Ruby Red Shoes From Wizard Of Oz

So, there I was, rummaging through my grandma's attic, when I stumbled upon this old, dusty shoebox. I mean, who doesn't love a good attic treasure hunt, right? I opened it up, expecting to find some vintage sneakers or maybe a pair of grandpa's old dress shoes. But no, what I found was something straight out of a movie - a pair of ruby red shoes. Now, I'm not talking about your average red shoes. These were the ruby red shoes, the ones Dorothy Gale clicked her heels together in, the ones that made her say, "There's no place like home."

I mean, come on! How could I not be curious? I'm sure you're wondering the same thing. So, let's dive in, shall we? Let's talk about those iconic ruby red shoes from the Wizard of Oz.

From Silver to Ruby: A Color Change Fit for a Star

First things first, you might be wondering why I said "ruby" red shoes when everyone knows they're silver. Well, my friend, that's a tale of Hollywood magic. Originally, the shoes were indeed silver, but when the movie was filmed in Technicolor, the silver shoes didn't pop as much on screen. So, the clever folks at MGM decided to paint them red to make them stand out. And stand out they did!

But here's where it gets interesting. The shoes we see in the movie aren't even the original ruby red shoes. No, no, no. Those were made of wood and covered in red sequins. They were so heavy that poor Judy Garland could barely walk in them. So, for most of the film, she wore a pair of black flats, and the red shoes were added in post-production. Isn't that something?

More Than Just Shoes: A Symbol of Home and Hope

Now, let's talk about why these shoes are so darn iconic. It's not just because they're red and shiny. No, these shoes are a symbol. They're a symbol of home, of course. Dorothy's journey in Oz is all about her longing to go back home. But they're also a symbol of hope, of believing in something even when everything seems lost. I mean, who hasn't felt like Dorothy at some point, clicking their heels together and wishing for something better?

And let's not forget the magic. Those shoes have power, you know. They can take you anywhere you want to go. Well, at least in the movie they can. I've tried clicking my heels together a few times, but alas, I'm still here, writing this article. Maybe I just need to believe a little harder, huh?

Fun Fact: The Shoes Have a Life of Their Own

Did you know that the ruby red shoes from the Wizard of Oz have their own Wikipedia page? It's true! And they've had quite the life since the movie was released in 1939. They've been on display in museums, they've been worn by other actors in various productions of the Wizard of Oz, and they've even been auctioned off. In 2000, a pair of the shoes sold for a whopping $666,000. That's right, over half a million dollars for a pair of shoes!

But here's where it gets a little weird. The shoes that sold at auction weren't the original pair. No, those are housed in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. The ones that sold were a replica pair made for the 1949 musical adaptation of the film. So, who knows how many pairs of these shoes are out there, lurking in attics or on display in museums?

So, What's the Moral of the Story?

Well, my friend, the moral of the story is this: sometimes, the most iconic things in life start out as something else entirely. Those shoes were just shoes, until they became a symbol of home, of hope, of magic. And maybe, just maybe, we all have a little bit of Dorothy in us, clicking our heels together and wishing for something more.

And who knows? Maybe one day, you'll find a pair of ruby red shoes in your grandma's attic. Stranger things have happened, right? Until then, keep dreaming, keep hoping, and keep clicking your heels together. You never know where you might end up.