There’s no place like home! Especially when we’re talking about Dorothy’s iconic ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." It seems like this timeless phrase has never been more fitting now that the stolen pair from the film has reportedly been found after more than a decade. These legendary shoes were originally taken from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, back in 2005 when someone shattered the museum's window and made off with them.
Fast forward 13 years, and according to the New York Post, the FBI is set to release details about the recovery of these iconic shoes. At the time of their disappearance, the slippers were insured for an impressive $1 million. An anonymous donor even offered a generous reward to anyone who could locate them, but unfortunately, that offer expired after the tenth anniversary of their theft. Thankfully, the slippers have now been recovered, giving fans of the classic film a reason to celebrate.
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Here’s the thing: there are actually multiple pairs of ruby-red slippers floating around out there. For example, the National Museum of American History has one pair, while actress Debbie Reynolds once owned another. Believe it or not, a pair of these iconic shoes from the 1939 musical film recently hit the auction block with a staggering starting price in the millions. These shoes have become so legendary that they’re practically in a league of their own.
The Journey of the Ruby Slippers
According to a Ruby Red Slippers chronology cited by Moments in Time, the size 6B slippers up for auction were originally used by MGM for publicity purposes. Back in 1940, a 16-year-old named Roberta Jefferies Bauman won the pair as the second prize in a contest to name the ten best movies of 1939. Roberta held onto the shoes for an impressive 48 years, only displaying them occasionally for the benefit of children. Then, in 1988, the slippers were sold for $150,000 to Anthony Landini, who showcased them at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios, formerly known as Disney’s MGM Studios. In 2000, the same pair was purchased by its current owner for a cool $600,000. Now, Moments in Time is kicking off the bidding at a jaw-dropping $6 million.
