- Joined
- Feb 23, 2013
- Location
- East Texas
Part I
I recently traveled again to my favorite small East Texas town, Jefferson, where I paid my very first visit to what has become something of a local institution, Scarlett O'Hardy's Gone With the Wind Museum. Of course, this Miss Scarlett is as fictional as the original but serves as the persona of the equally lovely Ms. Bobbie Hardy who owns and operates it as a venue in which to display her outstanding collection of GWTW-related items and ephemera.
Once inside, the visitor is overwhelmed with the abundance of material, including a GWTW-themed Christmas tree that is displayed year-round. In addition to the large main gallery, there are also two smaller rooms in back, all more or less stuffed with memorabilia from both the 1936 novel and the 1939 film, including many movie stills and posters both foreign and domestic.
Ms. Hardy's particular passion is the life and career of Margaret Mitchell (Marsh) and her remarkable novel; above she describes to two enraptured visitors the genesis of the book that might easily never have been discovered by its publisher. The first three cases are devoted to Mitchell and the novel, including an autographed First Edition of the book, a letter signed by Mitchell, and two original call sheets from the filming of the movie. Two seats from the Atlanta Loews' Theater where the premiere of the movie was held stand near the museum's entrance.
Probably most eye-catching are the life-sized mannequins representing Scarlett in a replica of her famous green "drapery" dress and Rhett in one of his suits. The case below stands in one of the back rooms and is filled entirely with foreign-language editions of the novel, flanked by Spanish-language posters from the movie. In front of it is a remarkable cake which duplicates in miniature Tara and was made for a special occasion.
The museum is located in a quiet residential district of what originally was the so-called Alley Addition of Jefferson, surrounded by fine residences. The 1950's building it occupies has been re-purposed from what was once an agricultural service building and offices of the local high school.
The veranda is a quiet spot on which to wait; the sign below details times when the museum may be visited most of the year.
Next, some special exhibits.
I recently traveled again to my favorite small East Texas town, Jefferson, where I paid my very first visit to what has become something of a local institution, Scarlett O'Hardy's Gone With the Wind Museum. Of course, this Miss Scarlett is as fictional as the original but serves as the persona of the equally lovely Ms. Bobbie Hardy who owns and operates it as a venue in which to display her outstanding collection of GWTW-related items and ephemera.
Once inside, the visitor is overwhelmed with the abundance of material, including a GWTW-themed Christmas tree that is displayed year-round. In addition to the large main gallery, there are also two smaller rooms in back, all more or less stuffed with memorabilia from both the 1936 novel and the 1939 film, including many movie stills and posters both foreign and domestic.
Ms. Hardy's particular passion is the life and career of Margaret Mitchell (Marsh) and her remarkable novel; above she describes to two enraptured visitors the genesis of the book that might easily never have been discovered by its publisher. The first three cases are devoted to Mitchell and the novel, including an autographed First Edition of the book, a letter signed by Mitchell, and two original call sheets from the filming of the movie. Two seats from the Atlanta Loews' Theater where the premiere of the movie was held stand near the museum's entrance.
Probably most eye-catching are the life-sized mannequins representing Scarlett in a replica of her famous green "drapery" dress and Rhett in one of his suits. The case below stands in one of the back rooms and is filled entirely with foreign-language editions of the novel, flanked by Spanish-language posters from the movie. In front of it is a remarkable cake which duplicates in miniature Tara and was made for a special occasion.
The museum is located in a quiet residential district of what originally was the so-called Alley Addition of Jefferson, surrounded by fine residences. The 1950's building it occupies has been re-purposed from what was once an agricultural service building and offices of the local high school.
The veranda is a quiet spot on which to wait; the sign below details times when the museum may be visited most of the year.
Next, some special exhibits.
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