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American Morning

'Gone With the Wind' Memorabilia Going Up For Auction Tomorrow

Aired July 23, 2002 - 10:36   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: "Gone With the Wind" is a Hollywood classic, and now you can own a bit of history from the movie, and the book. Several pieces of memorabilia are going up for auction tomorrow. The items belong to Herb Bridges. He has spent some 40 years amassing an impressive collection. And he's joining us from New York, along with Margaret Barrett, of Christie's auction house, who will be handling the selling.

Actually, good morning to both of you.

HERB BRIDGES, COLLECTOR: Good morning, Jonathan.

KAGAN: It's actually, Daryn. That's OK. Herb, let me start with you, and you tell me, what is your fascination with "Gone With the Wind," and how did you fall in love it with some 40 years ago?

BRIDGES: I always lived in and around Atlanta, and of course grew up with the story of Margaret Mitchell and her book "Gone With the Wind," and then of course when the film was made and had its premiere in Atlanta, of course, we certainly know all about that. It's just a love to have.

KAGAN: Of all the stuff you're selling off, which one is your most prized possession, Herb?

BRIDGES: Probably maybe some of the books. In particularly those that were signed by movie cast members, like Clark Gable, the director, Victor Fleming. Ona Munson, people like that. They're fascinating.

KAGAN: We've taken some pictures of some items that will be up for sale and that comprise your collection, Herb, and, Margaret, I am going to bring you in here, and we are going to put some of this up on the screen. I don't think you can see the screen, so I'll tell you what's up, and we can talk about some of the value, and this market here.

First one we have is a 1938 hard cover book signed by Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, and the director, Victor Fleming. We have estimated $8,000-$10,000 just for this one book.

MARGARET BARRETT, CHRISTIE'S AUCTION HOUSE: Well, it's very nice. The cast members are no longer with us, and they were part of all-time classic epic Hollywood film. So I think people will really respond to that piece.

KAGAN: Speaking of the film, I think there is one scene in particular that is really in a lot of our minds that many of us remember, and that's the petticoat scene, when Mammy is helping, or Vivian Leigh, get into this petticoat that brings her waist down to 20 inches. That petticoat's actually going up for sale.

BARRETT: Yes, and here it is right here. And this is a funny scene in the film where Scarlet had just had Bonnie Blue, and she's very upset that her waist is not the 17" that it was. And Mammy tells her that it will never be that small again, because she's just had a baby, and here's the petticoat.

KAGAN: And, Herb, how long have you had this petticoat, and where did you get it?

BRIDGES: Well, I find it from a dealer, costume dealer had it and offered it to me from Florida. And it has the proper label and everything in it, and I was very proud to get, because this is a costume piece.

KAGAN: I understand they expect this one to go between $5,000- $7,000. Do you remember how much you paid for it, Herb?

BRIDGES: Oh, I'm sure it wasn't that much. With three kids to feed -- I can't remember right off, but it wasn't in that range.

KAGAN: Part of this is that you actually have been a good investor all these years?

BRIDGES: Well, it turned out that way. I didn't know it was going to be. It's been a fun hobby, but it's also proved to be a fine investment. I'm pleased with that, too.

KAGAN: We mention the character of Mammy. Many people have problems with "Gone With the Wind" now and some of the racist images that it brings to mind. I understand you had a chance to meet Butterfly McQueen, the actress who played Mammy, and befriend her later in her life.

BRIDGES: Butterfly McQueen played Prissy in the movie.

KAGAN: Prissy, sorry.

BRIDGES: She lived in Georgia, in Augusta, Georgia, and she and I did a great many performances together, and was absolutely a charming lady. But she was a bit eccentric, I will certainly say that, but a dear lady, and I loved her very much.

KAGAN: Let's see some other items here. "Gone With the Wind" auctioned unpublished snapshots, signed book. Margaret, can you tell us about these, or Herb, includes 16 vintage snapshots from the film set.

BARRETT: I'll start, and then I'll have Mr. Bridges finish. We are selling this book, which is signed by some major cast members, including Vivian Leigh, Leslie Howard, George Beslow (ph), who later became George Reeves, and went on to do TV's "Superman," and Frederick Crane, the two George and Frederick play the Tarleton brothers, and here are photographs on the set that included with the book, and I will let Mr. Bridges carry on.

BRIDGES: Somebody just took snapshots of those people signing this book. So we have the book that they actually sign, particularly George Beslow (ph), or George Reeves, who he later become to be. It's quite unusual to have these snapshots, and I'm delighted to have them, and I think they're quite rare. Some you show Vivian Leigh in the background. It's difficult to see her.

KAGAN: Why did he change his name later in life? Do you know that story?

BRIDGES: Who knows, I think movie actors and so forth just like to change their names for publicity purposes, I suppose. I have no idea exactly why.

KAGAN: We've seen Herb -- or we heard about Herb's favorite in the entire collection. Margaret, as someone who works in an auction house, which one are you most excited to sell?

BARRETT: I'll tell you, I really like this one. We already mentioned it, but don't know if we have photo of it. This was Ona Munson's personal copy of "Gone With the Wind." She played the madam, Bell Watling, and she had her colleagues sign it, who happened to be Clark Gable. Vivian Leigh, Olivia de Havilland, director Victor Fleming. And Walter Plunkett, who designed all the costumes for the film drew a little sketch of her wearing a bustier with bells hanging from it, and he called it "bells," as Belle's, bells.

It's a very cute book. And Ona Munson underlined all of Belle Watling's lines in the book, because it was actually her working copy.

KAGAN: Wow. How much do you expect that to go for?

BARRETT: We have this estimated at $8,000-$10,000. Again, it's very special with cast signatures, and the little sketch, and the fact that it was used by a major cast member from the film.

KAGAN: So, Herb, you spent your whole life putting this collection. Why sell it off?

BRIDGES: I think other fans might enjoy it. And my children have no interest in this. My boys are big hunters and so forth, and so while I'm still thinking straight, I thought it would be better to share this, because the children would have no idea how to handle it.

KAGAN: Do they think dad's just a little wacky in what's been doing all these year?

BRIDGES: No, not really, because I never inflicted it on my children, completely separate, never in the house and so forth.

KAGAN: Your own private passion. So is everything going, Herb? Or are you keeping a couple of things for yourself?

BRIDGES: We are keeping a couple of things in Atlanta, because we have a couple of museums there, the Margaret Mitchell House, and the Road to Tower (ph) Museum, and we have things there the tourists can still enjoy.

KAGAN: Very good. Margaret, just tell us, in the entire collection, how much do you think the entire thing will go for?

BARRETT: It's hard to tell at auctions. At this point, it's looking like a good solid half a million dollar sale, potentially more, and I think Mr. Bridge main objective is just to ensure that all the property goes to dedicated collectors to carry on the "Gone with the Wind" legacy.

KAGAN: Very good. I'm sure there'll be a lot of interests out there.

BARRETT: I hope so.

KAGAN: Thank you so much for joining us. Margaret Barrett, with Christie's Auction House, and Herb Bridges, quite the prolific collector of "Gone With the Wind" memorabilia.

Enjoy the time. I think it will be fascinating to see your things go to other people who love it as mush as you do. Thanks for sharing.

BRIDGES: Thank you.

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