It’s not a cinema showing recent releases but it’s free – donations appreciated. Not long ago, we lost the Loft which was a small cinema/theatre – Ken moved his shows to Victoria Hall and Michael Pepa moved his classical concerts to Trinity Church. The new cinema is at Dressler House; a room has recently been renovated to show movies and since it’s the home of the Canadian Women in Film Museum, it’s appropriate it will show movies with early film stars such as Mary Pickford, Marie Dressler and Norma Shearer plus other “women who have played pioneering roles, challenged gendered expectations, and paved the way for others in the film industry.” Dubbed Cinema trailblazeHER, it opens on April 8 with a screening of a “remastered feature-length silent movie starring Mary Pickford”.
Mary Pickford, from Toronto, was in her day, as famous as Marilyn Monroe (well that’s as best as I can judge). For more on her, the museum at Dressler house has a whole lot of detail.
The movie is the first in a series called “Mondays with Mary” to be shown each Monday for the next few months. Successive Mondays show films at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm – each movie is screened four times which is just as well since there is seating for only 20.
As well as movies by early Canadian women film stars, it’s planned to include documentary films from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB). The Women and the NFB series includes a number of motion picture titles, each chosen to align with the museum’s focus on film history, and innovative contributions to cinema made by women. These presentations will be made possible with the support of the National Film Board of Canada.
The Marie Dressler Foundation, who owns and operates the museum (and its cinema), is a registered Canadian Charity and they acknowledge the “tremendous interest and the generous donations by local businesses and individuals that enabled the creation of this new cinematic venue for the community.”
For details on the films to be shown, go to the museum’s web site here. Due to limited seating, you need to reserve a seat online (at the same web site) but there’s no charge – although donations are appreciated.
Resources
Links to web sites with information on films and other cultural events in Cobourg
- Canadian Women in Film Museum
- Northumberland Film Sundays – Quality Alternative films originally screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
- Film Access Northumberland – Film festival with world-class, award-winning films plus emerging filmmaker competitions and classes
- Movies at the Library – free with light refreshments provided
- Les Amis Concerts – Classical concerts by top ranked performers
- Loft Productions – Ken Prue’s shows – mostly live concerts
- List of “Featured Events” – mostly one time events – regularly updated
- Entertainment in Cobourg – a general overview of where to get entertainment information in Cobourg.
- Marie Dressler Foundation – all about Marie and the Foundation bearing her name.
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What is the status of the old cinema across from Victoria Park that has been vacant for years?
Hi John,
I wanted to add our listing to your websites for films – Film Access Northumberland will be holding its annual Eye2Eye Film Festival this June 7-9 at Victoria Hall. We will be announcing our slate of films in the first week of April!
Best,
Lesley Myers
Eye2Eye Festival Co-Director
Sorry, I still do not see the need to keep financially supporting this building. This actress spent the majority of her life and career in the USA. I drive past this building numerous times a week and I have never seen any one coming or going. I’m sure there is a room somewhere in Victoria Hall where the memorabilia can be shown.
How many people go to the Art Gallery? Any time I have gone I have been the only one there. It’s too bad it isn’t at street level.
I agree. I live very close to this museum (two doors away) and as far as I can tell it has not been open once in the past 4.5 years. I can understand why they closed during COVID but now they have no excuse for having their doors closed. It is so embarrassing when tourists from out of town walk up to the door, and read the notice saying that they have to make an appointment. They invariably just walk away. I worked in a museum in the past, and the attendance was a major factor in our ability to get grants, and government money.
I’m sure Rick Miller would love to recruit you and others as volunteers to keep the museum open more. Have you tried to recruit a volunteer in this town? I believe that when funds have been available for a summer student, then the Museum was open in the summer.
Your last sentence says it all “attendance was a major factor in our ability to get government money”, unfortunately that’s not the way it works in Cobourg.
As far as I know the Art Gallery of Northumberland is open as follows:
Gallery Hours
Tuesday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday | 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, Monday | Closed
They have rotating exhibits every couple of months, they’re having a Fashion Show next weekend, and they recently held a county-wide art competition – I went to the evening arrangement for that and there must have been over 100 people in there…
Dressler House was the birthplace of Marie Dressler, an Oscar-winning comedienne with a stellar claim to fame in the mid-20th century. The Marie Dressler Foundation website says “The Von Koerber family was renting the house from John Field for $8.00 a month in 1868 when their daughter Leila was born on Nov. 9 in the northeast room, a child who would go on to fame as Marie Dressler.”. This building is an important part of Cobourg’s history. It does take a lot great deal of financial commitment, volunteers and faith in the community to keep such an iconic place running. It would be a shame to close up and move history, particularly the birthplace of an important screen legend notwithstanding it was from an era long ago.
Rather than holding an artist in contempt for moving to the US, I am impressed when they succeed on their own without the crutch of Canadian Content support that exists now.
Thank you Mr Draper for all this information. I was not aware of most of this. You seem to be the main source of information about so many things that go on in our community. I’ll be making it to a number of these events. I’m also a 75 year old – just like many of these events – but I hope to get out there and at least TRY to kick up my heals ! Thanks again.
Thanks John,You Sure As Hell Don’t Get Much Information On Local Radio Stations?
Been There Done That
Cobourg Really needs something New and Inspiring
Such as?
Watched the Dressler Movies there yrs ago along with other
Oldies They even had showings in the Parking lot one summers eve
Not sure what will turn Cobourg or the Downtown around now with the present state of affairs Here . Our Leaders and Political Powers to be are focused on 1 thing
preserving their Jobs and avoiding their constituents They certainly don’t listen to us either
But its not the Beach any more the swim season is to short There used to be 4 or5 good sized Bars with entertainment that also sponsored all the sports teams & events not now .Even Medical is suffering – and waiting times in our Hospital Emerg are getting very Long – as non residents of Northumberland are coming here thinking there might be faster service. You need an Umbrella to walk through our Mall that’s been under Reconstruction for 10 yrs now What the Heck is Wrong What isn’t
hmmm…New pier, a lighthouse renovation including (CN Tower-like LED lights) with a boardwalk to it for great pictures and experiences, a skating trail through the vacant trailer park during the winter months with a outdoor Christmas market similar to downtown Toronto, a food truck festival, a significant BIG performer in Victoria Park, kite festival, Winter beach festival including ice shacks/ice domes, outdoor hockey and amazing cocktails for the grown-ups, a Cobourg version of Summerlicious (google it), bigger, better Water Front Festival and Canada Day celebrations including drone show, turn the Park Theater into an indoor skate park and small concert venue for youth…
its a short list but I was making it up on the fly….
Wow those are great ideas!
How about a Pirates Festival – parade along King Street; fun and games on the beach. Others have done it; just Google it.
Great idea there’s at least one pirate in town already, his flag flies on his illegal tent.
terrific ideas!
I remember having to watch National Film Board films in class, opening with the sound of the loon. That sound to this day on the TV turns me right off; I found their movies boring back in the 50-60s. I visited Dressler House twice when I first came here nearly 15 years ago. Most of the speaking exhibits did not work, at the time the museum part was a single room, five minutes you were in and out. I can’t see myself returning to movies over 75 years or older. It is not my cup of tea, but I wish the organizers success.
Oh, Gerry. The Museum has been completely redone in recent years. It’s beautiful and very interesting! Give it another visit.
I agree – I’m not sure who asked for or wanted this but I wish them success…Cobourg is a fickle crowd.