Thought Lost, Judy Garland’s Iconic “Wizard of Oz” Dress Heads to Auction

Memorabilia from the beloved e-book series-turned-iconic film The Wizard of Oz has extreme cachet — 1st editions have fetched tens of countless numbers of dollars and a pair of ruby slippers is valued involving $2 and $3 million, in accordance to some estimates. As covered by the 2021 podcast series There is No Spot Like Dwelling, some Wizard of Oz fans will go to any lengths to get a piece of the vintage Hollywood movie in their collection — even likely so significantly as to steal them.

These nefariousness won’t be important for devoted Oz-heads with their eyes on one particular individual approaching ton at Bonhams in Los Angeles. Among other items, the auction house’s Common Hollywood Film & Television sale on Might 24 will incorporate an reliable “Dorothy Gown” — the signature blue gingham pinafore costume and puffy-sleeved shirt worn by Judy Garland in her star-making change as protagonist Dorothy Gale in the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie.

The gown is a single of only four acknowledged to continue to be in existence, and just one of only two total versions such as the product organdy superior-necked blouse. According to the auction site, this individual variation of the costume was worn by Garland all over the climactic scenes set in the Witch’s Castle, that includes Margaret Hamilton’s famous functionality as the Wicked Witch of the West, like her extraordinary death-by-melting. The dress incorporates a material label inscribed “JUDY GARLAND 4223,” which enabled handlers to discover the scenes in which it seems.

“This costume has an remarkable heritage and Bonhams is honored to be a element of its journey,” Helen Corridor, director of the Well known Society division at Bonhams, mentioned in a push statement. “Important costumes from this legendary movie not often look on the auction market place and to be equipped to pinpoint the scene in which this was worn by Judy Garland is thrilling.”

The costume comes to auction by way of the Catholic College of America in Washington, DC. The university received the costume as a present to the plainly beloved previous head of its drama section, Reverend Gilbert Hartke, from Mercedes McCambridge, a Hollywood actor and artist-in-home at the University in 1973. The dress experienced seemingly been lacking considering the fact that the 1980s but was rediscovered in an previous shoebox very last year, and will now head to the auction block in order to advantage the university’s drama section.

“Discovering this historic dress was a memorable second for the Catholic University of America and we are happy to existing it for auction, so that the up coming collector can individual a piece of record,” said Jacqueline J. Leary-Warsaw, dean of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Tunes, Drama, and Artwork, in a assertion from Bonhams. 

“While parting with this dress is bittersweet, the proceeds are heading to assist guidance potential generations education for expert careers in theatre,” Leary-Warsaw continued. “It might just be that the funding helps to prepare the up coming Mercedes McCambridge or Judy Garland!”

People fascinated in looking at the costume can locate it on look at at Bonhams New York (580 Madison Avenue in Manhattan) from April 23 to 29 and at Bonhams Los Angeles (7601 Sunset Boulevard) from May 20 to 24. But the lucky purchaser arranging to get the costume property on May possibly 24 is likely to have to do much more than click their heels. The costume is anticipated to fetch concerning $800,000 and $1,200,000 (one more model of the costume with the shirt was sold by Bonhams in 2015 for a report cost over $1.5 million.) Any person hoping to get more than the rainbow much better commence searching for a pot of gold!