GONE WITH THE WIND Script, Publicity Materials, Studio Photos, Art and More Set for Profiles in History Auction, 10/17-20

By: Sep. 29, 2014
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Considered one of the biggest film events of all time, the Gone with the Wind premiere was a three-day extravaganza for over 300,000 movie fans and citizens of Atlanta, Georgia in 1939. MGM and Gone with the Wind publicist William R. Ferguson kept detailed records and memorabilia leading up to and during the historical and magical movie event. Ferguson's premiere tickets, shooting script, vintage publicity materials, and studio photographs are just a few of the Gone with the Wind items that will be available in Profiles in History's forthcoming October 17-20, 2014 Hollywood Entertainment Auction.

In addition, the auction will feature special original vintage Gone with the Wind watercolor paintings by Dan Sayre Groesbeck that were displayed at the premiere in the historical Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. The paintings are a small series of commissioned paintings from the Atlanta world premiere.

Qualified bidders can participate in person, by telephone, submit absentee bids or participate online in real-time from any location with Internet access. For more information, visit www.profilesinhistory.com.

Auction Details:

October 17th-20th at 11:00 a.m. PST

Location: Profiles in History Offices

26662 Agoura Road, Calabasas, CA 91302; Phone: 310-859-7701

Featured Gone with the Wind lots are:

World Premiere Gone with the Wind tickets from MGM publicist William R. Ferguson. (MGM, 1939) Set of (5) Gone with the Wind movie tickets- for the Atlanta, Georgia premiere, at the Loew's Grand Theatre on the evening of 15 December 1939 at 8:15 PM. All tickets are for "Orchestra" seating. The 6.75 x 2.25 in. printed tickets feature black text on ivory cardstock accented by embossed gold gilt "Gone With The Wind" title and edge. Pre-auction estimate: $1,000 - $1,500.

Gone with the Wind hardbound shooting script signed by David O. Selznick to publicist William R. Ferguson. (MGM, 1939) Vintage final shooting script for the epic American romance film Gone with the Wind. This 256-page script was custom bound in leather and cloth and personally presented by producer David O. Selznick to the film's publicist William R. Ferguson and inscribed in blue ink, in full: "For Bill Ferguson, in memory of Atlanta. With appreciation, David Selznick". Ferguson was MGM studio publicist at the time. The book's red and brown cover BEARS gold gilt lettering of film title, "Screenplay" on front and spine and "William R. Ferguson" imprinted in lower right corner. Pre-auction estimate: $20,000 - $30,000.

Publicist William R. Ferguson's personal MGM briefcase. (ca. 1930-1940s) Personal vintage briefcase of MGM studio publicist William R. Ferguson. 16 x 11 x 5.5 in. brown board leather-finish briefcase with gold gilt "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" pictures imprint at the top of the case. Pre-auction estimate: $600 - $800.

MGM publicist William R. Ferguson's personal copy of Gone with the Wind novel, related Cookbooks and paperweight. (ca. 1930s). A collection of Gone with the Wind-related Ferguson personal items, including: Hardcover 1938 edition of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind published by The McMillan Company (no dust jacket), 3 x 4 in. Gone with the Wind promotional paperweight in the form of a small brown leather book with gold gilt cover and spine titled "Not Gone with the Wind", "Brown & Bigelow, Saint Paul, 59-348" and faux pages and two copies of Gone with the Wind Cook Book of Famous "Southern Cooking" Recipes, Pre-auction estimate: $200 - $300.

MGM publicist William R. Ferguson's collection of (4) vintage Gone with the Wind publicity "fact" materials. 1939) A collection of (4) original vintage publicity materials from the release and promotion of the epic historical romantic movie Gone with the Wind. Included in this collection are (2) 10-page Facts in Chronological Order for editorial reference Gone with the Wind booklets. The 9.25 x 7 in. stapled-spine booklets contain "Details of Purchase, Casting, Direction, Costumes, Make-up, Editing, Testing, Research, Cost, Cast, Credits." The booklet was created by the MGM Publicity Department and distributed as a reference guide for media editors and writers. It includes the history of the Margaret Mitchell novel as well as production trivia and cost breakdowns for everything from cast salaries to set construction. Pre-auction estimate: $300 - $500.

MGM publicist William R. Ferguson's large collection of Gone with the Wind studio photographs from MGM publicity Department. Vintage (120+) collection of gelatin-silver, glossy 8 x 10 in. black and white photographs from the publicity department at MGM. Including a number of 8 x 10 in. prints with 3.5 x 4.5 in images, printed centrally. Featuring images of cast and crew arriving at and attending the world premiere at the Lowe's Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Clark Gable, Carol Lombard, Vivien Leigh, Lawrence Olivier, Olivia de Havilland and many dignitaries at special events and other functions. Also includes some photos of the 1941 anniversary premiere. Pre-auction estimate: $1,000 - $1,500.

MGM Publicist William R. Ferguson's Gone with the Wind career scrapbook of clippings, promotional materials and ephemera. (ca. 1939-1941). This is Mr. Ferguson's personal vintage, hand-made scrapbook encompassing the release of the David O. Selznick epic and subsequent anniversary premiere. Consisting of a large 23 x 18 x 4.5 in. scrapbook with cardboard cover marked "Personal Property W. R. Ferguson", the 125+ pages of the book have been filled, by hand, with 100's of clipped newspaper and magazine articles, product ads and features related to Gone with the Wind. 12-pages of the book are devoted to (100+) 4 x 5 in. black and white photos of production, behind the scenes and release of the film featuring cast and crew. Pre-auction estimate: $400 - $600.

"For Gone with the Wind art lovers, Profiles in History's auction will include a selection of Dan Sayre Groesbeck's special original vintage watercolor paintings from the world premiere at the Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia," said Maddalena.

Dan Sayre Groesbeck original vintage Gone with the Wind Vivien Leigh as "Scarlett O'Hara" watercolor. (MGM, 1939) This is a special original watercolor from the world premiere of Gone with the Wind at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. Accomplished in pencil, charcoal and watercolor on 21.75 x 27.5 in. artist board (visible through 29 x 36 in. mat). Depicting Vivien Leigh as "Scarlett O'Hara" halting the charge of an officer on horseback. Signed by artist in lower right corner of image. Pre-auction estimate: $12,000 - $15,000.

Dan Sayre Groesbeck original vintage Gone with the Wind Olivia de Havilland "Melanie" and Leslie Howard "Ashley" watercolor.(MGM, 1939) This is a special original watercolor dramatically depicting Olivia De Havilland as "Melanie" and Leslie Howard as "Ashley" in a baggage room crowded with Southern ladies among returning wounded Confederate soldiers. Signed by artist Pre-auction estimate. $12,000 - $15,000.

Vivien Leigh "Scarlett O'Hara" black period top designed by Walter Plunkett from Gone With the Wind (MGM, 1939) Black satin ribbed long sleeve period top with 29 self-material buttons down front, pointed collar, delicate ivory lace trim on cuffs (one torn), lined in ivory with hook & eye front closure. Worn by Vivien Leigh as "Scarlett O'Hara" when Clark Gable brings her a bonnet from Paris and she tells him she won't kiss him for it and he declares that she needs kissing badly in Gone With the Wind. $20,000 - $30,000.00

About Profiles In History: Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History (www.profilesinhistory.com) is the world's largest auctioneer and dealer of original Hollywood memorabilia, historical autographs, letters, documents, vintage signed photographs and manuscripts.



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