Showbiz
Leonardo DiCaprio helps get 'Wizard of Oz' slippers for Academy museum
Published Thursday, Feb 23 2012, 00:48 GMT | By Leah Simpson | 1 comment
A pair of ruby red shoes worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz is to be placed in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' forthcoming museum.
With actor Leonardo DiCaprio as the primary benefactor, one of four pairs of slippers from the 1939 film will eventually be displayed as memorabilia in Wilshire's May Company Building, Los Angeles.
In a statement on Wednesday, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said: "Leo's passionate leadership has helped us bring home this legendary piece of movie history.
"It's a wonderful gift to the Academy museum project, and a perfect representation of the work we do year-round to preserve and share our film heritage."
DiCaprio led the group of donors, which included Steven Spielberg and LACMA's Terry Semel, to make the purchase after the footwear had been stored in the MGM Culver City, California lot for 30 years.
Rhys Thomas, author of The Ruby Slippers of Oz, said: "Of the four pairs of authentic ruby slippers known to exist, this pair offered by Profiles in History, marked '#7 Judy Garland' and known as the 'Witch's Shoes', are the most important and most valuable."
> 'J. Edgar' Leonardo DiCaprio: 'Armie Hammer kiss was violent'
> Leonardo DiCaprio: 'I'd like an Oscar for J. Edgar'
Watch the trailer for The Wizard of Oz below:
With actor Leonardo DiCaprio as the primary benefactor, one of four pairs of slippers from the 1939 film will eventually be displayed as memorabilia in Wilshire's May Company Building, Los Angeles.
© Rex Features
© PA Images
In a statement on Wednesday, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said: "Leo's passionate leadership has helped us bring home this legendary piece of movie history.
"It's a wonderful gift to the Academy museum project, and a perfect representation of the work we do year-round to preserve and share our film heritage."
DiCaprio led the group of donors, which included Steven Spielberg and LACMA's Terry Semel, to make the purchase after the footwear had been stored in the MGM Culver City, California lot for 30 years.
Rhys Thomas, author of The Ruby Slippers of Oz, said: "Of the four pairs of authentic ruby slippers known to exist, this pair offered by Profiles in History, marked '#7 Judy Garland' and known as the 'Witch's Shoes', are the most important and most valuable."
> 'J. Edgar' Leonardo DiCaprio: 'Armie Hammer kiss was violent'
> Leonardo DiCaprio: 'I'd like an Oscar for J. Edgar'
Watch the trailer for The Wizard of Oz below:
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