A prototype logo for the 42nd season of Survivor, tentatively entitled "Survivor: Into The Wild", which will be filmed on location in Canada. Algonquin Park in Ontario heads the list of proposed locations for the 42nd season of the popular reality TV series. (Graphic: AF Department / Castaway Television Productions)
In this era of fake news and due to the continuing shares of this story in the days following its original publication on April Fool’s Day, we feel obliged to point out upfront that this story was published on April Fool’s Day.
As far as we know, there are no plans for Survivor to be filmed in Canada now or ever — although we still think it’s a great idea!
Black flies and mosquitoes? It’s possible that “outwit, outplay, and outlast” is going to take on an entirely new meaning.
For the first time in its history, a season of the Emmy award-winning CBS reality TV series Survivor will be filmed in Canada instead of the tropics, possibly as soon as next year — and Ontario’s own Algonquin Park is at the top of the list of potential locations.
This follows another first for Canada: the announcement last fall that Canadians are now eligible to compete on Survivor.
“For the first time ever, we’re looking to have Canadians on the show,” executive producer and host Jeff Probst announced to ET Canada last September. “I think Canadians will do great and honestly because they understand the game. Survivor is a game in addition to having to survive the elements, which Canadians know how to do.”
In September 2018, “Survivor” executive producer and host Jeff Probst announced that Canadians would be eligible to compete on the reality TV series for the first time in its history. So filming a season in Canada seems like a logical next step. (Publicity photo)
According to an exclusive memo supplied to kawarthaNOW by an anonymous CBS employee who says she is a former Peterborough resident, the show’s production company will be scouting several locations in Canada this summer. Algonquin Park in Ontario is the top location, with three other possible locations in British Columbia and Quebec.
“Photogenic vistas, isolated interior, large lakes, camp locations on water, excellent fishing, crew accommodations in nearby towns” are some of the desirable location qualities for Algonquin Park listed in the memo.
The 42nd season is tentatively entitled Survivor: Into The Wild which, according to the memo, would see “18 strangers heading into an isolated forest in Canada to battle the elements — and each other.” The memo also includes a prototype logo for the Canadian season.
The isolated beauty of Algonquin Park, while still being close enough to urban accommodations for the 350-person production crew, would make it an ideal location for the Canadian season of “Survivor”. (Photo: Destination Ontario)
But this won’t be a cold-climate version of the show, something fans have been suggesting for years.
“I get snowy climate a lot,” Probst said in a 2012 interview with Gordon Holmes of Xfinity TV. “It seems quite unlikely that will ever happen.”
Instead, the show would be filmed during the summer months, allowing contestants to remain scantily clad — a consistent feature of the series since it premiered in 2000.
Algonquin Park is one of the locations being scouted for the Canadian season of “Survivor”, which will take place in the summer months so that contestants can remain scantily clad. (Photo: Destination Ontario)
Although the series has been filmed in other locations including Australia, according to kawarthaNOW’s anonymous source, Probst took some convincing before he agreed with the decision to film a season in Canada.
Previously, Probst told Entertainment Weekly the series would stay permanently in the Mamanuca Islands in Fiji, where it has been shot for the last six seasons, including the current 38th season Survivor: Edge of Extinction.
One reason for the decision to film a season in Canada might be related to ratings for the series, which have been slipping over the past few years.
Contestants on “Survivor: Into The Wild” will have to battle black flies and mosquitoes along with each other.
If Algonquin Park is ultimately selected for the location for Survivor: Into The Wild, it will certainly change some of the dynamics of the show.
While obtaining fresh water will no longer be a concern, finding edible food other than fish may be a greater challenge, and there will still be issues with weather, making fire, and finding shelter. And did we mention the black flies and mosquitoes?
A casting call for seasons 41 and 42 will be made later this summer, with filming taking place in the spring and summer of 2020.
This story will be updated if more details become available, although that’s not going to happen since this story is an April Fool’s joke.
Television and film actress Kelly Van der Burg, who has a role in the upcoming "It: Chapter Two" horror film, will perform as teenaged drug addict Brooke in New Stages Theatre Company's staged reading of Daniel MacIvor's play 'How It Works'. The play, which will be performed on April 7, 2019 at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough, also stars Tony Munch and Gemini award-winning actress Catherine Fitch as well as local favourite Megan Murphy. (Photo: David Leyes)
On Sunday, April 7th, New Stages Theatre Company continues its popular The Page on Stage Reading Series at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre with Canadian playwright’s Daniel MacIvor’s How It Works.
New Stages Theatre Company presents How It Works
When: Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) How much: $25 general admission ($15 students/arts workers/underwaged)
Written by Daniel MacIvor, directed by Randy Read, and featuring Catherine Fitch, Tony Munch, Megan Murphy, and Kelly Van der Burg. Part of The Page On Stage Reading Series. Tickets available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
A story about addiction and family dynamics, How It Works continues New Stages’ tradition of selecting shows that challenge its audiences, performed by both local favourites alongside actors from some of the biggest stages across Ontario.
Making its debut in 2007 at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre, How It Works is a story about the complex relationship between a broken family and the arrival of an outspoken albeit compassionate outsider.
“How It Works weaves the past and present together as it follows the lives of four characters: a cop, his ex-wife, his new girlfriend and his deeply troubled daughter,” says New Stages founder and artistic director Randy Read. “The play also examines two increasingly common aspects of our society: divorce and addiction.”
The play tells the story of a divorced couple, Al (Tony Munch) and Donna (Megan Murphy), and their 19-year-old daughter Brooke (Kelly Van der Burg), who not only plays her parents off one another but is suffering from a serious drug addiction. When Al’s new girlfriend Christine (Catherine Fitch) enters their lives, she takes an interest in Brooke — creating an emotional and often humorous life journey.
After first seeing the show during its original Toronto run, Randy reveals he has had How It Works on his list of shows to bring to Peterborough for more than a decade.
“What I love about How It Works is that it follows the journey of these characters with compassion, humour, and grace,” Randy says.
“Daniel MacIvor has a deep understanding of how a family works when forced to confront and deal with drug abuse, addiction, and recovery, as well as the changing dynamics that inevitably occur. These are serious issues and, while his writing always examines these issues with respect and sensitivity, there is also an awareness of the inherent humour that is always an aspect of our complex humanity.”
“How It Works” was written by Nova Scotia playwright, actor, and director Daniel MacIvor, who also directed the play’s debut in 2007 at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. (Publicity photo)
Like all New Stages’ The Page on Stage presentations, one of the treats of the night is experiencing some of Canada’s top talents on the local stage.
