“The Wizard of Oz is one of the most popular works by L. Frank Baum, which appeared on bookstore shelves in 1900 (in Poland only 62 years later), causing a huge sensation among readers. After 39 years, Victor Fleming decided to adapt it for the big screen, thus creating one of the most iconic film musicals in the history of cinema. The main character, Dorothy Gale, was played by the then 17-year-old . An inseparable element of her make-up were ruby slippers, of which 7 pairs were prepared for the needs of the work on the set. Four have survived to this day, one of which was considered lost for over 13 years.
Judy Garland’s famous ruby shoes have been stolen. This is how the police found the thief
The famous shoes were owned by collector Michael Shaw, who bought them from a costume designer working on the set in 1970 for $2,000. He decided to loan them to the Garland Museum in his hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. It was from there that they were stolen in 2005 and disappeared for 13 years.
Everything changed when, in the summer of 2017, a man approached the insurance company. He claimed to know where they were. He even offered to help them get back, of course in exchange for a suitable reward. The vigilant employees informed the police, who contacted the FBI, who set a trap. The plan worked well, because soon after, the fence, tempted by the cash reward, fell into their trap, and the valuable souvenir for movie lovers was returned to the hands of its owner.
“The Wizard of Oz”. The thief was brought to justice and the slippers were auctioned
The case was shrouded in mystery for a long time and came to light only at the beginning of 2024. It was then that the trial of Terry Jon Martin, accused of stealing the famous shoes, took place. The 76-year-old pleaded guilty and explained in detail how it happened. It turned out that he was talked into committing the robbery by a friend who already had connections with the underworld. According to his report, his friend told him that the shoes were insured for a million dollars, which was a kind of confirmation of the authenticity of the rubies from which they were supposedly made. When he finally came into possession of them, he realized how wrong he was, because the precious stone was actually imitated by glass beads.
The man’s defense attorney argued that his client was unaware of the true value of the slippers because he had never seen them. Ultimately, the court believed these testimonies and, due to his age and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with which the thief has been struggling for years, decided not to sentence him to imprisonment. As compensation, compensation for the museum in the amount of PLN 23,500 was set. dollars, which he is to repay in installments of $300 per month. Taking advantage of the publicity, Shaw decided to put the slippers up for auction. The museum from which they were stolen years ago announced that it would do everything to raise funds to buy them back. – The story of the ruby slippers would have a Hollywood happy ending – said museum director Janie Heitz in an interview for the New York Times. If you feel like it, vote in our poll below.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
