Gone With The Wind Museum

HOLLYWOOD COMES TO MARIETTA!

The Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, Scarlett on the Square, recently hosted an event entitled The Heart & History of Hollywood. On June 30th, a black-tie dinner was held at the Marietta Country Club for more than 130 Gone With the Wind lovers who enjoyed the opportunity to interact with the museums special guests, actress Ann Rutherford and host of Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne. The evening was filled with applause and standing ovations as the two were introduced and entered the ballroom for the evening. Taking his place on stage, Mr. Osborne talked of his own career in Hollywood as an actor, writer, and historian. He also interviewed Ms. Rutherford about her more than 70 movies, including her role as “Scarlett’s” little sister, “Carreen” in Gone With the Wind. The audience couldn’t get enough of the ‘behind the scenes’ discussion from the celebrities, as hands went up each time questions were allowed. Ms. Rutherford looked radiant in her bright pink outfit (one of her favorite colors) as she addressed each question with great care and intensity. Mr. Osborne, handsome and debonair as always, had the audience laughing as he chided Ms. Rutherford about the handsome leading men she had worked with in her movies.

The dinner fare received raved reviews, as did the beautifully renovated room with veranda overlooking the golf course, lake, and Kennesaw Mountain. Coupled with the beautiful evening gowns worn by the female guests and the handsome black-tied gentlemen who accompanied them, the evening was a night to remember. Hand fans and programs boasting The Heart & History of Hollywood were given to each guest upon arrival as a keepsake of the special evening.

For those who just couldn’t get enough of our special guests, Sunday, July 1st at the museum offered “Autographs & Photographs.” The lines led all the way to the front door of the museum with Gone With the Wind fans holding memorabilia to be autographed. Mr. Osborne and Ms. Rutherford sat for hours side by side at an autograph table, a large backdrop of Gone With the Wind behind them, and flanked by huge posters of their own likenesses.

During the autographing, Ms. Rutherford received a special visit from a gentleman named Olen Gunnin and his lovely wife. Mr. Gunnin met Ms. Rutherford on December 15, 1939 at the Atlanta airport just prior to the premiere of Gone With the Wind when he was a senior in high school. A bass drummer in the Russell High School Band, Mr. Gunnin was fortunate enough to have received an autograph from Ms. Rutherford, who signed the bass drum he held. The band was chosen to provide the music for the cast as they awaited the arrival of Clark Gable’s plane that day. He brought with him the photograph taken of that effort and Ms. Rutherford signed it for him with great delight and appreciation. It was a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moment for Ms. Rutherford, Mr. Gunnin, and all the fans lucky enough to witness the meeting.

The Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum holds at least one major event each year that includes cast members from the movie. Lovers of Gone With the Wind (known as “windies”) come from all over the country to attend. This year’s event even brought some international guests from Germany.

Plans are already in the making for our next event in 2008, so check our website often for information as it becomes available.

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