For their presence in what is likely the most iconic American film in the history of cinema, the citizens of Munchkinland were paid less than Dorothy’s dog, Toto. Stephen Cox, author of The Munchkins of Oz, wrote in his 1989 book that in 1938, the Munchkins were paid US$50 per week, about US$900 in 2016. Meanwhile, Toto and her trainer earned US$125 per week, which would now equate to about US$2,100 per week. The Munchkin cast never even saw their names in the credits. He used the same method to hire the Munchkin cast after signing a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to provide 124 little people to play Munchkins in 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.

Source: National Post August 30, 2016 15:33 UTC