Ruby Slippers conservation is complete
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- čas přidán 5. 12. 2018
- Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard of Oz" are back on display at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History after over 200 hours of conservation work. Hear from Objects Conservator Dawn Wallace about the project to preserve the iconic shoes from the 1939 film. Six things to know about the conservation project: s.si.edu/ConservationComplete
Fun fact. In the book the shoes are silver. The studio decided to make them red because that color shows up better in technicolor.
True, this! I usually dont like it when film studios change details in book adaptations but in this case, its one of the few times I agree. Cant imagine Dorothy without her red shoes.
That's so neat!
they are actually silver in the movie as well. technicolor is painting over a film strip. they painted them red after the fact. these are not the real shoes.
@@molls127 no they were red during filming.
The reason they are silver in the book version is because it is meant to represent a silver backed currency. The yellow brick road represents the gold backed currency. Dorothy setting foot on the yellow brick road represents silver and gold coming together to lead to the road of a successful and thriving economy. Silver and gold are sold by the ounces which is abbreviated as OZ.
I feel so sad knowing Judy Garland had such a hard life growing up and into her adulthood. She was such a beautiful sweet girl and got taken advantage of by people around her. Those shoes literally hold a part of her spirit from one of the biggest moments of her short life.
She was so beautiful and was treated as the "ugly duckling" at the beginning of her career. That abuse stayed with her for the rest of her life. She never knew just how beautiful she was.
I bet you're a joy to be around at parties.
@@tl1110 if someone at a party started talking about the life and legacy of Judy garland we would make fast friends and chat all night
@@tl1110 wow didn’t know that no one is allowed to talk about anything bad that has happened ever 🙄
The studio and her mom gave her pills to keep her up filming and then gave her pills to put her to sleep it was horrible what they did to Judy
Her reaction to being asked if she would miss the shoes was so genuine and adorable
Right? That’s the sign of someone doing what they truly love 😍
Her little giggle was so cute.
My grandmother's brother was working for MGM as a carpenter at the time the film was made. One of his jobs was to look around the set after a day's filming to make sure that no damage was done and if there was he had to help repair damage. You'd be shocked by the amount of work a carpenter has to do on a sound stage to keep things going. Another job was cleaning up and debris left behind by the actors. The actors left behind a lot of debris. Fur and straw from the cowardly lion and the scare crow and Dorothy left behind sequins on the yellow brick road. My uncle kept three of those red sequins and later gave them to relatives. I have one, two of my cousins have the others. Now I know what they were used for as I've never seen an up close image of the ruby slippers. I knew they came from them but just now how they were applied. I can also now speculate as to where they are missing from. I didn't know the Smithsonian had them either. I thought they were in a private collection. So I've decided as of this moment to leave it to the Smithsonian in my will. One of my cousins made hers into a ring having it secured with a gold rivet. My other cousin has not told me what she did with hers. My uncle gave me one because I'm a fan of old movies.
Are you serious !!!? Omg, that's like finding the "Golden ticket"! Whats impressive is...you appreciate your treasure... good for you. Have a great day 😘
Several pairs of ruby slippers were made for the production, at least 4? So someone probably has a pair in their private collection.
@@lthompson5017 awwww.. what a cute story.... 😍 I bet she's 40 something now, maybe? Wonderful memories 💖 have a great day
There are more than one pair of Ruby slippers, so yours may or may not have been from those. Either way, it might be a sweet thing to pass it on to an old movie buff relative when you pass. I’ll bet the Smithsonian has extras, they just don’t want to add anything back.
What a wonderful story, glad your uncle picked them up, he must of had a feeling the film was going to be iconic .
Dawn's job is fascinating. I think she would be an ideal example when explaining to children that there are many many things they can do or be when they grow up.
just fyi: her job requires a bachelors, masters and phd. they aint playing
@@lovingthelessloved3679 She needs all those degrees just to clean a pair of shoes??????
@@kathydavis3067 yes and no. According to her LinkedIn, Dawn does not have a terminal degree; she has a Master of Arts with a certificate of advanced study in Art Conservation. Art Conservation requires both a knowledge of chemistry and artistic skill. She was likely trained in using very specific appliances, some of which she describes, to contact fragile art and help repair it. Too rough a hand could rip the threads of these shoes apart, and someone just taking a wet wipe to it could disintegrate the color. She knows the materials and methodology required to preserve history like this, and even the most careful and well-meaning layman would likely cause more damage than assistance if they tried to do her job without that training.
