In August 2005, the world’s most famous pair of shoes — a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz” — was stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. The case quickly made global headlines as the Grand Rapids Police Department and eventually the FBI worked to crack the case with little more than a single sequin left behind at the crime scene.
For the first time, “Ruby Red Handed: Stealing America’s Most Famous Pair of Shoes” goes inside the wild, fast-paced story of how the case was ultimately cracked, culminating in the slippers being sold at auction for over $28 million, the most ever for memorabilia. Through exclusive access to the Grand Rapids police department filmed over the last eight years and exclusive elements and interviews with key players, this documentary takes viewers inside the story as it unfolds, bringing this caper to life often in ways so absurd it’s hard to believe it actually happened. More than a true crime story, the series offers a fascinating look at the life and legacy of film and television icon Judy Garland, “The Wizard of Oz,” and the history of Hollywood memorabilia on and off the black market.
“Ruby Red Handed: Stealing America’s Most Famous Pair of Shoes” is produced by Committee Films for ABC News Studios. Eamon McNiff is executive producer, and David Sloan serves as senior executive producer for ABC News Studios. Maria Awes and Andy Awes are executive producers for Committee Films.
