This phrase refers to the real-life theft of one of the pairs of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The shoes, insured for $1 million, were stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, in 2005. The FBI recovered the slippers in 2018 after a sting operation, but the perpetrator remained unidentified until 2023. The case garnered significant media attention due to the cultural significance of the film and the iconic nature of the stolen artifact.
The theft and subsequent recovery highlight the importance of preserving historical artifacts and the challenges museums face in protecting their collections. The slippers represent a tangible link to a beloved film and a bygone era of Hollywood, making their theft a loss not just for the museum but for film history itself. The investigation spanned over a decade and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, demonstrating the seriousness with which such cultural thefts are treated. The story captured public imagination, fueling speculation and numerous theories about the culprit and the whereabouts of the slippers.
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