The legendary shoes worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” are about to make collectors dream. Found after an incredible theft, these sparkling pumps will be sold at auction in December, for a sum estimated at several million dollars.
Covered in sparkling red sequins and adorned with a delicate bow, the shoes worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy have become a timeless symbol. According to Nikki Hale, special projects manager at Heritage Auctions, these shoes are “the holy grail of movie memorabilia,” thanks in large part to the cult aura of the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” universal.
Whether it’s “the adventure that begins” or the moment when Dorothy “kicks her heels to go home”, these pumps embody the magic of Hollywood cinema. Only four authentic pairs from the film still exist, making each copy a true treasure.
A highly anticipated sale
Currently on display in the London branch of Heritage Auctions, these red pumps are expected to fetch a dizzying sum: $3 million, according to estimates. The sale, which is taking place online, will culminate on December 7 in Dallas, United States. In addition to the shoes, other objects from the “Wizard of Oz” are also in the running: a wig worn by Judy Garland, original posters, and even period photographs.
For movie buffs and collectors, this sale represents a unique opportunity to own a piece of the magic of Oz. But the auctions don’t stop there: other iconic objects, like the game board from the film Jumanji (1995) with Robin Williams, are also among the lots.
A flight worthy of a scenario
The famous pair has a captivating story of its own. Owned by a collector since the 1970s, it was on loan to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, when it mysteriously disappeared in 2005. Despite a reward reaching one million dollars for its return, it will be necessary to wait until ‘in 2018 for the FBI to find them, after an investigation worthy of a thriller. Hidden in a Tupperware box buried underground, the shoes resurfaced, revealing the (somewhat naive) intentions of their thief, Terry Martin, who believed them to be encrusted with real rubies.
Sentenced last January to a one-year suspended prison sentence, Terry Martin will have left his mark, in his own way, on the history of cinema memories.
Judy Garland Nikki Hale The Wizard of Oz
