Dorothy's Ruby Red Shoes

[SW MP15]

From What I Understand?

Ringo,

There are four known pairs.

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?

 

[rwsmith]

Not or a pair of shoes....

If I want nostalgia I'll watch the movie. Shellac them and put them in a purged cabinet. If they rot, they rot.

 

[rwsmith]

But the slippers......

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

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.

 

[stairstars]

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:

 

[DWalt]

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.

 

[Auto Mag]

...

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.

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

+ I think my wife spends that much on shoes in a year.

 

[Snapping Twig]

The darn things didn't cost $100 back when they were new!

Not sure HOW you could spend even 1/2 the $300,000 on restoring them, let alone the whole amount.

Slush fund anyone?

 

[stairstars]

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.

 

[chud333]

I got a guy who will do it for under 200 dollars.
This includes new soles.
300K ????????
What ???????



Chuck

 

[Road Rat]

Tread gently boys, many out there would wonder why grown men spend thousands on old shootin irons merely to put them in a cabinet or safe......

BUT, that is "different".......................

 

[SW MP15]

They also raised and spent $750,000 to restore Neil Armstrong's suit from the walk on the moon? What the HELL could they have done to it for $750,000? So according to that, $300,000 isn't too bad for just a pair of shoes!

I could've sprayed his suit with Freebrezze and wiped it off with a damp rag and it would'a been good to go. For allot less than $750,000.

 

[jack the toad]

Well being recently retired and have not yet thought about doing any kind of work other than what I want to do, at those prices I may get into clothes restoration.

 

[chud333]

They also raised and spent $750,000 to restore Neil Armstrong's suit from the walk on the moon? What the HELL could they have done to it for $750,000? So according to that, $300,000 isn't too bad for just a pair of shoes!

I could've sprayed his suit with Freebrezze and wiped it off with a damp rag and it would'a been good to go. For allot less than $750,000.

Makes ya' wonder about a Country that'll raise that
kind of money for movie prop restoration, but can't find money for Homeless Veterans. SMDH

Chuck

 

[stairstars]

Nice work if you can get it...

 

[Yaworski]

They also raised and spent $750,000 to restore Neil Armstrong's suit from the walk on the moon? What the HELL could they have done to it for $750,000? So according to that, $300,000 isn't too bad for just a pair of shoes!

How the Smithsonian Will Save Neil Armstrong's Spacesuit

 

[curtmini14]

so what happens to the money they make.

 

[the ringo kid]

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

Id rather see Danny Boone's Tick-Licker (Kentucky long rifle)

 

[the ringo kid]

They also raised and spent $750,000 to restore Neil Armstrong's suit from the walk on the moon? What the HELL could they have done to it for $750,000? So according to that, $300,000 isn't too bad for just a pair of shoes!

I could've sprayed his suit with Freebrezze and wiped it off with a damp rag and it would'a been good to go. For allot less than $750,000.

$749,000 talking about it, $1,000 actual work.

 

[SW MP15]

I just read the article about Neil Armstrong's suit. So basically some armor all on the rubber seals and some aluminum polish and a lady to sit there and do it, cost $750,000?

And they didn't want a total restoration, but to just get it back to the way it was when he arrived back home?

What did he do in that suit? Change oil in a space craft when he got back? I would have thought He would have took it off and the suit would have been put up somewhere by NASA?

LIke some posters said. Restoring articles of history would be the job to have! I'm old and shakey, but I can still hold a Q Tip!!

And little kids in America still go to bed hungry at night! No, but lets everyone donate big bucks to the Smithsonian to restore a space suit and movie prop shoes for well over a million dollars. And they say I'm the the one, that's NOT Politically Correct???? Go figure?

 

[Bro. Dave]

My first thought was, "they must be going to use real rubies?"