Behind The Scenes Secrets: The Wizard Of Oz

Original Slippers?!

In L. Frank Baum’s novelThe Wizard of Oz, Dorothy’s shoes are actually a magical pair of silver slippers. It wasn’t until the film was being made that slippers were changed into ruby slippers, which was suggested by MGM head Louis B Mayer. When costume designers were first working on the shoes, an early design showed the slippers with curled up toes. Dorothy, or Judy Garland, wore the ruby slippers in a size 5. Throughout shooting, four different sets of slippers were used. The shoes have gone on to be displayed at various museums. One pair was ultimately displayed in a museum in Minnesota, where they were stolen back in 2005, even though they were insured for $1 million.

For the movie’s 50th anniversary, a real pair of ruby slippers with real rubies was made in 1989. The shoes were valued at over $3 million! Another pair of the slippers is on display at the Smithsonian. Although the pair is a mismatched pair from two different sets. However, the display is one of the most popular and often the staff of the Smithsonian has to replace the carpet around it because of constant wear and tear.