Dorothy's Ruby Red Shoes

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SW MP15

SW MP15

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Just saw on the news. That the Smithsonian is trying to raise $300,000 to conserve and restore the original shoes worn in the Wizzard Of Oz.

I just think that's a little unrealistic? I understand they are a part of movie history. But $300k to conserve a pair of shoes? But they also want a new display case for them as well.

So they have launched a Go Fund Me Page. I say let the Screen Actors Guild or Hollyweird actors that make hundreds of millions a movie raise the money.

And in 10 years, they can just do a Hollographic Display and no one would care? I bet in 10 years not many young folks will even know or care about Dorothy or the Wizzard Of Oz.
 
Don't worry about me , I'm in.
I mean out, I'm out.
No contribution from me!
My wife Sue's claim to fame was (until she me met me) -
Once in Indianapolis she rode in an elevator with Judy Garland.
 
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In the book the slippers are silver and were changed to red in the movie to suit the glorious new color process.

$300K to preserve a stupid movie wardrobe item. There are thousands of historic sites across America which are disparate need of adequate funding and the Smithsonian wants us to pony-up money to restore and preserve movie slippers.:eek::mad::confused:
 
And if I win the lottery -
I will have one more car than Jay Leno.
But no Stanley Steamers.
I'm not that kind of guy!
 
First off one has to wonder why it would cost $300,000 to restore a pair of shoes.

Secondly, I'm with the guy who said, the the Actor's Guild or some star pony up the cash. They'll drop $300,000 on a vacation.
 
Yaworski said:
First off one has to wonder why it would cost $300,000 to restore a pair of shoes.

Secondly, I'm with the guy who said, the the Actor's Guild or some star pony up the cash. They'll drop $300,000 on a vacation.
Click to expand...

It's their money, earned from us. They can do what they wish=as I said, I doubt I will be contributing==need to remodel 3 bathrooms soon!
 
I do collect and value artifacts from films, including guns, but this riles me. With the budget those folks get to house and care for our Nation's treasures, why is this up to the public to do? I also question that amount. And, how far will the restoration go; what will be left of the original shoes? They have had the well worn, danced in ones for years. If, they deteriorated further, that was on their watch. When I worked at the auction houses, and an iconic piece would come in we knew belonged there, the answer was they will only will take if donated. A few years ago they had a stink when the Curator was spending more on parties and limos than the work at hand. Not a fan..
 
SW MP15 said:
Just saw on the news. That the Smithsonian is trying to raise $300,000 to conserve and restore the original shoes worn in the Wizzard Of Oz.

I just think that's a little unrealistic? I understand they are a part of movie history. But $300k to conserve a pair of shoes? But they also want a new display case for them as well.

So they have launched a Go Fund Me Page. I say let the Screen Actors Guild or Hollyweird actors that make hundreds of millions a movie raise the money.

And in 10 years, they can just do a Hollographic Display and no one would care? I bet in 10 years not many young folks will even know or care about Dorothy or the Wizzard Of Oz.
Click to expand...

That's strange because-they sold at auction either late last year or early this year. Buyer expressed he'd never sell them off, and I THINK owned a dress from the Wiz of Oz. This is also strange because-the shoes that sold at auction-were in great shape
 
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the ringo kid said:
That's strange because-they sold at auction either late last year or early this year. Buyer expressed he'd never sell them off, and I THINK owned a dress from the Wiz of Oz. This is also strange because-the shoes that sold at auction-were in great shape
Click to expand...

But, does he WEAR them?
 
I Won't

BearBio said:
So, don't contribute. Problem solved!
Click to expand...

I only give to St Jude's Children's Cancer Hospital and a local children's charity that helps with local school kids needs, any chance I get. To me children's cancer treatment and research is far more important than a set of movie prop shoes.

If someone donates that's fine. But there are allot of stuff, like inter city kids that need school supplies and clothing, to be donating to the Smithsonian.

But that's just me!
 
From What I Understand?

stairstars said:
Ringo,

There are four known pairs.
Click to expand...

The pair in question were the ones that Judy Garland actually wore in the movie. Several other pairs were used by foot models in close ups of her clicking her feet to go back home?

But I wasn't there and that's how the story goes.

But, like us car guys say, it's only original once! I don't think the restored shoes are worth any more fully restored?? I understand wanting to preserve them for future generations. But not restore them for 300K. Just put em in a climate controlled display. I'm sure the Smithsonian has the funds already for that?
 
But the slippers......

stairstars said:
Budget for 2015: $1,379,000,000
 which includes care for collection. The Ruby Slippers are the number one draw.
Click to expand...

The slippers are PART of the collection. And since they are a draw they should want to preserve them, like everything else in the collection. They just figure that they can get a lot of donations saying that the shoes are crumbling to dust.
 
The pair there are the ones that sold at the 1970 MGM sale and gifted to them. Of them all, they were in the worst shape, since the employee who found them saw fit to take the others home. He kept the so called "witches pair" that were never worn by a human and were on the stuffed stockings after Dorothy's house fell on the witch. They are in pristine condition. He sold the test or Arabian pair to Debbie Reynolds, another to a friend Mark Shaw (those are the now missing, stolen pair from the Garland Museum) and a man named Phillip Samuels owns two pair; one from a 1940 contest winner and another from Roberta Bauman. His pair were on display at DISNEYWORLD for many years. Of course, AMPAS now owns one of his pairs. Years ago, it was revealed that two of the pairs were mismatched, but neither owner would agree to match them up.

Yes, the slippers are just part of a museum that has 3 million artifacts, but they are the single most viewed and requested item there. They have been in several cases:

4396794716_9778d77d6e_b.jpg
 
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If they are restored, does it destroy all collector value?

Seriously, $300K is insane for the restoration of something which probably didn't cost even $5 (in 1939 dollars) to make in the first place. And if that sum includes the display showcase, it's still insane.
 
SW MP15 said:
...

And in 10 years, they can just do a Hollographic Display and no one would care? I bet in 10 years not many young folks will even know or care about Dorothy or the Wizzard Of Oz.
Click to expand...

Probably in 10 years we won't even be wearing shoes...!!

+ I think my wife spends that much on shoes in a year.
 
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You could buy exact replicas from Western Costume a few years ago for $5,000 that were hand made from the same lasts. We generally do not restore iconic relics, with the Lion from OZ (both of them) being the exception. But, they were real pelts and were not in good shape. Nothing else springs to mind. The honest wear and tear and aging process, to me, is very acceptable. They are what they are.
 
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