AceShowbiz - In a dazzling display of Hollywood nostalgia, the iconic ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz" have set a new auction record. The auction, handled by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, concluded with the slippers fetching an astounding $28 million, and with buyer's premiums, the total climbed to $32.5 million.

These slippers, one of only four known pairs to have survived since the filming, captivated bidders worldwide. Among the many eyes on the auction, over 800 keen hopefuls tracked the process online, and Heritage Auctions' webpage received nearly 43,000 page views by the time the auction began. Originally estimated to fetch around $3 million, the final sum left many in disbelief, marking a colossal leap from expectations.

"There is simply no comparison between Judy Garland's ruby slippers and any other piece of Hollywood memorabilia," remarked Joe Maddalena, Executive Vice President of Heritage Auctions, reflecting on the stunning outcome which shattered previous records. The previous highest-priced entertainment memorabilia was Marilyn Monroe's white subway dress from "The Seven Year Itch," which sold for $5.52 million in 2011.

The auctioneer, embracing the ambiance of the moment, peppered the event with references and puns from "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wicked," the Broadway musical adaptation recently turned movie that reimagines the Wicked Witch of the West. During heated bidding wars, with increments jumping as high as $800,000, gasps and murmurs of delight echoed among the audience.

The star-studded event included other memorabilia from the film, notably the hat worn by Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West, which sold for nearly $3 million. This specific hat, designed by the legendary MGM costume designer Adrian, bore a unique inscription beneath its brim linking it directly to Hamilton.

The journey of these ruby slippers is as storied as their cinematic legacy. Stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018, the slippers had since resided with memorabilia collector Michael Shaw before making their triumphant return to public attention through this auction.

This sale not only highlights the timeless allure of "The Wizard of Oz" but also underscores the significant cultural and monetary value attached to movie memorabilia. The shoes' glittering path from the silver screen to the auction block underscores a deep-seated reverence for Hollywood history, and without doubt, these ruby slippers have clicked their heels into record books, reaffirming the belief that there's no place like home.