A pair of Iconic ruby slippers An artifact worn by Judy Garland within the film “The Wizard of Oz” — and stolen from a museum practically 20 years in the past — offered for $28 million at public sale on Saturday.
With a purchaser’s premium — a fee paid by the client — the slippers offered for a complete of $32.5 million, Robert Wilonsky, vice chairman of the Dallas public sale home, advised CBS Information in an electronic mail.
The Heritage Auctions Home estimated that the slippers would promote for $3 million or extra. On-line bidding started final month and by Friday had reached $1.55 million, or $1.91 million together with purchaser’s premium, Wilonsky stated. Greater than 800 individuals have been following the slippers and the corporate Auction web page He stated the web page had reached practically 43,000 views by Thursday.
Reed Saxon/AP
As Rhys Thomas, creator of “The Ruby Slippers of Oz,” says the sequin-studded slippers from the beloved 1939 musical have had “extra twists and turns than Yellow Brick Highway.”
It was on show on the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005 when Terry John Martin Use a hammer to smash the glass door of the museum and the show case.
Steve Karnovsky/AP
Their whereabouts remained a thriller till the FBI recovered them in 2018. Martin, now 77, who lives close to Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, was not publicly recognized because the thief till he was indicted in Might 2023. He pleaded guilty in October 2023. Martin admitted he used a small sledgehammer To interrupt into the museum. Then use the device to interrupt the slipper field and take it. He stated he didn’t hear any alarm. He drove off in his automotive and saved them in a trailer subsequent to his home.
He was in a wheelchair and receiving supplemental oxygen when he was sentenced final January to time served because of his poor well being.
His lawyer, Dane Deckery, defined earlier than the sentencing that Martin, who had a protracted historical past of burglaries and receiving stolen property, was making an attempt to get “one final level” after an outdated affiliate with mob connections advised him that the sneakers needed to be adorned with actual jewellery. To justify its $1 million insured worth. Dekri stated the fence – an individual who buys stolen items – later advised him that the ruby was simply glass. So Martin removed the slippers. The lawyer didn’t specify how.
The alleged fence, Jerry Hal Salterman, 77, of the Minneapolis suburb of Crystal, was charged in March. He was additionally in a wheelchair and receiving oxygen when he first appeared in court docket. He’s scheduled to face trial in January and has not entered a plea, though his lawyer has stated he’s not responsible.
The sneakers have been returned final February to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who loaned them to the museum. They have been certainly one of a number of pairs worn by Garland throughout filming, however solely 4 pairs are identified to have survived. Within the film, to get again from Ouncesto Kansas, Dorothy has to click on her heels thrice and repeat: “There is no place like dwelling.”
Amongst these bids was the Judy Garland Museum. Town of Grand Rapids raised cash to buy the slippers on the annual Judy Garland Pageant to complement $100,000 that Minnesota lawmakers put aside this yr to assist the museum buy the slippers.
The story of “The Wizard of Oz” has gained new consideration in latest weeks with the discharge of the movie.eviltailored from the blockbuster Broadway musical, is a prequel of kinds that reimagines the character of the Depraved Witch of the West.
The public sale additionally included different “Wizard of Oz” memorabilia, together with a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton, who performed the unique Depraved Witch of the West.
