Since its release in 1939, The Wizard of Oz has captivated audiences and become a true icon, even earning a spot in UNESCO’s World Documentary Heritage in 2007. The film’s enduring cultural significance was further confirmed on December 7th during the Hollywood/Entertainment Signature® Auction at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas. The highlight of the auction was a pair of Ruby Slippers worn by Judy Garland as Dorothy in the film.
While the magical shoes Dorothy receives in The Land of Oz are silver in the book, the 1939 film replaced them with red ones to make them stand out more in the newly introduced color scenes. Six or seven pairs of sequin-covered Ruby Slippers were made for the film, and four still exist today. One pair is housed at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., another was auctioned for $666,000 in 2000, and a third was donated to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2012 by Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio, after they and other donors contributed $2 million to acquire it.
See also: Props from 'The Crown' Triple Auction Estimate
However, these sums seem modest compared to the amount reached on December 7th in Dallas. Estimated at $3 million, bidding for the slippers began at $1.55 million. Within seconds, the bids soared in million-dollar increments, and amid applause, the final bid reached $28 million. With the buyer’s premium included, the total came to $32.5 million, setting a new auction record for film memorabilia.
“There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland’s Ruby Slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia,” said Joe Maddalena, Executive Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “The breathtaking result reflects just how important movies and movie memorabilia are to our culture and to collectors. It’s been a privilege for all of us at Heritage to be a part of the slippers’ epic journey over the rainbow and off to a new home.”
See also: The Epic Freddie Mercury Auction Nets $50.4 Million
The high price was no doubt influenced by the fascinating history of this particular pair of Ruby Slippers. Stolen from an exhibit at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005, they only resurfaced 13 years later. Both the theft and their recovery by the FBI generated widespread media attention.
Also fetching a million-dollar price was the Wicked Witch of the West’s hat from the 1939 film, which sold for $2.93 million after a fierce bidding war. Other highlights of the auction included a beautifully crafted Jumanji board game from the 1995 film starring Robin Williams, which sold for $275,000, and the iconic hoverboard used by Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future II (1989), which went for $237,500.
See also: The 6 Most Expensive Film Costumes Sold At Auction
Want more articles like this straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
With a total of $38,615,188 raised, the Hollywood/Entertainment Signature® Auction set a new record for auctions in the entertainment category. The previous record, held since 2011, was for the sale of actress Debbie Reynolds' collection, which included Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress from The Seven Year Itch, which brought in $22.8 million.
