| My quest for the
shoes took me to Debbie Reynold's Hollywood Museum in Las Vegas. I have
been there 15 times and I am spellbound each time by the two pairs of Ruby
Slippers on display. The only pair I can recognize is the top pair of slippers
as they are a test pair rejected for the movie that Debbie bought from
Kent Warner. The bottom pair is a mystery since there is no record of Debbie
buying a pair in the book, "The Ruby Slippers of Oz." The ushers
and attendents do not know either as all they say is that they were purchased
by Debbie on one of her shopping sprees. Photos are not to be taken but
as a loyal customer and fan, the usher on duty allowed me to be alone with
the shoes and to take photos. I'm sorry that the photos are not better
as the room is dimmly lit and the ushers say that this is at Debbie's request
so photos cannot be taken.
It has been reported
in the Wizard of Oz fan club newsletter "Beyond the Rainbow Collector's
Exchange" that the "regular" pair of ruby slippers in Debbie Reynolds'
museum were a commemorative pair made by Western Costume which are sold
for $5000 a pair. Debbie and company still insist that they were used in
the production of the film though.
A little bit of "Slipper
Trivia": Some footage of Kent Warner carrying the shoes at the original
MGM auction was featured in the movie, "The Phantom of Hollywood," a TV
movie about a studio employee killing off his studio bosses who are selling
the studio and getting rid of the sets and costumes. Hardly remarkable
is that it was filmed on the MGM lot which was being torn down at the same
time.
Randi |
