GRAND RAPIDS, Minn.,
May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Are
Judy Garland's ruby slippers in nearby mine pit following a Museum
heist? Witness an underwater search for the iconic red shoes and
dozens of events planned for the 40th Annual "Wizard of
Oz" Festival June 10-13 in Grand Rapids,
Minnesota (not Michigan)!
Oz and Garland trivia, "Jeopardy" games, costume and singing
contests, and a special appearance by Hamilton Meserve, son of
Margaret Hamilton (Oz's Wicked Witch
of the West) are among dozens of events.
There's no place like home, and the Museum, along with Garland's
fully restored childhood home sit on two acres in Grand Rapids, MN (at 2727 U.S. Hwy 169 South,
just northwest of Duluth).
Scuba divers for the Judy Garland Museum will take a plunge into
the Tioga Mine Pit June 11, and
June 12 at 10
a.m., and 1 p.m. to explore
decade-old rumors a pair of authentic ruby slippers – worn by Judy
Garland as Dorothy – were discarded there after a brazen 2005
heist. The Itasca County Sheriff's
Dive Team will go to great depths in its search for the iconic red
shoes following a famous theft that remains unsolved.
"These rumors have been floating around since it happened," says
Jonny Miner, one of the founders of
the popular museum which includes Judy Garland's childhood home,
"and we're finally putting them to the ultimate test."
Diving into the excitement is Ontario-based Tricon Films and Television
shooting live footage of the underwater search for an upcoming
documentary "The Slippers." "The ruby slippers are an
indelible piece of cinematic history and pop culture, and it is an
honor to be able to capture this historic event for my film," said
Producer/Director Morgan White.
"There's no place like home"...in Grand
Rapids, Minnesota (not Michigan)!
For more information about the "Wizard of Oz" Festival or "The
Dive" visit www.judygarlandmuseum.com or jgarland@uslink.net.
Phone: 218-327-9276 or toll free: 1-800-664-JUDY (5839).
Want to be in "The Slippers" movie? Visit
www.judygarlandmuseum.com for directions, and the Itasca County Sheriff's Dive schedule.
Record "Horse-of-a-Different-Color" Carriage Sale!
The original "Horse of a Different Color" carriage ferrying
Dorothy and her friends into the Emerald City will be on exhibit --
and accepting offers -- to benefit the Judy Garland Museum and the
Children's Discovery Museum. The Wiki web site about the classic
1939 "Wizard of Oz" movie says the carriage "was originally made
for President Abraham Lincoln and
given to him as a gift during the Civil War."
The top echelons of Hollywood
"movie-prop" collectors consider the carriage to be a "Holy Grail"
piece, "this is the one and only original used for the
film," Miner explained. "This carriage can also be seen in more than
200 classic Hollywood films."
Owned by a founding member of the Museum, "the 150 year-old
carriage has been showcased at the museum since the mid
1990s," says Museum Director,
John Kelsch. It is one of many
original "Wizard of Oz" artifacts in the world's largest collection
located in Grand Rapids, MN.
Of the carriage, Kelsch also noted "It's a priceless treasure
that deserves to be shared with a broader public. When sold, the proceeds will help
benefit plans to expand, and endow both the Judy Garland Museum,
and our Children's Discovery Museum for future generations," he
continued, "what better place to announce this historic sale than
the town where Judy was born?"
The asking price? Miner smiles while acknowledging that the
carriage probably won't fit the average tourist's budget. "We
will let the true collector's market decide," Miner said. "We've been turning down
impressive million dollar offers on it for years, and professional
appraisers don't dictate value to a true collector -- so it could
break a record in terms of price."
For more information about the "Horse of a Different Color"
carriage sale, or to make an offer,
contact Rob Feeney, 763-412-0771.
Proceeds to benefit the Judy Garland Museum, and the Children's
Discovery Museum in Grand Rapids,
MN.
Three-day festival events:
Thursday, June 11 –
7 p.m. Pianist Josh Gallagher, a native of Eau Claire, Wis., plays his jazzy renditions
of Garland songs. 8 p.m. –
Author Joan Beck Coulson, a native of England, tells of being at Garland's concerts,
TV shows, recording sessions and on the set of her last film.
Friday, June 12 –
10 a.m. Wizard of Oz "Jeopardy" game.
11 a.m. – Author Coulson, "Always for Judy." Noon –
Author, Amanda Michelle Moon,
"Stealing the Ruby Slippers." 1:30
p.m. – Oz historian John
Fricke presents a free "Fun Facts about Oz."
2-4 p.m. -- Dorothy's Farm and Zoo
Animals. 3:30 p.m. -- "Judy in Concert," rare silent
home movies and unheard audio from 1951-69. 5:30-7:30 p.m. – BBQ picnic catered by the
Sawmill Inn at Judy Garland Memorial Garden with music by Jeff Borg
Entertainment. 7:30 p.m. – Wizard
of Oz character costume contest. 9 p.m. – 1939 "The
Wizard of Oz" on jumbo screen under the stars.
Saturday, June 13 – Ozzy
Duo Presentation by John Fricke: 10
a.m. Act One: The Oz that Almost "Woz." 11:30 a.m. Act
Two: Away from the Yellow Brick Road.
Saturday, June 13 – The
Emerald City Festival – 11 a.m. to 2
p.m. — good for kids: carriage rides, pictures with
characters, face painting, hair styling and more. 2 p.m. – Author Brent Phillips, NYU film archivist/preservationist and Turner
Classic Movies special guest programmer: "Judy (Garland), and Chuck Walters," dance director. 5 p.m. –
The Judy Garland Museum Singing Contest. 7 p.m. – Hamilton Meserve, son of Margaret Hamilton (Oz's legendary Wicked Witch
of the West) – "Oz, the Witch and Mom"
For detailed information including driving directions, visit
www.judygarlandmuseum.com/wizard-of-oz-festival. Phone:
218-327-9276/1-800-664-JUDY (5839), or email: jgarland@uslink.net.
Tickets can be purchased on the website.
SIDEBARS
The 40th Annual "Wizard of Oz" Festival celebrates
Grand Rapids, Minnesota's most
famous resident, Frances Ethel Gumm
-- film star and singer Judy Garland – during June 10-13 (Wednesday-Saturday) in this charming town
northwest of Duluth. Facebook or www.judygarlandmuseum.com,
218-327-9276 or toll free: 1-800-664-JUDY (5839). You can also
email us at: jgarland@uslink.net.
"The Dive," Is the Tioga Mine Pit water as murky as the mystery
of the 2005 heist of Dorothy's ruby slippers from the Judy Garland
Museum in Grand Rapids, MN?
Witness yourself the truth of the local legend during an underwater
search Thursday, June 11, at
10 a.m. and 2 p.m, and Friday, June 12, at 10:00
a.m. and 2 p.m. by members of
the Itasca County Sheriff's Dive
Team. For more information on "The Dive," call
612-805-1000. Directions: www.judygarlandmuseum.com or
jgarland@uslink.net. Note: Weather
permitting
Memories of that marvelous color-changing horse in the classic
"Wizard of Oz" film will come alive when its famous carriage that
rolled Dorothy and her friends into the Emerald City is exhibited
for sale at the 40th Annual "Wizard of Oz" Festival"
June 10-13.
Contact John Kelsch,
1-800-664-JUDY (5839), director@cdmkids.org
Contact Jon Miner, 612-805-1000,
jonminer@minergroup.com
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150526/218526
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150526/218527
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150526/218528
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SOURCE Judy Garland Museum