NEW YORK (AP) – The dramatic cult costume story of the movie “Witch of Oz”, lost for decades, underwent another change Monday when a judge blocked a scheduled auction.
One of the blue and white gingham dresses Judy Garland wore in 1939 for the role of Dorothy. Part of the Hollywood Memorabilia auction announced Tuesday by the American Catholic University in Los Angeles. The dress was rediscovered at school last year in a shoe box while preparing for the renovation.
Auctioneer Bonhams listed the dress on presale for $ 800,000 to $ 1.2 million before it was announced.
But U.S. District Judge Paul Gardef in Manhattan upheld the custody motion after hearing a lawsuit filed by a relative of Father Gilbert Hartke, who worked at the university and the lawsuit was filed in 1973.
Hartke died in 1986; The granddaughter, Barbara Ann Hartke, 81, filed a lawsuit against the school and the auctioneer earlier this month after the media emerged that the dress had been auctioned off.
In the suit, he said that as his uncle’s closest living relative, the suit belonged to him. He said it was personally given to him by actor Mercedes McCambridge.
According to his lawsuit, the university “has no interest in owning the garment because … there is no document proving that the deceased donated the garment formally or informally to the Catholic University.”
In a lawsuit against plaintiff, school attorneys said that as a Dominican priest, Hartke promised to “never accept gifts of his own volition” and that the dress would not be considered part of any property.
Catholic University officials said the dress disappeared decades after it was given to Hartke, then head of the acting department.
She wore several versions of Garland’s dress to the filming; Auctioneer Bonhams said what was found at a Catholic university was one of two that included a blouse and Garland wore it to West Wicked Witch Castle.
Bonhams did not comment.
In a statement, university attorneys said, “We look forward to presenting our position and full evidence contradicting Ms. Hartke’s claim during this court proceeding.”
An email was sent to Hartke’s lawyer asking for comment.
Source: Huffpost
