*The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz have made headlines after being sold for an astounding $28 million, marking a historic moment in Hollywood memorabilia.*
**Iconic Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz Fetch $28 Million at Auction**
**Iconic Ruby Slippers from The Wizard of Oz Fetch $28 Million at Auction**
*Rare memorabilia captivates collectors and reignites interest in classic film*
The legendary ruby red slippers that actress Judy Garland donned in the iconic film The Wizard of Oz were auctioned off for a jaw-dropping $28 million at a recent auction in the United States. This particular pair is one of the remaining four that were utilized during the film's production.
Initial bids started a month prior, with experts estimating the famed sequined shoes would reach a price close to $3 million. However, the auction completely surpassed those expectations, earning the title of the most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever sold. Heritage Auctions referred to the slippers as the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia," sparking excitement among collectors and fans alike.
The auction, held in Dallas, garnered applause as the winning bid was announced, coinciding with a renewed fascination with the film, fueled by the recent release of the prequel movie, Wicked. Judy Garland, who was just 16 when she portrayed Dorothy in the beloved 1939 film, transformed the slippers into an enduring symbol associated with magic and nostalgia.
The film itself is a musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. While Baum's original vision featured silver slippers, producers opted for the striking red to take full advantage of the emerging Technicolor technology of the time. Dorothy's magical slippers play a crucial role in the film, particularly in the iconic moment where she clicks her heels three times while proclaiming, "There's no place like home" to return to Kansas.
Despite multiple pairs being used throughout filming, only four are believed to have survived, with one pair preserved at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. However, the auctioned pair has a unique backstory. They were loaned by collector Michael Shaw to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, before being stolen in a brazen 2005 heist.
The culprit, Terry Jon Martin, believed the shoes were adorned with real gemstones and smashed the display case in search of riches. Instead, he learned they were merely glass replicas. After giving the shoes to another individual, they vanished from the public eye for 13 years until a sting operation by the FBI resulted in their recovery in 2018.
Martin, now in his 70s and using a wheelchair, pleaded guilty to the theft in 2023 and received a sentence of time already served. John Kelsch, curator of the Judy Garland Museum, expressed a sense of closure but remains curious about the slippers' mysterious journey during their disappearance. He lamented that the shoes, which hold so much cultural value, were stolen under such misguided pretenses.
Initial bids started a month prior, with experts estimating the famed sequined shoes would reach a price close to $3 million. However, the auction completely surpassed those expectations, earning the title of the most expensive piece of movie memorabilia ever sold. Heritage Auctions referred to the slippers as the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia," sparking excitement among collectors and fans alike.
The auction, held in Dallas, garnered applause as the winning bid was announced, coinciding with a renewed fascination with the film, fueled by the recent release of the prequel movie, Wicked. Judy Garland, who was just 16 when she portrayed Dorothy in the beloved 1939 film, transformed the slippers into an enduring symbol associated with magic and nostalgia.
The film itself is a musical adaptation of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. While Baum's original vision featured silver slippers, producers opted for the striking red to take full advantage of the emerging Technicolor technology of the time. Dorothy's magical slippers play a crucial role in the film, particularly in the iconic moment where she clicks her heels three times while proclaiming, "There's no place like home" to return to Kansas.
Despite multiple pairs being used throughout filming, only four are believed to have survived, with one pair preserved at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. However, the auctioned pair has a unique backstory. They were loaned by collector Michael Shaw to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, before being stolen in a brazen 2005 heist.
The culprit, Terry Jon Martin, believed the shoes were adorned with real gemstones and smashed the display case in search of riches. Instead, he learned they were merely glass replicas. After giving the shoes to another individual, they vanished from the public eye for 13 years until a sting operation by the FBI resulted in their recovery in 2018.
Martin, now in his 70s and using a wheelchair, pleaded guilty to the theft in 2023 and received a sentence of time already served. John Kelsch, curator of the Judy Garland Museum, expressed a sense of closure but remains curious about the slippers' mysterious journey during their disappearance. He lamented that the shoes, which hold so much cultural value, were stolen under such misguided pretenses.
