1944 New York, New York
Eliot Stewart
1938
New York City, NY
Interviewed on February 18, 2021
by Kayli Cutler
I remember going to the movies with my mother and a few of my friends when I was little. I must have been only six or seven years old. My father worked long hours, so going to the movies with my mother was one activity that was very special to me. Going to the movie theater was truly a remarkable experience. It was not casual — my mother and I would get dressed up and look our best whenever we went to the theater. The first movie I remember seeing was Bambi and it must have been in New York City. I remember I went with my Mother and one other friend whose name is escaping me. I do not remember anything about the theater… I know it was in New York because we were living in the city at the time, and it was during the War. I remember my father moved us out of New Jersey and into the city because he was worried we wouldn’t be able to get food or resources if things on the home front got any worse.
I remember loving the movie Bambi because it reminded me of when we used to sit on the patio in our backyard and silently observe the deer. My home in New Jersey was in a very wooded area, and we used to have tons of deer in our backyard. The one thing I remember most vividly about seeing Bambi was my mother having to take me outside the theater because I was sobbing when Bambi’s mother died. I remember we had to go outside until I calmed down enough to go back into the theater. I remember being so amazed by the movie because it was so realistic — it was a whole different experience from anything I had ever known before. I vaguely remember the other characters, but I’ll never forget that cute rabbit character — oh, what’s his name… Thumper! I remember laughing at the screen because I thought he was so cute and funny. I guess there were tears and laughter that day!
The movies were especially unique to me because at that point in my life, books were all I knew. My family and I were big readers, so seeing this imagery on a big screen was very overwhelming. I was only a child when colored movies were taking off. Of course I had seen plenty of black and white movies growing up, so I distinctly remember the movie Bambi because it had such soft, beautiful colors that captivated my attention. I remember liking the animation, so I became a big fan of Disney movies and cartoons after I saw Bambi. In the years following I remember watching movies like Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan — which your grandfather loved — and Cinderella.
I remember very little about the theater itself. We lived on East 79th Street so I would assume the theater was near our home. I do not remember anything about the concession stand, but I do remember the rows of plush, velvet seats. I remember the screen being big and it having huge stage curtains. Although the details are foggy, I do remember the extravagant beauty of the theater — it was such a gorgeous building.
At the end of the interview Eliot and I spoke about how Bambi is one of the first movies I remember as a child as well. She spoke to how the movie is extremely universal in its appeal. We are two generations apart and yet, it still lives in my childhood as well as hers forever.
