‘Gone With the Wind’ Child Star Makes Fort Bragg Her Home
Cammie King, who got the coveted role of ‘Bonnie Blue Butler’ in the 1939 film classic Gone With The Wind, left show business shortly after the movie premiered.
“I peaked at age five,” she jokes, in the parlor at Little River Inn where serves as public relations representative.
Like the nationwide search for an actress to play ‘Scarlett,’ producer David O. Selznick also launched a search for ‘Bonnie,’ her doomed daughter. “We lived in Los Angeles, and I remind people that in 1939 it was a much smaller city. And it was an industry town. It wasn’t that big a deal for neighbors and friends to work at the studios.”
There are published accounts that her older sister was cast in the part and she grew too much before they were ready to film her, but Cammie says that’s a whole other story.
Immediately following GWTW, Cammie recorded the voice for the young ‘Faline’ in Bambi. After that it was an everyday life.
A graduate of USC, Cammie married, had two children, and worked in marketing and public relations. In 1980 she moved to the Mendocino Coast where she still makes her home.
She has made GWTW appearances all over the country, often joining up with other cast members including Ann Rutherford (‘Careen’) and Fred Crane (‘Brett Tarleton’). “And I’ve had so much fun with Mickey Kuhn and Patrick Curtis, who played ‘Beau’ at different ages – Bonnie and her two Beaus,” she says.
She may have peaked at age 5, but the wild enthusiasm for the images and characters lives on 68 years later.
Hallmark in 2007 issued a Christmas ornament showing the photo of her with Clark Cable. This Fourth of July she being among the last five living members of the cast celebrated during the parade in Marietta, Georgia near Atlanta. “People in the South are still crazy about the movie and its characters.”
Tags: Bonnie Blue Butler, Clark Gable, Fort Bragg, Gone With The Wind
May 17th, 2008 at 7:24 am
We have met Cammie at the Gable Birthday celebration in Cadiz, OH. She is a most interesting, gracious and lovely person. She autographed our Bonnie Blue World doll and that is a treasure to us. Wishing her many years of health and happiness because ‘we do give a damn’.
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I have met Cammie at several ‘Windie’ functions and hope to see her again this July in Marietta. She is always the kindest person and makes you feel like you are the Special person not her. My Husband and I always enjoy seeing her and hearing the stories of ‘Gone With the Wind’ behind the scenes and on the set…We love you Cammie
June 5th, 2008 at 11:14 am
As director for the Gone With the Wind Museum in Marietta, GA, I have had the pleasure of Cammie’s company on several occasions and will enjoy it once again on July 4th. There is a word that isn’t used often, mainly, because nothing in today’s society is deserving.
The word is genuine. Cammie is!