Peyton Place Comes Home to Maine

Book excerpt: It is a well-known fact, perhaps legend now, that Peyton Place, the controversial, scandalous blockbuster was filmed in Camden, Maine and the surrounding towns in 1957. But how did the movie come to be filmed in Maine, who was involved in getting it here, and what did the locals think about 20th Century Fox shooting a big-budget film in their front yards? Historian Mac Smith (Mainers on the Titanic) has done the research and conducted the interviews and presents a fascinating account of events and key players. Beginning with the arrival of film crews, he traces the making of the movie, what happened after the crews left, and the premiere of the film, which was held in Camden. Includes quotes from Maine residents who were extras in the film.