Camden to mark ‘Peyton Place’ 50th this weekend

CAMDEN – This weekend, the town commemorates the 50th anniversary of the filming of “Peyton Place.” Much of the movie, which garnered nine Academy Award nominations and launched the careers of more than a few cast members, was filmed in Camden.

Among those traveling to Camden to remember the film are:

. Ardis Cameron, a professor of American and New England studies at the University of Southern Maine, who has written and spoken about the novel “Peyton Place.”

. Marsha Metalious, daughter of the late Grace Metalious, who wrote the novel on which the movie is based.

. Christopher Murray, the son of the late Hope Lange, who starred in the film.

. Willard Carroll, Hollywood film director and screenwriter who is a fan of the film and has a private collection of “Peyton Place” memorabilia.

The celebration begins at 7 p.m. Friday with a light dinner buffet and gala at the Whitehall Inn, featured prominently in the film. The Whitehall is also home to Gossip, a Peyton Place-theme bar with movie memorabilia.

On Saturday, Camden will host a re-creation of the Labor Day parade depicted in the movie. Beginning at Camden Agway (at the foot of High and Mountain streets) the parade will move through the Main Street shopping district and around to the former Knox Mill (which was called the Harrington Mill in the film).

The Waterfall Event Center will host parade participants, VIPs and spectators at the mill immediately after the parade. At the same time the West Bay Rotary will begin offering trolley tours of “Peyton Place” film sites in Camden.

At 1 p.m. Saturday, a screening of the film will be offered at the Camden Opera House. After the screening will be a panel discussion including VIPs, local residents who were extras in the film, and spectators.

On Saturday night, Oakland Park Lanes will host a 1950s bowling night. Owners Joe and Sue Plaskas encourage everyone to wear ’50s attire.

Other points of interest include:

. The Emporium, which was then the location of the Tweed Shop where Allison Mackenzie worked in the fictional town of Peyton Place. Although the inside of the store no longer looks as it did in the film, the original door seen in the film will be on display for the weekend.

. The Blackberry Inn, which was the Broad Lawn Inn in 1957, will be open for tours during the day. During the filming of “Peyton Place,” Bette Davis stayed at the Broad Lawn. Davis, under contract with 20th Century Fox and married to Mainer Gary Merrill, stayed for much of the filming and hosted a cast party at the Broad Lawn.