The ruby red slippers worn by Dorothy in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” has been in the news al good bit lately.  The shoes had been stolen some 20 years ago; but have now been returned but will not remain in the museum dedicated to the original Dorothy – Judy Garland.

The slippers will embark on an international tour over the next several months and then will be auctioned off in December by Heritage Auctions out of Dallas.

Nearly as popular as the actors themselves, the ruby slippers helped Dorothy find her way back home to Kansas at the end of the film.

In actuality, the 16 year old Judy Garland used several pairs of the ruby shoes during the filming of the epic film.  Only four pairs of the shoes still exist.

The shoes that are owned by Michael Shaw and were stolen after being loaned to the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota were the shoes worn by Garland in the close up scene where she clicks her heels three times while saying, “there’s no place like home”.  Of the surviving pairs of shoes, Shaw’s are believed to be of the highest quality.  Reportedly the shoes are valued at $3.5 million.

Upon receiving the shoes in February, Shaw noted that it was “like welcoming back an old friend I haven’t seen in years.”  But he has since handed them over to Heritage Auctions.

While no specifics have been released, Heritage has said that stops along the tour include Los Angeles, New York City, London, and Tokyo.

Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena spoke on the shoes saying, “you cannot overstate the importance of Dorothy’s ruby slippers; They are the most important prop in Hollywood history.”

A 76 year old Terry Jon Martin was arrested for the theft of the slippers in October and has pleaded guilty to the crime.  But a second alleged robber has recently been arrested for the crime.  Also 76, Jerry Hal Saliterman has not entered a plea during his court appearance in St. Paul where he appeared using a wheelchair and on oxygen.

The remaining three pairs of ruby shoes belong to a private collector, are at the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids is located in the home where Garland – born Frances Gumm – lived until she was four years old.  The museum claims to own the largest collection of Judy Garland and “Wizard of Oz” memorabilia.

Feature photo credit: Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, 1938 Sixteen-year-old Judy Garland wore these sequined shoes as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.