Terry (dog)
Encyclopedia
Terry was a Cairn Terrier
whose most famous role was Toto
in the movie The Wizard of Oz
(1939). She appeared in 15 different movies but was only credited in that one, though not as Terry but as Toto.
Terry, born in the midst of the Great Depression
, was trained and owned by Carl Spitz
. Her first film appearance was in "Ready For Love" which was released on November 30, 1934 roughly one month before her first major film appearance, with Shirley Temple
, in 1934's Bright Eyes as Rags. Terry, who did her own stunts, almost lost her life during the filming of The Wizard of Oz
when one of the Winkie
guards accidentally stepped on her, breaking her foot. She spent two weeks recuperating at Judy Garland
's residence, and Garland developed a close attachment with her. She wanted to adopt her, but Spitz refused. Her salary, $125 per week, was more than that of many human actors in the film, and also more than many working Americans at the time. She attended the premiere of The Wizard of Oz
at Grauman's Chinese Theater; because of the popularity of the film, her name was changed to Toto in 1942. Her last film was Tortilla Flat
(1942), in which she was reunited with Oz director, Victor Fleming, and the "Wizard", Frank Morgan.
Terry died toward the end of World War II
on September 1, 1945, in Hollywood, California, and was buried in a pet burial area behind the Spitz's residence and kennel
. During the expansion of the Ventura Freeway
in Los Angeles
, the property was obtained by Caltrans for construction purposes. The facility and the small burial grounds were razed. Terry was the first major cast member from The Wizard Of Oz
to die, and one of only two not to survive the 1940s. Frank Morgan
died in 1949.
On June 18, 2011, a permanent memorial for Toto was dedicated at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
in Los Angeles.
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the terrier breeds, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs...
whose most famous role was Toto
Toto (dog)
Toto is the name of a fictional dog in L. Frank Baum's Oz series of children's books, and works derived from them. The name is pronounced with a long "O", a homonym of "toe toe". The dog was originally a cairn terrier drawn by W.W. Denslow for the first edition of the Wizard of Oz...
in the movie 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...
(1939). She appeared in 15 different movies but was only credited in that one, though not as Terry but as Toto.
Terry, born in the midst of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, was trained and owned by Carl Spitz
Carl Spitz
Carl Spitz was a Hollywood dog trainer, most famous for owning and training Toto, the dog from the movie The Wizard of Oz. Toto was played by Spitz's own Cairn Terrier named Terry. Spitz developed the method of using silent hand signals to direct an animal.Carl Spitz was a German immigrant and...
. Her first film appearance was in "Ready For Love" which was released on November 30, 1934 roughly one month before her first major film appearance, with Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
, in 1934's Bright Eyes as Rags. Terry, who did her own stunts, almost lost her life during the filming of 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...
when one of the Winkie
Winkie Country
The Winkie Country is a division of the fictional Land of Oz. It is distinguished by the color yellow; this color is worn by most of the local inhabitants and predominates in the surroundings....
guards accidentally stepped on her, breaking her foot. She spent two weeks recuperating at 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...
's residence, and Garland developed a close attachment with her. She wanted to adopt her, but Spitz refused. Her salary, $125 per week, was more than that of many human actors in the film, and also more than many working Americans at the time. She attended the premiere of 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...
at Grauman's Chinese Theater; because of the popularity of the film, her name was changed to Toto in 1942. Her last film was Tortilla Flat
Tortilla Flat (film)
Tortilla Flat is a 1942 film with Spencer Tracy, Hedy Lamarr, John Garfield, Frank Morgan, Akim Tamiroff, and Sheldon Leonard based on the novel by John Steinbeck. It was directed by Victor Fleming.- Plot :...
(1942), in which she was reunited with Oz director, Victor Fleming, and the "Wizard", Frank Morgan.
Terry died toward the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on September 1, 1945, in Hollywood, California, and was buried in a pet burial area behind the Spitz's residence and kennel
Kennel
A kennel is the name given to any structure or shelter for dogs. A kennel is a doghouse, run, or other small structure in which a dog is kept...
. During the expansion of the Ventura Freeway
Ventura Freeway
The Ventura Freeway is a freeway in southern California running from Ventura to Pasadena. It is the principal east-west route through Ventura County and in the southern San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County. From Ventura to its intersection with the Hollywood Freeway in the southeastern San...
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...
, the property was obtained by Caltrans for construction purposes. The facility and the small burial grounds were razed. Terry was the first major cast member from 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...
to die, and one of only two not to survive the 1940s. Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan
Frank Morgan was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of the title character in the film The Wizard of Oz.-Early life:...
died in 1949.
On June 18, 2011, a permanent memorial for Toto was dedicated at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Hollywood Forever Cemetery, originally called Hollywood Memorial Park Cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, California. It is located at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard in the Hollywood...
in Los Angeles.
Filmography
- Ready for Love (1934)
- Bright Eyes (1934)
- The Dark Angel (1935)
- FuryFuryFury is a form of anger.Fury may also refer to:In fiction:* Bryan Fury, a video game character from the Tekken series* Fury , two superheroine characters...
(1936) - The BuccaneerThe Buccaneer (1938 film)The Buccaneer is a 1938 American adventure film made by Paramount Pictures based on Jean Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. It was produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille from a screenplay by Harold Lamb, Edwin Justus Mayer and C. Gardner Sullivan adapted by Jeanie...
(1938) - StablematesStablematesStablemates is a 1938 film starring Wallace Beery and Mickey Rooney. The movie was directed by Sam Wood.-Plot:Wallace Beery plays eternally inebriated ex-veterinarian Tom Terry. An aspiring jockey Mickey idolizes Tom, who reciprocates by passing along horsemanship advice to the kid...
(1938) - The Wizard of OzThe 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...
(1939) - only credited role - The WomenThe WomenThe Women is a comedy of manners by Clare Boothe Luce.The play is an acidic commentary on the pampered lives and power struggles of various wealthy Manhattan socialites and up-and-comers and the gossip that propels and damages their relationships...
(1939) - Bad Little AngelBad Little AngelBad Little Angel is a 1939 drama film starring Virginia Weidler as a little orphan who runs away from the orphanage. While spending her days on the streets, she meets a tough boy, who she befriends...
(1939) - Calling Philo Vance (1940)
- Cinderella's Feller (1940)
- The Chocolate SoldierThe Chocolate SoldierThe Chocolate Soldier is an operetta composed in 1908 by Oscar Straus based on George Bernard Shaw's 1894 play, Arms and the Man...
(1941) - Twin Beds (1942)
- George Washington Slept HereGeorge Washington Slept HereGeorge Washington Slept Here is a 1942 comedy film starring Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan. It was based on the 1940 play of the same name by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, adapted by Everett Freeman, and was directed by William Keighley...
(1942) - Tortilla FlatTortilla FlatTortilla Flat is an early John Steinbeck novel set in Monterey, California. The novel was the author's first clear critical and commercial success....
(1942)