Oz's "Good" Witch Has a Surprisingly Tragic Story

Billie Burke was the legendary actress who portrayed Glinda the Good Witch of the North in The Wizard of Oz. Her real life was one of enchantment-and agony.
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Narrated by: Alex
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[@grandmaoldschool7011]

She kept a beautiful complexion. And, her voice is still in my head,"Come out, come out wherever you are..."

[@tomjones2348]

She was perfectly cast in that part.

[@Gayle-Dimitri]

She was 55 when she made Wizard of Oz. So beautiful! 🤩

[@lisahall7825]

One of my all-time favourites is the wizard of Oz.. even now as a 55 yr old grandmother.. i still watch it. Especially over the Christmas holiday.. "Glinda" was beautiful ❤❤

[@gingerpenley949]

Such a wonderfully memorable performer...I hear her as Glinda to this day!

[@lildee2626]

I loved her as ‘Glinda’ in the Wizard of Oz as a young girl. Tragedy was, I watched it in my neighbors house the night my dad jumped out a second story window trying to commit suicide. How terrible to remember the movie that way. Years later, my gdaughter loved Dorothy and we must have watched that movie like 50 times and she made it a better memory instead of a tragic one. R.I.P. Billie Burke 👑

[@annamackay8597]

Sorry for your loss

[@saramurphy345]

God bless you. My tragedy was on a Halloween night. Twenty-five years later, I am triggered, PTSD. GOD BLESS YOU

[@lildee2626]

@@annamackay8597 You mean my dad? He survived. Thank you though ♥️

[@lildee2626]

@@saramurphy345 Awww thank you. God Bless You ♥️

[@heidibee501]

I made a Glinda costume for my granddaughter a few years ago. When my grandkids were younger we watched the movie often.

[@cathypatman1224]

Outstanding Tribute! She was so Beautiful!

[@TickleMonster333]

She looked stunning for 55! And her voice is so memorable

[@ericemmons3040]

She looked to me to be in her 30s in "The Wizard of Oz", or at least only 40 or so; just amazing. . .

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

@@ericemmons3040 Some people *age well without* botox or cosmetic surgery.....

[@ericemmons3040]

@@DanielAppleton-lr9eq Very true.

[@58luckymama]

My great grandfather was a water color painter in NYC around the time that Flo Zigfield and Billie Burke were popular. He painted her portrait in the 20's. We have the portrait in our dining room.

[@Pbav8tor]

I loved Billie Burke in the Topper films. I like them an awful lot and always admired her exquisite comic timing.

[@moralityisnotsubjective5]

She was hilarious in those.

[@shaynewheeler9249]

😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@twillachambers]

I❤❤❤ the topper films!!!

[@11cabadger]

What a beautiful video about a very special lady. Thanks for presenting some aspects of Billie's life that aren't well known. Her line, "There's no place like home" has an additional poignancy.❤

[@Swami-im8oo]

She finally left the acting world for the most tragic reason imaginable? She was old and retired? "Horrors!" (clutches pearls)

[@SincereYN2K]

“Clutches pearls” always gets me 😂

[@nancystone6044]

THE GOOD WITCH GOWN IS THE MOST FABULOUS OUTFIT OF ALL TIME.

[@CALLMESIR-p8h]

That was the fantastic "Adrian". A huge designer of the time for Hollywood and private clients. He also did the clothes for "Marie Antoinette" with Norma Shearer.

[@KarenG.-qs7wc]

I believe that the dress was previously worn by Jeanette McDonald in one of her musicals with Nelson Eddy.

[@Angie-v4r]

​@@CALLMESIR-p8hI had no idea. I need to look into it, for curiosity's sake.

[@Angie-v4r]

I can't declare of all time, but it has my vote. I love that dress. When I first saw Glinda when I was around 4, I thought she was the most beautiful creature to land on earth. Her face, hair, gown, crown, her voice, her movements. She was perfection to me. Even at 61, if I owned a replica of that gown, I would wear it. ❤

[@diannbajewicz8952]

That outfit was unbelievable it was so pretty

[@victoriascalzo]

My Angel daughters favorite movie. My daughter passed at the age of 34. And I was able to find the Lenox figurine of Glinda. They are now priceless. So it will stay in my family forever

[@tarikmehmedika2754]

Wow the actress was 55 when she acted as Glinda, i taught maby late 30s. Incredible !

[@sarahalbers5555]

She was truly lovely.

[@KarenG.-qs7wc]

She didn't look it.

