Journey Back to Oz

Journey Back to Oz is a 1972 American animated fantasy film produced by Filmation. Although L. Frank Baum received no screen credit, the film is loosely based on his second novel The Marvelous Land of Oz (1904). While a commercial flop in theaters, the film received a better reception on television, premiering December 5, 1976 on ABC. For television broadcast, Filmation produced live-action interstitial segments with a celebrity playing the Wizard, flying in his balloon with two Munchkins. Filmation contracted with Bill Cosby for two airings of the live-action segments, while Milton Berle was cast for the live-action interstitials used in subsequent syndication.