Have you visited Atlanta? Or plan to visit Atlanta? For me this is the first city that I saw when I reached USA. My visit in the city was not for leisure trip but a business reason. But, I still tried to explore the city even my first 10 days has been raining. I still tried to explore this city at the south. And during my exploration, I enjoyed discovering Atlanta.
Below are rank of the places that I visited. What are yours?
What I like about this museum is the secret formula of the famous soda itself. Seeing the vault made me excited and felt that the secret itself is real.
One of the things that I dream to get inside of is the classic theater of the Fox. And I realized this dream when I got a chance to watch Shaping Sound contemporary dance artist.
When I learned about the movie “Gone With the Wind” and the author of the famous movie of all time has museum in Atlanta which was her former house and exhibits most about her, I felt excited as I got a chance to discover more about her and about the movie.
The museum made me cry as I felt in my heart the persecution that African-American experienced during the decades of sufferings, a part of USA history that I learned.
The name of the street itself is famous in Atlanta. And don’t be surprised if you will encounter lots of streets with the name “Peachtree”. It has its own reason, because it has historical significance in the city.
After visiting Margaret Mitchell House last November 20, 2015, I thought that it was still early to wrap-up my day and since its my last day in Atlanta, as soon as I left the museum past 5 PM in the afternoon, I decided to walk the Peachtree Street. I know that there are so many streets named with Peachtree in Atlanta but my walk happened specifically in Peachtree St NE. The starting point was 10th St NE towards North Avenue NE which all within Midtown. Since it was November and the beginning of autumn season, there were still greens in the trees on both side of the road that made the Peachtree St NE so pleasant for walk. At the part of Peachtree Street that I walked, I saw some significant structures and buildings along the way. Below are some of the snapshots that I captured in my walk.
At 10th St NE
Margaret Mitchell House
I included Margaret Mitchell House since it stands along Peachtree St NE. Detailed post in my visit in the house museum has been described here.
After crossing 7th St NE
After crossing 6th St NE
After crossing 4th St NE
Bank of America Plaza from a distance
After crossing 3rd St NE
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Fox Theatre
A historical former movie palace which opened in 1929 with Middle Eastern and Egyptian designs and listed as National Historic Landmark in USA.
After crossing Ponce De Leon Ave NE
The Georgian Terrace
When I passed the Georgian Terrace Hotel at that time, I don’t have idea that it was historical, I recently learned that the Hollywood stars of legend movie “Gone With the Wind” stayed in the hotel.
Notes:
1. Plan to visit Midtown Atlanta ? – Please check latest information here 2. Entrance Fee – Walking in the city is totally free 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. And walked along Peachtree Street towards Downtown direction or towards North Avenue NE.
Chromatic Outlook (Post#41) : Margaret Mitchell House
Here are some photo collections that I was able to capture while visiting Margaret Mitchell House and now a museum. These photos are part of Margaret Mitchell House Visit Photo Collection November 2015.
Arts and Craft (Post#11) : Scarlett in Blue Dress By Helen Carlton
When I saw this painting hanging beside the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta as part of “Beyond the Pages and Behind the Scenes” exhibit, I saw this plainly as painting. But after I saw the movie, I realized how lucky I was that I had a chance to see this painting for real which has been part of 1939 movie. The photos is part of Margaret Mitchell House Visit Photo Collection November 2015.
Scarlett in the Blue Dress, Oil on Canvass, 1939 Helen Carlton, artist Loaned by Atlanta Board of Education
The life-size portrait of Scarlett hung on the wall in Rhett’s bedroom in their Atlanta mansion built after the Civil War. Joseph B. Platt, head of New York decorating the firm, coordinated the set interiors for Selsnick’s art department, including the selection of appropriate furniture, wallpapers, carpets and accessories for Gone With the Wind.
In 1939, the portrait traveled from California to the motion picture’s premier in Atlanta where it hung in the window of the downtown Davison-Paxon department store. More recently, the painting hung in the cafeteria of the Margaret Mitchell Elementary School in Atlanta.
Note: Excerpt from the notes displayed under the exhibit item.
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.
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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
–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.
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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.
Interior (Post#11) : Margaret Mitchell House (Apartment No. 1)
I was lucky that I got a chance to see the apartment unit of Margaret Mitchell when she was writing the Pulitzer-Prize winning novel “Gone With the Wind”. The visit in this room is part of guided-tour which means, it cannot be seen by just self-guided visit in the museum. It’s a worth wait as I witness the place where the talented author lived her life during that time. These photos are part of Margaret Mitchell House Visit Photo Collection November 2015.
Discovery (Post#31) : Girlhood Stories by Margaret Mitchell
When I was at the ground floor and exploring the House Museum, as part of “Margaret Mitchell : A Passion For character” display, I found an exhibit that portrays Margaret even at her young age that she has a talent for writing. After seeing this, I can imagine how talented the young Margaret and she’s writing stories at the age of 10. The photo is part of Margaret Mitchell House Visit Photo Collection November 2015.
Girlhood Stories by Margaret Mitchell, ca.1910 Courtesy Hargrett Rare Book & Manuscript Library University of Georgia
“Colorful covers introduce girlhood stories written by Margaret Mitchell. The papers of Stephens Mitchell at the Kenan Research Center contain a small, handmade booklet similar to these. When intact, the 173 pages were filled with Mitchell’s cursive handwriting. The action-packed tale features a Union soldier, Hugh Warren, who though born in the South, was a spy for the North”
Note: Excerpt from the notes displayed under the exhibit item.
Arts and Craft (Post#10) : Gone With the Wind Portraits By Dan Sayre Groesbeck
When I went-up stairs to start exploring the Margaret Mitchell House, I found the original paintings of “Gone With the Wind” Portraits painted by Dan Sayre Groesbeck, an American painter and artist. The portraits were displayed in Loew’s Grand Theatre foyer during its film premiere at Atlanta in 1939. The photo is part of Margaret Mitchell House Visit Photo Collection November 2015.
Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara and Clark Gable as Rhett Butler
Leslie Howard as Ashley Wilkes and Olivia De Havilland as Melanie Hamilton
Name Of The Place (Post#37) : Margaret Mitchell House
Since I came from Midtown metro train station, I did not find this information board while looking at the house of Margaret Mitchell. I found this before I left the vicinity area with the objective of taking photos of the house in another angle. These photos are part of Margaret Mitchell House Visit Photo Collection November 2015.
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