After starring in Richard Rodgers' first stage production of On Your Toes in 1936, in which he played the male lead Junior, as well as the hero of the Slaughter on Tenth Avenue ballet within the musical, Bolger signed his first cinema contract with MGM in 1936, and although The Wizard of Oz was early in his film career, he appeared in other movies of note. His best-known pre-Oz appearance was The Great Ziegfeld (1936), in which he portrayed himself. He also appeared in Sweethearts (1938), the first MGM film in Technicolor, starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald. He also appeared in the Eleanor Powell vehicle Rosalie (1937), which also starred Eddy and Frank Morgan.
After starring in Richard Rodgers' first stage production of On Your Toes in 1936 in which he played the male lead Junior as well as the hero of the Slaughter on Tenth Avenue ballet within the musical Bolger signed his first cinema contract with MGM in 1936 and although The Wizard of Oz was early in his film career he appeared in other movies of note His best-known pre-Oz appearance was The Great Ziegfeld (1936) in which he portrayed himself He also appeared in Sweethearts (1938) the first MGM film in Technicolor starring Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald He also appeared in the Eleanor Powell vehicle Rosalie (1937) which also starred Eddy and Frank Morgan