I know that I saw the original Star Wars in theater with my dad and my brother during the film’s original run in 1977. Unfortunately, I have no memory of this…or seeing The Empire Strikes Back either. (For the record, I do vividly recall waiting in a massive, excitement-packed line to see Return of the Jedi on opening day).
Pardon my self-indulgence here, but I’m getting to a point — even though I know that I went to the movies before 1979, that is the year that I remember seeing a film for the first time: The Muppet Movie. Memory is, as it has been oft noted, a strange thing indeed. Yet I can recall so many details from that day vividly, from taking the bus there with my mom to jokes and songs that left an indelible mark on my younger self. (Indeed, it remains a favorite to this day).
All of this leads into this week’s Open Thread: Even if you know you saw films before, what is the first movie that you can actually remember seeing in a theater? Share your memories about it, including the movie itself obviously, as well as any small recollections about that experience in the comments below. Since motion pictures serve such a huge role in our society, these kind of memories are important as they are a part of our shared cultural heritage!
This article originally ran in 2018 and is being reprinted as part of our tenth anniversary celebrations!