How It Works features the return of veteran actor Tony Munch (Shoot ‘Em Up, Cube Zero, The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day) and Gemini award-winning actress Catherine Fitch (South of Wawa, Slings & Arrows, The Arrow, Butterbox Babies, Road to Avonlea, Murdoch Mysteries), who appeared together in one of New Stages’ very first productions more than 20 years ago.
“Tony and Catherine are married actors who starred in New Stages’ 1998 production of George F. Walker’s Problem Child,” Randy says. “We are thrilled to have them together on our stage again.”
Munch and Fitch are joined by up-and-coming Canadian actress Kelly Van der Berg, who has had roles in the Reelz mini-series The Kennedys: After Camelot as Mary Jo Kopechne and FOX’s Rocky Horror Picture Show as Betty Munroe, as well as appearances in CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries and Frankie Drake Mysteries. She also performs as Victoria’s mom in the It: Chapter Two horror film, based on Stephen Kin’s novel, which is coming to theatres in September 2019.
Veteran married actors Tony Munch and Catherine Fitch along with Peterborough’s own Megan Murphy also perform in the New Stages Theatre Company’s staged reading of Daniel MacIvor’s play ‘How It Works’. (Publicity photos)
The cast is rounded out by local favourite Megan Murphy, who returns to New Stages for the first time since her appearance in last year’s two-part production of Angels in America.
A unique way to watch a theatrical production, The Page on Stage Reading Series has actors performing a play in a dramatic script reading, but without any sets or costumes and with limited interaction on the sage. This allows the focus to be on the words and the meaning of the show, as well as allowing top talent to perform challenging productions that otherwise would not come to the Peterborough stage.
These one night-only performances are consistently among the best nights of theatre in Peterborough. How It Works will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough).
General admission tickets are $25 ($15 for students, art workers, and the underwaged) and are available in person at the Market Hall Box Office or by phone at 705-749-1146 (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday) or online anytime at markethall.org.
'Chin Up' by Laura Berman, one of the painterly photographs on display in her "With Respect" exhibition during the SPARK Photo Festival at The Old Oriental Hotel in Castleton, with an opening reception on April 6th. (Photo courtesy of the SPARK Photo Festival)
April is here, and with it comes the annual SPARK Photo Festival, running for the entire month. As well as SPARK, you can look forward to a packed month with The Art School of Peterborough’s Art Auction masquerade party ‘Festa Carnevale’ (including an auction preview and a mask-making workshop on First Friday), Rob Niezen’s ‘Nocturnal Reflections’ at the Art Gallery of Northumberland, a group photography show at Acme Art and Sailboat Company, and Leigh Macdonald’s ‘Limn’ showing at Atelier Ludmila.
There will be a Curator’s talk at Artspace this month, and the 50/50 Art Draw is on the horizon. A call for entries is now open for Hartley Stephenson’s May show ‘Get Your Art On’ at the Mount Community Centre. Some new arts spaces have opened in Peterborough as well, including the Artisans Centre in Peterborough Square and The Green Lemon Gallery, a small new arts-friendly space that will host a group show in April opening on First Friday.
Of course, there is much more happening on Friday, April 5th in downtown Peterborough, as the First Friday event is alive and well. To keep informed, follow FirstFridayPtbo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Artspace presents a Curator’s Talk on Krista Belle Stewart in April with 50/50 Art Draw coming in May
The installation of Krista Belle Stewart’s ‘A Guest A Host A Ghost’ at Artspace. A Curator’s Talk takes place on April 3, 2019. (Photo courtesy of Artspace)
On Wednesday, April 3rd at 7 p.m, Jon Lockyer and Hannah Keating of Artspace will be giving a free tour of Krista Belle Stewart’s installation of ‘A Guest A Host A Ghost’.
During the presentation we will learn more about Belle-Stewart’s artistic practice and how Artspace brought her work to the gallery. Feel free to RSVP on Facebook or just show up. The event is free to attend and all are welcome.
Krista Belle Stewart is an artist and member of the Sylix Nation who works with video, land, performance, photography, textiles and sound, drawing out personal and political narratives inherent in archival materials while questioning their articulation in institutional histories. Her ‘A Guest A Host A Ghost’ exhibition continues at Artspace until April 18th.
Tickets are available for the 50/50 Art Draw on May 4, 2019. (Image: Artspace)
In other Artspace news, the annual 50/50 Art Draw is fast approaching. The event will be on Saturday, May 4th at 7 p.m. and is always a fun night of music, door prizes, food and drink, and of course the exciting Art Draw, Fire Sale, and Silent Auction.
For the Art Draw, you buy a ticket and wait for your ticket number to called at random, and then select a piece of art from the wall. Everyone with a draw ticket goes home with a piece of art.
Tickets are $25 for the party and $100 for the Art Draw, available online at artspace-arc.org/shop/.
Artspace is located at 378 Aylmer Street in downtown Peterborough and offers barrier-free access (to all but Gallery 2) and free admission during regular open hours: Tuesday to Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Parking is available in the municipal lot on Hunter Street between Aylmer and George. For more information, call 705-748-3883 or visit artspace-arc.org.
Submissions now open for ‘Get Your Art On’ Victoria Day weekend art show at The Mount Community Centre
Get your art into this beautiful space at The Mount Community Centre in Peterborough for the Victoria Day Weekend. (Image courtesy of Hartley Stephenson)
Get involved in this art show in the beautiful Austin Doran Hall (the former chapel) at The Mount Community Centre in Peterborough, taking place on the Victoria Day long weekend in May.
Whether you are a maker or someone who is interested in art, it will be a fun event featuring artists from all walks of life. All are welcome, and the fee to show your work is only $15. You can bring as many pieces as you want and there is no commission on art sales.
Get your art together this April, and Get Your Art On in May! Drop off will be between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 16th. An opening reception will be held on Friday, May 17th at 7:30 p.m. Art pick up and an open house takes place all day on Monday, May 20th (Victoria Day).
For more information, call Hartley Stephenson at 705-743-6042.
The Mount Community Centre is located at 1545 Monaghan Road in Peterborough.
Art Gallery of Northumberland presents ‘Nocturnal Reflections’ by Rob Niezen
Artist Rob Niezen’s works are on display at the Art Gallery of Northumberland. (Photo courtesy of Rob Niezen)
The latest series by oil painter Rob Niezen is now on display at the Art Gallery of Northumberland and will continue until Sunday, May 5th.
City nights are lit up by streetlights and stoplights and storefronts glow and glitter across wet city streets in this series of urban nocturnes.
Don’t miss the opening reception to be held on Saturday, April 6th beginning at 1 p.m.
The Art Gallery of Northumberland is located at on the third floor of the west wing of Victoria Hall (55 King St. W., Cobourg). Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The gallery is closed on Mondays. For more information, visit www.artgalleryofnorthumberland.com.
