Dennis Beaver, founder and curator of the Tennessee Williams Exhibit, 513 Truman Ave., Key West, stands on a section of stairway used in the film, “The Rose Tattoo,” salvaged from the former Glynn Archer Elementary School, now Key West City Hall.

In January, Beaver, a history buff and Williams enthusiast whose personal collection of the great American playwright’s memorabilia originally launched the Key West exhibit, discovered that the stairs, site of a romantic exchange between characters Rosa and Jack, played by Marisa Pavan and Ben Cooper, were being removed from the property – which at the time of the filming housed the Key West High School. Knowing their significance, Beaver requested a section for the exhibit. He arrived on the scene with a pickup truck, only to discover that the section saved for him was more than twenty feet long and weighed more than the truck he’d brought to collect it. Ultimately, a five-step section was cut and installed at the Exhibit.

Filmed in Key West, with many locals as extras, “The Rose Tattoo” was adapted from Tennessee Williams’ play of the same name and premiered at the San Carlos Institute on Duval Street in 1956.  Williams lived in Key West from 1941 until his death in 1983. The Tennessee Williams Exhibit is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.  Admission is free; donations are welcome.  For more information or a curator led tour, contact Beaver at [email protected].