[@yepperino8059]

My favorite Glinda.👸🏼

[@sheripoe-pape2137]

The greatest good witch there could ever be! No one can hold a candle to her.

[@charliemurphy2277]

Loved seeing the photos of the Burke Estate. I lived next door in Hastings...and ironically, went on to work in a nonprofit with Ham Meserve ( the son of the wicked witch) on its board.

[@dianneduncan9353]

Then you lived across the street from my ex husband in Hastings On Hudson!

[@charliemurphy2277]

@dianneduncan9353 from 1959 on, my family lived in Shadow Lawn in the Devon Way, Burnside Drive area.

[@jimmyneck2854]

I grew up on Burnside Drive in used to cut through the burqa state from school

[@jimmyneck2854]

Too bad the school board decided to destroy the property

[@dianneduncan9353]

@@jimmyneck2854 my ex grew up on Washington Street

[@lynnestamey7272]

I loved her in Dinner at Eight, and she played the wife of Topper in those films. She was just hilarious!

[@juliedepaolo9971]

Great video. Love the history. Thanks. I had no idea Glenda the Good Witch was married to Ziegfeld. Interesting.

[@ciarakristos111]

Magical, graceful, gorgeous Glinda. 🌟Thanks for an unforgettable performance, Billie. ✨ 💜

[@sugarplum5824]

I loved her performance in The Man Who Came To Dinner with Bette Davis and Monty Woolley. She played the meek, naive Midwestern housewife to perfection in contrast to Woolley's bombastic, overblown egotism. It's a holiday favorite for me.

[@spo616]

Metoo!👍🏻❤️😊

[@bridgettstephens5582]

If I may suggest the movie "The Cheaters." You can find it on KZbin. A wonderful Christmas movie in which BB's performance was fabulous.

[@samanthafairweather9186]

What an amazing woman! I knew nothing about Billie Burke, so I was so happy to learn all about the actress who played Glinda. She had such an amazing life, and was extremely talented. And being paid $50,000 for a single role, back in the days were even many A-list male actors would be lucky to receive that amount - WOW!! That translates into over $1.5M in today's money! I hope that Billie Burke doesn't get lost to time, as what happens to many other talented actors, and that people continue to love her as Glinda the Good Witch for many, many years to come. May you rest in peace, Billie Burke. 💖

[@maggieanaya1114]

Wow! What a beautiful, classy lady she was!

[@chgoboy69]

Her story wasn't tragic. She was an amazing actress and a survivor.

[@joinjen3854]

Click bait gets more views.😊

[@thebutterflyreportbyjeffie9220]

What a great story. Thank you for sharing this. ❤

[@owlfethurz8377]

I'm inspired by the way that she persevered through the tough times an kept going. Especially when she overcame the blow to her pride of not being chosen to "play herself" in the Great Ziegfeld movie by meeting with Myrna Loy. She even helped with the making of the movie! Kudos to a beautiful, gracious but strong woman.

[@AmandaCarlow-g7f]

She was beautiful. She brought a smile and magic to anyone who watched her movies.

[@tonmarinaxxzz]

I had no idea she was a major stage and movie star. I also didn’t know she was married to Flo Ziegfield. I always thought she was just a secondary bit player. But then she was before my time so I only saw her later roles.

[@riverbender9898]

She was an amazing woman. Thank you.

[@davidllewis4075]

A name I've heard all my life; a woman about whom I knew nothing. Thank you.

[@bevygaines]

I loved her in Dinner at Eight with my favorite Jean Harlow!❤

[@theresafeeney2756]

One of my favorites, too!

[@Vodhin]

16:46 - That's a Hirshfield drawing. Al Hirshfield was famous for hiding his daughter's name "NINA" somewhere in every drawing he made (hence all the swooping lines for hair, clothing folds, even fingers). Sadly, I believe the NINA in that image is in her dress below the frame in the video...

[@walterfechter8080]

What a charming and lovely lady. She reminds me so very much of my Mum (Helen). Billie Burke (RIP)

[@yvettevitacaponigro]

Thank you Alex! ✌🏼😊

[@KarenG.-qs7wc]

I love Glinda. Glad to know something about the actress at last. Thank you for this 💖🌹💕

[@chantellucky4565]

Billy, you are one of the great actresses of your time and we love you. You were brave and strong - a survivor! A life well lived!! Thank you for the treasures of your beautiful works in the old films you left behind and so you shall never be forgotten!! RIP amongst the angels!❤

[@tracyroth-myers5574]

Great video. You really did your research ❤

[@donnadees1971]

Hey, another lie. She didn’t have such a tragedy during her life. What are you trying to do, fool us all

[@vivholtom226]

She lost her fortune which was a bit tragic

[@herminepursch2470]

​@@vivholtom226she lost her husband

[@janettehunter6479]

Interesting to see yr preparations for the cold, we in Aus are just starting the heat! Thank you for yr video!

