DEAR SUN SPOTS: I saw the movie “Peyton Place” made from the book by Grace Metalious and would like to know where it was filmed.

I thought it was in a Maine coast town like Camden. A friend says a town in New Hampshire. Thank you. — Eleanor Parker, elchetparker@roadrunner.com

ANSWER: According to Wikipedia, “the film was shot primarily in Camden, Maine, with additional exteriors filmed in Belfast and Rockland in Maine and Lake Placid in New York. It premiered in Camden two days before going into general release in the U.S. on Dec. 13, 1957.”

Wikipedia also noted that the author was greatly displeased with the sanitized version of her book presented in the movie, and critics agreed:

“While Peyton Place was ‘an enormous critical and commercial hit,’ most critics made note of the fact that the most salacious elements of the Metalious novel had been laundered or eliminated completely. In the New York Times, Bosley Crowther remarked, ‘There is no sense of massive corruption here.’ “

“Variety noted, ‘In leaning backwards not to offend, producer and writer have gone acrobatic. On the screen is not the unpleasant sex-secret little town against which Grace Metalious set her story. These aren’t the gossiping, spiteful, immoral people she portrayed. There are hints of this in the film, but only hints.”

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Your friend may be thinking of “On Golden Pond.” That story was based on the screenwriter’s summers on Great Pond in Belgrade, but the movie was shot in Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: Could you publish the address where I can reach “The Nate Berkus Show” on ABC and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” on ABC?

They help so many people. I would like to thank them and tell them how I appreciate them. — A.L., Auburn

ANSWER: Sun Spots couldn’t find a mailing address at www.thenateshow.com, but there is a contact form. As Sun Spots has noted before, correspondence via email is encouraged, so it can be difficult to find a mailing address.

In this case, the best she can do is provide a mailing address for ABC. You can write to Nate care of the network. Your letter should get to him eventually. ABC TV, South Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-4551

You can write to the Ellen DeGeneres Show, Telepictures Productions, 3000 West Alameda Ave., Suite 2700, Burbank, CA 91523.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the April 28 writer looking for a housekeeper, Merry Maids, a well-known, worldwide cleaning service now has a branch in Central Maine. It is owned and operated by Rob and Jenn Marcotte, lifelong residents of Maine.

Their office is located at 5a Bellegarde Circle in Lewiston, and their phone number is 782-8080. A friend of mine just had the home she purchased cleaned before she moved in and was so pleased she signed up for biweekly maid service. — Maureen Marcotte, Auburn

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.


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