MINNEAPOLIS — Nearly 20 years after a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” were taken from a Minnesota museum, they are now poised to be sold to the highest bidder this Saturday.
Heritage Auctions has projected that the iconic footwear could bring in at least $3 million. The online bidding began last month and had reached $1.55 million by Friday, amounting to approximately $1.91 million when factoring in the buyer’s premium, a commission paid by the buyer, as noted by a spokesperson from the auction house in Dallas. Over 800 individuals were monitoring the auction, which had almost 43,000 views by Thursday.
Author Rhys Thomas, who wrote “The Ruby Slippers of Oz,” remarked that the sequined shoes from the cherished 1939 film have encountered “more twists and turns than the Yellow Brick Road.”
These slippers were displayed at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005, when Terry Jon Martin, using a hammer, broke the glass door and display case to steal them.
The slippers remained lost for years until the FBI retrieved them in 2018. Martin, now 77 and residing near Grand Rapids, was not identified as the thief until he was indicted in May 2023, and later pleaded guilty in October 2023. He was sentenced in January to time already served due to significant health issues, appearing in court in both a wheelchair and requiring supplemental oxygen.
His lawyer, Dane DeKrey, revealed before the sentencing that Martin had a lengthy criminal record involving burglary and receiving stolen goods, and he was attempting “one last score” based on advice from an old acquaintance affiliated with organized crime, who suggested that the shoes were embellished with genuine jewels to justify their $1 million insurance valuation. However, a fence, or someone who trades in stolen items, later informed him that the rubies were actually just glass. Martin subsequently disposed of the sneakers, though specific details remain unclear.
The alleged fence, Jerry Hal Saliterman, 77, from Crystal, a suburb of Minneapolis, faced indictment in March. Like Martin, he also appeared in court in a wheelchair and using oxygen. His trial is set for January, and he has not yet offered a plea, but his legal representation has stated his innocence.
The slippers were returned in February to memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, who had lent them to the museum. Although multiple pairs were used in the film, only four pairs are believed to still exist. In the movie, Dorothy must tap her heels three times and say, “There’s no place like home” to return to Kansas from Oz.
Among those involved in the bidding is the Judy Garland Museum, which has raised funds during its annual festival dedicated to the star and supplemented the $100,000 allocated this year by Minnesota lawmakers to assist in acquiring the slippers.
The timeless story of “The Wizard of Oz” has recently gained renewed interest with the release of “Wicked,” a film based on the hugely popular Broadway musical that reimagines the narrative surrounding the Wicked Witch of the West.
The auction also features additional memorabilia from “The Wizard of Oz,” including a hat worn by Margaret Hamilton in her portrayal of the original Wicked Witch.
