I always assumed that the blue gingham dress that Judy Garland wore during The Wizard Of Oz was in a museum like most of the red slippers. Turns out a couple bought one in 1981 for $2,000. Yep. Quite the bargain even back then I would think. When the dress goes up for auction next month, it is expected to sell for $500K. I think it is going to sell for way more than that. I bet it goes for $1M at least. It is the dress from the movie. It is not some prop, it is the dress that Dorothy wears the entire movie.
The couple decided to sell it because they were worried it was going to be stolen from their home and it was keeping them up at night. Like the red slippers, there was more than one dress. However, this is the only dress she actually wore on screen and this is the only dress that has survived. There are several pairs of the slippers. The auction is November 9th.
I've loved this movie since I was a little girl. One of the highlights of my trip to the Smithsonian in DC was seeing the ruby slippers. I wish I had a million to spare - I'd buy the dress and donate it to a museum, so all little girls who grow up adoring this movie could see the dress, too.
ReplyDeleteAgreed Sue, that was wonderful seeing those slippers at the Smithsonian and I hope the dress gets donated too.
ReplyDeleteI hate this movie, always have (I know I'm in the minority in feeling that way)...still, a cool piece of Americana that I'm glad has been preserved.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a pair of the ruby slippers at the MGM park in Disney World in Florida. Since MGM isn't associated with Disney any more, not sure if the slippers are still there. I haven't been there in a few years.
ReplyDeleteLola, count me amongst the haters. I despised when this movie would come on TV every year and my mom would make me watch it! I was scared to death of the Wicked Witch and those flying monkeys - I'd go hide in my room, panicked.
ReplyDeleteI doubt that this is going to fetch a million! That would be such a waste of money!
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ReplyDeleteFrufra, we had to watch it too (and that was back when we had on tv and no cable so you either had to watch what was on, or nothing).
ReplyDeleteThere are only two things I like about this movie: "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"; and the munchkins' fabulous hairstyles.
*one
ReplyDeleteOh sweet. I've been searching everywhere for a non-slutty Halloween costume!
ReplyDeleteI.H.F.M.T
ReplyDelete(I hate flying monkeys too)
now i'm in the mood to watch this movie lol gotta go find my dvd
ReplyDeleteI hope it gets put in a museum. There's nothing I hate more than when pieces this famous are greedily held in some millionaires home. I would make a law that art of a certain value has to be on public display. When I think of all the Matisse's and Monet's I'll never get to see bc it matches some rich lady's couch it makes me want to scream! Too many people love this dress, it's a national treasure. That movie was a milestone for America.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing Oprah grab those red slippers from the museum guy and fling them around on her show, they should make her buy the dress and donate it to the museum. She almost gave the guy a heart attack!
ReplyDelete@katsm I couldn't agree with you more. Precious art should be celebrated for the masses not the few. I hate private collections.
ReplyDelete@katsm What about Duchamp's urinal? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm especially passionate about the public display of used urinals. Thanks for bringing awareness! That's why I wear a yellow armband and ribbon.
DeleteThe gay boy that lives inside of me wants to own this dress SO BAD!
ReplyDeletealso co-sign timebob's statement- girl you are SO right, eff private collections!
I too was terrified of this movie. Flying monkeys and dead witch. Too soon, it's too soon...(I'm 43)
ReplyDeleteAnd, willie wonka's. same reason. oompa loompas.
As a kid the witch scared the living daylights out of me. And the principal at my catholic school reminded me of her without the green makeup which didn't help. The first time I ever got sent to her office I ran home instead (my house was a block away from the school).
ReplyDeleteBut the rest of the movie reminds me of my childhood when my mother handmade me & my 2 brothers Halloween costumes of the Wizard of Oz. I was Dorothy, brothers were the scarecrow & tin man. My dad, who didn't dress up in costume, took us trick or treating that year and would say at EVERY house "I'm the cowardly lion! Get it?!" Because he was too much of a coward to wear a costume.... ah those were simpler times.