April 4, 2019

CONTACT: Connie Sutherland

Director, Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum

CSutherland@mariettaga.gov

 770.794.5145   

www.GWTWMarietta.com

MARIETTA – It’s 80 years and counting, since the Academy Award-winning movie, “Gone With the Wind,” premiered, yet the 1939 film classic starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable remains one of the most popular movies of all time. On June 21 to 23, 2019, this milestone will be celebrated with cast members, theater and film stars, authors and lecturers, and even an Oscar winner; plus, a movie wardrobe presentation, live auction of GWTW memorabilia, and surprises galore. The event is hosted by the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum at Historic Brumby Hall in Georgia, which has drawn visitors from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. Visit www.GWTWMarietta.com for information, or on Facebook.

The Stars

From the Westmore dynasty of Hollywood makeup and groundbreaking special effects in almost every movie made in the last century, comes Michael Westmore, son of Monte Westmore who supervised the entirety of makeup and hair for “Gone With the Wind” in 1939. Westmore is an Oscar-winner for his work on the movie “Mask” which co-starred actor Eric Stoltz as the disfigured son of screen-mom “Cher.” You may also know him as mentor on the SyFy series “Face-Off,” which was hosted by daughter Mackenzie.

Another headliner for the event will be Miller Lide, theater actor and long-time friend of actress Vivien Leigh. The two met when he won the role of Pyotr in the Broadway production of Chekhov’s “Ivanov” which also starred Sir John Gielgud.  Lide toured the U.S. with Katharine Hepburn in Enid Bagnold’s “A Matter of Gravity” and played two seasons with the American Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Connecticut.

From “Gone With the Wind:” child star Mickey Kuhn (Beau Wilkes), who co-starred in “Red River” with John Wayne, “Juarez” with Bette David, and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” with Vivien Leigh; Patrick Curtis (Baby Beau), who played Buzz on “Leave It To Beaver and wed Raquel Welch; and Greg Giese, who was less than 2 weeks old when he was cast as infant Bonnie Blue Butler and infant Beau in “Gone With the Wind.” Actress Morgan Brittany, who played Vivien Leigh (playing Scarlett) in the TV production of “The Scarlett O’Hara War,” with Tony Curtis, and on the big screen in “Gable and Lombard,” with James Brolin as Rhett, will also make a return visit.

But, wait-there’s more!  Traveling to Marietta from Australia, is actress Susie Lindeman, who will reprise her role as Vivien Leigh in “Letter To Larry,” an original play written by Donald Macdonald. The actress has received accolades far and wide, for her portrayal of the tormented Leigh and her passionate relationship with husband Laurence Olivier.  Touted by THEATREWORLD as "High-voltage, intimate, radiant. A dramatic, tour-de-force.

Joining the vast lineup is Gone With the Wind collector and co-author of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind: A Bestseller’s Odyssey From Atlanta to Hollywood (with Ellen Brown), and editor of The Scarlett Letters.  Wiley’s collection boasts a full library of foreign editions of Margaret Michell’s famous book.

The Events

Friday’s excitement includes “John Wiley: Keeper of the Flame;” “Miller Lide: Stars in My Eyes;” and “Michael Westmore: Makeup Man.” Saturday brings “Beauty and the Beaus“ (stars from Gone With the Wind, Kuhn, Curtis, and Giese, and Brittany from Gable and Lombard;”), “Curtains and Crinoline: The Costumes of GWTW”; “Picture This!” with costumes galore and a chance to be in an ad for the museum; and “Letter To Larry,” a one-woman play starring Lindeman;. On Sunday, the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum will have a live auction followed by an autograph signing with the actors and authors. Itinerary available on website.

A Weekend of ‘Wind’

The Hilton Marietta Hotel and Conference Center is offering a special rate for the June 21-23 weekend. For reservations, click

www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/A/ATLMAHF-GWTW-20140604/index.jhtml.

Tickets for “Eighty Years of Gone With the Wind” are on sale now. Tickets to individual events are available, or a discounted weekend ticket package that includes all events is $250 (a savings of $50). Tickets and information: Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum, 770-794-5145, www.GWTWMarietta.com.

MEDIA NOTE: ALL ACTORS, EXPERTS AND AUTHORS ARE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS. CONTACT CONNIE SUTHERLAND FOR ARRANGEMENTS

ABOUT THE MARIETTA GONE WITH THE WIND MUSEUM │ The Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum houses the privately-owned collection of Dr. Chris Sullivan of Ohio. The collection features artifacts relating to the novel and film, including original scripts and contracts, conceptual artwork, a foreign edition library and the original bengaline honeymoon gown worn by Vivien Leigh in her role as “Scarlett.” Group tours and facility rentals are available by reservation. Special events held annually. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Closed Sundays. facebook/MariettaGoneWiththeWindMuseum