Commemorating the 70th Anniversary
of One of the Great
Epic Films of All Time,
the Winner of 10
Academy Awards,
Hollywood Blvd Cinema
is pleased to Host the
World’s Largest Collection of Memorabilia from
“Gone
with the Wind”
Continuing through April 28, 2010, Chicagoland’s Best Movie Theater is pleased to exhibit the Shaw-Tumblin
Collection of items from this Classic Motion Picture.
Admission to the new Hollywood Blvd
Museum is absolutely free and the regular $8 price
for adult evening admission is still the best movie-going bargain in town!
One of the greatest films of all time, “Gone with the Wind” is one of the most enduring symbols of the golden age of Hollywood, winning an unprecedented 10 Academy Awards, a record that stood for twenty years. The American Film Institute ranked this Epic as its 4th Best Film ever and it is considered the prototype of the Hollywood blockbuster. “Gone with the Wind” has sold more tickets in the U.S. than any other film in history.
Among the many items on display are…..
- A memo from Director Victor Fleming requesting that his name be removed from the credits of “The Wizard of Oz” which he left during shooting when called upon by his pal Clark Gable, who insisted Fleming become the new Director of “Gone with the Wind”.
- Director George Cukor’s letter of resignation from “Gone with the Wind” which was due to repeated confrontations with Clark Gable.
- Vivian Leigh’s hand written thank you note to George Cukor for casting her in the role of Scarlett O’Hara.
- The prop check used to pay off the mortgage on Tara to “them Yankee Carpetbaggers”.
- The Oscar presented to cameraman Arthur Arling, the camera operator on “Gone with the Wind”.
- Many wardrobe items including several Clark Gable outfits, the dress worn by Vivian Leigh while riding a carriage in the “Attack in Shantytown” scene, and her blouse which was worn several ways in different scenes, most notably when nursing the Confederate wounded during the Battle of Atlanta. Also dresses worn by Olivia deHavilland as ‘Melanie’ and Ona Munson as brothel owner Belle Watling a Confederate uniform worn by actor Leslie Howard, this one when torn and shabby when returning home at war’s end along with a prop Confederate rental flag and musket used by rebel soldiers in the move.
- A highlight is designer Walter Plunkett’s original sketch for Scarlett’s green sprig party dress along with the original wide brim hat, sash and this single piece of fabric are all that remain of the original, worn in the opening Twelve Oaks barbeque sequence. Also the deep blue velvet dress and hat worn by Cammie King Conlon as young Bonnie Blue Butler. Cammie has been a guest here at Hollywood Blvd. for screenings of “Gone with the Wind” and remembers fondly, “Here I was, hugged, kissed and put to bed by Clark Gable and I was too young to appreciate it.“
- Pre-production design paintings created by Wilbur Kurtz who was the Technical Advisor for “Gone with the Wind”.
- Academy Award Winning Composer Max Steiner’s hand written musical score for “Gone with the Wind”.
- Personal property of actress Butterfly McQueen, including pages from scrapbook, her handwritten Last Will & Testament, a fan letter with personal notations, a letter from Producer David Selznick thanking her for her work in “Gone with the Wind” and the remains of her scorched Golden Globe Award from the fire that tragically took her life in 1995.
- Original contract for 11 day old Greg Giese who portrayed both Bonnie Blue Butler and Beau Wilkes as babies. Notice that 95 cents was deducted from his wages for an old age pension.
- Audition script given to a very young Barbara Jean Keith for her Screen Test as Rhett & Scarlett’s daughter “Bonnie Blue Butler”. Years later Keith changed her name to Barbara Eden, best known for her starring adult role in “I Dream of Jeannie”.
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