Ashley Wilkes uniform from Gone With the Wind.

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My wife and I was at an antique mall today and she was sure she should by me this huge doll put out by the Franklin Mint.


ashley.jpg


My wife had no ideal that this huge "doll" was Ashley Wilkes and only saw a "doll" wearing a Civil War uniform. She is way too nice to me.

So let use get back to the Uniform Forum. What do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by Ashley Wilkes as seen in Gone With the Wind? In 1939 there was not the high level of information about Civil War uniforms that we enjoy today. That said, I am not sure the uniform for Wilkes was any worse than the Civil War uniforms seen in modern movies. My next question is what do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by this Ashley "doll"? My next question is what do I do with an almost two foot tall Ashley "doll"? Because my wife purchased it for me I do not have the option of putting it out with the trash.
 
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From what I remember, (don't really care for that movie), Wilkes gets a uniform from his wife when home for Christmas. It being a single-breasted shell jacket with yellow facings, gold Austrian Knots, made out of a nice medium to dark gray cloth that his wife got from the Mother of one of the men she nursed who died, and she makes him promise something about not letting it get torn, which he comes home from the war it in rags.

I don't remember him wearing a frock coat at all. Just that shell jacket and a greatcoat.
 
My wife and I was at an antique mall today and she was sure she should by me this huge doll put out by the Franklin Mint.


View attachment 381893

My wife had no ideal that this huge "doll" was Ashley Wilkes and only saw a "doll" wearing a Civil War uniform. She is way too nice to me.

So let use get back to the Uniform Forum. What do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by Ashley Wilkes as seen in Gone With the Wind? In 1939 there was not the high level of information about Civil War uniforms that we enjoy today. That said, I am not sure the uniform for Wilkes was any worse than the Civil War uniforms seen in modern movies. My next question is what do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by this Ashley "doll"? My next question is what do I do with an almost two foot tall Ashley "doll"? Because my wife purchased it for me I do not have the option of putting it out with the trash.
Very sweet of her to think of you. Does your wife particularly enjoy Gone With the Wind? If so, maybe she would enjoy collecting the other ones from the series and you can generously allow Ashley to join her collection?

Otherwise, I would consider a couple if options- do you have a glass topped table which you place artifacts inside? Perhaps Ashley could be placed laying down in the case surrounded by dug relics, belt buckles and the like?

Or, maybe a small shelf on the wall near a print or wall hanging would “safely” place in in a position of honor. Unless your “evil plans” include Ashley meeting his demise some way-

But, even if the uniform isn’t correct, remember the love that was given with the gift.
 
I think in the end Ashley will get put on a book case full of books about Civil War uniforms. He will stand there looming over the books like a huge angry Titan, always ready to destroy his subjects.
That sounds like a perfect location for him. I’m very impressed that you knew immediately that he was yours forever once he was given to you. My husband is good to do this too and we’ve only been married since ‘92. I now ask him prior to such purchases. Ever since we married, we have always respected each other by asking before purchasing items over $50 which cannot be returned. But, I did goof Valentines Day two years ago. He ended up with a comb back Windsor writing chair/desk with an interesting ( I thought manly, even) antler knob which pulls out a second part of the writing desk and looks to hold feather pens or pipes or something. When he didn’t say much, I knew I had chosen incorrectly. In time I’ll bring up selling it or gifting it to someone else who might enjoy it more if he truly dislikes the piece. I’ve been told, some husbands never pick up such a thoughtful trait so y’all are both high in my eyes that you are both that thoughtful.
 
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My wife and I was at an antique mall today and she was sure she should by me this huge doll put out by the Franklin Mint.


View attachment 381893

My wife had no ideal that this huge "doll" was Ashley Wilkes and only saw a "doll" wearing a Civil War uniform. She is way too nice to me.

So let use get back to the Uniform Forum. What do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by Ashley Wilkes as seen in Gone With the Wind? In 1939 there was not the high level of information about Civil War uniforms that we enjoy today. That said, I am not sure the uniform for Wilkes was any worse than the Civil War uniforms seen in modern movies. My next question is what do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by this Ashley "doll"? My next question is what do I do with an almost two foot tall Ashley "doll"? Because my wife purchased it for me I do not have the option of putting it out with the trash.
Give your wife a kiss and sincerely thank her for your gift . Then immediately show her this short video. She'll melt. "Happy wife, happy life."

