Kent Phillip Warner (March 8, 1943 – April 25, 1984) was a costume designer, best known for finding and acquiring the

ruby slippers The ruby slippers are a pair of magical shoes worn by Dorothy Gale as played by Judy Garland in the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical film '' The Wizard of Oz''. Because of their iconic stature, they are as of December 2024 the most valuable it ...

from the film ''

The Wizard of Oz ''The Wizard of Oz'' is a 1939 American Musical film, musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Based on the 1900 novel ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' by L. Frank Baum, it was primarily directed by Victor Fleming, who left pro ...

o the 1970 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Auction.''

Career

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

(MGM) was sold in 1969, and as a cost-cutting measure, MGM President James T. Aubrey decided to hold a May 1970 auction of hundreds of thousands of props and wardrobe. Warner was hired to help catalog and prepare for the auction. He is known to have found four pairs used in the film (of five that have surfaced) on the MGM backlot. One pair became a centerpiece of the auction. He later sold all but one of the other pairs, keeping for himself the size 5B pair believed to have been worn by

Judy Garland Judy Garland (born Frances Ethel Gumm; June 10, 1922June 22, 1969) was an American actress and singer. Possessing a strong contralto voice, she was celebrated for her emotional depth and versatility across film, stage, and concert performance. ...

for static and closeup shots, which were in the best condition of the known pairs. He later sold them through Christie's East in 1981 for $12,000. Movie star and noted film memorabilia collector

Debbie Reynolds Mary Frances "Debbie" Reynolds (April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016) was an American actress, singer and entrepreneur. Her acting career spanned almost 70 years. Reynolds performed on stage and television and in films into her 80s. She was nom ...

purchased an early version of the slippers, a very elaborate curled-toe "Arabian" pair that was rejected for the film, from Warner. Kent Warner died in 1984 of complications of

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

at the age of 41. He is buried at

Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills is one of the six Forest Lawn cemeteries in Southern California, United States. It is located at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles. History The first Fo ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Warner, Kent 1943 births 1984 deaths American costume designers AIDS-related deaths in California Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)