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In 1939, sixteen-year-old Judy Garland donned a pair of ruby slippers and danced her way into moviegoers' hearts in The Wizard of Oz. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History (NMAH)—which reopened this past November after a two-year renovation—boasts a rare pair now on display.
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.
NMAH curator Dwight Blocker Bowers says the shoes are a perennial favorite for visitors, who remember Dorothy's wish as she clicked her heels. "It's the idea," he says, "of 'there's no place like home' and that there is a warm place to cling to—it's a shared memory.
When our granddaughter was 11 we took her to Washington to see where history was made (and still is). She is now 24. Among the places she most wanted to see was Dorothy's magical slippers. She saw them, and to say she was disillusioned is an understatement. They were tucked away in an off beat place with no lights on them and they looked like--well, nothing exciting as magical slippers. With the new exhibit I trust that they are now displayed in a manner that will not disillusion any young girl who is captivated by Dorothy's slippers.
Posted by David Baker on January 4,2009 | 05:32PM
O MY GOSH!!!!! i just love the wizard of oz! it's my favorite movie and i have a collection of it. i went to washington D.C in July and i went to the museum but i didn't get to see the ruby slippers because i didn't know that it was there. but i'm going back to go see the ruby slippers again sometime. i am actually watching the movie right now!!! well im going to get back to my favorite movie so see ya!!!!
Posted by megan sanders on January 28,2009 | 11:24PM