SPARK Photo Festival takes over the region in April
A photo from “Bear Necessities”, an exhibit by Pontypool photographer Barb Callander at Ashburnham Ale House during the SPARK Photo Festival in April. A reception will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 14th. (Photo courtesy of the SPARK Photo Festival)
The SPARK Photo Festival is in so many locations in the city of Peterborough and surrounding area that it might just take the whole month of April to catch it all!
With 40 exhibits spanning the city and county of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland, the seventh annual SPARK is the first photography festival of its kind in Canada. It’s a good thing that SPARK pocket guides and catalogues are available at all exhibit locations.
SPARK SPiN walking routes. (Image courtesy of SPARK Photo Festival and Peterborough GreenUp)
SPARK has also partnered with Peterborough GreenUp to create two walking and two cycling tours in a brochure called SPARK SPiN available as a supplement to the pocket guide and catalogue.
The opening party and 2019 SPARK Juried Exhibit awards ceremony will take place on Friday, April 5th from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Peterborough Public Library. Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery will be hosting a SPARK-related workshop with Christopher Thorpe on the same evening as part of the First Friday art crawl.
For more detailed information about the festival, including a list of exhibits and oppening reception dates, visit www.sparkphotofestival.org.
The Art School of Peterborough’s Annual Art Auction ‘Festa Carnevale’, with preview and mask-making workshop on First Friday
The Art School of Peterborough’s 23rd annual Art Auction takes place on April 13, 2019. (Poster: Art School of Peterborough)
The Art School of Peterborough is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019 and this year’s Annual Art Auction, called ‘Festa Carnevale’, is Saturday, April 13th.
The auction, the largest fundraiser of the year for the not-for-profit organization, takes place at 6 p.m. in the spacious atrium at Princess Gardens (100 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Co-hosted by Catherine Hanrahan and Ben van Veen, there will be a silent auction, pop-up entertainment from the Peterborough Academy of Circus Arts, and a live auction with original works from local artists Brian Atyeo, Christine Baayen, Audrey Bain, David Baker, Debra Bannister, Peter Barron, Leanne Baird, Jocasta Boone, Pam Buckler, Anne Cavanagh, Nancy R. Chalut, John Climenhage, Daniel Crawford, Dorothy Cruickshank, Art Cunanan, Joan Desira, Katie Ellement, Brianna Gosselin, Richard Hayman, Roz Hermant, Jose Miguel Hernandez Autorino, David Hickey, Karen Hjort-jensen, Dwayne James, Jenni Johnston, Bill Lockington, Sandy MacFarlane, Lucy Manley, Lisa Martini-Dunk, Rob Niezen, Micky Renders, Bronson Smith, Susan Taylor-Stevenson, Victoria Wallace, Megan Ward, and Gail West.
Advance tickets are $15 available at artschoolptbo.org/art-auction-2019/. Tickets will also be available at the door for $20 ($10 for members).
On Friday, April 5th from 6 to 9 p.m. during the First Friday art crawl, The Art School of Peterborough will host a preview of the items in the auction. This is a great way to see what will be up for auction and to purchase your advance door tickets.
There will also be a free mask-making workshop from 7 to 9 p.m. on First Friday. The auction party is masquerade themed, so participants can make their own mask to wear to the event! Drop-ins are welcome.
The Art School of Peterborough is located at 174A Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough.
The Launch Gallery features ‘Bronson and Cole’ by Katie Ellement and Heather Doughty
An adorable photo of Bronson and Cole by Katie Ellement and Heather Doughty. (Photo courtesy of the SPARK Photo Festival)
As part of the SPARK Photo Festival, The Art School of Peterborough will feature ‘Bronson and Cole’, a fun series of images by Katie Ellement and Heather Doughty featuring canine Bronson and human friend Cole as they explore life.
Receptions for the exhibit will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 12th, with sweet treats provided by April & August Cookie Co., and again from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday, April 26th. Photos will be available for purchase.
The exhibit will be on display for the month of April at the Launch Gallery at The Art School of Peterborough (174A Charlotte St., Peterborough). Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday (closed on Monday and Tuesday).
Artisans Centre opens in Peterborough Square
Demonstrations in the Artisans Centre workshop by members of the Kawartha Woodturners Guild. (Photo: Margaret Hamilton)
Now open in Peterborough Square in downtown Peterborough, the not-for-profit Artisans Centre is the result of a number of guilds coming together and making something of their collective knowledge.
From the wood turners, potters, gourd artists, and weavers and spinners there is a lot to be learned, though classes are not limited these skills alone. The Artisans Centre provides space and tools for a wide variety of artisans who will now be able to use the space and share their skills with the wider community.
This centre is an exciting new endeavour and resource within the creative community. Classes are now available, and a call for entry is now open for the ARTISANity spring sale that takes place at the Marshlands Centre in Lakefield in May.
The Artisans Centre is located in Unit 3 of Peterborough Square at 360 George St. N. North in downtown Peterborough. For more information, call 705-775-1797, email info@artisanscentre.ca, or visit www.artisanscentre.ca.
Acme Art and Sailboat Co. presents group photography show ‘un-sensored F8-shutter FIZZLE’
‘un-sensored F8-shutter FIZZLE’ is a group photography show taking place during the First Friday art crawl from 6 to 10 p.m. on April 5th at Acme Art and Sailboat Co.
The exhibit includes photography by Alex Pendergast, Wayne Eardley, Davey Warren, Wayne Ferguson, Scott Cisco, Marlon Hazlewood, Esther Vincent, and Paul Hodgkinson.
Refreshments will be provided, and new work by Joe Stable will be presented in the Copper Closet.
Acme Art and Sailboat Company is located at 129-1/2 Hunter Street West, 3rd floor, in downtown Peterborough. Hours of operation are variable, please check Acme’s Facebook page.
Atelier Ludmila presents ‘Limn’ by Leigh MacDonald
A detail from Leigh Macdonald’s ‘Limn’. (Photo courtesy of Atelier Ludmila)
Come out for the opening reception of Leigh Macdonald’s ‘Limn’ at Atelier Ludmila during the First Friday art crawl on April 5th from 6 to 10 p.m.
This series of bold paintings is inspired by Kandinsky, Basquiat, and Campion. The opening will include theatrical elements, so be ready for anything!
The gallery is open for three Saturdays in April, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 6th, 13th, and 20th. There will also be a closing party on Friday, April 26th from 7 to 11 p.m.
Operated by artistic director Laurel Paluck, the Atelier Ludmila Gallery and The Drawing Room are located on the second floor of the Commerce Building (129 1/2 Hunter St. W., Peterborough). For more information, visit atelierludmila.com.
