The Ruby Slippers, Madonna's Bra, and Einstein's Brain: The Locations of America's Pop Culture Artifacts

Chris Epting

Mar 2006 · Santa Monica Press

About this ebook

Anyone who has ever wondered where Dorothy's ruby slippers, George Washington's teeth, or the world's largest olive are located will be thrilled to take this journey to find hundreds of the most important items from America's popular culture. Found in such major institutions as the Smithsonian and the Basketball Hall of Fame as well as in such offbeat collections as the Sing Sing Prison Museum and the Delta Blues Museum, these pop culture treasures include the most famous—and quirkiest—items from movies, crime, TV, sports, music, history, and America's roadside attractions.

The Ruby Slippers, Madonna's Bra, and Einstein's Brain is divided into the following chapters: American Curiosities, Roadside Relics, Historic Artifacts, Criminal Remains, Celebrity Antiquities, Movie and Television Keepsakes, Music Mementos, and Sports Memorabilia. There's even a list of the Top Ten Missing in Action Pop Culture Artifacts.

Some of the most fascinating treasures found in the book include:
The Cardiff Giant
Thomas Edison's Last Breath
World's Largest Ball of Twine
George Washington's Teeth
Lizzie Borden's Axe
John Wilkes Booth's Thorax
Watergate File Cabinet
Abraham Zapruder's Camera
Tom Thumb's Wedding Cake
Casablanca Piano
Easy Rider Motorcycle
Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock Guitar
Elvis Presley's Report Card
Paul "Bear" Bryant's Hat
Miracle on Ice Skates

About the author

Chris Epting is the author of numerous books, including James Dean Died Here, Led Zeppelin Crashed Here, Marilyn Monroe Dyed Here, and Roadside Baseball. He has contributed articles to such publications as the Los Angeles Times, Westways, Travel + Leisure, and Preservation magazine. He lives in Huntington Beach, California, with his wife and their two children.