Dorothy’s friends advertise for a special pair of shoes

The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, is calling on all of Dorothy’s friends to help bring a pair of the iconic ruby ​​slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” home where they belong. Located in the beloved film star’s childhood home in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, the Judy Garland Museum is a loving display of the esteemed star’s life, achievements and artifacts.

Janie Heitz, Executive Director of the Judy Garland Museum, says, “Over the past 50 years, we have lovingly restored Judy Garland’s childhood home and created a museum to share her life and legacy.” Through this restoration and collection of artifacts from the life of the famous Gay icon Judy Garland, the museum has created a space to learn about and celebrate the star’s life. That’s exactly why the museum wants to bring home a pair of ruby ​​red slippers from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.”

It is a well-known fact: Judy Garland’s life was full of difficulties and challenges. With her enormous fame, beautiful voice and incredible talent came the pressures and abuse of old Hollywood, addiction and body image issues. In other words, Garland’s life was not always happy. That’s why Heitz says, “We think it’s appropriate to have a pair (ruby slippers) in a place where Judy Garland was happy and celebrated.”

Judy Garland was (and remains!) a symbol of the gay community, especially gay men. In this way, of course, the phrase “Friends of Dorothy” (from “The Wizard of Oz”) became a reference to queerness and a way for gay people to recognize and connect with one another in a time when Queer love was a crime. Garland’s personal difficulties in her life as well as her great performances and high-spirited acting contributed to her popularity in the queer community. And the young film star is said to have really wanted people to feel like they could be themselves. This included her enthusiastic audience, which she knew included many members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Not only is Garland an incredibly important gay icon, she is also an American icon. Heitz says, “’The Wizard of Oz’ means so much to people all over the world; It would be a shame if the slippers were locked away by a private collector. The public deserves a couple to be appreciated in a small town in Midwestern America.”

How does the Judy Garland Museum plan to get these shoes? The answer is simple, but they need your help to be successful: They will bid on the shoes on December 7, 2024. The current owner, Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, has loaned the slippers to the museum many times. At the beginning of 2024 he decided to sell them at auction.

The Judy Garland Museum website states: “Although we do not know the final amount that will need to be raised since (the ruby ​​slippers) will be sold at auction, the FBI estimated their value at $3.5 million.” The museum is off to a great start: The Minnesota Legacy Finance Bill, signed by Governor Tim Walz on May 17, 2024, provides the museum with $100,000 in December to put toward the shoes to offer. The museum plans to continue this launch with donations from the community!

Dorothy’s ruby ​​slippers belong in the childhood home of the iconic, concerned, kind and heartbreakingly strong woman who played her. I would be honored to contribute to the cause that brings these slippers back home where they belong. Judy Garland herself once said: “All I remember about Grand Rapids is charm and cheerfulness, you know…” Garland’s slippers were supposed to be in a place where the movie star felt truly happy.

As Heitz puts it, “There’s no place like home, and these ruby ​​slippers need a home.” You can help bring Dorothy’s ruby ​​slippers home to her childhood home at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, by donating to the good cause on the website! Visit judygarlandmuseum.com to learn more!

And if you want to visit the Judy Garland Museum, you can find it at 2727 S. Pokegama Ave., Grand Rapids, MN 55744! Remember, if you follow the yellow brick road, you might just end up at Dorothy’s house in Grand Rapids.

Have a heart, a mind and some courage: help bring Dorothy’s slippers home!