Green Lemon Gallery opens in downtown Peterborough featuring works by Shannon Taylor and Charlotte Di Carlo
Works by Shannon Taylor and Charlotte Di Carlo are on display this April at the new Green Lemon Gallery in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Shannon Taylor)
Green Lemon Gallery, a tiny new gallery and art-friendly space, has sprung up in downtown Peterborough.
Conveniently located close to Black Honey, the space is a fun venue for small workshops and art-making events.
The space will be featuring a small group show this April with works by me and by Charlotte Di Carlo. It will will be open during the First Friday art crawl on April 5th.
The Green Lemon Gallery is located at 219 Hunter Street West in downtown Peterborough.
Married musical couple Tif Ginn and Fred Eaglesmith will be performing at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on April 5, 2019. (Photo: Fred Eaglesmith / Facebook)
When it comes to his music, Fred Eaglesmith is definitely not a late bloomer. After all, the alt-country singer-songwriter began playing guitar and writing songs by the age of 10, hit the road as a performer when he was still a teenager, released 22 records, became a cult hero to his fans (the self-proclaimed “Fred Heads”), won a Juno Award, and performed on David Letterman.
Market Hall presents The Fred Eaglesmith Show Starring Tif Ginn
When: Friday, April 5, 2019 at 8 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) How much: $33 general admission or $35 assigned cabaret table seat in advance, $35 at door
Tickets are available at the Market Hall box office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org.
But when it comes to love, that has bloomed again later in life for the 61-year-old musician after he met Texan singer-songwriter Tif Ginn.
For the past few years, the couple have been writing and performing together, heading out in their tour bus (one of many Eaglesmith has owned over the years) to play shows in hundreds of small towns and large cities across North America.
And the duo is returning again to Peterborough on Friday, April 5th to perform at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, having last played here in 2016 at Showplace Performance Centre.
VIDEO: “49 Tons” – Fred Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn
As many locals know, Fred is no stranger to Peterborough, having several connections to local musicians.
“Me and Peterborough go way back,” he said in an interview with kawarthaNOW’s Josh Fewings in 2016. “I remember I first started coming down there when Reverend Ken and Washboard Hank were still playing together, and of course I used to play shows with your dad (musician Dan Fewings).”
As well as Washboard Hank (Hank Fisher, father of kawarthaNOW’s food columnist Eva Fisher), another one of Eaglesmith’s former band members was the late Willie P. Bennett, who lived in Peterborough until his death in 2008. He played harmonica and mandolin with Eaglesmith for more than 20 years.
Fred Eaglesmith (in the cowboy hat) giving the all-in-good-fun “Willie P” salute at the July 27, 2007 benefit show at the Market Hall in Peterborough for Fred Eaglesmith’s long-time bandmate Willie P. Bennett (front), who had to stop touring after suffering a heart attack (he died six months after this photo was taken of a another heart attack). Also pictured from left to right: Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, kawarthaNOW.com publisher Jeannine Taylor, and Tom Wilson. (Photo: Rainer Soegtrop)
Born Frederick John Elgersma, Eaglesmith grew up on a 200-acre farm near Guelph, one of nine children in an impoverished family. When he was nine years old, he saw Elvis Presley perform on television and decided he wanted to be a musician.
By the time he was 10 years old, he began playing guitar and writing songs. But his strict evangelical minister father, who took the family to church five times a week, didn’t approve of Eaglesmith’s musical aspirations and, when he was 16 years old, Eaglesmith ran away from home.
Riding the rails and hitchhiking across Canada for three years, Eaglesmith busked in youth hostels and wherever else he could. His friends had already nicknamed him Eaglesmith, and he adopted it as his stage name when he was 18. He was a political and prolific songwriter, a Canadian version of Woody Guthrie, with his lyrics focused on the struggles of rural working people.
“I wrote so many bad songs from the time I was ten years old to fifteen,” he says in a 2004 interview with Roy Kasten of the Riverfront Times. “But when I was fifteen I wrote a song about a kid dying on the farm. Although looking back it was very immature, there was nothing to it, but it struck a chord with people. They cried when they heard it. I knew I had found something, I knew I was a storyteller. From then it was just honing my skills.”
The cover of Fred Eaglesmith’s 1980 self-titled debut record.
He released his first album, 1980’s Fred J. Eaglesmith, independently at the age of 23. By this time, he had married his high school sweetheart and they had three children. The couple bought a farm where they grew flowers to sell to farmers’ markets in Toronto, which gave Eaglesmith the chance to perform in Toronto clubs and further refine his song-writing chops.
But the combination of farming and performing music proved too much of a challenge, and the family’s flower business went bankrupt.
“It just led me down the wrong roads,” Eaglesmith tells Kasten. “It was harsh, I couldn’t do it. I thought I was just gonna end up like my parents, never have any money and slide backward.”
Eaglesmith had already released five records in Canada but was virtually unknown in the U.S. and, in the early 1990s, he headed to Nashville where he signed with independent music publishing company Vertical Records. His down-to-earth tunes, sung in Eaglesmith’s raspy voice and with a rock edge, began to earn him a following in the small venues where he performed, especially in Texas.
Fred Eaglesmith has released 22 records over his career including his latest, 2017’s “Standard”.
By the mid-1990s, he was performing with his band The Flying Squirrels (with Willie P. Bennett on harmonica and Washboard Hank on percussion). Their 1996 record Drive-in Movie won Eaglesmith the Juno Award for Best Roots & Traditional Album – Solo in 1997. Several more bands and 14 more records followed, with his latest being 2017’s Standard.
While Eaglesmith has never achieved superstardom, he has a loyal legion of fans who call themselves “Fred Heads”, and they’ve been along with him every step of the way. But playing hundreds of shows every year isn’t conducive to family life, and Eaglesmith and his wife eventually parted ways.
“I had kids and everything, but I had no idea how it worked,” Eaglesmith told Jeff Spevak in a 2016 interview with USA Today. “I had no business even dabbling in that world. I had a trying childhood, my parents’ relationship was not great. Lots of stuff affected my ability to have a relationship.”
Tif and Brit Ginn of the The Fabulous Ginn Sisters. The sisters toured with Fred Eaglesmith’s band and performed with him for his 2010 appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman”. (Publicity photo)
That changed when Eaglesmith met Tiffani “Tif” Ginn, who already had her own successful music career in her home state of Texas.
Ginn grew up in a musical family in the Texan farming community of Schulenburg. Her parents had a band called The Unplanned Parenthood Association, and Tif and her sister Brit starting performing as young children in an offshoot of the family band. Tif went on to study piano, guitar, voice, dance and theatre from childhood through college, and cut her teeth while hosting open mic nights at the prestigious Cactus Cafe in Austin, Texas.
