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For thirteen years, no one seemed to know where a pair of iconic ruby slippers – worn by Judy Garland in the classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz – had gone.
The iconic sequined shoes – one of at least four pairs used in the film and still in existence – were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005.
Museum curator John Kelsh told CNN the culprit used a hammer to break in.
“They were in a plexiglass case right here…They broke in through this door. They broke the glass in this emergency patio door.”
But then, in 2018, FBI Special Agent in Charge Jill Sanborn announced a major breakthrough: The shoes had been found.
“We are here today to share with you the recovery of one of the most important and valuable motion picture memorabilia in American history.”
Terry Jon Martin was identified as the thief, and after his conviction the slippers were returned to the collector and rightful owner Michael Shaw.
POLICE: “We want to officially return your shoes to you. And we thought it was appropriate to do it right here, in the museum where they were stolen.”
SHAW: “How does that feel? It’s like welcoming back an old friend I haven’t seen in years.”
And now, in 2024, shoes may have had their final adventure.
Dallas, Texas-based Heritage auction house was assigned to sell the slippers — and Heritage spokeswoman Nikki Hale offered an estimated initial sale price: about $3 million.
“These are very, very special, very legendary and very rare in many ways. Not only are they still with us after 80 years – and Judy wore them herself – but also the fact that they are in such good condition, the fact that they were gone and now they are recovered.
Still, this turned out to be a very conservative estimate.
Auctioneer Mike Sadler sold them for a much more astonishing amount.
“And they’re selling at the bidder number, $28 million. They have a bidder number. We’ll get it. Ladies and gentlemen, the ruby slippers just sold for $28 million.”
It is unclear who the highest bidder is.
But former owner Michael Shaw says he hopes the shoes will make them feel right at home.
“Leave possession to another lucky person, in hopes that whoever buys them will at least lend them to a museum so people can see them.”
