1957 Watertown, Massachusetts

Yuriko Kuwabara

Born 1951

Watertown, Massachusetts

Interviewed on February 3rd, 2026

By Rose Zhao

What is the first movie you remember seeing?

The first movie I clearly remember is Old Yeller, a Disney film. It was a major hit at the time and a classic for people my age. I’m almost 75 now, and anyone within five or ten years of my age would have known it.

How old were you (approximately)?

I must have been around five years old. I know I went to a movie theater, and I probably wouldn’t have gone before that age. The movie came out in 1957, so that lines up. I also have an older sister who is three years older than me, so it would have made sense for us to go together.

What do you remember about the movie?

I remember the story very clearly, especially the ending. Movies weren’t something you saw multiple times back then, so when you went, it really stuck with you. The story was very dramatic, and I remember being deeply upset by it.

The movie is about a family living in what I think was Texas. The father leaves to earn money and tells his older son, who is still just a kid, that he’s now “the man of the house.” The younger brother loves animals, while the older brother initially dislikes dogs. A stray yellow dog shows up and slowly becomes part of the family. They name him Old Yeller.

Old Yeller protects the family, helps fend off wild animals, and proves himself loyal. But toward the end, rabies becomes a major threat. There’s a fight involving wild hogs and later a rabid wolf. Old Yeller is wounded protecting the family and eventually contracts rabies. In the end, the older brother has to shoot him.

That ending devastated everyone. The entire theater was crying. I could never bring myself to watch the movie again because I knew what was coming. There is a puppy at the very end, meant to soften the blow, but it didn’t really help. The loss was overwhelming.

What did you think of the character(s), actor(s), or story?

I strongly identified with the younger boy, who loved the dog. That character was played by Kevin Corcoran, a child actor who appeared in many Disney films. I knew him from other movies, but at the time, I didn’t really understand what “an actor” was — he was just the same kid showing up in different stories.

The story itself felt incredibly real and emotionally intense. A lot of children’s movies back then were surprisingly traumatic. Old Yeller, Bambi, and others dealt with death, loss, and responsibility in ways that really affected kids. You didn’t just watch the movie — you felt it.

Back then, we didn’t see actors as celebrities the way we do now. They were characters first. Hollywood felt distant and mysterious, not glamorous in the modern sense.

Who was with you?

I’m not completely sure. I likely went with my mother and my older sister. It’s also possible a neighbor helped take us. People were very kind back then and often helped immigrant families like ours feel welcome.

How did you get to the theater / venue?

We walked. The theater was very close to where we lived.

Was there a concession? Did you have a favorite candy?

Yes, there was a concession stand, but movie snacks were a big treat, not something you always got. Popcorn was the main thing, and the popcorn machines themselves felt magical. The popcorn came in small boxes, not the huge buckets you see today.

I don’t remember drinks being common, and people didn’t really eat during movies. Partly because it was too exciting, and partly because people were more careful with money.

There were often cartoons, newsreels, or short films before the main feature, and sometimes double features. Longer movies sometimes had intermissions, when people would go to the concession stand.

Do you remember the name of the theater? Were there ushers?

Yes, it was called the Watertown Theater in Watertown, Massachusetts.

I don’t remember formal ushers, but there were adults working there who made sure kids behaved and didn’t run through the swinging doors. There was a sense of order and professionalism — it felt a bit like going to a restaurant. As a child, it felt formal and special.

What town and year was this?

This was in Watertown, Massachusetts, around 1957.

This interview was conducted with my friend’s grandmother.