When I visited Margaret Mitchell House, I only knew her book by its title since it famous around the world. I haven’t read her book nor watched the movie made of it even at that time. In short, I know nothing about the story that surrounds the book or the movie made.
I visited Margaret’s House last November 20, 2015 while I was in Atlanta for a few weeks work assignment. I wasn’t able to write this post immediately because my plate are full of list to write about my previous travels. And at that time I can’t write anything about my visit in her house until I read her book or watched the movie.
After almost two years from the time that I visited Margaret Mitchell’s House, I had a chance to watched the movie. I bought the movie in iTunes few months ago during its sale but I wasn’t able to watched it as soon as I bought it because it requires almost 9 GB space in my phone since its HD version. Before watching the movie, I had no idea what’s the context of the famous book. The movie is classic and to be able to watch it in my phone is a luxury. I was amazed that in 1939, they were able to create a Technicolor movie.
It was Friday, November 20, 2015, my last whole day in Atlanta as the next day was my return flight to my country. I went out early from work. I was trying to think where to go because I had few hours left in Atlanta. While looking at some city brochures that I had in my hotel room, I decided to visit downtown. From hotel, I took shuttle bus towards MARTA Airport Station. From Airport Station, I got off at Midtown Station. I found myself along 10th St NE. While I was looking on the photos of Margaret’s House in my phone, I found the house from a far but I hesitated at first because the house was not exactly the same in the photos that I was looking, but Google Maps is telling me that I was few steps away from it. I approached the house in front of me and then I saw a sign that confirmed that I was looking at the right house.
–Margaret Mitchell House from Crescent Ave. NE
I walked towards the door of the house and there I saw hope that it was open for visitors. I went inside and I asked if the house was open for a tour, they confirmed that it was. I bought a ticket for my visit to the museum. They also informed me that there was a guided tour that I can still join for that day. While I was waiting for the scheduled guided tour, I still have time for self-guided round in the house museum and I started exploring the house.
STARS FALL ON ATLANTA : THE PREMIERE OF GONE WITH THE WIND
First part of exhibition that I saw are all about the movie made from the book. Its famous premier event which considered a huge and significant event happened in Atlanta. After seeing the exhibits, I understand how important the movie for the city even the mayor itself at that time involved himself to make sure that the premier of the movie will be really happening in his city.
A part of the house focused on the film made out of the book. And because the premiere of the movie decided to happen in Atlanta, the event became a historical as the famous Hollywood stars came to the city. Both political figures, businessmen, civic social club and media people made the event really special.
–Showing the hype of the premier event of the movie held in Atlanta
–Original Paintings of Gone With the Wind by Dan Sayre Groesback displayed at Loew’s Grand Theatre foyer for the film premier.
Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler
Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes and Olivia De Havilland as Melanie Hamilton
The photos above shows the main actors of the movie that gives life for the character of Scarlet O’hara, Ashley Wilkes, Rhett Butler, and Melanie Hamilton.
–Loew’s Grand Theatre Premiere by Kenneth G. Rogers
Show that thousand people went to the premier to be able to see the stars.
–Loew’s Grand Theatre while it is existed before the fire broke out and before it was demolished.
–During the visit of the main actors in the movie
–During the visit of Rhett Butler at Five Points
–During the parade from airport to Georgian Terrace Hotel
–During Women’s Press Club
–When Clark Gable and Margaret Mitchell met
–Some news about the place where the movie “Gone With The Wind” to be premiered
–Constructing the Loew’s Facade
–Loew’s Grand Theatre Seats
–Aunt Pittypat Arrives at the Junior League Ball
–Seats of Margaret Mitchell and Clark Gable
–Loew’s Grand Seating Chart for the premiere of Gone With the Wind December 15, 1939
–The Grand March at the Junior League Ball and Margaret Palmer wearing Scarlett’s Dress
–Hattie McDaniel as Mammy
–Atlanta Municipal Auditorium Stage, Junior League Ball and Junior League Ball Program
BEYOND THE PAGES & BEHIND THE SCENES
When I visited another building just beside Margaret Mitchell’s House, I discovered additional exhibits which shows the adaptation of the book to a film. It also displays the facsimile of storyboards and other movie materials.
There is video documentaries when filming the “Gone With the Wind”. And there were paintings of Scarlet O’Hara inside the exhibit room.