[@gypsygirlkelly]

I just recently stumbled across your channel and you have a new subscriber I love your content in the way you present it!

[@sarahalbers5555]

I loved Hirshfield. I loved his drawings and sense of humor. I loved counting the "Ninas"in the New York Times.

[@vickibrittain477]

Nothing 'tragic' about this story at all. Why lie? People will still watch, you don't have to lure them in

[@debbiethompson14]

What do you mean? She had to stop acting because she was losing her memory. Don't you think that's tragic? Hello!!! I guess you missed it. I know some video makers lie but this isn't the case😡😡😡

[@herminepursch2470]

​@@debbiethompson14I guess losing your husband doesn't matter

[@theresafeeney2756]

I would call losing everything in 1929 tragic and then losing her husband didn’t make things better.

[@ShanecaRene]

​@@debbiethompson14agreed..those incidents are definitely tragic in my opinion..I'm not sure how someone would think otherwise 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@Sukijopa]

Doesn't seem very tragic. But she was an interesting character with a great attitude.

[@Daisnap]

Wonderful bio tribute! No AI, a genuine tour of an amazing life. I learned a great deal about Billie here. Thank you. She was hilarious in Dinner at Eight as the stressed out hostess! Also in the Topper series as Mrs. Topper, and in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She played a woman entering the world of community theatre in Doubting Thomas - available to view free here on KZbin. It also stars Will Rogers, Allison Skipworth, Sterling Holloway and Helen Flint. It’s very funny. She had several intense dramatic roles too, and was excellent.

[@SlimyLotusKing]

I like the early photos of her. I think I'm used to seeing more perfectly coiffed hair on those victorian photos, so her nest is kind of raw and real while the photography itself still maintains a lighting sensibility that says drama or art. She wasn't a super model but those eyes, something really genuine and present about them. - I guess I"m seeing the same qualities that fans way back then did too😁

[@josephgabriel2336]

Are you trying to say she had difficulties in her life as well as success?? Just like the rest of us humans. Go figure!

[@thekatt...]

Onimous ??? It's ominous.

[@ArthurDiggs-r8l]

Billie Burke was so much more than Glinda! She was one of the biggest and Brightest Stars on Broadway and a hit in Silent Films! She was also Mrs. Florenz Ziegfeld though whether that was a good move on her part or not I am debating. He helped her career to an extent, but she was already a successful Star when they met. Ziegfeld's excesses contributed to her money problems later in life. he was also a manic womanizer and caused her much heartbreak over his emotional and sexual obsessions, with Show Girl, Lillian Lorraine, and Dancer, Singer, Marilyn Miller, if either had been serious about him, Ziegfeld probably would have left Burke. She ignored it all till the younger women moved on. She certainly was a delight and her roles in Dinner At Eight, Topper and her appearance in so many other films is always a high point . Are there any of her silents still around or are they all lost? Most silent films were just allowed to deteriorate or were lost in fires. What a Loss! I love vintage Radio and will try to find some episodes of "The Billie Burke Show"

[@debbiebasche5337]

She's in 2 of my favorites....Wizard of Oz and Auntie Mame ! Wonderful actress !

[@rhiannonrede]

Thank you for this story. Her story was so much more than the Wizard of Oz. WHat a remarkable lady!

[@danielpauly9865]

Wasn’t Billie Burke in Father of the Bride with Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor? And then I remember her in the sequel too called Father’s Little Bundle or something like that. Her voice is very distinctive. I’m surprised those two movies aren’t mentioned in this video because they’re very well known movies.

[@joem715]

What a remarkable woman. Did her daughter follow in her footsteps and became an actress as well?

[@user-sf1oc9ve2n]

she looks like Betty White

[@KarenRFlanagan]

Appsautly beautiful & no Oscar that I've ever heard about.

[@jimmyneck2854]

I grew up in Hastings-on-Hudson in the 60s and used to walk home from school through the Burke estate it was truly magical until the school board decided to bulldoze the house and the property to make Sports Fields ugh

[@pamelaquander8485]

The first time my sister and I watched the wizard of oz was 164 or 65. I resonly saw it this week, because of the wicked movie. my favorite was the scare crow, and I brought the original version Hollywood video store before the went out of business. they showed it on TV, this wek, and the new movie wicked came out this past weekend. myself and my sister are going to see it this coming week. 😊

[@debbiethompson14]

WOW, IMPRESSIVE!!!