My Father, Alfred F Harrell Jr, was a photographer for this museum from its opening in the early 1960s through the early 1980s when he passed away. It was called the Museum of History and Technology back then. He was responsible for taking the first reference photos of these slippers, along with a lot of other items, when they were first donated to the Smithsonian. I think he would have enjoyed seeing them conserved. Thanks to all who helped make this project possible.
Thats interesting history you have. You should write a book.
@@joeybaseball7352 a lot of people
That's amazing sir, thank you for sharing your family history, you often forget that there were people from decade's before I was born creating the homes of historical items that are still cherished today.
Amazing the forethought of these men and women of the past.
Joey Baseball evidently you. You watched the video and replied so...
@@joeybaseball7352 me
I saw them about 10 years ago in person. They looked really used and I always wondered why they didn’t restore them all the way but now I understand. They wanted people to see the dancing and wear and tear from the movie. What a wonderful video. 👍🏻
Aren't there several versions of these shoes too?
@@SallyCat84 I agree I swore the real pair was grey or silver was it ??
@@Millerssmith there was three pairs used for Judy Garlands Wizard of Oz but in the book they are just called the magic slippers which are silver
@@anym7849 thank you
Sorry what I meant was there were several versions of the ruby slippers. You can find a pair at the Smithsonian Museum, but there may be other pairs in different museums. I just meant there isn't just one pair of ruby slippers. Fun fact though, the foam or felt they put on the bottom of the shoes was to stop then from making noise when she walked or danced.
I played Dorothy in a production of the wizard of Oz when I was 16. My mum was costume mistress and so I had a bit of a say in my costumes. When we went to find the ruby slippers we found red sequin fancy dress Dorothy shoes but they didn’t have the beads on the bows. I’ve always loved the film and have ALWAYS wanted to play Dorothy and so this opportunity was a dream for me. My dad, knowing this, got a photo of the original shoes, went out and bought matching beads, and decorated the shoes to match the film ones as accurately as possible so I could have Judy garlands shoes. It was one of the kindest things he’s ever done for me - it doesn’t sound like much but I thought it was sweet :)
I've found throughout my life, that the smallest things can often be the sweetest and most memorable 🙂
I did too! We were both the same age as Judy when she performed :)
@@StoryMemories86 I never even realised ! That’s amazing 🥰
That’s so sweet! I’m glad you got to play a dream role and have so much support, sounds so amazing
When I was a teenager and in my early 20s I had a friend whose grandmother owned Judy Garland‘s former Beachhouse on Hyannis point. I had the lucky opportunity to stay there for a week and it was truly a beautiful house and a cool experience knowing I was walking through a house Judy Garland had once loved to vacation in.
Debbie Reynolds had collected the slippers along with tons of costumes from classic films in hopes of opening a museum. Unfortunately, she was unable to get it financed and make it happen. When she died in December 2016, she must have left them to the Smithsonian. What a painstaking restoration to preserve them for generations, which is what Debbie would have wanted.
They were donated to the museum in 1979.
There was more than one pair of shoes worn by Judy Garland in the movie,
Wasn't Debbie Reynolds Carrie fisher's mom?
@@lindaloe1974 yes, Debbie was Carries mom. Carries daughter (Debbies granddaughter) Billie is also an actress
@@Aeropostale928 thought so I think she was in that film called On The Town or something like that with the song that went like "New York, New York is a wonderful town the lights are up and the battery's down the people live in a hole in the ground" or something like that lol could be wrong
Felt sorry for Debbie no parent should see their child go first
The microscope shots made me “squee” out loud at the detail. To know that Judy Garland wore those on her feet for one of the most iconic movies ever made and get to preserve them would have been the highlight of my career 😂
Oh god I would pass out being that close to those shoes.
I got a little emotional when she said she’s sad to let them go... I’d literally be thinking the same. Imagine having access to that beauty at your fingertips???
Goosebumps.
They are back on display,, go see them !!!!
I went and saw them on display and I didn't actually know they were there until I happened to look at a map and see one room labeled "Ruby Slippers" and I almost passed out THEN. At the mere THOUGHT of....could it be THOSE ruby slippers? And I SPRINTED to the exhibit and spent literally an hour just staring at them. I highly recommend checking it out if you're ever in DC. It's a beautiful exhibit.
Yes, an exciting moment to feast your eyes on….saw years ago and when I went back didn’t know where they were! I’ll take my son back now…..
It's refreshing to see history that touches so many of us being valued and restored this respectfully. Thank you to the powers that be. ☺️
I was thinking the same thing. Her joy over this project is clear, especially when she giggles at the end.