As adults, Tif and Brit formed The Fabulous Ginn Sisters and released three critically acclaimed albums. The duo toured for nearly a decade, when an impromptu collaboration at Texas’ Old Settler’s Music Festival in 2009 presented them with the opportunity to sing backup for Eaglesmith and garnered them an invitation to join the band as well as perform as the opening act.
“Careless” – Fred Eaglesmith on David Letterman (with Brit and Tif Ginn)
By this time, Tif had married singer-songwriter Bill Passalacqua, the bassist in The Fabulous Ginn Sisters, and they had a son Blue (the couple later divorced).
Tif and Brit ended up touring with Eaglesmith, and both performed with Eaglesmith when he appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman on June 14, 2010.
In 2012, Tif became a solo artist and released a self-titled debut album that she co-wrote with Eaglesmith. Tif and Eaglesmith soon fell in love and became a touring duo, with Tif singing and performing on multiple instruments including ukulele, harp, trumpet, drums, percussion, and more. Tif’s nine-year-old son Blue often joins them on stage.
Tif Ginn and Fred Eaglesmith fell in love while touring together and later married. (Photo: Fred Eaglesmith / Facebook)
The couple married in 2014 and Tif eventually moved to Canada, prompting the name of her 2018 10-song record Moving Day — a name suggested by her son Blue — which includes four of her own songs and six co-written with Eaglesmith.
At Eaglesmith and Tif’s Market Hall show, you can expect to hear songs from Moving Day, along with tunes from Eaglesmith’s latest release Standard and from his back catalogue.
The Market Hall concert is one of a string of dates in Canada in April, after which the duo will be heading to Belgium and The Netherlands in May, where Eaglesmith frequently tours.
VIDEO: “Lucille” – Eaglesmith Eaglesmith and Tif Ginn in Bruce Mines
“I have a really big following there,” Eaglesmith said in at 2017 interview with Constance Scrafield of the Orangeville Citizen. “It’s like touring Ontario. I play every little town in the Netherlands.”
Tickets for The Fred Eaglesmith Show Starring Tif Ginn at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) are $33 for general admission or $35 for assigned cabaret table seats.
Advance tickets are available at the Market Hall box office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org. Tickets will also be available at the door for $35.
“Getaway Car” – Tif Ginn at The Arlington in Maynooth in 2014
Environment Canada has now issued a rainfall warning for southern areas of the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, and Northumberland.
Snow or freezing rain is expected to change to rain later Saturday morning (March 30), which will continue into Saturday night.
Rainfall amounts of 25 to 45 mm are likely by the overnight hours, when the rain is expected to change back to snow.
Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Keep children and pets away from creeks and river banks. For information concerning flooding, consult your local Conservation Authority or Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry District office.
In the northern areas of the Kawarthas, including Haliburton and Hastings counties, Environment Canada has issued a freezing rain warning.
The snow that has developed in these areas will accumulate a few centimetres before mixing with or changing to freezing rain later on Saturday morning. Areas near and south of Highway 7 can expect the freezing rain to change to rain this afternoon.
Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas. Ice build-up may cause tree branches to break. Utility outages may occur.
It’s spring, but winter will return to the northern Kawarthas this weekend.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for Haliburton County and Hastings County, with significant snowfall forecast for Saturday (March 30).
Snow will begin on Saturday morning and continue into Saturday night, with possible total accumulation of 10 to 15 cm.
This snow is the result of a low pressure system that will track over southern Ontario on Saturday. There remains considerable uncertainty in the exact track of this system and the associated precipitation. Snowfall warnings may be required.
Travel may be difficult as untreated roads become snow covered and slippery.
Further south, there will periods of snow or rain (up to 2 cm of snow in Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes) or just rain (Northumberland).
There is also risk of freezing rain early on Saturday morning in the southern Kawarthas.
New Brunswick singer-songwriter Colin Fowlie brings his acoustic blues and folk rock to the Black Horse Pub in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday, April 3rd. (Photo: Jay Merle)
Every Thursday, we publish live music and performance events at pubs and clubs in Peterborough and The Kawarthas based on information that venues provide to us directly or post on their website or social media channels. Here are the listings for the week of Thursday, March 28 to Wednesday, April 3.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
Saturday, April 13 8pm - Russell deCarle ($25 in advance in Maynooth at the Maynooth General Store and at Sunrun Café and in Bancroft at Harvest Moon Whole Foods and Guitar Nuts Music Shop, $20 at door)
Arthur's Pub
930 Burnham St., Cobourg
(905) 372-2105
Thursday, March 28
8pm - Karaoke w/ The Travelling Wilburs
Friday, March 29
9pm - Shawn Wilson
Saturday, March 30
9pm - Shawn Wilson
Sunday, March 31
4:30-8pm - Celtic music w/ Chris Devlin
Monday, April 1
7-9pm - Local talent
Tuesday, April 2
7:30pm - Beatles Tribute w/ Don Owen & Bruce Longman
Wednesday, April 3
8pm - Open mic hosted by Bruce Longman
Black Horse Pub
452 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-0633
Thursday, March 28
7:30-11:30pm - Jazz and Blues ft Rob Phillips Trio w/ Marsala Lukianchuk
Friday, March 29
5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Jake Norris & The Side Street Band
Saturday, March 30
5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Josh Gordon Band
Sunday, March 31
3-6pm - Tom Eastland Triage; 6:30pm-9:30pm - Morgan Rider
Monday, April 1
7pm - Rick & Gailie's Crash & Burn
Tuesday, April 2
7pm - Randy Hill Band w/ Ryan Van Loon
Wednesday, April 3
6-8:30pm - Colin Fowlie
VIDEO: "Amusement Park" - Colin Fowlie
VIDEO: "Bury Me" - Colin Fowlie
Coming Soon
Thursday, April 4 7:30-11:30pm - Jazz and Blues ft Rob Phillips Trio w/ Marsala Lukianchuk
Friday, April 5 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - Brother Sweet Brother
