1948 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Karen Tombacher
Born in 1942
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Interviewed on February 5, 2025
by Lila Pechter
LP: What is the first movie you remember seeing? (Remember is the keyword.)
KT: The Red Shoes was the first movie I ever remember.
LP: How old were you (approximately)?
KT: Six years old.
LP: What do you remember about the movie?
KT: I remember it was exciting to be at the movies with my father. The film was made in 1948, and when I read about it, I saw it was a very complicated, adult kind of movie, but I think my father didn’t realize that – he thought it would be about dancers, and it was. They were dancers, and he thought it would be very pretty and that I would like that because I liked to dance. And so we went to see it, and neither one of us really understood. I don’t think my father even knew it was so complicated. Maybe he did. But he saw that I was enjoying it, and I thought the dancers and their costumes were beautiful, so it was the perfect movie. I always remembered The Red Shoes.
LP: What did you think of the character(s), actor(s), and story? You touched on this already, but do you have anything to add?
KT: No, there really isn’t anything else because I didn’t catch the story at all. All I caught was that the costumes were beautiful and that the ballet dancers were beautiful. But I didn’t catch any of the plot, unfortunately– it was way above my head.
LP: Did anyone else go with you, or was it just you and your father?
KT: No, it was just my father and me, which made it so wonderful because I got to be alone with him at the movie theater.
LP: Do you remember how you got to the theater/venue?
KT: Yeah, well, you know I lived in Philadelphia, and there was a movie theater near where I lived in North East Philadelphia, and I went to that theater for years when I got older. That was the movie theater. So my father drove us, we parked nearby, and we went in to watch the movie.
LP: Do you remember if there was a concession? Did you have a favorite candy?
KT: Well, I don’t remember eating anything, and I don’t remember a concession stand. I just remember going, and sitting down, and watching the movie. That’s all I remember.
LP: Do you remember the name of the theater? Were there ushers?
KT: No, I don’t remember any of that.
LP: Okay, so it was Philly in 1948?
KT: Yes, I looked it up, and it was 1948 when the movie came out. So I was born in 1942 so I was six years old! I do remember that my foot fell asleep, and I got scared because maybe I had been sitting for so long that I got these pins and needles! And I got scared, and my father reassured me and told me it was okay. I do remember these big leather seats and sitting high up watching this movie. It was a great, you know, really exciting time for a little girl.
LP: Do you remember the leading actress – I looked her up – Moira Shearer? Have you heard of her?
KT: No, I don’t know her. I don’t remember her. I only know the name of the movie, and I think she’s a dancer. I think they danced? Obviously, that’s why he took me!
LP: Okay! That was perfect. Thank you so much, Baba.
KT: Okay! If that’s good enough for you, that’s good enough for me. You’ll let me know.
Karen Tombacher, aka “Baba,” is my maternal grandmother. She has lived fifteen minutes away from us her whole life, and I have always considered her one of my best friends. I have always looked up to her — she is one of my favorite people and biggest inspirations.
