When the Fergus Grand Theatre opened in 1928 “talky” movies were just coming to the film screen, so it is likely that silent black and white movies were the first screened. On Feb. 3 three silent black and white comedies were screened on a reel to reel projector and 16mm film to the live music of Morgan-Paige Melbourne on piano and Elora Festival general manager Chris Sharpe on cello. Comedians in the screened movies include Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd. The movies were presented by Philippe Spurrell, president of the Film Society of Montreal. Fergus’ Kara Shaw played the piano for a movie called Cinema Director. Photo by Bill Longshaw
