Miss Almira Gulch is a wealthy land owner who is a neighbor of Aunt Em, Uncle Henry and Dorothy Gale. She was created for the 1939 film to be a human counterpart of the Wicked Witch of the West both played by Margaret Hamilton. Using her status and power, she threatens to have Toto put to sleep for biting her.
She was introduced into the script by Noel Langley who envisioned her having a son named Walter who would have had the Oz counterpart of Bulbo. Later writers removed him leaving her childless in the final production.
Role in Film and Stage[]
In the movie as Dorothy Gale and her dog, Toto, run to their farm in Kansas Toto went into Ms. Gulch’s garden and chased her nasty old cat, who winds up being hit in the back with a rake, after he bit her. No one at the farm seems interested in this, however. Miss Gulch arrives and announces that she will have Toto destroyed and has an order from the sheriff (who has no appearance in the film). She takes Toto away in a basket on her bike, but Toto escapes and runs back to Dorothy. Realizing Miss Gulch will return for him, Dorothy and Toto decide to run away. Miss Gulch is the real life counter part to The Wicked Witch of the West. She does not return for Toto at the end of this film due to being the tornado's victim which was concealed by a transformation of becoming the Wicked Witch of the East.
Some stage productions based on the film ad-lib Dorothy being told that she is recovering in the hospital after crashing her bike due to the tornado.
She is not seen in The Wizard of Oz in Concert: Dreams Come True, but Joel Grey in his role of Professor Marvel and Debra Winger's "Cyclone" narration both mention this character. Winger also performs as the Witch in this production.
She reappears in a play called: Miss Gulch Returns!
Nancy Barber performs this character and the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz on Ice, but Bobby McFerrin voices both of these female characters.
An animated version of her appears in Tom and Jerry & the Wizard of Oz and Home Away from Home as voiced by Laraine Newman.