 The next morning , Dorothy happens upon a Scarecrow ( Michael Jackson ) made of garbage and rags , and saves him from being viciously teased and picked on by a group of humanoid crows and whom she befriends . The two of them discover the yellow brick road and happily begin to follow it together . The Scarecrow hopes the Wizard might be able to give him the one thing he feels that he lacks – a brain . Along the way to the Emerald City , Dorothy , Toto , and the Scarecrow meet the Tin Man ( Nipsey Russell ) , in an abandoned turn @-@ of @-@ the @-@ century amusement park and the Cowardly Lion ( Ted Ross ) , a vain dandy banished from the jungle who hid inside one of the stone lions in front of the New York Public Library . The Tin Man and Lion join them on their quest to find the Wizard , hoping to gain a heart and courage , respectively . Before the five adventurers reach the Emerald City , they must face obstacles such as a deadly subway where they meet a crazy subway peddler ( a homeless man ) who unleashes evil puppets in his control . They narrowly escape the subway and then encounter the " Poppy " Girls ( a reference to the poppy field from the original story ) , flamboyant prostitutes who attempt to put Dorothy , Toto , and the Lion into an eternal sleep with magic poppy perfume . 
