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Show "Gone With the Wind" Starts April 19 At the Rivoli Theatre Just before Christmas a year ago a huge ten-foot replica of "Gone With the Wind" tied up with a blue ribbon, was delivered to the Hollywood home of David O. Selznick. It bore a placard reading, "Open at once." The puzzled young producer lifted the massive cover, and stared down at a strange girl, dressed in a green dress of the Civil War period. She smiled and said, "I am Scarlett O'Hara from the pages of 'Gone With the Wind.' " No, it was Vivien Leigh, who won the role. That would have been more unbelievable than the way in which Selznick really found Miss Leigh. The girl in the ten-foot ten-foot book was just one of the thousands who attempted to secure se-cure the role of Scarlett. Hers was the most novel effort during the long search, and it was one of the few laughs Selznick got outj of that hunt. Most of the time, the talent chase brought a series of headaches to the persistent producer, who admits, however, that he would do it all over again if It were necessary. The first year of the search, Miriam Hopkins was the favorite, with Margaret.. Sullavan second. The second year the lead was taken tak-en by Bette Davis. But as many letters were received urging a new girl be given the role as the total for all other actresses combined. com-bined. This confirmed Selznick's opinion that a. newcomer should play the role. |