The public sale of the costume is scheduled to be held on Might 24 on the Bonham home in Los Angeles. It is among the blue and white attire that Judy Garland used through the filming of The Wizard of Oz in 1939. The piece was discovered final yr inside a shoe field in one of many buildings of the drama division of the Catholic College of Los Angeles, whereas an worker was sweeping the place.
Silver Display screen Assortment | Getty Photographs
The costume, yellowed by the passage of time, has a handmade inscription with the identify of the actress hidden inside one of many baggage through which Garland supposedly saved her handkerchiefs. The costume was donated to Reverend Gilbert Hartke , one of many founders of the college’s drama division in 1972, by actress Mercedes McCambridge , and was misplaced a yr later to stay hidden for 5 many years, regardless of varied college members claiming it. They searched time and again.
Though it was initially stated that the costume would develop into a part of the college archive, the choice was later made to place it up for public sale. It’s estimated that it might promote for between $800,000 and $1.2 million.
THE VOICE OPPOSING THE AUCTION
Barbra Hartke , Reverend Hartke’s niece, is 81 years outdated and has spoken out towards the public sale. The lady argues that her uncle obtained the costume as a present from the actress and that earlier than auctioning it, it could be vital to find out who it belongs to. In an interview with the New York Publish , the lady commented: “I used to be shocked that it was discovered right here (on the College) in spite of everything this time and that it was rapidly taken to the public sale home. I simply wish to know who owns this… I would prefer to see the documentation.”
The lady, who claims that the actress, Mercedes McCambridge, had a particular affection for her uncle, has filed a lawsuit to attempt to stop the public sale from going down.
On November 23, 2015, one other costume with the identical design utilized by Judy Garland through the filming of The Wizard of Oz was auctioned for $1.56 million {dollars} .
