Stars of the Silver Screen: Toto (with Judy Garland from "The Wizard of Oz")

In celebration of American films, Dogbotz Boneyard is making available for purchase top-quality, mint-condition, glossy black-and-white photographic prints of well-renowned movie stars of the 1930s, ‘40s, ‘50s and early ‘60s. Each print comes in a clear document holder and is ready to be matted and/or framed.

Toto (born Terry; November 17, 1933 – September 1, 1945) was a Cairn terrier who appeared in 16 different movies, most famously as “Toto” in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. It was her only credited role, though she was credited 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 to her. Garland wanted to adopt her, but Spitz refused. Terry’s 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.

Terry/Toto had 16 total film appearances, three of which were playing in theaters at the same time in the fall of 1939: The Wizard of Oz, The Women and Bad Little Angel. Her last film was Tortilla Flat (1942), in which she was reunited with Oz director Victor Fleming and Frank Morgan, who played the Wizard.