Agreed!
It sounds like the slippers weren’t restored but preserved. Restored would meant they were brought to their original condition,which these were not.
@@fw1421 maybe the were thinking they were "restored" from dilapitation? Gotta admit though, it is a clever PR move for the Smithsonian to choose the word restore over preservation, as that would incline more people to donate to the cause. And technically, the word "restore" is vague enough to not be lying, avoiding lawsuits. (Although who would actually sue for that, I mean it is the ruby slippers. Im sure they banked on that as well just in case.)
A special privilege to conserve these dream-like shoes. My grandmother sewed couture for Adrian, who designed these shoes and costumes for the Wizard of Oz.
Thats amazing!
Wow. Thanks
awesome!
My grandmother's brother was a carpenter on the set and one of his duties was cleaning the set after a shoot. I'm happy they didn't do a good job securing the sequins because he swept up three that came loose and gave them to my cousins and one to me. One of my cousins had a jeweler secure it to a gold ring with a gold rivet. Mine is in my safe as a piece of memorabilia. I didn't know the Smithsonian had these. I thought they were in a private collection. So now I'm going to have my will changed to reunite it with the shoes they belong on. I see some bare spots. I wish I had all three as I would give them all three.
Do you need to speak with the manager, Karen.
I saw those slippers at the Smithsonian when I was a little girl. It was the best trip ever!
When she was asked if she was gonna miss the shoes in the lab ngl I felt like she was so close to crying KDJFKSNDKSN
It makes me happy that people like this lady are there to preserve these special pieces of history.
It's really wonderful seeing sonething being conserved not restored! And it makes sense having the felt on the sole of the shoe, these people were very clever.
It's still being done. I'm in local theatre and we put felt on the bottom of our shoes - usually just the heels for women's shoes, unless they're super noisy - so they don't clatter across the stage when we're moving around.
It's wonderful such great care was given to these beauties. The Wizard of Oz community thanks you!
iamdawt hope it was worth 300,000 dollars for some stupid shoes when the money could’ve been used for a lot better things
@@ethanwood9124 Do you like hockey? Let's just say you do and go with that. Would you like hockey to stop existing because it costs money to pay the players, rent the facility, pay the owners the exorbitant amount they make off of everything hockey so they can buy their mansions, drive their luxury cars, and take extended vacations for the simple reason that the money could be better spent elsewhere? How about ice cream? Let's do away with that because the money could be better spent elsewhere. Life needs happiness, and I'm sorry if saving an iconic symbol people love so much brings you down. May you be able to find your own joy and fully embrace it without someone else tearing it down.
iamdawt you have a good point but thats a lot bigger than a pair of shoes and I’m not a fan of the movie it’s creepy and weird but there must be other props from the movie that mean something
@@ethanwood9124 There are quite a few such as the Lion's costume, it's magnificnent. Whatever is left of the iconic movie is being restored or saved in one way or another. The collecting world Oz is vast and world wide. It's all about the shoes to a lot of people, though, because they were such an integral part of the movie version. In the book they were silver!
Community? Lol
What a beautiful career to have, she's literally preserving history. I wish I could've gone into a rewarding career like that.
This lady is so cute I love how excited she is about a pair of 80 year old shoes 🥰
*"We thank you very sweetly... For doing it so neatly! "* 👠👠
Awesome!!!! 👠👠👠👗👗👗
I’m glad no ‘new’ parts were added. It’s really great to look at things how they are and how they aged.
She’s blessed to be able to touch such a huge piece of movie history. Priceless item.
The conservation process is just amazing. Thank God for people who can work with that kind of minute focus. As an aside; judging by the wear of those shoes, they must have worked Judy Garland like a mule.
They did work her like a mule. Poor girl. Did you see the movie about her last year? It was really well done, but so sad. I think that by the end everyone in the theatre was crying.
I just saw these at the Smithsonian! So incredible.
Her little giggle when she’s asked if she’ll miss the shoes 🥺 What a sweet woman.
There’s no place like home.
She looks and sounds SO MUCH like Judy Greer.
I literally thought it was her! 😂😅
she does look a lot like her.
Agreed. I wonder how she spends Spring Break?
I love those shoes so much that I would probably cry if I see them
honestly, same
I did cry when I saw them in the Smithsonian. They are beautiful!
There was more than one pair of ruby slippers made for filming the movie.
