'The Wizard of Oz,' Sports Betting, and the Origins of 'Dude'

The history of 'The Wizard of Oz'
“The Wizard of Oz” is a 1939 musical film based on the 1900 L. Frank Baum novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” The movie is considered a landmark moment in cinematic history and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including best picture, though it was initially a commercial failure. It gained popularity after being broadcast repeatedly on television, with some estimates suggesting that it’s one of the most viewed films in history.
 

With “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” Baum intended to write a uniquely American fairy tale that would allow children to escape from the world’s darker elements. The book was a hit upon its release, and Baum would go on to write 13 more “Oz” books before his death.
 

Because the copyright for Baum’s work lapsed in 1956, the story has been adapted and reinterpreted consistently throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, including the 1978 film “The Wiz” and the ongoing “Wicked” franchise.

Also, check out ... 

> "The Wizard of Oz" wasn't the first film to use Technicolor, but it did popularize the technology. (More)

> Long before "Wicked," "Oz" was adapted as a musical for the stage. (More)

> Judy Garland's body double wore a sepia dress for the film's most famous scene. (More)

> Pink Floyd fans noticed that "Dark Side of the Moon" was an eerily fitting soundtrack for the movie. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on "The Wizard of Oz." 

Sports betting, 101

The Bradley Act, passed in 1992, outlawed sports gambling in American states where it wasn’t already legal. However, a 2018 Supreme Court decision spurred the legalization of online gambling state by state, turning sports betting into a multibillion-dollar industry that’s legal in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

Gambling in America dates back to the colonial era, but religious movements in the 19th and early-20th centuries successfully pushed to outlaw gambling in much of the US, though it continued in New Orleans, on riverboat casinos, and on the black market. Nevada legalized gambling in 1931 to generate revenue during the Great Depression and paved the way for Las Vegas to become the gaming capital of the US.

Recent scandals in the NBA and MLB allege that players are betting on their own games. At the same time, critics of the rising industry say sports betting has become a serious social problem in the US, especially for boys and young men.

Also, check out ... 

> An anonymous tip to Sports Illustrated exposed the Pete Rose betting scandal in 1984. (More)

> After decades of resistance, sports media have embraced gambling. (More)

> Athletes now have more opportunities to bet on the games they're playing. (More)

> NBA referee Tim Donaghy was paid roughly $300K to fix games. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on sports betting. 

An introduction to Picasso

Pablo Picasso was an influential 20th-century artist responsible for roughly 50,000 works. Throughout his life, he experimented with different tools and media, resulting in many styles and distinct phases. (See some of his most famous works.)
 

In the early 1900s, Picasso and fellow artist Georges Braque began developing a new style of painting. Rather than using one perspective from a fixed position, they portrayed their subject matter from multiple angles. The style would eventually be called cubism.
 

Picasso’s innovation, distinct artistic periods, popularity, and massive body of work have made him the top-grossing artist worldwide. His experimentation, simplified forms, and boundary-pushing techniques made him an exemplar of the modern art movement, inspiring prominent figures like Salvador Dalí, Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Condo, and various pop artists.

Also, check out ... 

> Picasso's Blue Period was inspired by the death of a close friend. (More)

> One of his most famous paintings, "Guernica," protested the bombing of a Basque village. (More)

> A restless innovator, Picasso began toying with surreal photography in the 1940s. (More)

> Learn how to paint like Picasso. (More)

Explore everything else we've found on Pablo Picasso. 

Cultural Context

Beyond our weekly deep dives, we love finding great takes on the culture currently shaping our lives. Here are some of the best reactions, profiles, and think pieces we encountered this week.

> You're Getting 'Screen Time' Wrong

The Atlantic | Ian Bogost. Limiting screen use has become an aspiration in our tech-dependent world, especially for parents of young children. But Bogost argues what he believes is an inconvenient truth—screens are so enmeshed in our culture that limiting exposure to them is nearly impossible. (Read)

> Utopian Dream and Dystopian Nightmare

Sotheby's | Kate Wagner. "Brutalist" began as a joke, but eventually came to define a particular school of European architecture following World War II. Since then, the term has evolved in unexpected ways, which Wagner carefully documents in this insightful history. (Read)

> The Rock Hall's First Political Scientist

Real Clear Politics | Andrew Walworth. Warren Zevon was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this month. Walworth highlights Zevon's keen interest in international politics, which found their way into his memorably wry lyrics. (Read)

> The Medici Method

Palladium | Stephen Pimentel. The Medicis are one of history's most famous families, known as the foremost patrons of the arts during the Italian Renaissance. Pimentel delves into the family's motivations and argues that today's elites, especially tech leaders, should follow their example. (Read)

> Trader Joe's Cracked Corn

Good Sillage | Emily Jensen. Why would Trader Joe's create a candle that claimed to smell like a can of corn? And why would anyone want such a thing? One intrepid writer ventured to find out and, in the process, found a cottage industry of butter-scented household products. (Read)

Best of the Week

We curate hundreds of resources into 1440 Topics each week. Here are some of our favorites from the world of society and culture.

> Horror games rely on terrifying sound design.

> Professional vocalists explain the mechanics of singing.

> The marathon is increasingly popular with Gen Z.

> The home where Nina Simone learned to play piano was preserved thanks to the collective purchase of four artists.

> Mark Rothko once demanded a high-end restaurant remove his paintings.

> A Connecticut-based restaurateur said he was inspired by the burrito—and a $4 toaster—to invent the wrap.

> The National Park System launched Mission 66 in response to the rise of the American road trip.

> The legendary novel "Moby Dick" was inspired by a real whale named Mocha Dick.

> The word "dude" was originally used as an insult.

> Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was convinced that fairies were real.

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