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*The black loafers worn by Michael Jackson during rehearsals for his iconic “Motown 25” special in 1983 — and possibly the show itself — have moonwalked toward a Los Angeles-based auction block with an opening price of $10,000.
The King of Pop wore the Florsheim Imperial leather shoes while running through his performance of “Billie Jean” for the TV special, according to the catalog description from GWS Auctions, who will put the shoes and several other pieces of Jackson memorabilia up for sale on May 26, a few months ahead of what would have been MJ’s 60th birthday.
“Anything related to Michael Jackson is extraordinary, and to have something so incredibly historical as these shoes worn by Michael when he first did that now famous moonwalk is beyond special,” Brigitte Kruse, owner of GWS Auctions, told CNN. “We are so very honored to be able to offer them at auction.”
According to the auction house, the loafers were owned by choreographer Lester Wilson, who said Jackson gave him the shoes in his dressing room after rehearsing with his brothers for the special.
It’s possible he also wore them during the performance, GWS said, since he reportedly referred to the pair as his “magic shoes.”
They’ve been kept in “wonderful” condition for their age, though there are some evident signs of age on the soles, Kruse said.
The loafers are marked “Motown 25” and signed “Michael Jackson” on the soles in blue marker. One of the shoes is also numbered “Michael #2.”
Other Jackson-related items up for auction include his red Christian Dior cardigan and his Swarovski-studded riding helmet.
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