Browsing 1 item(s) in:
Paul Talbott, Jr. Lakewood Speedway and Gone With the Wind Premiere Film
Paul Talbott, Jr. Lakewoody Speedway and Gone With the Wind Premiere Film, VIS 191
Earl "Lucky" Teter (1902-1942) raced automobiles and motorcycles but earned a national reputation as a stunt driver. He began his career as a gas station attendant and weekend test driver but in the early 1930s decided to attempt stunt or thrill driving. He formed a group known as "Hell Drivers" and in 1934 began touring at fairgrounds and racetracks. Lucky died in 1942 while performing a stunt at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Candler Field, located south of Atlanta, Georgia, opened in 1925 when Mayor Walter Sims signed a lease on 287 acres. The first flight landed on September 15, 1926 from Jacksonville, Florida. Eastern Airlines, "The Great Silver Fleet," began service to Atlanta in 1928. The film Gone With the Wind, based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell (Marsh), premiered in Atlanta, Georgia on December 15, 1939. The principal actors arrived in Atlanta prior to the premiere and toured several historical sites as well as attended a ball hosted by the Atlanta Junior League.
The film captures three separate events in the Atlanta area: Lucky Teter performing automobile stunts at Lakewood Speedway; landings and takeoffs at Candler Field; and a portion of the Gone With the Wind premiere celebrations.
The Kenan Research Center is located at 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30305. Our hours of operation are 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Wednesday – Saturday. You may contact us by calling 404.814.4040 or emailing at reference@atlantahistorycenter.com.