Friends of Dorothy Pitch In For A Special Pair Of Shoes

The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota is calling on all friends of Dorothy to help bring a pair of the iconic ruby slippers from “The Wizard of Oz” home where they belong. The Judy Garland Museum is located in the beloved movie star’s childhood home in Grand Rapids, Minn., and is a loving display of the cherished star’s life, accomplishments 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 famed gay icon, Judy Garland, the museum has created a space to learn about and celebrate the star’s life. This is exactly why the museum is looking to bring home a pair of ruby slippers from the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.”

It’s a well-known fact: Judy Garland’s life was full of difficulties and challenges. Along with her massive 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 wasn’t always a happy one. That’s why Heitz says, “We think it is fitting to have a pair [of ruby slippers] in a place where Judy Garland was happy and is celebrated.”

Judy Garland stood (and stands!) as a symbol for the gay community, especially to gay men. This is, of course, how the phrase “friends of Dorothy” (from “The Wizard of Oz”) became an innuendo for queerness and a way for gay people to recognize and connect with each other in a time when queer love was a criminal act. Garland’s personal struggles in her life, along with her beautiful performances and campy acting contributed to her popularity among the queer community. And it is said of the young movie star, that she truly wanted people to feel empowered to be themselves. This included her adoring audience, which she knew included many members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Not only is Garland an incredibly important gay icon, she’s an American icon as well. Heitz says, “‘The Wizard of Oz’ means so much to people from around the world; it would be a shame to have the slippers locked up by a private collector. The public deserves a pair to cherish in small-town Midwest America.”

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

According to the Judy Garland Museum’s website, “While we can’t know the final amount to raise as [the ruby slippers] are being sold at auction, the FBI estimated their value at $3.5 million.” The museum is off to a great start, with The Minnesota Legacy Finance Bill, signed by Governor Tim Walz on May 17th, 2024, providing $100,000 for the museum to bid on the shoes this December. The museum plans to build upon this start with donations from the community!

Dorothy’s ruby slippers belong in the childhood home of the iconic, troubled, lovely and heartbreakingly strong woman who played her. It would be an honor to help contribute to the cause that will bring these slippers back home where they belong. Judy Garland herself said once, “Everything I can remember about Grand Rapids has charm and gaiety, you know …” Garland’s slippers should be in a place where the movie star felt truly happy.

Heitz says it best: “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 house at the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids by donating to the cause on their website! Check out judygarlandmuseum.com to learn more!

And if you’re looking to visit the Judy Garland Museum, you can find it located 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 home in Grand Rapids.

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