Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, June Lockhart and Wizard of Oz Book Written by Munchkin Top Features at Judy Garland Festival

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers, June Lockhart and Wizard of Oz Book Written by Munchkin Top Features at Judy Garland Festival

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The sequined ruby slippers Dorothy wore in "The Wizard of Oz" are arguably the most recognized pair of shoes in movie history.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050614/NYFNSW01 )

And one of the four remaining pairs of the slippers Judy Garland made famous in that classic movie will be on display as a highlight of the 30th annual Judy Garland Festival June 23-25, in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minn.

The festival also features appearances by actresses June Lockhart and Margaret O'Brien, friends of Garland, who also appeared with her in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis."

"Judy was my very dear friend," said O'Brien. "I look forward to sharing memories with all her fans at the festival this year."

The red slippers will remain at the Judy Garland Museum through Sept. 5. The museum houses the world's largest collection of Garland memorabilia.

Four pairs of ruby slippers remain. One has been at the Smithsonian since 1979; another sold at Christie's in 2000 for $660,000. Hollywood memorabilia collector Michael Shaw, owner of the pair loaned to the Garland Museum, will speak June 23 about the magic of Dorothy's famous shoes.

Three Munchkins are also special guests at the festival. One, the original coroner Meinhardt Raabe, has written a new collectible book, An Illustrated Walk Down the Yellow Brick Road, and will be autographing copies.

Festival visitors can have breakfast with the Munchkins and spend an evening with Lockhart, a Tony Award winner and star of TV classics Lassie and Lost in Space.

There will be an amateur talent "Judy Tribute" matinee concert plus several more book signing events.

The Judy Garland Festival takes place in and around the Judy Garland Museum, Children's Museum and Memorial Garden in Grand Rapids, a northern Minnesota resort town where Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm and spent her formative years. See http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/ or call 1-800-664- JUDY (5839).

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050614/NYFNSW01
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Judy Garland Museum

CONTACT: John Kelsch of Judy Garland Museum, +1-218-327-9276,
jgarland@uslink.net

Web site: http://www.judygarlandmuseum.com/

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