Judy Garland’s Wizard of Oz Ruby Red Slippers to go Under the Hammer
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In the children’s novel by L. Frank Baum, on which the film was based, Dorothy’s magical shoes were silver. The idea to change them to ruby red came from Noel Langley, one of the film’s screenwriters—probably because the color would stand out better against a yellow brick road. Legendary Hollywood costumer Adrian designed the slippers—which owe their glitter to burgundy sequins.After filming, the shoes went into storage, where they were forgotten amid the studio’s extensive collection of costumes. In 1970 a pair found in the basement of MGM’s wardrobe department were sold at auction for $15,000 to a still-anonymous buyer, who donated them to the Smithsonian in 1979. Four other pairs are known to exist: one commanded $666,000 on the auction block in 2000. A pair of red test slippers for The Wizard of Oz from the vast Hollywood collection of actress Debbie Reynolds sold for $612,000, whil Judy Garland’s Dorothy test dress was sold for $1,119,000. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cwCIkKFFR4[/youtube]
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