The slippers' journey from theft to record-breaking sale highlights their cultural significance.
**Historic Sale: Dorothy's Ruby Slippers Fetch $28 Million at Auction**
**Historic Sale: Dorothy's Ruby Slippers Fetch $28 Million at Auction**
A pair of iconic ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" breaks records after being auctioned.
In a landmark event, a renowned pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the beloved film "The Wizard of Oz" sold for an astonishing $28 million at a US-based auction. This pair, notable as one of only four surviving sets, was previously stolen from a museum and reflects the cultural impact of the classic film.
Heritage Auctions, the auction house responsible for the sale, had initially projected the slippers would fetch around $3 million, showcasing a breathtaking underestimation of their true value. Auctioneers labeled the slippers as the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia," and the significant selling price has now established them as the most valuable film memorabilia ever auctioned.
The auction event, held in Dallas, was filled with excitement, particularly due to a resurgence of interest in "The Wizard of Oz" following the release of the prequel musical "Wicked." At just 16 years old, Garland portrayed the optimistic character Dorothy in the film, adapted from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 storybook "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Interestingly, in the original book, Dorothy’s footwear was silver; however, the filmmakers opted for red slippers to take advantage of the newly developed Technicolor technology, adding to the film's iconic status.
While several pairs of slippers were crafted for filming, only four are known to have survived. One of these pairs is housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. However, the auctioned pair has a unique backstory. They were loaned to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and in 2005, were stolen by a thief named Terry Jon Martin. Under the impression that the slippers were adorned with real jewels, he broke into the museum, stealing the shoes but ultimately discovering they were merely glass replicas.
The fate of the slippers remained unknown for 13 years until they were recovered by the FBI in a sting operation in 2018. Following the recovery, Martin pleaded guilty to theft in 2023 but did not disclose information about the slippers' journey during their absence. John Kelsch, curator at the Judy Garland Museum, expressed the desire to understand the full story behind the slippers' disappearance and subsequent theft, emphasizing that their value transcends material worth.
As the public reflects on this historic sale, it serves as a reminder of the cultural significance wrapped up in cinematic history and how artifacts like these slippers serve as tangible connections to beloved stories and characters.
Heritage Auctions, the auction house responsible for the sale, had initially projected the slippers would fetch around $3 million, showcasing a breathtaking underestimation of their true value. Auctioneers labeled the slippers as the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia," and the significant selling price has now established them as the most valuable film memorabilia ever auctioned.
The auction event, held in Dallas, was filled with excitement, particularly due to a resurgence of interest in "The Wizard of Oz" following the release of the prequel musical "Wicked." At just 16 years old, Garland portrayed the optimistic character Dorothy in the film, adapted from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 storybook "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Interestingly, in the original book, Dorothy’s footwear was silver; however, the filmmakers opted for red slippers to take advantage of the newly developed Technicolor technology, adding to the film's iconic status.
While several pairs of slippers were crafted for filming, only four are known to have survived. One of these pairs is housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. However, the auctioned pair has a unique backstory. They were loaned to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and in 2005, were stolen by a thief named Terry Jon Martin. Under the impression that the slippers were adorned with real jewels, he broke into the museum, stealing the shoes but ultimately discovering they were merely glass replicas.
The fate of the slippers remained unknown for 13 years until they were recovered by the FBI in a sting operation in 2018. Following the recovery, Martin pleaded guilty to theft in 2023 but did not disclose information about the slippers' journey during their absence. John Kelsch, curator at the Judy Garland Museum, expressed the desire to understand the full story behind the slippers' disappearance and subsequent theft, emphasizing that their value transcends material worth.
As the public reflects on this historic sale, it serves as a reminder of the cultural significance wrapped up in cinematic history and how artifacts like these slippers serve as tangible connections to beloved stories and characters.
