“The girl in the box office” — for decades a welcoming face in the box office of the Centre, Paramount, and Odeon theatres was that of Marg Howe — always ready to sell tickets, and most likely with a smile, she was in the theatres from 1942 to 1977.

The iconic silent film actor Mary Pickford comes to Peterborough for a quick wartime visit, creating quite a stir — after appearing on screen countless times since 1909.

From the beginning, long before there were popcorn machines, there were projectionists. Whether called “operators” or “projectionists,” they’ve been around since the beginning of motion picture exhibition – as necessities, at least until the arrival of the digital era — skilled workers performing countless and mostly uncelebrated tasks. Mostly men, too — but then along came Joy Simmonds.

Introducing a number of prominent Peterborough projectionists: Emile Baumer, Harry Ristow, Ernest Young, and Don Corrin. A “niche trade” with a variety of different cinematic experiences — and, with the advent of the digital age, a dying breed.

In the early years of film exhibition in Peterborough, by far the most long-lasting and colourful local “theatre man” was a Greek cigar store merchant name Mehail Pappakeriazes, better known as Mike Pappas. Just what eventually happened to him remains a bit of a mystery.

Hatching new Ideas, building audience, finding trouble: how an enterprising young theatre man, referred to as a local “moving picture magnate,” swept the town by storm before coming to a tragic end.

A case study of early motion picture publicity and an oddity: the legendary Buffalo Bill comes to town, more than once – first in person and later on screen and in the form of a somewhat inebriated impersonator. But then a Buffalo Bill show performance graduate, Oklahoma Jack, lives in town from 1922 to 1959 – itching to add his voice to the story.

From silent films to the sergeant’s mess and more: making music, teaching music, and influencing generations: the life of Mrs. Eveline Foster

Tracking down the life story of an illusive film-maker — and the man who established the first motion picture theatre in Peterborough.

Walter “Curley” Noyes is one of those people who spent a lifetime working in the downtown theatres.