February 23rd, 2012
11:38 AM ET
Leo DiCaprio helps 'Oz' slippers find homeLeonardo DiCaprio is known to use his wealth to help save the environment, but the actor has also used his earnings to help conserve a piece of Hollywood history. Thanks to DiCaprio leading a group of "angel donors," the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures has acquired a set of the ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz." (We're gong to guess the actor has no problems with that Oscars snub.) According to a statement from the Academy, DiCaprio's generosity to the Academy Foundation, along with gifts from other Hollywood A-listers like Steven Spielberg, helped the Academy to purchase the iconic footwear.
The pair of ruby slippers acquired by the Academy is one of four pairs known to exist, the organization says. The pair DiCaprio helped to purchase are called the "Witch's Shoes," because they were likely seen on the Wicked Witch of the East when Dorothy's house fell on her in the film. They're also likely the pair Dorothy, as played by Judy Garland, had on in close-ups, such as in the memorable scene when she clicks the heels of the red shoes three times to head home. A costumer had kept this pair of slippers from the "Oz" set as part of his private collection before selling them at an auction in 1981. They were then sold again to another collector in 1988, before finally landing in the hands of the Academy this year.
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Too harsh of me. I kind of like him in some things.
Reggae sensation Alborosie announces a soon to be released song that he recorded with Amy Winehouse.I just finished editing this interview – you are all the first to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPEr6NO-aRQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J3ZiiUWkQs
just a pair of slippers? they had a pre-auction estimate of two to three million dollars but i thought the pair was stolen from the museum many years ago but maybe it was a different set or im remembering wrong?
check out this article http://www.profilesinhistory.com/press-releases/ruby-slippers-from-the-wizard-of-oz-to-be-auctioned-press-release
Um, exactly how many investors/angel investors/Steven Spielbergs/Leonardo DiCaprios were needed to buy a pair of shoes? We're not talking about the Hope Diamond here...
Said the shoes were worth two or three mill $. Wonder what they paid?
that was such a nice thing for that man to do. i wonder how he got them from that wicked witch. she probably wasn't happy bout that. oh mr bobby john, i hope u change yur pants before our date. i no wht ya mean, though, she scared something out of me too.
O lawd I jess wached dat movie fer da furst time. It wuz scari, I thinked I tinkled a bit in me genes win dat green gurl throwed da fire at da scarcrow.
Finally a piece of news that doesn't make me regret logging on to CNN. I always get so depressed after reading news. It's all bad these days.
This is the nicest news I have heard in days!! Thanks Leo xo