CONTRIBUTED

Winner of 10 Academy Awards, "Gone With the Wind" remains popular decades after its 1939 premiere.

Hollywood's highly romanticized movie of the "Old South" is based on Margaret Mitchell's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.

The true story of how Mitchell's book became a record-breaking film is revealed in "Real to Reel: The Making of 'Gone With the Wind,'" an exhibit opening Friday, Aug. 31, at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh.

Showcasing authentic memorabilia - costumes, scripts, screen tests, scene props, Vivien Leigh's Academy Award and more - the exhibit will run through Jan. 13. Admission and weekend parking are free.

The Museum of History is the only venue in the Southeast to feature "Real to Reel."

Take advantage of this rare opportunity to see more than 120 items from the James Tumblin collection. Tumblin, former head of the Universal Studios makeup and hair department, owns the largest private collection of "Gone with the Wind" memorabilia.

"'Real to Reel' takes museum visitors behind the scenes of one of the most famous films in Hollywood history," says Katie Edwards, who helped curate the exhibit. "Through costume sketches, scene storyboards, letters and other items, the exhibit highlights the many tasks and challenges, as well as the controversy, involved in this major production."

Producer David O. Selznick oversaw the making of "Gone With the Wind," with a cast and crew of 4,000, and insisted on approving every detail of production. "Real to Reel" spotlights the roles of individuals, both on-screen and off-screen, who helped create the film.

Movie buffs will recognize costumes worn by Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, Olivia de Havilland, Leslie Howard and others.

These costumes include Scarlett's dress from the "attack at Shantytown" scene; Bonnie Blue's velvet dress from her final scene; and the uniform Ashley Wilkes wore when he returned home after the Civil War.

Of the 1,500 outfits Walter Plunkett designed for the film, his favorite appears in the exhibit: Belle Watling's burgundy velvet jacket and accompanying fur muff.

A sampling of other items in "Real to Reel" includes:

n Chair from the "smoker's room" scene at the Twelve Oaks barbecue

n Max Steiner's original theme music score for the movie

n Typewriter that screenwriter Sidney Howard used for the script

n Letter of appreciation that Hattie McDaniel (who played Mammy) wrote to a fan

n Production paintings such as the "burning of Atlanta" scene.

In addition to showcasing Tumblin's collection, "Real to Reel" features several dolls created by artist Pete Ballard that are based on characters in "Gone With the Wind."

Exhibit-related programs will take place this fall. See "Gone With the Wind" on a large screen, hear two lectures and join an exhibit tour led by Tumblin.

For program details, go to ncmuseumofhistory.org/film.

The exhibit is sponsored by the N.C. Museum of History Foundation and the N.C. Museum of History Associates

For information about the Museum of History, call (919) 807-7900 or access

ncmuseumofhistory.org or Facebook.

The museum is located at 5 E. Edenton St., across from the State Capitol. Parking is available in the lot across Wilmington Street. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.