10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday June 9, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Leaving Monday Night @ the Movies a hit Continued from page 3 just enjoy the magic of the silver screen. To have time to view again his favourites among the 2,500 movies in his possession. To even just sit back in his chair and admire the classic movie posters decorating his home," said Kate Barlow who handles publicity for Monday Night @ the Movies. "We at Monday Night @ the Movies will miss his expertise, his encyclopedia knowledge and his sheer passion for the medium," said Barlow. With twinkling blue eyes and his passion for the big screen, not to mention the stage, it's surprising that Warren earned his living in a whole other world, the world of banking. At 76, Warren is retired from what he called "his day job" and lives in Oakville, a town he has called home for 40 years. Born and raised in London, England, Warren moved to Canada in 1967. He was working for Lloyds bank in the United Kingdom and was a manager of the bank's computer centre on Lombard Street when he decided to make a move. Canadian banks were searching for more employees as they expanded into CABINET REFACING after before computer banking so Warren, from the heart of London's financial district, began to explore the possibilities and found himself moving here. Having grown up during the second world war in London, Warren said he, like many others, spent a lot of time at the movies. Warren has two sons, Mark, 46, a computer engineer at a bank, and Lloyd, 35, who manages the Funhaus club on Queen Street West and a five-year-old grandson, Scott. Given that family, Warren, who said he met lots of people on what he calls "the fringes of show business in Toronto" and saw lots of them struggling financially, said he always kept his day job. However, his passion for the arts often became like a second job when he got home. "I don't consider myself an actor," said Warren, noting it's always been writing that has captured him. His first brushes with the film industry were as a boy in London where he viewed shows from Abbott and Costello, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. It's still the classics that hold a special place in his heart. "All my favourites are old movies," he said, admitting today's movies are not always as interested in good screenplays as special effects and action. As a young adult, Warren said he used to write songs. He doesn't know music, but was always able to put words to a tune that would spring to mind. "I wanted some means of putting these songs onto the stage," recalled Warren and the opportunity arose when he wrote an original stage musical for the TD bank's drama club. At work for about a year, he penned the lyrics and script for Hamalot the poster for which hangs in his living room promising a bawdy tale of King Arthur, his knights, ladies and peasants. It BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER MOVIE BUFF: Peter Warren, a banker by trade, has had a second career in scriptwriting. was staged in 1976 at the University of Toronto's Hart House and was a big hit. A second musical comedy, Dreamland, followed in 1977. What followed was many years of writing scripts for The Jesters Children's Theatre Group in Scarborough. Warren landed the off hours job after answering a classified ad for a scriptwriter. The group was about children performing for children and Warren's credits include the likes of The Night Santa's Reindeer Fell Asleep, The Wolf Who Wanted Love, and The Case of the Missing Easter Eggs. For the Burloak Theatre Group, Warren produced Keep It Off The Record, which was performed at the former Queen Elizabeth Park Secondary School. Warren even sold one of his scripts, a drama called Movie Games that was purchased by a Toronto television production company and turned it into a movie of the week. Warren said he still has a copy of the movie, but admitted he didn't like selling off his work and then seeing what becomes of it on television. "You lose control of the script. That's been a complaint of screen writers from Day One," he laughed. And it's not just the movies that Warren knows like the back of his hand. His library features many books on all the behindthe-scenes information, too. Today, Warren said he goes to the movies -- often to animated films with his grandson and as he watches flicks like Shrek III, in his mind swirl the shadows of knowing how important the film Snow White was to Walt Disney and the future of the silver screen and all the history in between. Attention Ladies: Want Extra Cash without the hassle? I will sell your previously owned Designer Clothing And Handbags on consignment on Ebay. Especially looking for Chanel, St.John, Gucci, Louis Vuitton etc. E Bay Power Seller/100% Positive Feedback/ Licensed by Square Trade Inc. on Ebay U.S. Funds Call for Details 905 465-3523 or Email fabuloussales@aim.com To become involved with Rotary in Oakville and around the world visit our website: www.oakvillerotary.org