Saturday, April 6 5-8pm - Rick & Gailie; 8:30pm - House Brand
Sunday, April 7 3-6pm - The West End Riverboat Band; 6:30pm-9:30pm - Joe Bulger
Saturday, May 11 8pm - Doc Yates w/ Greg Williams & Kansas Stone (tickets available soon at www.docyates.com)
Dreams of Beans
138 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 742-2406
Thursday, March 28
8pm - Open mic hosted by Jacques Graveline
Friday, March 29
9:30-11pm - Graham Show (no cover)
Coming Soon
Wednesday, April 10 5-9pm - Sarah Tohnin
Frank's Pasta and Grill
426 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-2727
Friday, March 29
9pm-12am - Karaoke; 12am - DJ
Saturday, March 30
8pm - Mardi Gras ft. Johnny Sweet & The Project; 11pm - DJ
Wednesday, April 3
8-11pm - Open Mic
Ganarascals Restaurant
53 Walton St., Port Hope
905-885-1888
Saturday, March 30
2pm - Payadora Tango Ensemble ($20, email for tickets)
Ganaraska Hotel
30 Ontario St., Port Hope
(905) 885-9254
Friday, March 29
8pm - Ontario Street Theatre presents The Mighty Led Zepplin Experience ($20)
Saturday, March 30
2pm & 10pm - Bone Yard
Wednesday, April 3
8-11pm - Open Mic Night w/ Clayton Yates & Rob Foreman
Coming Soon
Friday, April 5 8pm - Ontario Street Theatre presents Ode to Bruce Springsteen ($20)
Saturday, April 6 2pm & 10pm - Celler Door
The Garnet
231 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 874-0107
Thursday, March 28
9pm - Bring The War Home & garbageface ($8)
Friday, March 29
5-7pm - Forselli Friday w/ Diamond Dave; 8pm - Lauryn Macfarlane w/ Kane Miller ($10)
Saturday, March 30
6-8pm - Author talk ft. Devon Code and Ursula Pflug
Sunday, March 31
7-9pm - Show and Tell Poetry Series ft. Esther Vincent, Myanna Hansen, Nic Taylor
Tuesday, April 2
5-6:30pm - Show and Tell Poetry Series (STPS) presents National Poetry Month Shut Up and Write (A Letter); 7-8pm - STPS Peterborough Showcase ft Joanthan Bennett, Melissa Johnson, Justin Million
Coming Soon
Thursday, April 4 9:30pm - Haus of Dope, Tripsonix, and more (PWYC)
Friday, April 5 9pm - Nick Ferrio, Le Ren, Eliza Niemi ($10 or PWYC)
Saturday, April 6 9pm - Hot Garbage, Rhys Climenhage, Kelly McMichael, Carew ($10 or PWYC)
Golden Wheel Restaurant
6725 Highway 7, Peterborough
(705) 749-6838
Wednesday, April 3
6:30-8:30pm - Line Dancing w/ Marlene Maskell ($7)
Coming Soon
Saturday, April 13 7pm - Dinner and dance patry ft Rye Street ($20 includes dinner, $5 music only at 8pm)
Gordon Best Theatre
216 Hunter St. W., Peterborough
(705) 876-8884
Saturday, March 30
8:30pm - 90s Night Dance Party and Drag Queen Show fundraiser to send photographer Samantha Moss to Zambia ($5 in advance at ww.eventbrite.com/e/90s-night-at-the-best-tickets-58861420092)
Junction Nightclub
253 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 743-0550
Friday, March 29
10pm - Country Night w/ DJ Bill Porter ($5 cover)
Saturday, March 30
10pm - DJ Cale Granton w/ DJ Justin Anderson
Kawartha Coffee Co.
58 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
(705) 738-1500
Saturday, March 30
7-11pm - Mayfield ft. Bill Douglas of Douglas + Son (no cover)
McGillicafey's Pub & Eatery
13 Bridge St.. N., Hastings
(705) 696-3600
Coming Soon
Friday, April 5 9pm - Downbeat
Mckecks Tap & Grill
207 Highland St., Haliburton
(705) 457-3443
Friday, March 29
6pm - Sheri Hawkins and The Rockin Eighty Eights (no cover)
McThirsty's Pint
166 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 743-2220
Thursdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Tony Silvestri and Greg Caven
Fridays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Saturdays
10pm - Live music with Brian Haddlesey
Sundays
8pm - Open stage hosted by Ryan Van Loon
Mondays
9:30pm - Trivia Night hosted by Cam Green
Wednesdays
9pm - Live music hosted by Kevin Foster
Moody's Bar & Grill
3 Tupper St., Millbrook
(705) 932-6663
Coming Soon
Saturday, April 20 2-5pm - Max Mouse & The Gorillas
Oasis Bar & Grill
31 King St. E., Cobourg
(905) 372-6634
Sundays
5:30pm - PHLO
Pappas Billiards
407 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 742-9010
Thursday, March 28
7-10pm - Open Mic
Friday, March 29
9pm - Jacques Graveline
Saturday, March 30
1-3pm - Shipwrecked Saturdays w/ Jacques Graveline
Pastry Peddler
17 King St., Millbrook
(705) 932-7333
Saturday, March 30
SOLD OUT - 7pm - Rick Fines w/ Matthew MacCleod ($25)
Publican House Brewery
300 Charlotte St., Peterborough
(705) 874-5743
Friday, March 29
7-9pm - Reg Corey
Saturday, March 30
7-9pm - Mike Graham Duo
Coming Soon
Friday, April 5 7-9pm - Reg Corey
Saturday, April 6 7-9pm - JJ and The Pillars
Puck' N Pint Sports Pub
871 Chemong Rd., Peterborough
(705) 741-1078
Saturday, March 30
9pm - The Acoustically Hip ft Craig McEarchern, Rod MacDonald, Dave Clarke (no cover)
Saturday, April 6 2pm-12am - Benefit for Alexander Norris ft Rick & Gailie, Dennis & Michael O'Toole, Amanda Robb Band, Roy Asseltine, Tami J Wilde, Niall, James Higgins, Austin Carson Band, Colt Harley ($5)
We’re not quite there yet, but it’s almost time to start cleaning up the yard and garden.
If you live in the City of Peterborough, you put out your green waste for weekly collection beginning the first week of April on your regular garbage and recycling day.
In the County of Peterborough, curbside collection is offered in 10 communities in late April and May.
In Northumberland County, monthly curbside green waste collection begins in mid-April.
In the City of Kawartha Lakes, there are two dates for curbside collection in June (you’ll have to take your green waste to a landfill before then).
In Hastings and Haliburton counties, you’ll need to check with your local municipality to see if curbside collection is offered.
The City of Peterborough’s green waste collection begins on Tuesday, April 2nd. Leaf and yard waste will be collected at the curb on your regular garbage and recycling collection day.
Green waste must be in paper yard waste bags, bushel baskets, or a garbage bin labelled with a city-issued “Green Waste” stickers. The stickers are free and are available at City Hall, Peterborough GreenUP, and local Home Hardware stores (Merritt on Lansdowne Street and Kingan on Simcoe Street).
While there are no limits on the amount of green waste you can put out for collection, plastic bags will not be accepted.
Weekly green waste collection will continue in Peterborough through until the last week of November.
Curbside collection of yard waste is available in 10 communities in the County of Peterborough: Bridgenorth, Donwood, Havelock, Keene, Lang, Lakefield, Millbrook, North Monaghan, Norwood, and the Terraview Heights and Woodland Acres areas.
