In a stunning display of cinematic nostalgia, a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz sold for $28 million in a recent auction.
The FBI recovered the stolen artifact nearly two decades later, and it fetched a total of $32.5 million, including fees, thus setting a new record for film memorabilia sales, the New York Post reported.
Initially, thieves stole the famous shoes, worn by Garland in the 1939 musical, from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005. However, the FBI recovered them in 2018 after they had remained lost to the public eye for years.
Heritage Auctions managed the auction, which captured widespread attention as online bids started at $1.55 million. Subsequently, during the live event on a Saturday, enthusiastic bidders drove the price up significantly during the intense 15-minute bidding war.
Finally, nearly two decades after their disappearance, the slippers reappeared publicly at a 2018 news conference held by the FBI in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the dramatic history of these iconic film memorabilia pieces.
Buyers fiercely competed, with many participating over the phone. When the final gavel struck, the winning bid reached an unprecedented $28 million. Furthermore, auction fees pushed the total cost to the unknown buyer to $32.5 million.
Terry Jon Martin, the culprit behind the heist, ultimately resolved the mystery of the slippers' disappearance when he was indicted in May 2023. After being found guilty, Martin faced the consequences of his actions in court by October of the same year.
Despite his declining health, which was evident from his appearance in a wheelchair and reliance on supplemental oxygen, Martin received a sentence of time served in January, given his physical condition.
After their recovery, authorities returned the slippers to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who had originally loaned them to the museum. Notably, this restitution was completed in February after the legal proceedings concluded.
Meanwhile, the Judy Garland Museum also participated in the recent auction but could not secure the winning bid against stiff competition. The event drew considerable public interest, with over 800 individuals following the auction live and nearly 43,000 page views recorded on the event's webpage.
Ultimately, this sale shattered records, surpassing the $5.52 million previously paid for Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress, which had been the highest-known figure for entertainment memorabilia before this auction.
Additionally, other memorabilia from "The Wizard of Oz" were part of the auction, including a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch. This particular piece sold for $2.4 million, totaling $2.93 million with fees.
Rhys Thomas, an author and expert on "The Wizard of Oz," commented on the slippers' adventurous backstory. "The sequined shoes from the beloved 1939 musical have seen more twists and turns than the Yellow Brick Road," he said, highlighting their extraordinary journey from screen legend to stolen goods and back again to a cherished collectible.
Additionally, insights from the legal perspective were provided by Dane DeKrey, attorney for Terry Jon Martin, who remarked before Martin's sentencing, “Martin was attempting to pull off one last score after an old associate with connections to the mob told him the shoes had to be adorned with real jewels to justify their $1 million insured value.”
Overall, the auction of Judy Garland's ruby slippers not only highlights the enduring legacy of "The Wizard of Oz" but also underlines the vibrant and sometimes shadowy market for iconic film memorabilia. It stands as a historic moment for collectors and fans alike, immortalizing the cultural significance of the film and its artifacts.