Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Sell for $28 Million at Auction

As a dedicated fan of the magical world of Oz, I find myself in absolute awe at the extraordinary journey these ruby slippers have taken. From gracing Judy Garland’s feet as Dorothy in the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz,” to being stolen by an ex-mobster, and now fetching an astounding $32.5 million at auction – it’s a tale that rivals any enchanting storyline from the land of Oz itself!

On Saturday, a beloved pair of ruby red slippers, famously worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz,” fetched an impressive $28 million at auction.

In a communication with CBS News, Robert Wilonsky, Vice President of Communications at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, disclosed that the final price of the renowned slippers, factoring in the buyer’s premium, totaled approximately $32.5 million.

At first, Heritage estimated the value at a humble $3 million. However, within just a few days, the bidding soared to an astounding $1.55 million, attracting more than 800 interested parties who were closely monitoring the auctioned item.

Back in 2005, Terry Martin, an ex-mobster, swiped the Judy Garland Museum’s slippers. Since he erroneously believed they were crafted from genuine rubies due to their insurance value of $1 million, he made a false assumption about them. Subsequently, Martin faced charges for stealing valuable art in October 2023 by the Minnesota U.S. District Court. Fortunately, the slippers were retrieved by the FBI in 2018.

As a passionate movie buff, I’d rephrase that as: “These Ruby Slippers are an iconic pair of vintage red silk faille heels from Innes Shoe Co., beautifully adorned with hand-sequined silk georgette on the uppers and heels. The inner lining is made of white leather, while the soles have been painted a striking red and embellished with orange felt at their front foundation. Each shoe boasts a unique bow crafted from hand-cut buckram cloth, with rhinestones edging them. Interestingly, these bows vary slightly in size. The bows are further adorned with bugle beads and three central jewels.

In simple terms, the newest film set in the OzVerse, titled “Wicked,” has been an extraordinary success at the box office for Universal. This “Oz” prequel, which delves into the backstory of Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West) and Glinda (the Good Witch) prior to Dorothy’s arrival, has generated an astounding $392 million worldwide in just three weeks since its release.

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2024-12-08 05:46