Iconic Ruby Slippers From ‘The Wizard of Oz’ Fetch Record-Breaking Price at Auction
A pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in the timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz, sold for an astounding $28 million (£22 million) at a US-based auction on Saturday.
A Cinematic Treasure Sparks Bidding War
The legendary shoes, one of only four surviving pairs used in the film, were the centerpiece of the auction and ignited a bidding war among collectors. Predictably, the final bid shattered pre-auction estimates.
Heritage Auctions had initially expected the shoes to fetch around $3 million (£2.35 million), an underestimation that reflects the staggering demand for this piece of cinematic history.
A Record-Breaking Auction
The auction house hailed the slippers as the “Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia” and the sale solidified their status as the most valuable movie memorabilia ever sold at auction. The excitement surrounding the sale was palpable, with the winning bid prompting applause from the crowd in Dallas, adding to the collectibility and cultural significance of the shoes.
Coinciding with the sale was a resurgence of interest in The Wizard of Oz, recently fueled by the release of
*Wicked*, a prequel movie exploring the untold story of the witches and the beloved land of Oz.
A Legacy Off-Screen
Garland was only 16 when she brought the character of Dorothy to life. *The Wizard of Oz,* premiered in 1939, remains a cinematic masterpiece, consistently ranked among the greatest movies of all time. In fact, Variety placed it at number two in its inaugural list of “100 Greatest Movies of All Time.”
Originally, the magical slippers in L. Frank Baum’s 1900 children’s book, *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*, were depicted as silver. The filmmakers opted for the iconic ruby red hue to capitalise on the technological marvel of Technicolor, forever changing cinematic history.
The film’s plot hinges on Dorothy’s journey and the significance of those ruby red shoes. Her iconic heels clicking three times serves as a powerful symbol, enabling her to return from the magical land to her home in Kansas.
Stolen, Recovered, and Back on Display
This particular pair holds an additional layer of intrigue. One of only four surviving pairs, it embarked on a thrilling and dramatic journey off-screen. Collector Michael Shaw had initially loaned the shoes to the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. However, in 2
A audacious theft in 2005 saw the priceless footwear vanish. Professional thief Terry Jon Martin smashed a glass case and made off with the treasured possession. He mistakenly believed their $1 million insurance value stemmed from actual gemstones,
When Martin offered the shoes
to a “fence,” an intermediary who handles stolen goods, to a “fence,” he came to a stark realization, learning they were not the ruby-encrusted treasure he imagined.
He subsequently passed them on to an unknown buyer. After languishing in anonymity for 13 years, FBI agents recovered
the shoes in 2018 during a sting operation.
Martin, then in his 70s and using a wheelchair, admitted to the theft and
was only sentenced to time served.
John Kelsch, Curator at the Judy Garland Museum, expressed a mixture of relief and frustration.
“There’s some closure, and we do know definitely that Terry Jon Martin did break into our museum, but I’d like to know what happened to them after he let them go,” Kelsch said. “Just to do it because he thought they were real rubies and to turn them over to a jewelry
fence. I mean, the value is not rubies. The value is an American treasure, a national treasure. To steal them without knowing that seems ludicrous.”
What factors contributed to the high selling price of the ruby slippers?
## A Wizard of a Sale: Ruby Slippers Fetch Record Price!
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re talking about a truly remarkable auction. A pair of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the classic film *The Wizard of Oz* has sold for a staggering $28 million, shattering expectations and becoming the most valuable piece of movie memorabilia ever sold.
Joining us to discuss this incredible sale is film historian Dr. Emily Carter. Dr. Carter, thank you for being with us.
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me. It’s certainly an exciting time for film buffs and collectors alike.
**Host:** Absolutely! This wasn’t just any pair of shoes.
These are one of only four surviving pairs used in the film, making them incredibly rare.
Why do you think they fetched such a high price?
**Dr. Carter:** Well, several factors contributed to the incredible price. These slippers are not just props; they represent a cultural icon. They embody the magic and nostalgia of *The Wizard of Oz*, a film that continues to resonate with audiences generations later. Plus, the recent release of the prequel movie *Wicked* has reignited interest in everything Oz-related.
**Host:** You mentioned their rarity. These slippers have quite a backstory, haven’t they?
**Dr. Carter:** Indeed. This particular pair was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Missouri almost two decades ago [[1](https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2024/12/07/stolen-ruby-slippers-judy-garland-wizard-of-oz-sell-for-28-million)]. Their recovery and subsequent auction added another layer of intrigue and value.
**Host:** Truly remarkable. What does this sale say about the continued appeal of classic Hollywood memorabilia?
**Dr. Carter:** I think it speaks volumes. It shows that these artifacts hold a timeless allure. They connect us to the past, to cinematic history and the magic of storytelling.
**Host:** Dr. Carter, thank you so much for sharing your insights on this fascinating auction. It certainly is a magical moment for film history.
**Dr. Carter:**
It was my pleasure.
