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In a jaw-dropping public sale second that may make even the Depraved Witch of the West do a double-take, a thriller bidder dropped a whopping $28 million on the legendary ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz throughout Heritage Auctions’ occasion in Dallas on Saturday (Dec. 07, 2024). The ultimate price ticket, together with the customer’s premium and public sale home charges, totaled an impressive $32.5 million, although the fortunate winner’s identification stays below wraps.
These magical slippers, which sparked extra pleasure than a twister in Kansas, had been discovered amongst a treasure trove of classic Hollywood costumes and bought by a passionate collector. Their journey took a darkish flip in 2005 when thieves snatched them throughout a brazen nighttime heist from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn. The case remained chilly for years till two Minnesota males with checkered pasts had been linked to the crime: Terry Jon Martin of Grand Rapids confessed to the theft, whereas Jerry Hal Saliterman allegedly buried them in his Crystal yard. Martin has already pleaded responsible, and Saliterman’s day in federal courtroom is about for January.
The bidding frenzy for these iconic sneakers kicked off in early November on-line, reaching $1.55 million earlier than the reside public sale started. The Garland Museum group, armed with $100,000 from the Legislature and extra fundraising efforts, headed to Texas for the large occasion, accompanied by documentary filmmakers capturing each second of this unbelievable story.
Whereas the ruby slippers might need exceeded the museum’s price range, the public sale provided loads of different “Oz” treasures for followers to chase. The occasion featured 32 a lot of film memorabilia, together with uncommon pictures, an authentic script, classic books, and even the witch’s iconic hat. Nevertheless, the crown jewel remained the ruby slippers – a novel pair crafted by Innes Shoe Co. These gorgeous heels, made from purple silk faille with hand-sequined silk and rhinestone-decorated bows, bear Judy Garland’s title. Apparently, they’re mismatched – the best slipper matches the left one in all one other pair housed in Washington, D.C.’s Smithsonian Establishment, in accordance with knowledgeable Rhys Thomas.
The “Oz” public sale phase became a pleasant celebration, full with spontaneous singalongs to beloved film tunes and loads of Yellow Brick Highway references.
These dazzling slippers aren’t the one pair that clicked their heels within the 1939 basic. A Hollywood memorabilia fanatic stumbled upon three pairs of ruby slippers whereas sorting by means of classic costumes for the MGM Star Wardrobe Public sale. One pair headed to public sale, whereas Kent Warner, the fortunate sorter, stored one other pair for himself.
The pair that simply fetched $28 million had beforehand belonged to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw earlier than changing into entangled in a wild Minnesota crime caper. In the meantime, one other pair discovered its strategy to a collector in Tennessee.
The Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences owns one other pair, acquired in 2012 by means of the star energy of Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Steven Spielberg. These slippers now sparkle as a centerpiece attraction on the Academy Museum in Los Angeles.
Shaw ceaselessly showcased the slippers in his touring Hollywood assortment exhibitions, often lending them to the Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, the place Judy spent her childhood years. Destiny took a darkish flip in August 2005 when thieves snatched the slippers from the museum show, abandoning only one lonely sequin as proof.
The thriller lingered for nearly twenty years till the sneakers resurfaced in a 2018 FBI sting operation. Terry Jon Martin, a person with a colourful legal historical past who had been dwelling quietly in rural Grand Rapids, lastly admitted to the heist.
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