carn and had one daughter, Jodie Carn, who is a talk show hostTalk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
on The Eclectic Mind and Jodie, filmed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. She retired from show business at the age of 30 to be a wife and mother. In Dona's later years, she and daughter Jodie would visit the Wizard of Oz Festivals in Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton, Indiana
Chesterton is a town in Westchester, Jackson and Liberty townships, Porter County, Indiana, United States. The population was 13,068 at the 2010 census. The three towns of Chesterton, Burns Harbor, and Porter are known as the tri-towns or the Duneland area....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. With Dona were some of the little people
Little people
Little people have been part of the folklore of many cultures in human history, including Ireland, Greece, the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands, Flores Island, Indonesia, and Native Americans.-Native American folklore:...
from the film.
In 2001, she taped Memories of Oz, portraying herself in the production. Also in 2001, she appeared in the television special Last Days of Judy Garland
Judy Garland
Judy Garland was an American actress and singer. Through a career that spanned 45 of her 47 years and for her renowned contralto voice, she attained international stardom as an actress in musical and dramatic roles, as a recording artist and on the concert stage...
(also portraying herself) and "The E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story
E! True Hollywood Story is an American documentary series on E! that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and well-known public figures...
". Towards the end of her life, she gave interviews for both books and television. Dona died from natural causes
Death by natural causes
A death by natural causes, as recorded by coroners and on death certificates and associated documents, is one that is primarily attributed to natural agents: usually an illness or an internal malfunction of the body. For example, a person dying from complications from influenza or a heart attack ...
. She had been residing in Malibu, California with her daughter Jodie.