It’s the 80th anniversary of the classic novel ‘Gone With the Wind’ and the Marietta Gone with the Wind Museum held a special celebration last weekend in honor of the anniversary.
A range of special guests spoke at the event including Daniel Selznick, son of David O. Selznick, who produced the movie. Tickets were $180 for the entire weekend, $45 for individual events and $90 for just the Friday night dinner and panel.
Friday night events took place at Mount Paran’s Murray Arts Center Grand Lobby and Theatre and included a dinner in the lobby, followed by an interview with Selznick in the theater.
Saturday’s schedule began at 9 a.m. with “The Collector.”
“Chris Sullivan, who owns the museum’s collection, sat on a panel with several other collectors “talking about how they started collecting,” said Connie Sutherland, museum director.
The event was held at Marietta City Hall.
Events included a “Thank You Margaret Mitchell” event. Various authors also spoke about the life and work of the novel’s celebrated author.
There was another panel on Saturday night featuring Dr. Kate Barnett, Dave Saenz and Daniel Selznick.
“Barnett is the daughter of Kay Brown who brought the book to the attention of David Selznick, prompting him to produce the movie. Last weekend was the first time Barnett and Selznick ever met,” according to an article in the Marietta Daily Journal. “Following the panel was a “Saving Tara” event featuring Peter Bonner, who has spent his life digging into the truth behind Margaret Mitchell’s statement, ‘practically all of the stories in ‘Gone with the Wind’ were true.’ He has taken this idea and created the “only” Gone with the Wind Tour in the world.”
Also at the celebration were pieces of Tara, the home of Scarlett O’Hara in the movie, which were put on display for people who attended.
The weekend was concluded on Sunday with a live auction and an autograph opportunity with special guests.
Up for auction was the documentary, “Making of a Legend” made in 1988 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the book.