IfJudy Garlands ruby slippers from The Wizard of Ozwere the sole item inHeritages Saturday, Dec. 7, auction filled with treasures from cinemas rich and vast history, it would already rank as a very important auction. WhenHeritage announced in March that it wouldoffer one of the four pairs of surviving ruby slippers from the 1939 masterpiece, they garnered worldwide attention because of their backstory. This was the pair famously stolen from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minn., in 2005 and recovered by the FBI in 2018 following an investigation worthy of its own big-screen telling. And as the Associated Press reported, the pair owned and consigned by Michael Shaw are believed to be the highest quality of all of them. They were the ones used in close-ups of Dorothy clicking her heels. The slippers began their worldwide tour in Japan in October, with stops in Dallas, New York and London still to come before they find their way to a new home after the auction. For months, would-be bidders and cinephiles have anxiously anticipated this moment because, as author Rhys Thomas wrote in his definitive book aboutThe Ruby Slippers of Oz, they were much more than just a piece of Hollywood memorabilia, much more than a valuable piece of industry history. They transcended Hollywood, to the point where they represented the powerful image of innocence to all America. The ruby slippers are joined in this event bythe hat worn by Margaret Hamiltons Wicked Witch of the West, also in The Wizard of Oz,screen-matched to the Arrival in Munchkinland sequence during which Dorothy first meets the cackling, green-skinned terror. Like the ruby slippers, the Wicked Witchs hat was part of Michael Shaws Hollywood on Tour during the 1980s and 90s. Shaw obtained it from Kent Warner, who discovered the ruby slippers at the historic David Weisz Co. MGM Auction in 1970. Says Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena, who has handled more Wizard of Ozmemorabilia and props than any other auctioneer, including Dorothys blue dress and the Witchs hourglass: This is the finest example of the Wicked Witchs hat known to exist. Its also the only one to feature inside its brim, M. Hamilton 4461-164 referring, of course, to Margaret Hamilton, the former kindergarten teacher who loved children yet became the source of so many nightmares. Like the slippers, the legendary Adrian designed this iconic piece of Hollywood history during his historic tenure at MGM; the hat is also featured in the book The Wizardry of Oz. To call this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity isnt hyperbole, as the Wicked Witchs hat has changed hands only once in more than half a century. The slippers and hat are joined bythe screen door from Dorothys Kansas home,the gloves Bert Lahr wore as the Cowardly Lionandproducer Mervyn LeRoys copy of the Wizard of Ozscriptfrom the MGM art department, among other historic treasures from the beloved classic. Here, too, is a piece of Hollywood history incorporating the ruby slippers:artist Bill Macks painting of the pair on a panel of the original 1923 Hollywoodland signthat was removed in the late 1970s. But this Hollywood/Entertainment Signature Auctionis rife with such pieces of invaluable cinematic history, the building blocks upon which blockbusters were built, key props from beloved films, magical moments from all your favorite movies and television shows, from The Godfatherto Back to the Future Part II, The Omento NBCs Miami Vice, Jumanjito Rollerball, Cast Awayto the original Star Trekseries (the engineering panel straight from the bridge of theUSS Enterprise). The ruby slippers and Wicked Witchs hat stand at the pinnacle of Hollywood history, summed up Maddalena. The ruby slippers embody magic and innocence that resonate far beyond film, representing a true cultural icon. Meanwhile, the Wicked Witchs hat adds an edge of cinematic legend to this auction. Together, they offer collectors a rare connection to The Wizard of Oz. Yet these are only a fraction of the treasures in this unprecedented event. Its a truly once-in-a-lifetime auction that profoundly, sincerely celebrates film and television history. For more information, visit www.HA.com.