The ruby slippers are one of four pairs known to have survived from the original film. In 2005, they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Thief Terry Jon Martin smashed the display case to steal the shoes, believing they were made of real rubies. However, the slippers vanished until the FBI recovered them in 2018.
- One of four surviving pairs of ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz sold for $28 million.
- Stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in 2005, they were recovered by the FBI in 2018.
- The sale broke the record for movie memorabilia, surpassing Marilyn Monroe’s white dress.
- Collector Michael Shaw had loaned the slippers to the museum before their theft.
- Additional Wizard of Oz memorabilia, like the Wicked Witch’s hat, sold for millions.
Heritage Auctions had initially estimated the slippers would fetch around $3 million. However, the bidding quickly exceeded expectations, reaching $28 million. This sale surpassed the previous record for movie memorabilia, set by Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white dress, which sold for $5.52 million. Variety reported that the renewed interest in “The Wizard of Oz” and its prequel, “Wicked,” likely contributed to the high bidding.
Judy Garland wore the slippers as Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” a film adaptation of L. Frank Baum’s book. The slippers, originally silver in the book, became red for the Technicolor film. In a famous scene, Dorothy clicks her heels and repeats, “There’s no place like home,” to return to Kansas.
The slippers’ journey from the film set to the auction room has been filled with intrigue. Collector Michael Shaw had loaned them to the Judy Garland Museum before their theft. Martin, in his 70s and using a wheelchair, pleaded guilty to the theft in 2023. He received a sentence of time served due to his health. The slippers’ whereabouts during the years they were missing remain a mystery.
The auction also featured other memorabilia from “The Wizard of Oz,” including a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West, which sold for $2.4 million. Over 800 individuals tracked the auction, with the webpage receiving nearly 43,000 views.
While the Judy Garland Museum hoped to buy the slippers, it was ultimately outbid. The museum had raised funds through donations and state grants but could not compete with the winning bid. The auction highlights the continued fascination with “The Wizard of Oz” and its cultural significance.
The ruby slippers represent not just a piece of Hollywood history but also a symbol of nostalgia and magic. Their sale for $28 million underscores their status as a national treasure and their enduring appeal to collectors and fans alike.