Spring collection begins in late April, but specific dates for each community are not yet available. Check the County of Peterborough website at www.ptbocounty.ca.
Place all yard waste in paper bags or reusable containers and bundle branches, and place at the curb before 7 a.m. on your collection day. There are no limits and no tags required for leaf and yard materials.
Drop-off programs are available for all other locations in the county. Contact your local township for more information on the Leaf and Yard Drop-Off Program in your area.
City of Kawartha Lakes
If you live in the City of Kawartha Lakes, there isn’t regular curbside collection of green waste. Instead, there are two dates in late spring when the city will collect green waste.
This spring’s dates are Friday, June 7th (if your regular collection day is Tuesday or Thursday) and on Friday, June 21st (if your regular collection day is Tuesday or Thursday). All leaf and yard waste must be set out in paper bags or neatly bundled, and plastic bags are not allowed. Grass clippings, sod, and soil will not be collected.
If you don’t want to wait until June, or if you have green waste that isn’t allowed at curbside collection, you can take it to a city waste management facility (landfill) yourself. For more information about landfill locations and hours, visit www.city.kawarthalakes.on.ca.
Northumberland County
For residents of Northumberland County, curbside leaf and yard waste is collected every month from mid-April to mid-December, on a different specific week depending on where you live.
Green waste is not collected on your regular garbage and recycling day. Instead, put your green waste at the curb by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your collection week and it will be collected sometime during that week.
Green waste must be put in paper bags and brush must be tied in small bundles. There is no limit on the number of bags or bundles you can put out for collection, but each bag or bundle must weigh less than 18 kg (40 lbs). Materials placed in plastic bags will not be collected, and garbage, litter, pet waste or soil is not accepted.
While there is no county-wide collection of green waste in Hastings and Haliburton Counties, some municipalities may provide curbside collection while others may require you to take green waste to a landfill. Contact your municipality to find out what services are available, if any, and collection dates.
GreenUP's Taylor Wilkes prepares to plant creeping juniper, a drought-tolerant ground cover, at a home in the Kawartha Heights neighbourhood of Peterborough where the conventional lawn was removed in order to install a water-wise garden. (Photo: GreenUP)
The season for mowing lawns is still ahead of us, but now is a great time to start thinking about how we use and maintain our yards.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Jenn McCallum, Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods Water Program Coordinator at GreenUP.
Specifically, let’s talk about something that we all know, and may or may not love: grass.
Whether you love mowing the lawn or would prefer to not have grass at all, there are certain practices that homeowners can do to reduce water use and mower emissions. There are also alternatives to grass that can add curb appeal and habitat for pollinators.
Conventional lawn grasses are typically a mix of three main species: Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and creeping red fescue. These grasses are native to Europe and Northern Asia, and were introduced to North America as pasture for livestock. During this time of settlement, cattle, goats, and sheep would nibble these grasses and fertilize them with their manure, maintaining a lush low pasture.
As part of the GreenUP Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program, this Swanston Street home in Peterborough removed a portion of the lawn to install a rain garden full of native and locally adapted plants. (Photo: GreenUP)
For the modern homeowner, maintaining the lushness of a lawn can be laborious, with all the mowing, watering, and fertilizing. These practices can have negative impacts on the environment.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a single new gas-powered lawn mower in use for one hour produces the same amount of emissions as 11 new cars being driven for an hour. Additionally, fertilizers can run off of lawns and into waterways when it rains, causing problems for fish and other species.
“During the summer months water use can increase by 50 per cent, mostly due to outdoor water use,” says GreenUP water programs manager Heather Ray.
“Common lawns have short root systems, which means they are not tolerant to periods of drought and therefore require a lot of water to maintain their health. There are ways to promote a water-wise lawn by increasing aeration, de-thatching so water can get to the roots, and mixing in more drought-tolerant species. Keep in mind that lawns bounce back so, in severe drought situations, you can skip the watering and leave your lawn to turn brown.”
If you would like to maintain a lawn in a more environmentally responsible way, consider trying some of these strategies:
Use a hand mower. Since the only energy inputs for a hand mower are from moving your body, there aren’t any harmful emissions involved. Other options for reducing emissions include using battery powered or electric mowers.
Mow high. Mowing your grass no shorter than six to eight centimetres (2.5 to 3 inches) will ensure that its root system stays healthy and strong.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn. Clippings will decompose and provide nutrients to your lawn.
Keep your mowing blade sharp. A sharp blade cuts grass more cleanly, and helps keep the grass healthier. Check the blade of your mower approximately every 8-10 hours of use.
Add compost. You can add up to a 1.3 centimetres (1/2 inch) of finely screened compost (either homemade or purchased) to your lawn in the early spring and early fall. As a natural fertilizer, it will provide nutrients to your grass, will help retain moisture, and won’t run off as easily as artificial fertilizers.
Water responsibly. In the heat of the summer, your lawn may go dormant. This is normal, and it will return to its lush green colour with rain in the fall. When your lawn is dormant, watering will do more harm than good.
Alternatively, if you aren’t that keen on conventional grass to begin with, there are other options you can pursue. For example, buffalo grass is native to the central North American prairies, and can tolerate hot and dry weather better than conventional lawn species can.
As part of the GreenUP Sustainable Urban Neighbourhoods (SUN) program, a resident at a Beverly Street home in Peterborough plants native wildflowers on their front yard in place of grass in order to reinforce the hill, reducing long-term watering requirements and lawn maintenance time. (Photo: GreenUP)
White Dutch clover, white yarrow, and creeping thyme are three great ground covers that can be used as lawn alternatives. These species are low growing, can be mowed if desired (or not — they don’t grow that tall), and produce flowers that provide food to pollinators. These plants can even be added to existing lawns if you wish to diversify your lawn.
Consider starting small. Try replacing your grass by adding one square foot of clover at a time. This will provide more food for pollinators and wildlife habitat.
If you are interested in creating an even more diverse landscape on your property, there are many native plants that provide colour and interest, and once established, they can tolerate our summer’s typical drought conditions.
“Dogwood, New Jersey tea, coneflower, bee balm, milkweed, aster, and black-eyed Susan provide pollen and nectar for native pollinators throughout the growing season,” explains Carlotta James from Three Sisters Natural Landscapes. “Converting your lawn into healthy pollinator habitat is an important step to help reverse the decline of pollinator populations around the world.”
For more ideas about native plants that can be used to add appeal and habitat to your property, check out GreenUP Ecology Park’s Plant Sale on Saturday, May 18th, or throughout the season from May to October.
To see what Peterborough residents are doing to reduce water use around their homes, visit greenup.on.ca/waterwise to view photos and garden profiles for more than 20 gardens nominated through the GreenUP Water Wise program, as funded by Peterborough Utilities Group.
