A Los Angeles auction features iconic movie props including Darth Vader’s lightsaber valued at up to $3 million, along with items from Indiana Jones, Men in Black, and other films, attracting collectors and fans worldwide.
A pair of Judy Garland's iconic ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz," stolen from a Minnesota museum in 2005 and recovered in 2018, sold at auction for $28 million. The slippers, one of only four known pairs, are considered a significant piece of Hollywood history and cultural symbolism. The theft involved Terry Martin and Jerry Hal Saliterman, with Martin pleading guilty in 2023. Other pairs are housed at the Smithsonian and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
A pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz is set to be auctioned, with bids expected to reach up to $3 million. These iconic shoes, considered the "Holy Grail of Hollywood memorabilia," were stolen from a Minnesota museum in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018. The slippers, which were changed from silver to red for the film to showcase Technicolor, are one of only four surviving pairs. The auction highlights the cultural significance and storied history of these American treasures.
The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is in the final hours of a fundraising effort to buy a pair of ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz' at an auction in Dallas, Texas. The museum, which had the slippers stolen in 2005, has raised over $1.5 million but needs at least $3.5 million to secure the iconic shoes. Despite improved security measures and a $100,000 state commitment, the museum is still seeking donations to bring the slippers back to Garland's childhood home.
A pair of the iconic Ruby Slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film 'The Wizard of Oz' is up for auction at Heritage Auctions, with bids currently exceeding $1 million. These slippers, part of only four known pairs, have a storied history, including a theft and recovery by the FBI. The auction runs until December 7, offering a rare chance to own a piece of Hollywood history.
The iconic piece of driftwood from the movie "Titanic," often debated for its size and ability to save both characters, sold for $718,750 at a Dallas-based auction, surpassing other famous Hollywood props. Director James Cameron has addressed the controversy multiple times, stating that the script dictated Jack's fate. The prop, based on a real Titanic artifact, was designed to resemble original paneling from the ship. The winning bidder, known only as "Mr. Green," remains a mystery.
Julien's Auctions will present "Bombshell: The Raquel Welch Collection," featuring over 500 of the late actress's cherished items, including costumes, awards, and memorabilia from her iconic films and television shows, such as One Million Years B.C. and The Three Musketeers. The collection will also include her Hollywood Walk of Fame plaque, a 2018 Mercedes-Benz SL 550 convertible, and custom-made ensembles from renowned designers. The auction, to be held in Los Angeles on April 12, will also feature jewelry pieces and will be available for online bidding.
Retired mobster Terry Jon Martin, 76, mistakenly believed the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" were adorned with real gemstones when he stole them in 2005, only to discover they were made of glass. After a guilty plea in 2023, he revealed using a hammer to break into the Judy Garland Museum and taking the Hollywood artifacts, which were insured for $1 million. The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018, and Martin's lawyer is seeking a time-served sentence due to his declining health, as he is in hospice care with less than six months to live. The stolen slippers, one of four pairs worn by Garland, are estimated to be worth $3.5 million and are considered the holy grail of Hollywood memorabilia.