Michael Jackson shoes up for auction have local tie
The shoes Michael Jackson wore to perform the moonwalk are up for auction and, of course, they have ties to Milwaukee.
The King of Pop referred to the black leather loafers as his “magic shoes,” and the top bid stood at $50,000 Monday.
The loafers with tassels were made by the Chicago-based shoemaker Florsheim. The shoes were part of the company’s Imperial line.
Florsheim was purchased by Glendale-based Weyco Group Inc. in 2002. The distributor also sells Nunn Bush, Stacy Adams, BOGS, Rafters and Umi.
Weyco’s top executives include Chairman Emeritus Thomas W. Florsheim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Thomas W. Florsheim Jr. and President and Chief Operating Officer John W. Florsheim. They are the fifth generation to oversee the company that was founded by John Florsheim in 1892 in Chicago.
The auction description says MJ wore the Florsheim Imperial loafers during the rehearsal of “Billie Jean.” That’s the first time Jackson ever performed his moonwalk move on stage. Photos confirm that Jackson wore them during the “Billie Jean” rehearsals, the auction site says.
The pop icon also wore the loafers to rehearse for the “Motown 25” television special.
Jackson premiered the move during his performance of “Billie Jean” on “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” that was broadcast in 1983. It became the superstar’s signature move.
The song “Billie Jean” and the album “Thriller” both went No. 1, making Jackson the first star to have a No. 1 pop single, pop album, R&B single and R&B album simultaneously. Jackson died in 2009.
The right shoe is signed by the music icon while the other is labeled for the event with “Motown 25” written on it in blue marker.
Choreographer and dancer Lester Wilson said Jackson gave him the shoes in his dressing room after rehearsing with his brother for the “Motown 25” special. Wilson wrote a typed and signed letter confirming the shoes’ authenticity.
In case you’re considering actually wearing the loafers, the description says they are “in wonderful condition for their age, with evident signs of use to the soles.” The size isn’t listed.
The cost for a new pair of Florsheim Imperial loafers, never worn by the King of Pop, starts at $135.