@@oltedders of course therw were but these ones are in a museum for all to see. Thanks for the fun fact. Here is one also; did you know that the cowardly lions costume was made out of real lion skin?
I think one of the pairs was also auctioned at Christie's Auction House
Damn you know they're meticulous when they vacuum and clean every SEQUIN
I think it’s great that you allowed the age of the shoes to stay…thank you for stabilizing such a treasure.
Times have changed a lot regarding conservation and/or restauration. In case of these shoes it makes totally sense to just keep them as they are and not restoring them completely as they had looked when they were new. I love that they now keep them in their actual state and just fix them a little bit. As the lady said, they are 80 years old and worn and it's just nice to see their use.
The Wizard of Oz has always been my favourite movie. I drove all the way to the Smithsonian (from Ontario, Canada) back in 2002 just to see the ruby slippers in person. I was so awe struck, I almost cried.
My goodness, I’m sure! They are so beautiful and hold so much meaning 💖
I had the pleasure of seeing the shoes in the Smithsonian last year. I had the whole place to myself. The wizard of Oz was my favorite movie of all time.
Thank you for restoring these shoes. They are a part of my innocent childhood I love.
This is a fantastic video. I love old Hollywood film and Film Noir history. This lady has the extremely rare honor of touching a moment of time from Hollywood that's absolute Gold. Great Video.
Amazing how a pair of shoes could have such an emotional effect...bringing back years of childhood innocence.💙
This video is such an amazing glimpse into the world of specialized work. Her dedication to the conservation work that she applies herself to is so touching!
The way my jaw would drop if I got to work with those magic Ruby read slippers ❤ what a treasure
Something about seeing so many people comment about how someone in their family contributed a little piece of history to these shoes alone makes me so happy. Like we all have a little part in something, and who knows what that something will become or mean to someone else.
I've seen that movie a million times in my life. As a kid it was my favorite movie and I wouldn't let my guests watch any other movie until we watched The Wizzard of Oz first lol. I can't believe it 81 years old now! That's crazy!!!
I just know in my heart of hearts that when I see these in person I will just break into pieces and cry. This movie had such, and still has, a profound influence on my life.
So nice to see them restore for generations to come
Your very lucky as most people will never hold but just see the shoes. The Smithsonian is a wonderful place for preserving history. I hope they are around for a long time.
Thank you, team for having the dedication and talent to help preserve a world treasure!
Comment by Carmencita: I was amazed while volunteering at the Smithsocian that people went to the American History Museum and all they wanted to see was Archie Bunker's chair and those ruby shoes from The Wizzard of Oz. So much interesting history in that museum and people wanted to see those items from fiction TV shoes and movies.
I have so much respect for the job they did....so precise and perfect...loved it!
Thank you for helping preserve these shoes! This makes me so happy!
Thank you very much for retaining the old charm of the shoe! Respecting history
I was so excited to see conservation work on the Expedition Unknown episode with Josh Gates. This is something I would like to do as someone studying archeology and the history of fashion. Continue doing this important work and thank you!
2:21 "Will you miss them?"
Her reaction is utterly MAGICAL. You can tell that she turns into a seven year old for a split second.
So lovely💚 glad she preserved them and enjoyed the experience!
I just want to know how long it takes this woman to clean her house.
Probably not a lot.... like how a carpenter, plumber or electrician never really work on their own houses. LOL
Lol !
Bold of you to assume she lets it get dirty.
T (for Time)
@@fishbone2921 LOL
Many many thanks for doing that what you're holding in your hands is an amazing piece of History that should never be destroyed or let go thank you for preserving from one of the greatest films ever made
that is so amazing that those are the ACTUAL ruby slippers.
Her face when asked if she would miss them🥰 so sweet❤️
That is impressive and important work, not just for preservation of pop culture relics such as these legendary shoes, but for all the other things people like this conservationist preserve.
Why am I so incredibly stoked to watch this?!
I remember seeing these shoes in the museum back in middle school. It was so cool to see them because I loved the Wizard of Oz.
What a great explanation. I’m not even a huge Judy Garland fan, but I would get shivers just knowing what I know about her life and how iconic her work is.
Adrian was such an amazing designer. I'm glad I got to learn about him in school.
I just had to watch this because it has been suggested for like months and I live ❤️
Awww. I remember getting a pair of my own "Ruby slippers" when I was little. Albeit it was just red glitter flats but I was obsessed. I always felt like they were magic. This brings it back. 💓💓💓
I want to see these shoes so badly!! Wizard of Oz is my favorite movie
It must be such an honor to work on such iconic slippers.
