Risky Business

So, would you do anything for your job? If your boss asked you to do something totally unimaginable, would you drop everything and say “Yep, where do I sign up?”
 
I suppose many would say, “Well, what does it pay?” That’s a legitimate question. But honestly. How far would you go?
 
I was on my way to a matinee performance of “Beauty and the Beast” at my local dinner theatre when the radio station I always listen to announced the answers to their daily contest. I had missed the initial question, but the answer was “The Wizard of Oz.”
 
The radio DJ continued providing trivia about that award-winning movie. Suddenly, I was inattentive to my driving. Not a brilliant move, I know, but I was instantly transported back to that classic film.
 
I was today-years-old to learn that the Lion costume worn by Bert Lahr in the 1939 movie was made from actual lion skin and fur. Wow. Kinda creepy, huh?
 
The original Scarecrow, Buddy Epsen (of Beverly Hillbillies fame), was recast to play the Tin Man and actually ended up in the hospital in critical care with a toxic reaction to the aluminum powder used in his make-up. He was subsequently forced to leave the film and was replaced by Jack Haley.
 
All masks were made of foam latex makeup, and it took over an hour every day to slowly peel off Ray Bolger’s glued-on Scarecrow mask, a process that left permanent lines around his mouth and chin.
 
And grab this. The “fake snow” that covered Dorothy during the poppy field segment was made of Asbestos (gasp!). Who knew?
 
Can you even fathom the dedication to your craft needed to complete the task? The cast worked six days a week from as early as 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. or later. The lighting needed for the newly developed daylight-bright Technicolor filming process often heated the set to over 100⁰.
 
OK. They got worldwide notoriety which fueled their acting careers. But would you have done it? What risk is acceptable risk? Of course, they did not know the dangers of asbestos at that time, but the work conditions still presented obvious health concerns.
 
This bit of trivia fascinated me and started my relentless brain to plummet out of control. I am a bona fide workaholic. But I cannot say for certain that I could or would have endured it.
 
I know our military is expected to do the impossible. They put their lives above all others. Law enforcement and fire professionals risk life and limb every day. Even my grandfather worked in a paint factory and inhaled toxic fumes for many years which most likely contributed to his lung cancer.
 
So where do you draw the line? What was your most challenging employment task? Please – tell me in the comments. Geez, I am not sure I would even work in a place without air conditioning. Ah, but that is fodder for yet another rant.
 

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