Lucille Ball read for the role of Scarlett O'Hara in producer David Selznick's office
and was promptly dismissed. Years later, Ball bought the Selznick studio and
moved into his old office.

"Gone with the Wind" author Margaret Mitchell made only one suggestion regarding the cast. She thought Groucho Marx would be splendid as Rhett
Butler.

(Source: PICTORIAL HISTORY OF GONE WITH THE WIND by Gerald Gardner &
Harriet Modell Gardner (1985))

1000's of actresses auditioned for the role of Scarlett O'Hara. Katharine Hepburn really wanted the role- this was around her 'box office poison' period and she was looking to revive her career. She was good friends with the first director, George Cukor (who ended up directing 10 of her movies) and he told her he didn't think she was right for the role. However, it was Selznick who had all the say in who got cast as Scarlett.

That's right. Other actresses considered for the part include: Bette Davis,
Katherine Hepburn, Norma Shearer, Paulette Goddard, Ann Sheridan, Lana Turner, Miriam Hopkins, Tallulah Bankhead, Margaret Sullavan, Jean Arthur, Claudette Colbert, Jean Harlow, Joan Bennett,
Loretta Young, Joan Crawford, Irene Dunne, Marie Dressler,
Susan Hayward, Joan Fontaine, Carole Lombard, and others. Even author
Margaret Mitchell was rumored to be playing Scarlett (totally untrue; in fact,
Mitchell did not want to be remotely involved in the film). Others considered
for Rhett Butler include Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, Warner Baxter, Basil Rathbone, Ronald Colman, Fredric March, and (incredibly) the aforementioned
Groucho Marx. (To my knowledge, Marx never played a dramatic role--although that would certainly have been interesting.)

I really couldn't imagine Lucille Ball or Groucho Marx in the roles of Scarlett and Rhett... that would have been an entirely different movie... :lol:

It sure would have been (ha!)!

Rent

The Clark Gable birthplace and museum is about 20 miles away from me. They have a big celebration and auction every year. People from GWTW used to attend. I think the only person who comes now to the area is the woman who played Bonnie the baby. I think everyone else has died. I remember Butterfly McQueen came once or twice. They have tried for years to get Olivia De Haviland to come and I think they finally gave up.