A foyer card from the movie ‘The Wizard Of Oz.,’ presentations a movie nonetheless of a scene through which American actress Judy Garland (1922 – 1969) (as Dorothy) wipes tears from the eyes of actor Bert Lahr (1895 – 1967) (because the Cowardly Lion), whilst watched by way of Jack Haley (1898 – 1979) (because the Tin Guy) (left), and Ray Bolger (1904 – 1987) (because the Scarecrow), 1939. The movie used to be directed by way of Victor Fleming.
Hulton Archive | Moviepix | Getty Pictures
Put out of your mind the ruby slippers. Dorothy’s get dressed is now essentially the most contentious piece of clothes within the Land of Oz..
The niece of a long-dead priest is suing a New York public sale space to dam the sale of one in all Judy Garland’s iconic Dorothy frocks from the 1939 vintage movie “The Wizard of Oz..”
The get dressed used to be lacking for many years ahead of it used to be discovered at a Catholic college remaining 12 months. The priest’s niece, Barbara Hartke, says the precious piece of Hollywood memorabilia belonged to her past due uncle.
The blue and white gingham get dressed, believed to be one in all six unique attire from the movie is slated to be offered at public sale on Would possibly 24 and may just snare anyplace between $800,000 and $1.2 million, Bonhams New York mentioned.
The get dressed used to be a present from Mercedes McCambridge, an Academy Award-winning actress and pal of Garland’s who used to be artist-in-residence at The Catholic College of The united states in Washington, D.C., between 1972 and 1973, to Dominican Father Gilbert Hartke, founding father of the college’s drama division. (McCambridge, by the way, is understood for offering the voice of the demon in 1973’s religious-horror vintage “The Exorcist,” which used to be shot and set in D.C.)
Alternatively, after Gilbert Hartke died in 1986, nobody knew what had grow to be of the gown and it used to be regarded as misplaced. In June of remaining 12 months, the get dressed used to be present in a white trash bag above the college mail slots right through a renovation of the college’s Hartke Theater.
Whilst Catholic College has claimed possession of the get dressed, Hartke’s 81-year-old niece argues that the get dressed belongs to his property as a result of McCambridge “particularly and publicly” gave it to Gilbert Hartke.
Barbara Hartke, who lives in Wisconsin, named the college and the public sale space as defendants in her lawsuit, which used to be filed Tuesday in New york federal courtroom.
The go well with seeks an injunction from the courtroom that will save you the public sale from happening.
“The College is reviewing the allegations made within the lawsuit at the moment and can supply more information after a radical evaluation of the grievance,” mentioned a spokesperson for the college.
A representatives for Bonhams didn’t straight away reply to CNBC’s request for remark.
– CNBC’s Dan Mangan contributed to this record.