1952 Harrisonburg Virginia

Robert Showalter

Born 1938

Harrisonburg, VA

Interviewed on February 3rd, 2025

by Chase Reynders

Chase Reynders: Ok, let’s dive in! What was the first movie you remember seeing?

Robert Showalter: It was a western: High Noon. I saw it after school with my friends.

CR: So you were in school? How old were you?

RS: I was in my junior year of high school. 1952.

CR: What do you remember about High Noon?

RS: I don’t really remember the story—it was a simple-minded plot. My friends wanted to go because of the actors: Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper, I believe.

CR: So it sounds like the movie’s actors were the most relevant aspect for you. Do you have any other thoughts about the movie’s characters, actors, or story?

RS: I barely remember the story or the characters; the only exciting part for me was seeing the actors on the big screen.

CR: Where did you watch the movie?

RS: This was at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Harrisonburg. I think it was demolished in the 1980s.

CR: How did you get there?

RS: It was nearby, so I walked. 

CR: Do you remember much about the concessions the Virginia Theatre had to offer?

RS: Oh, it was just your standard soft drink and popcorn, nothing too special. I don’t think I got anything.

CR: Were there any ushers?

RS: It was very simple: you walk in, get your ticket at the ticket window, look for a seat you would like, and that was it. There was somebody at the door to be sure you had a ticket.

CR: I’m curious, why did you wait until your junior year of high school to see your first movie? 

RS: I don’t much care for the imaginary. And growing up as a Mennonite, everyone around me felt the same. I like non-fiction, so movies feel unnecessary to me. I suppose I was a rather culturally-deprived teenager! 

CR: So what got you over that hump your junior year?

RS: It was a social thing—my friends wanted to go, so I went, too. There was lots of buzz at school, so I figured I shouldn’t miss out on it. If it wasn’t for all that, though, I doubt I would have gone.

CR: I see, so it seems like it’s not something you would’ve sought out by yourself.

RS: Oh yes, I was certainly motivated by my classmates’ actions!

CR: Are there any other art forms you would be more likely to seek out independently?

RS: Yes, I quite like concerts. I just find movies more difficult to engage with.

CR: Why is that? Are there any redeeming qualities about film? Or do you tend to avoid it altogether?

RS: Well, film is obviously a great art form, but I just never found fabricated plots very convincing. I’ve mostly been motivated to watch films rooted in reality—I think documentaries are often fascinating. I can appreciate the visual spectacle, too; IMAX movies can be quite dazzling. Oh, and sometimes the Academy Awards motivate me to watch a fictional film here and there. I’ve just never been particularly interested in made-up stuff, so I tend to struggle with movies.

Notes: Robert Showalter is my grandfather, a former Mennonite who has lived in Harrisonburg, Virginia his entire life.