Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers Sell for Staggering $28 Million at Auction

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As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt and a soft spot for cinematic history, I can’t help but feel awe-struck by the sale of Judy Garland’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz. I remember watching that iconic film countless times as a child, enchanted by Dorothy’s magical journey and captivated by her ruby slippers that held the power to take her home.

On Saturday afternoon, a set of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” broke the record for most expensive entertainment memorabilia ever sold at auction. The transaction was facilitated by Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas. Including the buyer’s premium, the final price tag came to $32.5 million.

At the end of the bidding for the lot, auctioneer Mike Sadler declared from the podium that the slippers had broken the previous auction record set by a white halter dress designed by William Travilla, which Marilyn Monroe wore in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. This iconic costume was previously sold at Heritage Auctions in 2011 and belonged to Debbie Reynolds’ renowned collection.

There are three other sets of ruby slippers similar to Dorothy’s, apart from the iconic pair worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” One set can be found at the National Museum of American History within the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C., while another was acquired by Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences’ permanent collection in 2012. A third pair is believed to belong to a private collector. All four pairs were designed by Adrian, the famous costume designer, and crafted by Innes Shoe Company. Each one was made differently for various purposes like dancing or close-ups, but the set being sold had been matched with the screen during filming.

The origin of these fourth pair might have influenced their final selling price as well. These slippers were exhibited at the Judy Garland Museum, located in Grand Rapids, Minnesota – the star’s birthplace. However, they were stolen during a burglary in 2005. They were eventually found after the FBI received an anonymous tip in 2018 and subsequently authenticated before being put up for auction.

Based on the overall tally, Sadler declared that the pair of slippers worn by Garland were “the most renowned movie memorabilia artifact in history.

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2024-12-08 02:54