GreenUP Water Wise program also has a Water Wise garden starter kit, including a garden design, which is available at GreenUP Ecology Park. Quantities are limited, so get yours early in the gardening season.
If you would like to buy some vegetable seeds for your garden, or a rain barrel for conserving water on your property, stop by the GreenUP Store at 378 Aylmer Street North in downtown Peterborough. The GreenUP Store also carries composters, which you can use to divert some of your household waste and create your own compost.
After almost nine years of operation, the Havelock Family Drive-In is officially closed for good. (Photo: Gordon Henderson)
Sad news for drive-in theatre fans: the Havelock Family Drive-In is no more.
On Monday (March 25), owner Gordon Henderson announced on the drive-in’s Facebook page (which is now a drive-in and movie memories page) that the property has been sold.
He also confirmed that the new owners will not be taking over operation of the drive-in theatre.
Owner Gordon Henderson opened the Havelock Family Drive-In in 2010, fulfilling a lifelong dream. (Photo: Gordon Henderson / Facebook)
The 65-year-old Henderson first opened the drive-in in 2010 after purchasing the property at 800 Belmont 11th Line in Havelock. He had a galvanized steel screen custom made with a 14-foot base, and later purchased a digital projector.
Henderson had been experiencing challenges operating the drive-in since at least the fall of 2017, when he launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $75,000, stating that he was “in a very hard situation” and “faced with the devastating news that I am in jeopardy of losing my lifelong dream my beloved drive-in.” The campaign, which was not widely promoted, raised a total of $4,820.
In 2018, the drive-in did not open in April as originally scheduled and remained closed over the summer “due to various issues”, according to Henderson (one of which was reportedly that the projector was stolen).
The snack bar at the Havelock Family Drive-In. (Photo: Gordon Henderson)
The drive-in eventually opened for a few weekends in late fall 2018 — well after drive-in season was over.
The Havelock Family Drive-In joins the Mustang Drive-In in Peterborough, which closed in 2012 when the owner was unable to afford the switch to digital projection.
Two drive-in theatres still operate in the Kawarthas: the Lindsay Drive-In (229 Pigeon Lake Road, Lindsay) which opens for the season on April 26th, and the Port Hope Drive-In (2141 Theatre Rd. S., Cobourg) — Canada’s oldest continuously operated drive-in — which will be announcing its opening date within the next week (in 2018 it opened on March 30th).
A brief history of drive-in theatres
Invented by Richard Hollingshead of Camden, New Jersey, the first drive-in theatre opened in 1933.
The concept of the drive-in theatre was invented in the late 1920s by Richard Hollingshead of Camden, New Jersey. The story goes that his overweight mother couldn’t get comfortable in regular movie theatre seats, so Hollingshead came up with the idea of an open-air theatre.
He mounted a 1928 Kodak movie projector on the hood of his car, projected the film onto a screen made of two sheets nailed between two trees, and placed a radio behind the screen for sound. Eventually he developed a ramp system so cars could park at different heights to see the screen without being unobstructed by other vehicles.
In 1933, Hollingshead received a patent for the concept, formed Park-In Theatres, Inc. and opened “Automobile Movie Theater” — the very first drive-in theatre. He charged 25 cents per person and 25 cents per car, with a maximum cost of $1. Park-It Theaters later licensed the concept to Loews Drive-In Theaters, Inc. (the origin of the phrase “drive-in theatre”), but drive-ins didn’t become popular until the advent of in-car speakers in the early 1940s. In 1946, Skyway Drive-In in Stoney Creek, Ontario (since closed) was the first drive-in theatre to open in Canada.
After some legal issues between Park-In Theaters and Loews Drive-In Theaters, Hollingshead’s original patent was overturned in 1950, and drive-ins began popping up everywhere. They were popular because they offered affordable family entertainment. People could bring their babies and kids and amorous teenagers could find some privacy from their parents in what became known as the “passion pit”.
During their peak in the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theatres in the U.S. and 250 in Canada. Drive-ins were popular because they offered affordable family entertainment.
During the drive-in peak of the late 1950s and early 1960s, there were more than 4,000 drive-in theatres in the U.S. and 250 in Canada. Today, there are fewer than 350 drive-ins left in the U.S. and fewer than 50 in Canada.
The decline of the drive-in began in the 1970s, with the rise of home entertainment options — colour television, cable, VCRs, and video rentals — that encouraged families to stay in the comfort of their homes. The energy crisis of the 1970s also had an impact, as did the widespread adoption of Daylight Saving Time (which forced movies to start an hour later, making them less family friendly).
To supplement their declining revenues, some drive-ins (which were already showing B movies rather than first-run movies, due to restrictions from movie studios) began screening mature films and adult films. However, this created a negative image and further discouraged families from attending.
The growing real estate market and increasing property taxes also affected the viability of drive-in theatres, many of which were located in the suburbs or in rural areas. Theatre owners ended up selling to developers who built shopping malls or residential housing developments on the properties.
The Mustang Drive-in in Peterborough closed in 2012 when the owner was unable to afford the switch from film to digital projection. The Owen Sound Twin Drive-In Theatre at Springmount, which opened in 1950, closed permanently this year. Toronto’s only drive-in at The Docks will also not be opening this season. (Photo: Jay Callaghan)
Despite the decline in attendance that shuttered many theatres, the quality of the drive-in experience continued to improve. In the 1970s, the original sound system used for drive-in theatres (an external speaker hung inside a car’s window) was replaced by low-power AM broadcasts to car radios and, in the 1980s, by higher-quality FM radio broadcasts.
In the early 1990s, movie studios began offering first-run movies to drive-ins, and the drive-in theatre had somewhat of a resurgence. People could now see new and popular movies at drive-ins instead of going to a regular movie theatre.
The resurgence was short lived, however. In the 1990s and the 2000s, even more home entertainment options became available, including DVDs, larger and cheaper high-definition flat-screen televisions, and streaming internet video including Netflix. The final nail in the coffin for some drive-ins came in the early 2000s, when movie studios began to move away from producing 35mm film prints to digital, with an ultimatum issued to theatres to switch to digital in 2013.
This meant that drive-ins had to purchase high-definition digital projectors if they wanted to screen new movies. The conversion cost was $75,000 to $100,000 per screen — a difficult expense for drive-in theatres to justify with a limited number of daily screenings, and particularly for Canadian drive-in theatres that only operate for part of the year.
Still, even facing all these obstacles, drive-ins continue to make a go of it. But if you want to keep your local drive-in in business, make going to a drive-in movie a regular outing during the season.
The Lindsay Drive-In is the only two-screen drive-in in the Kawarthas. (Photo: Lindsay Drive-In)
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