Perhaps Hollywood’s most famous costume piece will be no more. The “Magic” Ruby Slippers from America’s most beloved and quoted film 1939's “The Wizard Of Oz” are losing their mystical touch.
“You’ve always had the power, my dear” Glinda The Good Witch said to an eager Dorothy in the film. The line references the Ruby Slippers, which in the film have magical abilities. The shoes were worn by actress Judy Garland, who played the iconic role of “Dorothy”. Not only is “The Wizard Of Oz” one of the most famous films to date, Judy Garland was once one of the world’s greatest entertainers before her death in 1969. “The Wizard Of Oz” was one of the first Technicolor films, and the shoes vivacious color that glistened on screen was an incredible sight that had never been seen before on camera.
The 77-year-old pair of Ruby Slippers are starting to show their age. The pair was donated anonymously to The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. in 1979, and they are currently deteriorating in their display case.
The Smithsonian Institution has created a Kickstarter campaign in hopes of raising $300,000 to do some “touching up” to the famous shoes.
St. Louis Public Radio’s website released an article “Save The Ruby Slippers: Smithsonian Seeks Funds To Preserve Dorothy's Shoes” with a quote from Kickstarter. “Movie costumes and props are made quickly and cheaply, to last only for the brief duration of the shoot, not forever. Now in their eighth decade, the shoes are fragile and actively deteriorating. Even to the naked eye, the damage is quite obvious: the color has faded and the slippers appear dull and washed-out. The coating on the sequins that give the shoes their hallmark ruby color is flaking off its gelatin base. Some threads that hold sequins in place have broken.”
The shoes remain in a “state-of-the-art” display case, but are in need of constant care due to “Environmental harm” as said on Kickstarter’s website.
To provide awareness for the shoes, a hashtag “#KeepThemRuby” has circulated online.
Will the shoes still possess their value if they are updated? Even in their old age, the shoes are in their same state that the famous actress Judy Garland wore them in. If the shoes get new soles (no pun intended) and new “rubies”, are they still the same shoes that Dorothy skipped through the Land Of Oz in the film?
The Ruby Slippers are the most asked about artifact at the museum. If they deteriorate, it will be a major loss to fans of the film and Hollywood History. If the are updated, the same questions remains. “Is it even the same pair of shoes?”
The shoes have been replicated in Halloween costumes, merchandise, and another pair based upon the original shoes even made a cameo in the 1985 stand alone film “Return To Oz.”
There are hundreds of campaigns and charities in America, and The Smithsonian is asking the public to refurbish part of a costume piece. The shoes are apart of Hollywood and American history, but at the end of the day, the shoes are just shoes. After all, they will always be in their most beautiful state as seen on film.
Isn’t a donation to a sick or injured child, or a family in need more important than a pair of shoes? Even if they are the most famous pair of shoes on earth. It seems a bit hysterical on Smithsonian and Kickstarter’s part to create a campaign for donations to keep them from falling apart. It is up to the public to donate their money to help revive the Ruby Slippers.
If you wish to donate, please visit Kickstarter's Campaign to save the Ruby Slippers.