 
You really have to give the crew on that film credit. It seems the evolution of his uniforms are correct as far as rank insignia. Looks like he started out as a Lt., went to Capt. and in the end was a Major. Good technical advisor maybe
 
You really have to give the crew on that film credit. It seems the evolution of his uniforms are correct as far as rank insignia. Looks like he started out as a Lt., went to Capt. and in the end was a Major. Good technical advisor maybe

When it comes to uniforms I suspect they're costumers did they're homework, a rarity for early CW films. Most uniforms they have in the movie are similar to originals, and maybe sometimes miss-represented, (like in the charity ball scenes), but incorrect uniforms and accoutrements show up. Spanish-American War surplus haversacks, and uniforms on Union soldiers also the same surplus, and other stuff.

At the time CW veterans were still around in pretty large numbers, as was the UCV. There were companies that made "Confederate" uniforms for UCV members in Ohio and elsewhere, that are pretty much the same pattern as US Army 1880's sack coats, but in cadet gray and other colors. You can see these not-very-reminiscent-of-CW-pattern uniforms all over the place in Gone With the Wind.

Funny story I've read, during the debut of the movie in Atlanta Clark Gable picked up a few Confederate vets from the local Confederate Veterans Home and took them to the premiere and paraded them in the parade they had. One of those veterans managed to plant a kiss on oh whats-her-name that played Scarlett O'Hara.
 
My wife and I was at an antique mall today and she was sure she should by me this huge doll put out by the Franklin Mint.


View attachment 381893

So let use get back to the Uniform Forum. What do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by Ashley Wilkes as seen in Gone With the Wind? In 1939 there was not the high level of information about Civil War uniforms that we enjoy today. That said, I am not sure the uniform for Wilkes was any worse than the Civil War uniforms seen in modern movies. My next question is what do uniform experts think about the uniform worn by this Ashley "doll"? My next question is what do I do with an almost two foot tall Ashley "doll"? Because my wife purchased it for me I do not have the option of putting it out with the trash.
If you're like me, you'd probably wind up getting the REST of them, as seen here in Jefferson, TX Gone With The Wind Museum:

DSC04022.JPG
 
When it comes to uniforms I suspect they're costumers did they're homework, a rarity for early CW films. Most uniforms they have in the movie are similar to originals, and maybe sometimes miss-represented, (like in the charity ball scenes), but incorrect uniforms and accoutrements show up. Spanish-American War surplus haversacks, and uniforms on Union soldiers also the same surplus, and other stuff.

At the time CW veterans were still around in pretty large numbers, as was the UCV. There were companies that made "Confederate" uniforms for UCV members in Ohio and elsewhere, that are pretty much the same pattern as US Army 1880's sack coats, but in cadet gray and other colors. You can see these not-very-reminiscent-of-CW-pattern uniforms all over the place in Gone With the Wind.

Funny story I've read, during the debut of the movie in Atlanta Clark Gable picked up a few Confederate vets from the local Confederate Veterans Home and took them to the premiere and paraded them in the parade they had. One of those veterans managed to plant a kiss on oh whats-her-name that played Scarlett O'Hara.
This may be closest location to a tie-in I’m ever going to find to be able to come clean and admit something embarrassing I thought when I was much younger.
Here goes- you know when you watching the credits on a movie?
I used to think it was crazy that every movie I saw had confederate soldiers involved in it.


I honestly used to think that the line in the credits that said CSA meant that Confederate veterans were somehow involved in the making of the film.
 
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@Rusk County Avengers Not sure but I think her name was Vivian Leigh. Looked it up on my kindle device and it was her. (And my family thinks I'm a computer idiot.) She was British if I'm not mistaken.

John
You’re correct.
Butterfly McQueen (Prissy) lived in Augusta, GA and sadly passed away in ‘95 when a kerosene space heater caught on fire. She was burned so badly and passed away soon after. She was a great activist and spoke and acted for equality for all. Prissy admitted she was upset by the character she was to play in GWTW because it was so demeaning of a role to African-Americans. But, she was able to create future positivity as a result of that role.
Hattie McDaniel wasn’t allowed to attend the premier of the movie in Atlanta as the movie was shown in a whites-only theatre. Clark Gable planned not to attend in protest; but, Hattie talked him into attending.
Yet again, when Hattie won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her role in GWTW, she was seated in a segregated portion of the location and was not able to attend the after party as it was in a segregated club. It wasn’t until 1990 that another black female won best supporting actress -and that was Whoopi Goldberg for her role in Ghost.
Both Butterfly and Hattie were way ahead of their time and helped paved the way for inclusive casts in later movies.
 
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