[@jeannewilson5355]

I loved her in her movies when she was older. It was later that I found out she was the good witch.

[@feleciamorris3197]

The feather brain persona did her an injustice.

[@christineoshea-xs1he]

I do really like your voice listening to it while falling asleep is especially nice

[@karimanning9232]

What an incredible woman!

[@ricardoalonsobeauty]

What a great video

[@wellIdiditagain]

RIP Billie Burke, Glenda the Good Witch.

[@sallyclay1974]

She was also Toppers wife in those well known comedic films

[@DhonaTimm]

great video!

[@sheilarandall1329]

I loved her in Topper also

[@jimmillhouse5912]

Without her misfortune, we would not have the Good Witch of the North.

[@KarenG.-qs7wc]

When someone dies their debts shouldn't be passed to someone else. That is not right.

[@redheaddetective8424]

My grandpa always told me she was a relative. Not sure how, though.

[@DanielAppleton-lr9eq]

Apparently one of her names was Appleton, but that wouldn't mean that I'm related to her.

[@johnwright7782]

But was she truly a good witch in the wizard of oz?

[@spyridoulaliatou4334]

What happened to her daughter

[@stevenpace1849]

She was an author and writer. She died in Los Angeles in 2008 at the age of 91. Patricia had several grandchildren.

[@dinerdashing]

And what exactly was the tragedy? She was born, she fell in love with a good man, got married, had a baby, had a long lasting career, and, like everybody else, she died. That is not a tragedy. _Real_ tragedy is choosing to live this life apart from Christ, and then being eternally separated from him in Hell because of unrepentant, unforgiven sins. Now please, don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that Billie Burke is in Hell. How would I know that? My point here is that no matter how good or how bad one's life is, or was, here on this Earth, it doesn't compare to being eternally separated from the God of the universe who loved us and created us to know him and enjoy him forever. A life lived without Christ, is a life lived in vain. It's pointless, because there's more to this life than what we see every day. There's also eternity. Maranatha! "Heaven" - Randy Alcorn "Unpopular the Movie" (28:55)

[@hecava9618]

Well, there was never any mention of any scandal in her hard working career or personal life. To the contrary her respect to her profession and respect denotes her Christian beliefs.🕊️

[@pamelaquander8485]

Lord I met to say 1964 or 65, ❤. when I write too fast. I will go over my mistakes and write back.😊

[@timg6930]

Save yourself 20 minutes, and just read her Wikipedia page. I'll sum it up for you. Actress has successful screen and stage career, and retires when acting becomes mentally taxing. She makes her last movie 10 years before her death, at 85 years of age.

[@brendaamata9233]

Shes a trensetter no doubt

[@saritacruz3020]

This story is fascinating, but damn, this narrator sounds like a kid reading a book report, and it's hard to listen to.

[@lindasimons691]

👍

[@ErnestMcHugh]

Munchkin voice

[@PrisonerofChrist81]

Yeah, well. We ALL know that Glinda was the REAL villain. She nearly got Dorothy and her friends killed by failing to mention that Dorothy had the way home the whole time.

[@herminepursch2470]

She wouldn't have learned a lesson, besides it was a dream

[@someoneelseentirely3452]

CLICK BAIT

[@eugenegilleno9344]

As usual, these ‘tragic’ stories, are nothing more than clic bait….but why?……because it is interesting without the ludicrous headline.

[@pinatajuju4471]

The lie of tragedy was not cool. Thumbs down.

[@LoriKasprzak-kc7xc]

Clickbait!! No tragedy.

[@LALyman223]

Losing a fortune is fairly tragic.

[@nikki9125]

@LoriKasprzak-kc7xc really? Loosing everything in the stock market crash, loosing your husband, and being left with a mountain of debt isn’t a tragedy?

[@cathysheahan7036]

Learn to pronounce the word 'comparable' properly

[@edda682]

She didn't thank God.

[@misssophie7717]

Most likely because she wasn’t a poorly educated, brainwashed, delusional that cedes their responsibility for decisions and morals to a fairy tale skydaddy. 🙄

[@sarahalbers5555]

You know that how??

[@cheryldecgmail]

Are you the gratitude police? Why is that any of your business?

[@herminepursch2470]

As long as you thank God that's all that matters

[@marybethdelucia930]

It's a movie!!!