Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Are Up for Auction After Being Stolen
The iconic ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz have an interesting history. They were once owned by a memorabilia collector named Michael Shaw. He loaned the shoes to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005, but unfortunately, they were stolen that same summer. For two decades, no one really knew what happened to that pair of slippers.
Then, in 2018, the FBI recovered the shoes, and a man named Terry Jon Martin was sentenced to time served, one year of supervised release and $23,000 in restitution to the Judy Garland Children’s Museum at the age of 76, due to poor health. He reportedly said that he used a hammer to smash the glass of the museum’s door and the slippers’ display case because he wanted “one last score.” He believed the shoes had real jewels (they don’t).
Brian To/FilmMagic/Getty Images
Now, the same ruby slippers are going up for auction through Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Online bidding has already started and will continue through Dec. 7, 2024. The Judy Garland Museum is reportedly trying to regain the shoes for the museum and raised money at the annual Judy Garland Festival this year. In addition, Minnesota lawmakers gave the museum $100,000 to go toward the sale.
Everett Collection
Apparently, only four of the ruby slippers remain in the world. The auction includes other items from the beloved film including the screen door from Dorothy’s home in Kansas and the hat worn by Margaret Hamilton’s Wicked Witch of the West. Check out the auction here and tell us what you’d most like to have if you could purchase anything!
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Top Dollar Collectibles
August 2023
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