The stolen ruby slippers just sold for $28 million at auction—who bought them and why?
This episode covers the Hulu documentary "Ruby Red-Handed," which details the 2005 theft of the ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in *The Wizard of Oz*. Hosts Patrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle, known for their comedic and passionate true crime coverage, analyze the film and the case. They frame the slippers as arguably the most famous and valuable piece of movie memorabilia in history.
The documentary focuses on the theft from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, during an annual festival. It features collector Michael Shaw, who owned and loaned the screen-worn slippers, and Sergeant Bob Stein, the initial investigating officer. The film reveals the security failures, including a disabled emergency exit alarm and an inadequate motion detector, which facilitated the theft. A $1 million insurance policy was contested because the museum had deactivated its alarm due to children repeatedly triggering it.
One surprising claim is that Judy Garland's mother was abusive and introduced her to drugs, a stark contrast to the town's idyllic portrayal. The hosts find it remarkable that Michael Shaw, despite calling the slippers his most prized possession, did not sue the museum or hire a private investigator. They repeatedly note the documentary's lack of openly gay commentators, given *The Wizard of Oz*'s iconic status in LGBTQ+ culture. An interesting detail is that a single sequin from a slipper was found at the crime scene.
The hosts express shock that a museum would disable its alarm because children were playing with an emergency exit. They debate the shared responsibility between Shaw, who declined a nightly safe storage protocol, and the museum's lax security. The documentary's structure, filmed partly in 2018 and concluding with a 2024 resolution, is praised. The hosts are fascinated by collector Michael Shaw's apartment, which also housed props like the Maltese Falcon statue.
The tone is highly conversational, humorous, and digressive, with the hosts sharing personal anecdotes like Gillian's childhood Wicked Witch costumes. The style is critique blended with fan commentary, as they both review the documentary and geek out over film history. They maintain a lively, opinionated, and often sarcastic energy throughout.
This episode is perfect for fans of *The Wizard of Oz*, pop culture history, or true crime stories involving non-violent heists. Listeners who enjoy the hosts' trademark tangents and gay-centric humor will love it. Those seeking a straightforward, serious crime narrative or who are indifferent to the hosts' comedic asides might want to skip it.
