Marietta museum set for ‘Gone With the Wind’ 80th anniversary celebration

Dec. 15, 1939 - Seating at the Atlanta premiere of 'Gone With the Wind,' from left to right: Jock Whitney, Margaret Mitchell, John Marsh, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Mayor William Hartsfield.

Credit: AJC FILE

Credit: AJC FILE

Dec. 15, 1939 - Seating at the Atlanta premiere of 'Gone With the Wind,' from left to right: Jock Whitney, Margaret Mitchell, John Marsh, Clark Gable, Carole Lombard and Mayor William Hartsfield.

Break out the hoop skirts: It’s been almost 80 years since the film version of Gone With the Wind was unleashed on the world and a Marietta museum is ready to party.

The “80 Years of Gone with the Wind” event will be held June 21-23 at the Marietta Gone With the Wind Museum at Historic Brumby Hall, located at 472 Powder Springs Street. Tickets for the entire weekend are $250 and range from $35 to $50 for individual events.

The legendary film premiered in Atlanta at Loew's Grand Theatre on Dec. 15, 1939. It stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in a fictional story about the life of Southern belle Scarlett O’Hara before, during and after the Civil War.

Atlanta native Margaret Mitchell’s literary classic, which was released in 1936, was adapted into a movie by director Victor Fleming.

Museum Director Connie Sutherland said this year’s event will include discussions with people who have a tie to the film, including Michael Westmore, son of Monte Westmore, who supervised hair and makeup for the movie; stage actor Miller Lide, a longtime friend of Vivien Leigh; and the male actors who portrayed the Beau Wilkes character at various stages of his life in the film.

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Sutherland said she has already sold more than 250 tickets for the three-day weekend events.

“The anniversary events are a little more special,” she said. “We go a little more out there for it.”

These celebrations also attract film and book fans from around the world. Sutherland said she expects a dedicated group of United Kingdom citizens to make the trip to Georgia. The international visitors, she said, are mostly members of the Vivien Leigh Circle, a group dedicated to keeping the British-born actress' memory alive.

“People plan vacations around this,” Sutherland said.

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The Gone With the Wind Museum originally opened in April 2003 in the Old Thomas Warehouse Building. It relocated to Historic Brumby Hall in 2018, and Sutherland said is the only place in the country that has an original dress worn by Leigh.

A Bengaline Honeymoon Gown worn by Vivien Leigh in her role as Scarlett is flanked by reproductions by Museum Replica.

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Sutherland said she believes the film remains a classic because “it’s a story about survival” and revolves around characters who press on through life despite their circumstances. The people who were involved in bringing the movie to audiences knew they were producing something special, she added.

“They weren’t wrong,” she said. “It’s a very special movie. It’s a special book and that’s what we are remembering and celebrating here.”

You can view the full three-day itinerary by visiting the Gone With the Wind Museum website.

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