STUDIO INSCRIPTION: #1 JUDY GARLAND

DESCRIPTION: PRIMARY, NON-DANCE, INSERT

SIZE: 5BC

HEEL: THICK, RUBBER TOP LIFT

SOLE: ORANGE FELT, REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE
INNES PRODUCTION NUMBERS: 5BC 15250

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Originally the primary pair used by Judy Garland for non-dance scenes and used as an insert pair for close-up shots.

Visible:

The tapping scene
Scenes filmed early during production (Tin-Man scene, some shots of Scarecrow scene)
Witch’s castle spark scene
Publicity photos taken early during production
Most non-dance scenes in the film
Short dance numbers (i.e. We're off to see the Wizard!")

Notable differences:

Thicker heel than other known pairs
Bow of right shoe is sewn low, in line with the throat line of the shoe
Bow of right shoe is cut very angularly, making it easier to identify in the film and in publicity shots
Bow of the proper left shoe is sewn higher than the throat line

Notes:

The rubber top lift on each shoe was put on by MGM, replacing the leather top lift applied by the manufacturer.

The bow of the proper right shoe was ripped during production and sewn back together. The bow has been sewn onto the shoe at least twice, making identifying the shoe more difficult from some angles. Missing rhinestones are visible in the film, which were later repaired by the studio. Some rose montees were repaired/replaced by putting clear stones on the bow and painting them red.

Subsequent history:

This pair was intermixed with the #6 pair sometime after filming ended. I believe they were most likely mixed up by Kent Warner, and that he may have intentionally done so. At the time of their discovery in 1970, the pairs would have been in very different conditions: the #1 pair having been very worn during production, and the #6 pair being nearly pristine. At the time of the auction, the condition of both shoes of the new mixed up pair matched enough that nobody questioned that they belonged together. The #1 shoe not sold at auction shows signs of repair that are not indicative of studio practice - as they had a number of sequins glued back on at the toe. The MGM auction pair was sold for $15,000, but the buyer soon discovered that he did not purchase the only pair of Ruby Slippers. The MGM auction slippers (#1 proper right shoe) remained privately owned until 1979 when they were donated to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The #1 proper left shoe was owned by Michael Shaw since he purchased them for a reported $2,500 from Kent Warner. Shaw loaned his slippers to museums and showed them around the country until they were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota on August 27/28, 2005. The pair was recovered by the FBI and the announcement of their recovery was made in September 2018. Shaw's pair, once nearly pristine, do show signs of damage that occurred while they were missing.

Current location:
Right shoe: Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Left shoe: Returned to Michael Shaw, being housed at Heritage Auctions before going on a tour, then being auctioned in December.