“The shoes were danced in and have wear and tear from the filming” aka they took a beating as they were designed to - but 80 years later they are handled with gloves and the finest touch as if they could never take a beating in the first place. (I know time ca take a toll im not dumb i just find it ironic)
Those shoes were published from when my grandparents were young. Those are the cutest shoes I’ve seen, they were used back then, it reminded me of the Wizard of Oz
I visited 2x when they were off and I was so sad. I can't wait to go back!
Wow, what an honor. The most iconic shoes in history.
I saw these in Washington DC and was amazed by them. It’s pretty mesmerizing to see something so iconic in person, knowing that the person that wore them is long gone. Very strange feeling.
I was always a fan of MGM classics. The bright hot lights in technicolor made the wind pop from wine to run ruby. So the are still top quality.
What size were they?
@@matzohgirl I have no clue, they were displayed in a glass box and didn't see a size printed on. Looked to be an average-sized woman's shoe, though. If I had to guess, I'd say a 7-8.
I love this museum! It should get a lot more publicity than it does. It is the best of the Smithsonian Museums and I have been to them all!
Hey, I saw them on a trip to DC when I was in the 5th grade, love seeing them conserved. I remember The Smithsonian was on of my favorite parts of that trip
At 18 months old, my Mom said I would watch the Wizard of Oz over and over and over for hours until she finally had to make me stop. At 10 I finally was able to see a real pair of ruby red slippers, worn by Judy Garland during the filming and I stared in awe, completely speechless for at least 15-20 minutes. I was so excited I almost cried! My Mom tore me away from the display after 30 minutes or so and I felt like I was leaving a piece of my soul behind. They are truly magical to behold ❤️
There's like 4 or 5 different pairs of ruby slippers used in the film. Some were worn by Judy. Some were worn by her stand-in. One pair was used for close-up shots only and is in the best condition. The several pairs are in the hands of various collectors.
I would love to see these. She did a great job. When I was a kid I never realized it was sequins. It doesn't look that way on film. Very tedious work
Wonderful video. This is one of those careers I would have had no idea existed but would have loved to have known about it at some point during early schooling.
Can't wait for the day they'll be 100 years old, they could still have that luster look by then!
This was very cool! I've recently learned about the school of conservation thought where you actually leave signs of age and history on the art piece/artifact rather than trying to restore it to "new". Very cool!
On my trip to the Smithsonian in the seventh grade, what I remember most is I remember most these shoes, and the original Kermit
youtube definitely recommend me this after the harryween show tonight
samee
The microscope pictures are blowing my mind! Amazing work
This is so moving.
Such a feel good video. We all love The Wizard Oz.
My brain can't not read the title as 'Ruby Slippers conversation is complete'.
I would be so tempted to try them on
This is a wonderful project accompanied by an absolutely first-class presentation. Thank you. This is genuinely a great job in the hands of a superb conservator. Thanks you.
Oh wow great! I saw them a few years ago but I’m excited to see them again restored :-) they look great
I remember seeing these in DC as a kid(late 90’s) I’m glad that they gave them a proper exhibition space
I just saw Dorthy's dress in seattle recently, I'm hoping to one day see the shoes as well!
When I was there in August 2019, Glinda the Good Witch’s wand was on display in the same room as the ruby slippers.
@goon cookie - Yes! MGM head L.B. Mayer also called Judy ""my little hunchback" because she had slight scoliosis, in addition to being less than five feet tall and thus showing every single extra pound because she was so small. Can imagine that made Judy feel even worse!
He treated her like garbage, poor girl. No wonder she drank. Did you see the movie of her life last year? It was so well done but so sad. By the end of the movie, everyone in the theatre was crying 😢
Thank you for this!!!! What an amazing artifact
I love this… Thank You, Smithsonian!
She must have been sooo excited to have these!
Very emotional just looking at them and remembering Judy!
Judy Garland, in my opinion, was one Hollywood’s beautiful and talented women. Sadly, this is the only movie that she made that I cannot watch: it traumatized me as a child. Have a sister that was named after Ms. Garland. To see the actual shoes that Judy Garland wore is such a treat for me, and them being restored is an awesome and loving task that has been done. Thanks for the video!
I guarantee you the slippers got better treatment than the first print of the movie got. All forms of history have to be preserved better. Not just the more popular forms.
The sad part about it is that the National Museum of American History needed a kickstarter campaign to conserve this artifact. The Smithsonian should receive unlimited funding.
I wish they showed more of the conservation