Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz Dress Has $1 Million Auction Blocked By Judge

The iconic Wizard of Oz dress worn by Judy Garland in the classic film has recently resurfaced, but is now the focal point of a legal battle.

Judy Garland's Wizard of Oz Dress Has $1 Million Auction Blocked By Judge

An iconic dress worn by actress Judy Garland for her role in The Wizard of Oz is currently the center of a legal battle. The Wizard of Oz is one of Hollywood’s most memorable films, leaving an impression on multiple generations since its release way back in 1939. Based on the novel by L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz was such an enormous success that it has inspired several animated series, Broadway shows, and even a prequel starring James Franco as Oz.

Judy Garland was only 16-years-old when she brought Dorothy, the young farm girl from Kansas, to life on the big screen. In the movie, Dorothy’s character embarks on a magical journey to return home, encountering colorful characters, vibrant locations, and catchy songs that have been embedded in the minds of audiences for close to a century. Dorothy is easily identified by her iconic sparkling, ruby slippers, and Garland’s blue and white checkered dress. Several of these dresses were made in order to film The Wizard of Oz, but one in particular is still garnering attention. Garland’s famous Wizard of Oz costume was gifted to Father Gilbert Hartke, a drama professor at Catholic University. However, Hartke passed away in 1986, and the dress was recently rediscovered in a storage room at the university.

Now, Catholic University has run into some legal obstacles after deciding to auction off the iconic The Wizard of Oz dress. Initially, the pre-sale estimate for the dress was set at $800,000 to $1.2 million. However, according to NBC News, the auction has been forcibly delayed by a Manhattan judge. The decision was made after Hartke’s niece, 81-year-old Barbara Ann Hartke, filed a lawsuit against the school and auctioneer earlier this month.

The dress in question was worn by Garland during the scene where Dorothy confronts The Wicked Witch at the castle. While it was given to Hartke by a former student, the professor left the Wizard of Oz memorabilia behind when he resigned from his teaching position years later. After resurfacing, the Catholic University revealed their intentions to sell the dress. In her lawsuit, Hartke said that as her uncle’s closest living relative, Garland’s dress is rightfully hers, after being given to him as “a personal gift” by actress Mercedes McCambridge.

Although Hartke’s niece may have a valid claim to the item, Catholic University argues that the professor vowed never to personally benefit from any donations given to him as an individual. The fact that Father Hartke seemingly chose to leave the dress behind further complicates the matter. For now, the judge’s temporary embargo will be maintained until ownership of The Wizard of Oz dress is determined. Historical cases such as these are often difficult to call, given the hearsay nature of the evidence many years later. However, further updates in this matter are expected in the coming months as the battle for who this piece of movie history will be granted to goes on.