Marietta vows to keep memorabilia in 'Gone With the Wind' museum

MARIETTA - Jim Tumblin, whose memorabilia makes up the heart of Marietta&#39;s ``Gone With the Wind&#39;&#39; Movie Museum, said he is being cheated by the city and will remove his collection in April. <br> <br> But city officials say Tumblin cannot make good on his threat. Assistant City Manager Warren Hutmacher said the city has the right to renew the lease for another year. <br> <br> If the city renews the lease, Tumblin vows a fight. <br> <br> ``Slavery is over in the South, and I will not be their little slave anymore,&#39;&#39; he told the Marietta Daily Journal. ``I will take this to every court in the land, including the court of public opinion. I am terminating this contract. If they think they are going to treat me that way and cheat me, they are out of their minds.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> The Shaw-Tumblin collection of ``Gone With the Wind&#39;&#39; memorabilia is housed in a historic 1880s building in downtown Marietta. Since it opened in June, the museum has been a significant tourist attraction. <br> <br> The highlights include the Oscar that Vivien Leigh won for best actress, which Tumblin bought at auction for a mere half-million dollars. He also has 39 original costumes from the movie, original shooting scripts, movie props, screen tests and autographed first editions. <br> <br> Tumblin, a former Hollywood makeup artist who has been collecting ``GWTW&#39;&#39; memorabilia since 1981, said the city paid him only $745 for the first quarter the museum was open. <br> <br> The contract calls for the city of Marietta to receive all revenue until its expenses are met. Tumblin then gets the next $90,000 in profits. After that, the city keeps 20 percent of profits, and Tumblin gets 80 percent. <br> <br> But revenue was lower than expected in the first quarter of the agreement because the museum opened two months late. The city expected to bring in $82,000 in revenue, but made only $54,000. Expenses were $53,300 for the quarter, city officials said. <br> <br> Tumblin could remove his memorabilia in April 2004, city officials said. At that time, Tumblin and the city would have the option to sign another five-year agreement. <br> <br> ``We still feel the museum is an asset for the city,&#39;&#39; Hutmacher said. ``We will try to honor Mr. Tumblin&#39;s requests in a timely manner.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Tumblin said he has received more than a half-dozen inquiries about moving his collection. He said there is interest in Japan, England, and elsewhere in the United States.