–Where is Tara?
–Gone With the Wind : The Motion Picture
Costume sketches, 1939
Walter Plunkett, artist
Rhett and Ashley : Civil War Heroes?
–At the time of the movie, the racial discrimination with white and black are still on its height
–Scarlett in the Blue Dress, Oil on Canvass, 1939
Helen Carlton, artist
Loaned by Atlanta Board of Education
–Storyboards, Watercolor on Board, 1939
Dorothea Holt and Joseph Mc Millen “Mac” Johnson, artists
Selznick International Pictures Art Department
–Monster Bazaar
Gerald O’Hara and Scarlet overlooking Tara
–Scarlet refuge to Tara
Tara in Ruins
–Main Characters
–Looking back at Margaret Mitchell House
I looked for my watch and in few minutes the guided tour will be start soon. Then I returned to Margaret Mitchell’s apartment and from information desk I waited for the tour guide. In few minutes, the guide showed-up. The special thing with the guided tour was the chance to go inside the room of Margaret Mitchell at the time she wrote her book “Gone With the Wind”.
Margaret Mitchell Room Unit where “Gone With the Wind” book has been written.
MARGARET MITCHELL: A PASSION FOR CHARACTER
The exhibits here are more related to the life of Margaret Mitchell with the title above which significantly shows her virtue on something.
–Girlhood Stories by Margaret Mitchell, ca.1910
Courtesy Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library
University of Georgia
–Margaret Mitchell on Her Front Porch, 1918
–Clifford Henry and Soldiers from Camp Cordon, Atlanta, 1918 (Clifford Henry at the center gave Margaret a gold engagement ring that belongs to his family, he was deployed and wounded in October
–Margaret Mitchell and Samuel Leslie Morris, 1920
–Margaret Mitchell and Sigmund, 1921
–Margaret Mitchell and “Red Upshaw”, 1922
–John Marsh, ca.1925
Margaret Mitchell Life as Reporter
–Margaret Mitchell interviewing Rudolph Valentino, July 1, 1923
–Margaret Mitchell interviewing Georgia Tech Students, June 3, 1923
–Desk used by Margaret Mitchell at the Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine, 1922-1926
Loaned by Atlanta Journal-Constitution
–Margaret Mitchell with Her Atlanta Journal Sunday Magazine Co-workers, ca. 1922
–Margaret Mitchell on Assignment, 1922-1926
The exhibits also displays artifacts and archives at the time that Margaret is writing her famous book “Gone With the Wind”.
–Margaret Mitchell at Her Window,1936
Kenneth G.Rogers, photographer
–Foreign Edition Games
–Legacy of Gone With the Wind
–Margaret Mitchell, 1932-1933, Asasno, photographer
–Sahara of the Bozarts?
–Margaret Mitchell House (Lower Left Apartment#1) where she wrote Gone With the Wind
–Margaret Mitchell Portrait
Margaret with her Life as part of Community
–Community and Country
–Product Packages, 1945-1950 (packaged for delivery to war-torn Europe)
Civil Defense Armband, ca 1943
Commemorative Punch Bowl and Ladle, 1959 (Loaned by US Navy)
–Margaret Mitchell and Bessie Jordan, November 1947
Tracy O’Neil, photographer
–Margaret Mitchell christening the U.S.S Atlanta,
December 24, 1941
Before I left the vicinity area of Margaret Mitchell’s House, I found myself walked nearby to get another angle of photos of her house. At that time, I realized that the photo that I was looking for in my phone are front photos of the house along Peachtree St NE which different at Crescent Ave NE.
I realised while I write this post, how significant her life is and her contribution to the community.
Notes:
1. Plan to visit Margaret Mitchell House ? – Please check latest information here
2. Entrance Fee – Please check here
3. Public Transportation Ticket – Use MARTA Breese Card, here’s the official website, here’s alternative site for the card
4. Directions to Margaret Mitchell House using train :
If you will ride within Red Line or Gold Line regardless which station you will come from, just remember to get-off at Midtown Station.
If you will ride in any of Blue or Green Line, you are required to transfer at Five Points Station and take Red or Gold Line and get off at Midtown Station.
From Midtown Station, get off at 10th St NE and turn right towards Peachtree Street NE direction. Once you reach Crescent Avenue NE, you will find Margaret Mitchell House.