Talk of the Town - Frankly my dear ... December 11 2002

A lot has changed in the city since Gone With the Wind premiered in Atlanta Dec. 15, 1939. But one thing remains unchanged — an amazing following for the story of Scarlett and Rhett.

Two museums in the area are dedicated to it. One, the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum, is centered on the author of the novel. The other, the Shaw-Tumblin Collection Gone With the Wind Movie Museum, focuses on the blockbuster film in its own right. A suitable place to pay homage to the Oscar-winning classic, it includes Vivien Leigh’s Academy Award trophy, Clark Gable’s signed film contract and more than 40 costumes from the movie.

Nowadays, anyone professing such an institutionalized adoration for a film with so much mainstream box office appeal is bound to catch some flack. A Men in Black museum? Hardly. But the classic tale of war, romance and determination has captured the hearts and minds of generations.

No big plans are slated for the anniversary of the movie’s Atlanta premiere, but Shaw-Tumblin is offering 50 percent off admission and back-to-back screenings in its movie room.

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$8-$12. Gone With the Wind runs all day in the museum’s movie room, Dec. 15, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Regular hours: Mon.-Sat. 10 am.-5 p.m.; special Sun. hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Shaw-Tumblin Collection Gone with the Wind Movie Museum, 18 Whitlock Ave., Marietta; 770-794-5576; www.gwtwmarietta.com. Margaret Mitchell House and Museum: $5-$12; tours Mon.-Sun. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; 999 Peachtree St.; 404-249-7015; www.gwtw.org.??